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So-Me went extra crazy hand drawn style for this eye-searing limited pic disc 12" from Ed Banger honcho Busy P (aka Pedro Winter, aka Daft Punk's manager, blah blah, you know already). In addition to the slumpy, glitched out title track(1), here...
expand review we get four remixes of the Busy/MURS collab "To Protect & Entertain" from the Ed Rec III comp. While the original mix(2) always felt a little clunky to me, the Ed Banger fam comes correct on the new versions: Mehdi smooths things out with his "99 Rap Mix(3)," Mr. Oizo(3) keeps it stompy, and even So-Me scores on his spazoid cut-up "Get Naked Remix(4)." Add an all-over-the-map Bmore-rave-house mix from Crookers(5) and this shit's a wrap. These probably won't be around long, so... -Chris Lemon-Red
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By know you know that we here at Turntable Lab are bigtime supporters of French-based label Ed Banger Records. To put it succinctly, they're one of the finest labels around today, constantly innovating and releasing unexpected records that expand on their trademark...
expand review sound (which somehow stretches to cover multiple genres). DJ Mehdi already impressed us with his Chromeo-featuring, velvet rope-dissecting single "I Am Somebody(1)," but Lucky Boy shows the man to be a far more diverse producer than that track would've suggested. The woefully short "Signatune(2)" sounds like an intro for the best song that Daft Punk never made, but falls away after just a minute. (DJs, get to work!) "Pony Rocking(3)" not only features bumping drums and a fuzzy electro bassline, but also Uffie's producer/boyfriend and Ed Banger labelmate Feadz on the distorted chipmunk old school flow. Mehdi's multi-talented wifey (and longtime Alison Tara favorite!) Fafi shows up on "Lucky Boy(4)," which sounds like Portishead on Prozac (or something). "Hot-O-Momo(5)" features Xanax and comes closest to reproducing the vintage feel of "I Am Somebody," except more of a lost Prince track than a lost Chromeo joint. 14 tracks; 47 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12345
By know you know that we here at Turntable Lab are bigtime supporters of French-based label Ed Banger Records. To put it succinctly, they're one of the finest labels around today, constantly innovating and releasing unexpected records that expand on their trademark...
expand review sound (which somehow stretches to cover multiple genres). DJ Mehdi already impressed us with his Chromeo-featuring, velvet rope-dissecting single "I Am Somebody(1)," but Lucky Boy shows the man to be a far more diverse producer than that track would've suggested. The woefully short "Signatune(2)" sounds like an intro for the best song that Daft Punk never made, but falls away after just a minute. (DJs, get to work!) "Pony Rocking(3)" not only features bumping drums and a fuzzy electro bassline, but also Uffie's producer/boyfriend and Ed Banger labelmate Feadz on the distorted chipmunk old school flow. Mehdi's multi-talented wifey (and longtime Alison Tara favorite!) Fafi shows up on "Lucky Boy(4)," which sounds like Portishead on Prozac (or something). "Hot-O-Momo(5)" features Xanax and comes closest to reproducing the vintage feel of "I Am Somebody," except more of a lost Prince track than a lost Chromeo joint. 14 tracks; 47 minutes. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1234
The cover says Lucky Girl EP, but it should really be a single showcasing Thomas Bangalter's new edit of DJ Mehdi's "Signatune(1)," a seriously hot track from the Lucky Boy LP with a tragic running time of just one minute. The co-founder...
expand review of Daft Punk (and godfather of this whole new Parisian sound) works this thing out to playable length (at least 6 minutes) and adds huge drums... in effect turning it into a Daft Punk track. And who could complain about that? This shit is awesome. Wifey Fafi sings the synth-driven, off-kilter "Lucky Girl(2)," and it's awfully cute, exactly like an audio version of one of her drawings. Outlines turn in a jazzy piano remix(3) and Institubes' Surkin freaks it into a suitably squiggly French house jam(4). Recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Import only, So-Me designed pic sleeve 7" version of Justice's new mega hit, "D.A.N.C.E.(1)" Flipside has the bouncier, less intense alternate mix, "B.E.A.T.(2)." Unlike the 12", these probably won't be around for very long. ADDENDUM: It has come to our attention that...
expand review this song may be a tribute to Michael Jackson. (They namecheck "ABC," "PYT" and "Black Or White," and "the way you move is a mystery" has to be a moonwalk reference.) If this is for real, the fact that it's sung by a childen's choir truly makes it the best song of 2007. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1234
The biggest single of the year (as far as Lab's concerned) finally gets the proper remix treatment, plus a new version from Justice themselves. Alan Braxe & Fred Falke's remix(1) stands above the rest, chock full of their trademark lush synths which...
