Covert Chemicals to Team Yahweh

I remember the days when even as a teenager I thought GREENDAY where a bit far out and revolutionary, in fact its not so long back that I was commending the message (if only just about tolerating the melody) of 'American Idiot' but boys, boys, boys doing the soundtrack for a Rupert Murdoch film??? But hey its new and it is for Homer and Co.

Have got quite a random range of tracks I'd like to share with you this afternoon actually. And random is the only word I can use for the new CHEMICAL BROTHERS track 'The Salmon Dance', its very different and therefore you have the unusual experience of not realising its them, normally I can spy a Chem's track quicker than reduced price flapjacks in the out-of-date rack at tescos but this is covert Chem's and I like it in a very quirky way.

From electronic dance music to Gospel which you're probably gathering by now I am quite keen on even though I am in no way God Squad/ Allah Patrol/ Team Yahweh let me make that clear. My Gospel pick this week is the incredibly uplifting DARLENE MCCOY and 'I Wanna Thank You', I know the sun has actually made a rare appearance this week but when it buggers off again this will bring it back for you metaphorically.

Other tracks to catch my attention this week include the new UNDERGROUND HEROS track 'Alright Darling', the latest Skint release METAL ON METAL ' No Front Teeth' and an incredibly tasty (I know I've never eaten a cd either but its the lingo) remix of the already long ago mentionedup-coming CALVIN HARRIS release. The MR OZIO mix of 'Merrymaking At My Place' is a fantastic piece of squelchy house music JUSTICE Style in fact I thought it was them at first. This is the track I'll be using to haul my ass out of bed tomorrow mornig when the snooze button goes into overdrive.

From Nicole to the House Music Grand National

So the weekends' discoveries... its time to take a deep breath as I can't quite believe I'm going to say this, tempted to put it off indeed but its best to get it out of the way early I guess just like when you're mum would make you take minging medicine before letting you have a lolly, mars bar and some pickNmix to make up for it - both gastrically and mentally. Ok that's enough procrastination I'm going to say it.. Yep I like the new Nicole record, yes that would be NICOLE SCHERZINGER from the Pussycat dolls. Undeniable to enjoy aesthetically but actually enjoying her music??

Well all I gotta say is Missy Elliot, not that I'm implying Missy looks like Nicole but Missy's legendary misleading and untrue track 'One Minute Man' did have an undeniable groove and lowest common dominator (in a good way if that ain't paradoxical) dirt vibe that made it an amazing track despite its feminist propaganda message ; 0 ) Nicole's 'Whatever You Like' is like that and when you again start getting dragged by your mates to cheesy student nights in October it will be on and you will be checking out embarrassing pics on facebook the next day that appear to imply you were a poll dancer in a previous life, and yes that is just the males of our species.

Away from my embarrassing taste in urban music a lot of dance music flying around this weekend in honor of the dance mecca that is Global Gathering. Being a bit of a girl and not really fancying the great outdoors (especially in the wettest country in the world) I have never been but there is no disputing it's importance in our music scene, not important enough for me to get wet mind but still pretty damn important. Oh and its pretty expensive too although we have of course learnt from Glasto's Michael Eavis this week that Festival Promoters think we're all loaded and price doesn't effect those attending, now we know Mr E is a lovely man but he has clearly suffered the effects of passive smoking a lot of organic cigarettes over Glasto weekend if ya get me. Now back to electronic dance music...

DAVID GUETTA's 'Love is Gone' looks set to join that annual House Music Grand National to be the track of the summer but it has some catching up to do with already chatted about tracks from VAN HELDEN, AXWELL, CREEPS AND FEDDE LE GRAND leading the way. Also a week earlier than predicted it was nice to hear Rosin Murphy live on Radio One (so its not just boys who get over-excited early then). Listening to Tong highlighted how brave and effective RAUL RINCON continues to be with his remixes. Taking on one of those 'oh no you didn't you can't possibly improve it tracks' he does a DIRTY SOUTH (as in they some how nailed Higher State of Consciousness previously a definite don't go there) esque effort on ENERGY 52's classic 'Cafe Del Mar'. Possibly one of my top ten records of all time and he totally nails it and that is saying something, big up Raul. And big up EYERER AND CHOPSTICK too, I really like their 'Make My Day' record, house music with a conscious... watch out tescos.

