Well…

We’ve laughed. We’ve cried. We’ve stripped to our waists, pumping our chests unashamed in a display of true primal masculinity and you’ve been there with us every step of the way.

To show our thanks we put together this little compilation of some of the highlights that have been featured on the blog thus far. Be warned, the music featured in this mix contains pure, unrestrained, unequivocal EMOTION. It took several times longer than it should have to compile due to us breaking down in each others arms as we listened back and debated what tracks should be featured. It was almost too powerful.

With this in mind, get ready to break-up, make-up and experience the true meaning of ‘Emotional Pop’.

Emotional Pop – The Story So Far…

• Gino Vanelli – Keep On Walking
• Peter Godwin – Soul Of Love
• Kindness – Anyone Can Fall In Love
• DeBarge – A Dream
• Streisand – Guilty
• Crowded House – Don’t Dream It’s Over
• Shabba Ranks – Mr. Loverman (Raggamental Mix)
• The Style Council – Long Hot Summer (Club Mix)
• Bappi Lahiri – Come Closer
• Peter Gabriel – Sledgehammer (Dance Mix)
• Caroline Loeb – C’est La Ouate (Long Version)
• Oran ‘Juice’ Jones – The Rain
• Herb Alpert – Keep Your Eye On Me (Extended Version)
• Electric Light Orchestra – Last Train To London
• Fleetwood Mac – Love In Store
• Q Lassarus – Goodbye Horses (Extended Version)
• Cory Hart – Sunglasses At Night (Extended Version)
• The Creatures – Inspiration
• Lionel Richie – Love Will Find A Way
• Chris Isaak – Wicked Game
• Simply Red – Holding Back The Years (12″ Extended Mix)
• Elton John – A Song For Guy

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After a hugely enjoyable debut mix, it’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Naive Melody grande-fromage Elliott back into the fold with another emotional effort. In his own words:

Hi folks, kick back and enjoy the music. Just think, it’s the summer of 76, or 78, or is it 81? Doesn’t matter… your living in a beat up motel downtown and there’s some whiskey left in the bottle on your bed side table. Ooh and what’s that in the draw? A copy of Jim Morrison’s ‘American Prayer’. GET IN.

BLACK POLISHED CHROME
- Jim Morrison

The music was new black polished chrome
And came over the summer like liquid night.
The DJ’s took pills to stay awake and play for seven days
They went to the studio
And someone knew him
Someone knew the TV showman

He came to our homeroom party and played records
And when he left in the hot noon sun and walked to his car
We saw the chooks had written F‑U‑C‑K on his windshield
He wiped it off with a rag and smiling cooly drove away
He’s rich. Got a big car.

My gang will get you
Scenes of rape in the arroyo
Seduction in cars, abandoned buildings
Fights at the food stand
The dust the shoes
Open shirts and raised collars
Bright sculptured hair.

Hey man, you want girls, pills, grass?
C’mon… I show you good time.
This place has everything.
C’mon… I show you.

Elliott (Naive Melody) – In The City

• The Rolling Stones – Fool to Cry
• Hall and Oates – I’m Just a Kid (Don’t Make Me Feel Like A Man)
• Boz Scaggs – I’ll Be Long Gone
• Randy Newman – Baltimore
• Tom Waits – Downtown Train
• Elton John – Bennie and The Jets
• The Stories – Brother Louie (Long Version)
• The Beach Boys – Feel Flows
• Todd Rundgren – Healing (Part 1)
• Van Morrison – Wavelength
• Al Stewart – Year of The Cat (Original LP Version)
• The Stevie Miller Band – Circle of Love
• Alan Parson’s Project – Eye In The Sky
• John Waites – Missing You (Extended Version)

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Go for it guys. Turn the lights down low, get yourselves oiled up and take advantage of the day.

Emotional Pop – In Deep

01 – Les Nubians – Makeda
02 – Erykah Badu – Bump It
03 – Rhian Benson ft. Slum Village & Dwele – Say How I Feel
04 – Al Johnson ft. Jean Carne – I’m Back For More
05 – William De Vaughn – Be Thankful For What You Got
06 – Hi Gloss – You’ll Never Know (Instrumental)
07 – Daft Punk – Something About Us
08 – Montell Jordan – Get it on Tonite
09 – The Bee Gees – Love You Inside and Out
10 – Create & Devastate – The Hit Man (Instrumental)
11 – Peven Everett – Testin’ Me
12 – Imagination – So Good So Right
13 – The Isley Brothers – For The Love Of You

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Talc up you slags – this is proper 0 8 9 1 50 50 50 tackle.
Rob’s been let out of his dungeon for a couple of hours and he’s put together a proper romper stomper of a mix. I’m expecting you to be in tears / ecstasy by the end of this.

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Yes, it’s that time of year where every Tom, Dick and Harry publishes list after list of what they consider to be the best music that’s been released over the course of the last 12 months. Well, we like lists too, so ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls read on for Emotional Pop’s favourite (In no particular order) albums, compilations and DJ mixes that we have begged, borrowed and stole throughout 2011…

Mix link is at the bottom of the post.

