dancehall

perfume / spice

Perfume - Spice
Spice - Fun (featuring Missy Elliot)

A song called “Spice”, and a song by an artist called Spice. It’s a strange coincidence that two of my favorite pop jams of 2011 share this common theme of spiciness, considering I’m probably one of the least spicy people on the planet. Nevertheless, that’s just the way things worked out!

As someone who’s not familiar with the J-pop scene, the production on Perfume‘s “Spice” sounds thoroughly bonkers. It’s unlike anything you’d hear on mainstream US radio stations, more akin to the current crop of “indie” electro-pop. Imagine if Passion Pit, or more recent bands who’ve occasionally been known to rip off of Passion Pit (ex: Foster The People, The Naked and Famous), were given their own girl group to work with. That’s what “Spice” would sound like! Or, more likely, that equation would just result in something like this or this, which makes producer Yasutaka Nakata‘s work all the more impressive. Long story short? This is brilliant.

Meanwhile, Spice‘s “Fun” could easily be dismissed as a less-than-revolutionary, mindless booty jam. To which I ask, is that necessarily a bad thing? This is, without doubt, the most exciting thing Missy Elliot‘s done since Trina‘s “I Got A Bottle”, even if it leaves something to be desired in the lyrical department. These may all come off as back-handed compliments, but I cannot stress how much “Fun” makes me want to dance like this. Seriously! You should check your pulse if you don’t want to break it down whilst listening to this song. You are probably dead.

Now that I’ve implied anyone who doesn’t enjoy Spice is a walking zombie, I encourage you all to click through and watch the music videos for these two songs:

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sofia talvik

Sofia Talvik - You Plate Your Heart With Gold (The Courage Remix)
Sofia Talvik - Bored Ol' Heart
Sofia Talvik - Mother's Way, Father's Way (Sophie Rimheden Remix)

It makes me sad that I’ve been neglecting Sofia Talvik for so long. Recently, it came to my attention that the Swedish singer-songwriter will be releasing a “four piece saga” entitled L.O.V.E. The project consists of four separate EPs, each with four songs on them. The first set “L” will be released in the near future, and a new collection will follow for every three months in 2011.

But here’s the deal, you guys! She only has ten days left to raise enough funds for studio time, mastering, artwork and production. For only ten bucks, you can support the project and receive a free download of the first EP. And if you contribute even more? There are tons of extra perks, from handwritten postcards to concerts via Skype. Head over here for additional details.

Notably, twenty-percent of profits will go directly to ECPAT, an international charity seeking to end child prostitution, child pornography and trafficking of children for sexual purposes. So, on top of contributing to a fantastic musical artist’s journey, you’re also supporting a very good cause.

exclusive premiere: garçon garçon

UPDATE: The song is now available for download on iTunes. Make sure to grab it and leave a nice review!

After gushing over the early demos for “Take Me Out” and “Maybe Tonight”, it brings us great pleasure to host the official online premiere of Garçon Garçon‘s epic debut single. “Stay In Touch” acts as a natural and entirely appropriate extension to the ’80s-fueled electro vibe of the first two demos. Not so surprisingly, it will act as the lead offering from their forthcoming project EP.

To understand the full awesomeness of “Stay In Touch”, you need to dig beyond the euphoric energy of the synth-pop instrumental. Yes, it’s undeniable. This track will make you shake your ass on the dance floor. But once you really pay attention to the lyrics, it has potential to break you down into tears.

Consider this a direct response to the slutwave epidemic — music that has a lot of feelings. And it’s all delivered to your headphones by cute Australian boys with beards. Can it get any better than this? In under five minutes, Nick and Nathan touch upon the worst aspects of a relationship’s end. The breaking point when you know it’s over. The difficulty of actually making the step to call it quits. Then there’s the icing on this cake. A cake made of sorrow and heartbreak.

As he’s walking away, you plea with him, “Can we stay in touch?” You say it with the utmost sincerity, because you honestly can’t imagine your life without him. Yet no matter how many times he agrees to transition into a platonic friendship, you still have your uncertainty and doubts. What if this is truly the last time you speak to one another? How will you handle bumping into him in public, especially if he’s arm-in-arm with a new love interest? Are you making the right decision?

Yes. That’s the bottom line. The only way to answer that last question. As hard as it is to let go, there’s still this incredibly positive sensation of freedom. It outweighs all of the aforementioned issues, and you just move on to a new chapter in your life. A chapter made of happiness, completely devoted to your own well-being and sanity…

Suffice it to say, this song is fucking beautiful. And we get the sense this is only the tip of the iceberg for Garçon Garçon. Due to a processing error, the track was accidentally made available a week prior to the official release, and it’s already getting play in a handful of European clubs. Plus, thanks to the internet hype, the boys will be embarking on a series of international gigs in June, which will occur shortly after a string of dates in Australia to promote the single.

Alas, we think we’ve said enough about these two and their latest jam. If you’d like to keep up on all their latest updates, why don’t you “Stay In Touch” via Facebook?

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