The Brand Nu Top Three

1 - OPERATOR PLEASE - 'Ping Pong'

2 - CLAUDE VON STROKE - 'The Whistler 07' (Aston Shuffle Remix)

3 - DAVE SPOON - 'L'atronica'

Been quite a quiet week round my neck of the woods musically, not too many of those 'ohh what's that?' moments, you know the new music lover's equivalent to Archimedes Eurekaing out of his bath.

Hmm lets see got a couple of dance bits and indie bits that are definitely worthy of mention. AS much as any catchy bass or inspiring lyric its the swagger of DOES IT OFFEND YOU YEH?, THE ADS and OPERATOR PLEASE that appeals to me, really enjoying their latest tracks 'Lets Make Out', 'Auto Pilot' and 'Ping Pong' respectively particularly the later which has a real deep south drawl to it which for some reason I appear to find mildly erotic, did I just admit that out loud?

That swaggery dare I say slightly dirty or even toxic vibe has continued through into the dance tracks that have caught my ears this week. Really like the Switch remix of JACKNIFE LEE - 'Making Me Money' which I believe is actually out quite soon. Love what Punks Jump Up have done to REMI NICOLE's ‘Go Mr Sunshine' and this Piloski chap who did the Frankie Valli track is having a tres bon attempt at avoiding classic French one hit wonder status with his effort on KING CREOSOTE's 'You've No Clue Do You' , both out towards the end of August.

Now I must flash or should that be simply dash? I owe you a TOP Three and I have a new friend arriving into the world of Brand Nu who needs to be collected from the airport.

tarra

SO many tracks to talk about but first a humble apology. Having reread some older posts (someone's got to boost those page views) I realised I had not yet mentioned the awesome new BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB tune 'Berlin', if that is not the very definition of a school boy error I don't know what is and with my schools years now passed I really should know better... I apologise humbly.

Heard some great dance tracks over the weekend and even got to drop a few myself and no I don't know why DJs say drop either, if we actually did drop our vinyl I doubt they'd last very long and as for dropping a hard drive full of mp3's well that definitely can't be healthy. I guess the phrase 'I lovingly placed on the technics and mixed it in seamlessly over 32 bars' just doesn't have quite the same ring to it does it?

Anywho... back to brand new electronic dance music I had an absolute love at first hear moment with the new DAVE SPOON track 'L'atronica', if you lived for Danny Rampling's Love Groove Dance Party half as much as I used to this will bring back happy memories. Back to 2007 and The Sinden mix of AQUASKY - 'Have a good time' totally nails the sound that is getting me boogieing the most frenetically currently as are any of the numerous top notch remixes of THE GOSSIP that continue to fly around, particularly like the Linus Loves remix that Calvin Harris played on Friday night standing in for Pete Tong, and a half decent job he did too, I think after David Guetta Radio 1 realised having guests who's first language is English is probably a wise move... genius.

Oh and speaking of MR Disco he also played his own remix of the MITCHELL BROTHERS 'Michael Jackson' which is a truly unique track... the streets meet disco via Birmingham, Glasgow and New York if you like.. proper random, very entertaining.

On the urban vibe been listening to 1Xtra quite a lot recently. Its always had a great rosta of specialist shows but during the day it really stands out as pretty much the only UK station that will regularly introduce you to new tunes you haven't heard before the sun sets. A couple of tracks that really caught my attention and I'm hoping are new and not just me showing how out of touch I am with my urban roots are
CHARLENE DAS 'Mr Dj' and CHLOE 'Feel like this', the former is particularly funky which I'm guessing you're starting to cotton on to is a great way to catch my musical attention.

