Filed under: On-Campus Artists, XCLUS!VES | Tags: electro, Dance, Bearplane, Middlebury, Vermont, student, Hip Hatchet, Bearplanebearplane
If you're into any kind of dance, Bearplane is the act for you
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Bearplane’s Bearcraft Carrier (free from the artist)
Hey music lovers, because we all know that you love Phillippe Bronchtein, a.k.a. Bearplane (after all, we did put him up for the world to see months ago). That said 20 Watts would like to share with its avidly loyal readership a some free, exclusive mp3s, straight off Bearplane’s second full-length effort LP Bearcraft Carrier.
Direct from Middlebury, VT, we have here for you the tracks from the new album!
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: electro, Electronica, Gang Gang Dance, M.I.A., Manimal Vinyl, Rainbow Arabia
Rainbow Arabia = M.I.A. + Gang Gang Dance + LSD
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Rainbow Arabia’s “Omar K” MP3
20 Watts’ staff recently spent a good two hours arguing about the top albums of the decade. I was pushing really hard for an M.I.A. entry on the list — a request that everyone, including my managing ed, summarily dismissed. Okay, sure, “Paper Planes” was way overplayed. But the blend of party-ready beats and tribal ululations? The whole East-meets-West-on-a-dance-floor deal? The world needs more of that.
Fortunately the world has Rainbow Arabia, an “ethnotronica” duo so compulsively danceable — and so pleasantly disorienting — that even our picky staff might be won over. Hailing from Echo Park, Cal., Rainbow Arabia force world music through an electro-dance sieve, resulting in a global neon cacophony like few you’ve ever heard. Think M.I.A. meets Gang Gang Dance meets LSD. Intriguing, right?
Rainbow Arabia have released one EP, The Basta, and one “mini-LP,” Kabukimono, on Maninmal Vinyl. They are not currently on tour, although they are playing a string of L.A. shows throughout November.
– Caitlin Dewey, Editor in Chief
Filed under: Emerging Artists | Tags: Bearplane, Bearplanebearplane, Dance, electro, Hip Hatchet, Middlebury, student, Vermont
Well – beards are in, and so is dance music. But good dance music? That’s a great question. Bearplane gives us the answer that it IS possible to stick out in this crazy world of myspace and even crazier world of DJs. These songs are impressive for any musician, and especially a guy who appears to just be getting started with this electronic side-project. Bearplane manages to cater to indie rock fans who will actually dance to the music, at least from the pictures on myspace, which we suppose is any fan outside of the New York City club-scene.
These upbeat tunes are as addicting as that last batch of Insomnia you ordered. Bearplane has already been compared to electronic masters Daft Punk and well deserves the reputation he is quickly earning. From Middlebury, Vermont, which may be more reminiscent of jam bands and hippies rather than good electro, Bearplane is an exciting new artist who we found through facebook, embarrassingly enough. Minifeed and social networking aside, Bearplane is only at the beginning of a long journey to success – because we have that much faith. If you’re looking to DANCE DANCE DANCE your face off at the next house party, or hey, even the next frat rager, download the album A Portrait of the Artist as a Dead Man.
-Kyra Zeller
20W Free 4 all: Bearplane, A Portrait of the Artist as a Dead Man
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Music Videos | Tags: Blänk, Dance, electro, Electronica, Fun, Sweden, Techno, Video, Visuals, Young Ivy
Okay, so maybe I’ve been on a bit of a techno kick lately, but this is a video that I discovered months ago that I thought you all would enjoy to watch. It is from an unknown Swedish trio called Blänk, and while the lyrics may seem a bit foolish and elementary, the video is creative and impressive for an artist of this size. It meshes the human and computer aspects of the video together pretty well, and definitely shares the artists’ sense of humor with the audience. I’m not saying that this is equivalent to a Justice or OK Go video, but it’s innovative for a small band. So enjoy the electronic string section and dope visuals; and approach this with light heart because you’ll definitely dig what you’re about to see.