expand review somehow make anything they remix sound floating and awesome. MSTRKRFT's remix(2) is pretty nasty too, but Justice's new "live" version(3) outshines it in terms of pure dirty electro-ness. Jackson & His Computer Band's "J.A.H.C.B.(4)" won't be burning down any dancefloors, but it's definitely the most inventive and epic take I've heard on this track. -Chris Lemon-Red
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With its hulking frame and cool falsetto guest vocals from Mehdi of Scenario Rock, "DVNO" had to be the next single off Justice's ridiculously massive debut record. Justice have never been ones to let shit get stagnant, so the single includes their...
expand review own new remix(1) of "DVNO," a more distorted and turbo-charged version of the original that was unveiled recently on their MySpace tour. (How weird is that by the way? I'm picturing Rupert with the whole Ed Banger catalog on a shelf in his office.) Institubes' Surkin(2) starts his remix off all cheery and disco-like before getting launching into a chop sesh, bonus points for ill original theremin work! The Sunshine Brothers mix(3) rounds out the A-side T-Pain style with gentle beats and heavy vocoder. Flipside includes new versions from LA Riots(4) and Les Letits Pilous(5). -Chris Lemon-Red
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Okay, so we're a bit late on this one, but when a single is as good as this, it's always better late than never. Justice are longtime associates of another mysterious French duo, and though they definitely take a page or...
expand review two from Daft Punk's playbook, it's clear from the onset of "Waters of Nazareth(1)" that Justice have a completely unique twist on that super-heavy, crunchy electro sound. The title track is an absolute destroyer, shifting from a thumping low-end squelch that's alternately noisy and catchy to ethereal organs seamlessly (and doing so a few times during the course of the track) before ending in a glorious wash of feedback. That makes it sound like a total dancefloor killer, but believe me: this shit is danceable to the highest degree. The other two tracks here aren't too shabby either: the roaring "Let There Be Light(2)" is labeled as a demo version, but you'd never know to listen to it, and "Carpates(3)" is like the soundtrack to the hidden level of Contra that nobody ever saw where you have to fight Marilyn Manson's head on an octopus body. Comes in a handsome silver-on-black pic sleeve, too. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 1234
New cheaper domestic pressing. Round two! Parisian duo Justice are the men of the hour in the electro/dance community, having already remixed everyone from Britney to Daft Punk to Franz Ferdinand. They also recently signed to Vice Records, and have...
expand review provided us with this tasty EP to hold us over until they unleash their debut full-length later this year. "Waters of Nazareth(1)" was a huge success when it dropped on the EP of the same name last year; now, Justice head back to the track that spread their name far and wide, offering a remix/collaboration with fellow Ed Banger and Uffie producer, Feadz(2). The sleeve states that their remixes "contains elements from the forthcoming album," and if that's the case then I've got a new most-anticipated-album – even more obtuse and sputtering than the original, this remix may not blow up the dancefloor, but it's a hell of a listen. Speaking of blowing up the dancefloor, though, the B-side on this bad boy is designed to do just that, as electro-rock remixer extraordinaire Erol Alkan contributes a DJ-friendly re-edit(3) and DJ Funk(!) turns in the barely-recognizable "Bounce Dat Ass Remix(4)" of "Let There Be Light." -Chris Lemon-Red
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Another electro charged release from Ed Banger's Sebastian. As with most of their discography, Motor comes with a sleek new cover by So-Me and is pressed with maximum levels on cherry red vinyl. The track itself kills it with more fist pumping,...
expand review head banging, drug taking, noisy electro for that ass. With all the aggressive crunchy bass, epic breakdowns, and well timed bleepery, fans of Boys Noize, Puzique, Justice and ZZT will definitely appreciate. Careful with this one, it has a very short fuse. Once you drop it, step back and get ready for mayhem. On the flip, you'll find the much more digestable funky electro sounds of "Momy" and "Army." The disco sample on "Momy(2)" is pure gold and Sebastian freaks it hard. Slap bass, electro bass and well chopped loops all get together for the party. Also watch for the Italo-like breakdown at the end. It totally raises the intensity of the track, before dropping you into more fist pumping grooves. It's also my favorite on the wax. "Army(3)" takes the vibe into darker realms with tense chords and freaky vocal chopps. Definitely, different but signature Sebastian and a cool way to tie up the single. -C'mish
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It's the French equivalent of the '92 Dream Team, brought together for this limited edition sampler featuring music from Mr. Oizo's upcoming feature film debut, Steak. I know nothing about the film, and there's not much text (in English or French) to...
expand review help out, but judging by the artwork it could very well be an Ed Banger-style update of West Side Story. The music doesn't clear things up much either: "Skatesteak(1)" is totally addictive, sounding like a lost 70s relic with little choppy stop/start bits for good measure - in other words, it sounds like Sebastien Tellier with some Ed Banger dudes. (That's a good thing.) "C.H.I.V.E.R.S.(2)" gets heavier, dropping Tellier's wistful sound in favor of some crunchy distortion. On the flip, the quick, Krautish interlude "Letrablaise(3)" leads into the single's only straight-up pop track, "Hashis Vers(4)," featuring the trio(?) on vocals and, yes, some electric banjo and sax. If you're tired of the full-on electro assault from Ed Banger, this is a nice change of pace. -Chris Lemon-Red
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This is the first ever CD compilation from the only label that pretty much everyone can agree on nowadays. What do we really need to say about this one? We sold a couple hundred copies of Justice's "Phantom(1)" in a few days,...