Being an egalitarian follower of new music I should flag up a couple of indie gems. The new YEAH YEAH YEAH EP is out next week (I think) and I'm particularly liking 'Swallow' off that. Forget simply liking though I am grinning from ear to ear every time I hear the totally random (yes I do like that word and my mum does keep telling me off for using it) JAKOBINARINA - 'This is an advertisement'. Forget being an advertisement this is a truly madcap piece of indie pop that made me giggle as much as it made my left foot tap, this is proper original music... just don't listen whilst experiencing with anything mind altering as this could push you over the edge.

The selection you've clearly been waiting for all week, I only semi banter as with this ridiculous weather I'm sure I'm not the only one finding completely pointless ways to try and distract me from the fact we are being constantly pummelled with news that the Sahara's arrival at Dover is imminent and yet all it does is rain! Am I?

So the Brand Nu Top Three for this week are:

Moses Francisco - Friday Night
Reverend and The Makers - He Said He Loved Me
Elektrons - Get Up (Love the original but also really like the Hevre Mix)

With an honorary mention to the new Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip track 'The Beat That My Heart' skips.. I was wrong!! Its really growing on me, sorry boys : 0 (

Its really gratifying to realise Annie Mac reads this blog and also somewhat surprising as I haven't told anyone about it yet let alone all these showbiz radio one connections that I don't actually have. Yet sure enough listening to hear standing in for Zane there were all those tunes we chatted about yesterday it was quite uncanny, so if you'll allow me an online moment of self-delusion or two let me draw your attention to

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/tuesday

where you'll note at one stage I think three of four tracks in a row were MALAKI (thanks for pointing out its called 'Battle' Annie), The FOALS plus REVEREND and the watsits.

Fair dues to the lady she did also drop Alloy Mental which leaves me pondering that age old dance dilemma of what counts as new... their originally titled single 'Alloy Mental' isn't released till August but I swear I first heard over a year ago such are the Darwinistic ways of dance music evolution. Also respect is due to the Mac for making the excellent slection of GO TEAM! for hottest record with their new single 'Doing It Right', I think/ hope I mentioned that a while back.

I've been such a fool I really hope you can forgive me. I found this incredible piece of funk last week, exactly the sort of thing you could imagine Mr Brown bashing out in the 70s and I forgot to share it with you... sorry : 0 (

Its by a band I'll be honest I've never heard of before called THE HEAVY but that's not surprising is it as obviously they hail from the ghetto of some north American city don't they? No my friend THE HEAVY are from Bath!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I call a head-scratcher, do what ever you have to to get your hands on 'That kind of man' as it is an incredible track - so funky.

As we went all soulful yesterday lets create some musical balance and get back to the guitars. Really like the new MALAKI track but I don't know its name, I know I'm such an expert at this game - just call me Lamo. Speaking of Steve L I do know that the new CAJUN DANCE PARTY track is called 'Amylase' and the new FOALS track 'Mathletics' and that are both rather good. Some thing that is totally awesome though and is leaving me feeling disturbingly excited about the forthcoming new album is the new REVEREND AND THE MAKERS track.

This band come with a health warning for all straight men. I do not care how hetro you think you are you will find yourself fancying the lead singer of this band, if you have any doubts or insecurities about your sexuality stay well clear! I Saw them play two months ago and he is the most charismatic human being since that bearded bloke 2000 years ago. I haven't felt so drawn to a man since seeing Pulp in Finsbury Park nearly ten years ago, suddenly I realised why all the girls who kept rejecting me and my perfect hair fancied the geek that was Jarvis. The new Reverend song is as good as Heavyweight Champion and I am sure this band are set for super stardom. Now let me make this clear... I ain't gay or ought and I don't feel so insecure in my own sexuality that I feel the need to assert this fact it just blurted out.. kinda.

This weekend its all been about soul. Got my hands on the new WAHOO album 'Take It Personal'. Obviously it includes the big hit 'Make Em Shake It' which I can’t mention cause that’s old music and that just ain't our style, but there are a couple more stand out tracks such as my definite early fav 'Damn' which has a real latino feel to it. And who apart from several ex girlfriends says peaking quick and early has to be a bad thing? I love the 100 second long 'Diamond Wedding', definitely the musical equivalent of a frenzied, high energy quickie!