–Kyra Zeller
Filed under: Features, Scene Around Town, XCLUS!VES | Tags: crookers, dj, electro, house, Kid Cudi, live, live video, MSTRKRFT, nyc, trashy, webster hall
If you haven’t heard the Day n’ Night remix by Crookers you probably have been living under a rock for the past few months. I found out about these Italian DJs in early 2008 from some European friends and their popularity has grown exponentially since then. Although they’re famous for the Kid Cudi Day n’ Night remix, all of their remixes and original songs are sick. I’ve missed every live show over the past year since NYC is a long mid-week trip for a techno show, but finally caught them Friday night at Webster Hall. I can definitely say this: it was 100% worth it.
I got to Webster Hall about ten minutes before Crookers went on and caught the end of the opening djs, who aren’t worth mentioning. I was never really able to tell the difference between live dj sets, but after seeing Crookers, this has changed. There was really no comparison between anyone’s live set, including famous DJs MSTRKRFT’s, and Crooker’s. The energy from the crowd was unparalleled and the two djs played a stellar set. It was clear that Day n’ Night was the crowd favorite, even though the rest of the set was incredible. Every person in the room danced the entire time. As the set ended, all 1400 fans were sad to see them go.
Congorock, another DJ gaining steam in the electro world, went on after Crookers. Most people left before he even walked on stage (maybe because they only cared about Crookers, but maybe because it was already 3:30am). Webster Hall is sometimes full of trashy club-goers and sketchy electro-lovers, but it was well worth it to see this incredible duo.
-Kyra Zeller
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Free 4 All | Tags: Bon Iver, Deastro, Does It Offend You, download, electro, German Pop, Italian Pop, J Pop, Keepers, Kings of Leon, The Airborne Toxic Event, Yeah?
Deastro is officially my new favorite band. They classify themselves on their myspace as “German Pop/Japanese Pop/Italian Pop” but manage to mix a Kings of Leon vocal timbre with electronic loops and instrumental glory. One could call it an identity crisis, but Deastro provides the listener with an incredible variety of music on the album”Keepers.” While some songs remind me of the intense arrangments of “Sometime Around Midnight” by the The Airborne Toxic Event and “Dawn of the Dead” by Does It Offend You, Yeah, the last song could easily be put on a mixtape with Bon Iver.
This band started out as a one man operation, but has grown to be a full band who gives away their music online. I approve. Check out the link below to download the cd “Keepers,” it’s a free download with no repercussions: what’s not to like?
-Kyra Zeller
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Free 4 All | Tags: Chester French, Clinton Sparks, Common, Diddy, electro, Harvard, hip-hop, Interscope, Lady GaGa, Love The Future, mixtape, Pharrell, Talib Kweli, Vampire Weekend, Wale
Anxiously awaiting Chester French’s new album Love The Future (April 21, Interscope)? Do you have no clue who Chester French is? Either way, you must peep their free new mixtape, Jacques Jams, Vol. 1: Endurance. This star-studded jump-off is replete with retro appeal, but don’t let that fool you. Heavy electro and hip-hop influences give this mixtape a smooth shine and fresh new-car smell.
Curated by Boston native Clinton Sparks, the mix’s guest list includes such established and emerging figures as Diddy, Pharrell, Common, Talib Kweli, Bun B., Kardinal Offishall, Lady GaGa, and Wale. The list goes on! Stay posted, these Harvard grads are the Massachusetts answer to Columbia’s Vampire Weekend. Hey Bandersnatch, try getting these dudes soon before they’re too hot to handle!
– Trevor Kiv, Web Editor
I only need one word to describe Peaches’ new album—–flat.
“I Feel Cream,” which is set to release on May 5th, drags like a slug as it flashes boring bass beats and mediocre lyrics, which are laced with cheesy vulgarity. Title track ,”I Feel Cream,” is the only decent song because it rocks MSTRKRFT-esque beats to actual singing, rather than dull raps.
