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Fax Machine Anthems: Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke takes a solo trip into dance…

20 May

Kelechukwu “Kele” Rowland Okereke lead singer of Bloc Party has recorded a solo album. Kele will release his first solo album, titled The Boxer (produced by Hudson Mohawke and XXXChange) on 21 June through Wichita / Polydor in the UK and Europe and Glassnote Records for the rest of the world. The first single from the album, “Tenderoni”, will be released on 14 June 2010. I loved Silent Alarm and liked Intimacy, but Weekend in the City was not what Bloc Party fans were expecting. Armand Van Helden’s remix of “Signs” is amazing and I definitely recommend getting absolutely bonkers on the dance floor to it.

Video may be NSFW

Bloc Party “Signs” (AVH Remix) from hmurai on Vimeo.

Now since Bloc Party has taken a break, Kele has been working on putting out his record. Here is his new single “Tenderoni”. I don’t know if this is relevant or not, but in doing research on Kele, he has come forward with his Bisexuality. Also, the term “tenderoni” usually refers to a younger, maybe underage lover. Take it how you want, but it puts a spin on the song. Mystery and controversy will always help promote music.

Kele – Tenderoni from Andrew Lawandus on Vimeo.

DUCK SAUCE IS GREAT…ONCE AGAIN, your entire summer of dance in one song or less…

22 Apr

Armand van Helden and A-Trak are the intergalactic unified tag team champions of disc jockeys. The Duck Sauce pairing really does nothing that is so unbelievably next level that it defies convention. All they merely do is unearth a disco gem and turn the entire nature of dance music on its head. There came a point in disco where things became so terrifically cross-pollinated that the sonic atmosphere was eerily comparable to the electro/dubstep/hipster atmosphere of 2010. Out of that era, roughly somewhere around 1978-1980, seems to be where their heads are at. There were strains that were heavily electro, there were strains that were distinctly pop, and yes, there were strains that were ridiculously funky. From the “ridiculously funky” side comes Duck Sauce, and, in the current musical atmosphere, everything old is indeed new again, as these two in choosing prime time bits of disco funk have resurrected and injected classic taste into a vapid and sometimes pointless dance environment.

Last year’s smash “aNYway” took the extended mix of 1979’s great Final Edition cut “I Can Do It (Anyway You Want)” and added some filters and electro elements, and created “aNYway,” if not for Major Lazer’s “Pon de Floor,” the dance smash of 2009.

But that wasn’t enough. As if on a mission, the duo has come back for 2010 with something even bigger. Debuted in smashing fashion at 2010’s Winter Music Conference during their first official set as a duo at Ultra, “Barbra Streisand,” literally feels like Boney M’s “Gotta Go Home” with vocal drops of the name of the legendary songstress. This track is enormous, gigantic, huge and ridiculously great. I could listen to the vocal and bass loops and dance for three hours to them alone. It’s that catchy.
And do check the original. Boney M were comprised of two individuals from Jamaica and two individuals from Montserrat with a German producer, Frank Farian. There are all manner of tropical elements here, including one of the sweetest steel drum samples ever. You’d be crazy to NOT think that the right DJ could come along and flip this into a Moombahton smash, as the most key elements are already there. DO take a listen and understand that your summer of dance has already arrived. You’re welcome.