expand review so I'd have to imagine y'all are still hungry for it. Not to mention a lot of the shit here is previously unreleased and much-talked about, like Uffie's Hollerboard slam "Dismissed(2)" (no comment) or two tracks from the lesser-known but always great Mr. Flash, "Eagle Eyez(3)" and "Disco Dynamite(4)." You also get to catch up on some singles, like label head Busy P's "Rainbow Man(5)" and the Krazy Baldhead B-side "Strings of Death(6)." So-Me even gets inside the sleeve this time with a remix of Klaxons' "Golden Skans(7)!" Our good friends at Vice hooked it up with a US-exclusive bonus track, too – it's Busy P's remix of "What's Your Name Again(8)" by hotshot French rock outfit Fancy. 15 tracks total. Highly recommended. -Chris Lemon-Red
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The long awaited Ed Rec III comp is here, in all its French touch glory. You know the deal - fresh So-Me art on the outside and a whole mess of new and unreleased tracks from the Ed Banger fam on the...
expand review inside. Mr. Flash's "Over the Top(1)" mixes anthemic rock with a solid four on the floor, laced with lavish synths and even a solo! SebastiAn follows suit with "Dog(2)" but bests Flash's hardness with an all out barrage of metal/hardcore sound in his own signature chopped style. (This is what I imagine would be playing during a bad trip.) Don't get me wrong - I'm quite a fan of hardcore music, but this one could turn the breakdance circle into a mosh pit. Feadz's production for Uffie on "Robot Oeuf" is cool, but his real killer is "Back It Up(3)" with Spank Rock on the second piece of wax. Justice's live performance of "Stress(4)" rounds out disc one with its orchestro/electro blasts, full of all the lasers, pizzicato strings and timpani rolls you like and then some. Disc two is kicked off with one my personal favorites of the comp, Mr. Oizo's "Minuteman's Pulse(5)," and it is signature Oizo sound. A mesh of left field in the intro, but it comes together with a saxophone ditty, more lasers and strings. Second fav of this comp is Medhi's track "Pocket Piano(6)" - it's got a classic disco feel to it with rhythmic piano and congo patterns giving it life. Ed Banger art maestro So-Me rounds out the comp with with "Decalcomania(7)," a reflection of what his graphic work would be if it played sound - a solid, driving banger. 12 tracks total; double vinyl, gatefold jacket. -Chris Lemon-Red
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Limited edition box set version of Ed Rec III! This super deluxe import edition features the entire album on 6 separate 12"s (one track per side for maximum bang) and the full length CD version all in a heavyweight box with...
expand review artwork by So-Me.
The long awaited Ed Rec III comp is here, in all its French touch glory. You know the deal - fresh So-Me art on the outside and a whole mess of new and unreleased tracks from the Ed Banger fam on the inside. Mr. Flash's "Over the Top(1)" mixes anthemic rock with a solid four on the floor, laced with lavish synths and even a solo! SebastiAn follows suit with "Dog(2)" but bests Flash's hardness with an all out barrage of metal/hardcore sound in his own signature chopped style. (This is what I imagine would be playing during a bad trip.) Don't get me wrong - I'm quite a fan of hardcore music, but this one could turn the breakdance circle into a mosh pit. Feadz's production for Uffie on "Robot Oeuf" is cool, but his real killer is "Back It Up(3)" with Spank Rock. Justice's live performance of "Stress (4)" rounds out disc one with its orchestro/electro blasts, full of all the lasers, pizzicato strings and timpani rolls you like and then some. Disc two is kicked off with one my personal favorites of the comp, Mr. Oizo's "Minuteman's Pulse(5)," and it is signature Oizo sound. A mesh of left field in the intro, but it comes together with a saxophone ditty, more lasers and strings. Second fav of this comp is Medhi's track "Pocket Piano(6)" - it's got a classic disco feel to it with rhythmic piano and congo patterns giving it life. Ed Banger art maestro So-Me rounds out the comp with with "Decalcomania(7)," a reflection of what his graphic work would be if it played sound - a solid, driving banger. 12 tracks total. -Chris Lemon-Red
quick audio picks: 12
Zongamin is a lab favorite - we were all put onto him by another Lab favorite, former employee Roger Yamaha. Zongamin (and labelmate Justice) is rapidly rising in the electro-punk-rock world with every track he puts out. His label, the French Ed...
expand review Bangers imprint, also executes the singles perfectly, delivering excellent selections and cool kid covers. "Bongo Song(1)" is immediately justifies all the hype with awesome percussion and death metal type bass work. Mr. Flash comes in with a super-twisted remix(2) infusing BDP and chopping up the percussion even further. Recommended. -the mgmnt
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