You know that divide where soulful house starts to become quite bumping and tribal? Whell I heard a record on Saturday night that straddles that divide really nicely, its by MOSES FRANCISCO and is called 'Friday Night', a stunningly original name I know but do forgive him as its defo worth a listen and a groove. Slightly more on the tribal side of that divide but still with soul is the new MN2S track, another LIQUID PEOPLE release its called 'Danism' and is worth checking if you have a spare mo when its released next week - no hurry though.

BY the way you need to get on the BBC's Listen Again and check out this week's Giles Peterson show it is an absolute stunner! There are few shows as eclectic as Giles but he always manages to keep the soul whilst going all over the place from HipHop to Techno, this week he excels himself you gotta check it out. Keep ears peeled for Joy Denalene collab with Lupe Fiasco, the absolute crazy German ompa band-esque Dejan Sparavalo and some good old rockNroll from Seasick Steve (nice name bro) and Dan Sartain. I'm just crossing my fingers this is all new cause Giles does have a habit of digging out stuff I've never heard, I then tell my mate about this great new track and he looks at me like a true plum explaining its twenty years old! Nothing but brand nu music on this blog remember : 0 )

Think I'm going to post my favourite three nu tracks of the week every Friday, let me know yours by all means, especially if they're different to mine I can tell you how wrong you are ; 0 )


* 1) Frankie Valli - Beggin
* 2) Chrome Hoof 'Tonyte'
* 3) Loveys and Sinden - Organ Grinder

Its the weekend so lets talk dance. Already mentioned Axwell and Armand Van Helden as possibilities to toxify the pop purity of the charts this summer and I think (said as if this is some sort of stunning insight or something) that Mr Le Grande is going to be sticking his oar in. SO far Fedde has in my mind successfully negotiated what I call the Armand Sinclar tightrope.. Van Helden has stayed credible and true whilst making the odd hit, Bob has basically set up a cheese factory, Fedde is so far doing the former. His new track Let Me Think About It is another cracker that will get played by Tong as much as Pearce, at least until it charts when Mr Roll Another Phat One will probably be on his own!

Quite similar to Fedde and no doubt inspired by the thought of raising one's hands up for Detroit is this Freaks track. The Creeps has had the compulsory vocal added to ensure chart success, it will work but in true old man style I must protest it was much better before!

On the more credible vibes I find myself sharing a feeling with you I never thought I'd be sharing, I like a Bloc Party record. It is admittedly the totally transformed Fury666 remix of Hunting for Witches. Great bass on it. Enjoying the new material so far coming from Rosin Murphy, she was the singer in Moloko and there is clearly a new album on the way, things are leaking out slowly so she's clearly playing hard to get prob lining stuff up for Ibiza... maybe the Radio One weekend?

Tunes heard on the radio last night that got my feet tapping include yet another Sinden track, heard this on Zane Lowe but he actually has his own show on Kiss which is worth checking as this guy is almost single handedly building his own new genre of house.. its funky, dirty, grimey what shall we call it? Toxic House anyone? This particular track is a collab with Trevor Loveys called Organ Grinder. Liked the new Tokyo Police Club record that Zane also played called Your English. Got to big up their record label Memphis Industries at this point, home to TPC, the lovely Pipettes, I think the Rapture (?) and definitely also the Go! Team, not a bad little rosta.

BUT Jon Kennedy I bow down to the most exciting new track I heard last night on your legendary Xposure show on Xfm, an oasis of new music on the increasingly commercial X. Check out a band called Chrome Hoof and their latest single 'Tonyte' , its awesome.

Oh and the new South Central track Tonight is pretty hot too.

