About to get back on the plane and go home. Sitting in the Kalamazoo Airport, reflection is a must of course. First off I’m just glad my friends are as down with something and love a culture the way they do. It made the festival easier to enjoy, and a sense of security was prevalent indeed.

I enjoyed the whole trip, and the festival was bangin as they say. We spent most of the weekend at the Underground stage, seemed that was were the best Techno was being played. Especially the minimal stuff coming out of there. I want to write more about it all, and I might later. But I’m pretty tired, I’m sure Detroit is as well.

Surfing around on soundcloud, I came across a hidden gem. Empty Chairs are out of Brooklyn, and are responsible for this amazing sound. So much good music out there just waiting to be discovered. The Empty Chairs make a memorable impression, and provide an essential spice to any mixture on your player. The Sleeper of the week series is back, check it out!! Eyelashes by Empty Chairs

There’s a brand new, epic 11 minute track from The Knife, in collaboration with Mt. Sims and Planningtorock, available for a free download. The track is plucked from the stereo version of Tomorrow, In a Year, due out March 1st. Tomorrow… is a dive into a next phase of artistic expression for the Knife. The project is actually an ‘electro-opera’ based on the world seen through the eyes of Charles Darwin. The Knife’s intriguing alternative, pop-style music is combined with visuals from theatre production company Hotel Pro Formas to create this new species of performance theater.

“Colouring of Pigeons” from the studio version of Tomorrow, In a Year. (click to listen, right-click to download)

Here’s a clip from the electro-opera performance. A bit weird but fascinating. An amazing way to expand your creative horizons.

Check out this new remix of Hot Chip, One Life Stand from legendary Detroit techno producer Carl Craig. The track is off their upcoming album of the same name out 2/9/2010. This Carl Craig PCP Remix starts out pretty basic with a classic acid bass line then meanders into a nice trippy break and slowly builds with guitar stabs and snares. Only until the 5:53 mark of the 10 minute track do the vocals drop and only for about 2 minutes. DFA fans will rejoice in this track, mirroring some resemblance to the recent 45:33 The Remixes.
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Great video…

Cinnamon Chasers – Luv Deluxe (Music Video) from Saman Keshavarz on Vimeo.

There is soon to be a new Front Line Assembly album in the works. The last full length album, Artificial Soldier, was fantastic. Literally can’t wait for more…this is a post on the bands MySpace page today.

“Bill Leeb will be joining Rhys Fulber at his Los Angeles studio this spring to commence work on a new Front Line Assembly album. Expect it to be aggro electro, old school FLA style, mixed with the latest technology and some special guests…”

(BlakeAndrew)

Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains

Sebastien Grainger, better known as the singer and drummer for dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979, has moved on to a solo effort while ex-DFA 1979-partner, Jesse Keeler, forges ahead as 1/2 of MSTRKRFT.

Sebastien’s first solo release definitely takes a slightly different direction than the intense vocal effects and distorted bass-guitar riffs predominantly heard from DFA 1979. Some moves he made were for the better…and some not so much. He still dives into washed-out amplified vocals on “Niagara” and “Love Can Be So Mean” could have been and earlier DFA song, re-visited with added melodies. “Renegade Silence” is similar to DFA but with a lot more soul and funk. Tracks such as “Who do We Care For” show improved song structure and have definite potential for major alternative radio air play. “I Hate My Friends” pushes a little too close to early 80′s commercial rock and seems to nip at the toes of the likes of REO Speedwagon. Sebastien has dropped a lot of electronic elements found in DFA and has opted for slower ballot style tracks like “(Are There) Ways to Come Home” and “Love is Not a Contest.” All-in-all Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains is a solid release for a solo artist stepping away from his previous persona. It does lack the fun, electro-rock party anthems that hooked me on DFA 1979, but Sebastien has grown as an artist and forges into new territory with more complex vocal variations and smart, although somewhat commercial, song structure and melodies.

Radiohead won the Best Alternative Album Award for their record, ‘In Rainbows’. They also performed a song from the album, ’15 Step.’ This would be the band’s first ever performance at the Grammys. Their performance was backed by the University of Southern California (USC)’s renowned marching band. Radiohead beat out competition from: Beck – ‘Modern Guilt’, Gnarls Barkley – ‘The Odd Couple’, Death Cab For Cutie – ‘Narrow Stairs’, My Morning Jacket – ‘Evil Urges’.

New video for Black Balloon, directed by Kenneth Capello. The track is planned to be released on an upcoming EP as well. Hopefully, we’ll see some new material or bonus tracks/remixes. Hands down, The Kills most recent studio album, Midnight Boom, is one of the best albums of 2008. Sometimes it’s the most simplistic music that is the most powerful and this takes the cake. Stand-out  guitar riffs, a drum machine, vocals and solid songwriting make Midnight Boom an extremely memorable album. Still enjoying it…but literally can’t wait for another release. The Kills are currently on tour in Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the States.