Cant remember if I have mentioned it here I've certainly played it on the show a lot but lets join online hands and rejoice cause it looks like that Frankie Valli record is actually going to chart and everything. This Parisian dude DJ Piloski (no doubt somehow related to Daft Punk as anyone in Paris who's even touched a House record seems to be) has done a re-edit and the result is the perfect summer track, if only we had the sun Beggin could be a tune you'd never forget as its a guaranteed stimulus of euphoric and erotic feeling... if you need a tune to help you seal a deal this is the one my friend ; 0 )

Been hearing and feeling quite a lot of soulful stuff. Couple of record compamy plugger peeps have picked up on my love of Elektrons and sent me some good stuff although it was the 1Xtra legend that is DJ Fitz that made me aware of Kirk Franklin's cover of September... lovin that! The new Jasper Street Company track Joy is another reason to tune into at least the last half hour of Fitz's Sunday show, a top example of Gospel House. The lyrics often make me feel uneasy but I just love the happy vibes : 0 )

From soulful sounds to indie pop I like this new Milburn track. Their South Yorkshire links don't just mean they're probably rather wet at the moment but also they no doubt have Arctic Monkeys links just like every Parisian has those Daft Punk links. Imaginary nepotism to one side I really What Will You Do and I expect to hear it quite a bit over the summer.

As we will that Axwell track. Like Frankie Valli played it on the show but not sure if mentioned in text. I think the house debate for the summer is which will chart higher... Axwell's I Found You or Armand Van Helden's I want Your Soul? Place your bets please...

I've really missed Ras Kwame since he was shunted till three in the morning or when ever it is, yeh there is listen again but it just ain't the same. But when I heard Ras was having one of my favourite contemporary soul artists Nate James in session it was time for me and Ras to become friends again! He's got such an awesome voice if I was gay I think I'd be on the verge of wetness but more importantly the man has top music taste and is big on supporting the UK.. peeps just like Nate. New album on the way and tracks to keep those ears peeled for include Back To You and High Time.

Other things on Ras's show that caught my attention were Jaguar Skills on production for Lupe Fiasco who along with with Rhyme Fest is prob my fav rapper, that is called We On. On the dancier vibe really liked the urban pop angle of Sticky - Belly (dirty Pop remix) and if you're feeling grimey Aftershock - Warning Remix is worth checking too.. last half hour of the show.

Man there are some dodgy 'new' cover versions knocking around at the mo! As if Shirley Bassy doing Pink wasn't guaranteed to screw your head I've just heard Sir Tom Jones's attempt at The Artic Monkeys. If you're feeling in a particulary perverse musical mood you might wanna check these out.

I shan't be however as I have some serious humble pumpkin pie eating to do. I hadn't been at all impressed by any of the new Smashing Pumpkins material heard so far and yet just before 8pm on Wednesday I couldn't leave my car as Zane introduce you and me to the stormer that is United States - all nine minutes! I swear I felt 16 again (apart from the car driving bit of course, I don't want you thinking I was joy-rider or anything). In fact it rounded off a pretty hot half hour or so that included that wicked Where's my Money track (basically a drum n bass track with a dj chasing a promoter to get paid over it), the new Rakes which I really like and also another track that made me feel like a 90s teenager again.. Fatboy on the remix of a new Run DMC track continuing the hiphop tradition of releasing your best stuff when you're dead.

By the way Hugh Stevens had a great show in the early hours of Thur morning. Not only did he inform me of the surname of that Eugene bloke I'd been going on about (its McGuiness by the way, dya think Hugh had been listening to Xfm?) but he had a live session from Breaking The Illusion which was fantastic... great beats, funny lyrics and top energy definitely worth checking again on the ole listen again.

As is Giles Peterson if you loved Roman Flugel's Gehts Nocht as much as I did.. Giles plays his new track about30/ 40 mins into this weeks show.

Not much clubbing going on this evening being a Monday in the holidays and all but heard some good tunes on the wireless that made me smile. Mr Zipper Lowe has clearly finally been checking out Mr Peterson cause he's started dropping tracks off the new Elektrons album (forthcoming August I believe). You might remember I was going on about their 'Joy' track over the weekend and last month I couldn't get enough of 'Get Up' on my show, well Zane played it last night as it actually stopped raining for three minutes, the sun came out and the world seemed a happier and definitely funkier place for a moment or two. Other big tracks Zane played worth keeping those Brand Nu music loving ears peeled for are:

New Kanye featuring Daft Punk - 'Stronger'
New Go! Team - 'Grip like a Vice'
and new Dan Le Sac. Zane is playing 'Beat that my heart skipped' which I do like but isn't as good as some of their other stuff I've heard, need to see these boys live!

Not so sure I must say about either the new Hard Fi or Smashing Pumpkins, maybe they'll grow on me.

John Kennedy had a new kid on the block (to me anyway) in the studio called Eugene someone who had some nice tunes in a kinda Jack Penate way but with a bit of satire to his lyrics. The track to watch out for is 'Monsters under the bed'. Speaking of tracks to watch out for if you still pine after the mid-90s and britpop and its height you'll love the Coxon/ Weller collaboration, not out till late July rumours are certain download sites have it available already.

Heard some good tunes over the weekend. Groove Armada were covering from Pete Tong again the lucky buggers but fair dues they are the best cover guests by a million miles, in fact they could teach a few so called radio professionals a few tricks.. did you hear it when they let Sara Cox loose? Yes it was funny... for about ten minutes then just annoying and what about Bob Sinclar? Edam ain't even the start of it! Anywho back to the tunes we got to hear some interesting GA bits as they plugged the hell out of both their new album and their Lovebox Festival which I must admit I've never made it to. My highlight was prob the Boris Dulugosch remix of the single Song for Mutya. Whilst I've never been a fan of anything involving Sugar Babes old or new Boris is an old fav and who into UK dance doesn't love GA so this was always likely to be a winner. BUT BUT BUT the big tune for me was Kissy Sell-Out does riverdance, his 'Harriet' track is incredible well it seems a strange word but innovative, its just so different/ out and out random I'm not sure if I actually like but I do admire it if that makes sense? This week's Essential New Tune a Riton remix of the much admired Aliens is also pretty tasty.

Out on the rainy streets of London Wildchild was fun and put some tracks in a new perspective. You know how some tunes you just don't get till you hear in a club or at a gig, well the great outdoors (or should that be kinda outdoors?) gives things a whole different perspective. I still think this Paul Woolford remix of Van Helden's legendary Tori Amos mix is a joke (in terms of being exactly the same) but it just sounds so good even Brand Nu Towers is going to allow it and as for the Elektrons and Joy? What a gorgeous beautiful song. Their album is out in August.

A very dancey weekend as you can gather, I clearly need an indie fix this week

Summer Term 2007 has come to an end which means my radio show is on sabbatical for three months so I thought I'd start writing inanely about all the great tunes I've been hearing now instead of just talking inanely about them.

John Kennedy on XFM has had a proper random tune of the week the last few days. It sounds like a German Ompa band from the 1930s who've had too much bubblegum, it is truly random and I love it. Its called.. well I'm not sure and I really need to find out!

Westwood played an interesting track on his In New Music We Trust Show which sampled the classic 'Stand By Me' and I gotta say it doesn't really work for me but I have a horrible feeling if it doesn't grow on me it certainly will on thirteen year olds UK wide.

If you haven't seen Calvin Harris yet live you need to do so. He's a good live performer, not more not less but he just has some great tunes, believe me this guy is here to stay. People keep calling him the new Mylo well I think he could be much bigger. 'Vegas' and 'Money Maker' could both go top 5 and House Headz everywhere who might find all these too poppy are going to love 'Industry', it went off when he played that.. always a killer sign when the crowd react like that to a track they haven't heard before. I reckon we are talking at least four top 10s for Calvin by the end of 07, royalties of which Mr Mylo could only dream!

Speaking of live peeps especially funky ones if you do one thing (and I realise this suggestion is kinda blasphemous) you need to check out Mark Ronson and his band live. yeh its covers and so in theory old but Mr Ronson's interpretations are trully unique and original and therefore qualify for a Brand Nu big-up, there is also the bonus that his gigs appear to put everyone in such a funky happy mood its easy to pull ; 0 )