Albums

New Look – New Look [!K7] Listen/Buy

Destroyer – Kaputt [Merge US] Listen/Buy

Nicolas Jaar – Space Is Only Noise [Circus Company] Listen/Buy

Soft Rocks – Curse Of The Soft Rocks [ESP Institute] Listen/Buy

Zola Jesus – Conatus [Souterrain Transmissions] Listen/Buy

Walls – Coracle [Kompact] Listen/Buy

Boxcutter – The Dissolve [Planet Mu] Listen/Buy

Pollyester – Earthly Powers [Permanent Vacation] Listen/Buy

Trickski – Unreality [SUOL] Listen/Buy

Compilations

Originals – Compiled By Felix Dickinson [Claremont 56] Listen/Buy

V/A – The World Of Progressive Disco [Bear Funk] Listen/Buy

V/A – Light Sounds Dark Present: After The Void [Light Sounds Dark] Listen/Buy

V/A – Fac. Dance – Factory Records: 12 Inch Mixes and Rarities 1980-1987 [Strut] Listen/Buy

V/A – Folie Distinguee – Alternative Funk [Unknown Reissue] Listen/Buy

DJ Mixes

• Finger Magazine – Come To Marina Del Ray [Test Pressing] – Listen/Download
• Jolyon Green – Passport To Eternity  [Test Pressing] – Listen/Download
• Elliot (Naive Melody) – A Perfect Winning Smile [Emotional Pop] – Listen/Download
• Psyckemagik – Celestial Love [Test Pressing] – Listen/Download

Beirut – East Harlem (From the album, The Rip Tide)

Ford & Lopatin – Emergency Room (From the album, Channel Pressure)

Grimes – Devon (From the album, Halfaxa)

Virgo Four – It’s a Crime (From the album, Resurrection)

Cliff Martinez – Drive Soundtrack

Justice – Civilization (From the album, Audio Video Disco)

Hercules & Love Affair – Painted Eyes (From the album, Blue Songs)

Holy Ghost! – Hold On (From the album, Holy Ghost!)

I also enjoyed (but can’t link to due to Youtube embedding issues)

• M83 – Hurry Up We’re Dreaming
• Washed Out – Within and Without
• Parallel Dance Ensemble – Possessions and Obsessions
• Pandit – Eternity Spin
• Holy Other – With U
• James Blake – James Blake
• D’eon – Darkbloom
• College – Northern Council

DJ Mixes

• Finger Magazine – Come To Marina Del Ray [Test Pressing] – Listen/Download
• Vidal Benjamin – La Mystique De La Nuit [Emotional Pop] – Listen/Download
• La Homage – Share The Dawn [Non Collective] – Listen/Download
• CK – Teachers [Bodytonic] – Listen/Download

And here’s some tracks from our favourite LP’s in handy mp3 format.

Feliz Navidad… x

Emotional Pop – The Best of 2011 

• Pandit – Kathryn, My Lovely
• Com Truise – Flightwave
• Teeel – Triangle Waves
• Holy Other – Yr Love
• D’eon – Transparency
• Soft Rocks – Slowdown
• Washed Out – Far Away
• Nicolas Jaar – Variations
• James Blake – Unlock
• Boxcutter – Panama
• College – Out of Sync
• College ft. Electric Youth – A Real Hero
• Parallel Dance Ensemble – Time
• Holy Ghost! – Hold On
• Hercules and Love Affair – Painted Eyes
• Zola Jesus – Shivers
• Destroyer – Poor in Love
• New Look – A Light
• M83 – Midnight City
• Panda Bear – Benefica

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*Resident mix alert*

Heads you play with the wind behind you, tails your kicking uphill…

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Back when we were working on the Cosmic Disco blog we had the pleasure of interviewing Nicolas Rosquin, head honcho at King Kung Foo Records and one half of Antwerp based duo Ronny & Renzo, who are responsible for some of the finest strung out, electronic based head music that’s been released over the last few years. Coming up in January 2012 is the second Ronny & Renzo remix of Cos/Mes ‘Naruto’. A very limited (100 copies) 10″ single release that you have to break open to reach for a 7″ that’s hidden inside, containing a special Ronny & Renzo original track! Check out the teaser here.

After providing what in our opinion was the best mix to be hosted on Cosmic Disco we invited Nicolas to once again put something ‘Emotional’ together for your aural pleasure.

*Disclaimer* This one’s darker than Josef Fritzl’s basement…

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They’re back! We’re getting towards the end of the year and the lads from Finger Magazine are hogging the nominations when it comes for the ‘mix of the year’ category.

This time it’s a collection of sultry soul to warm you up on the approaching winter evenings.

Get cosy.

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A long time friend of Emotional Pop, Elliott, is a man with a penchant for the type of music we’re all about here.

His club night, Naive Melody, set the bar for sweaty. tops-off, man-on-man disco action and his mixes regularly contain enough power tracks to take down a charging Bison.

In this mix Elliott turns the lights down low, removes his vest and gets to work.

Here’s his guide to the mix…

1. Talc – Modern Sleep Over

Talc (great band name) members Dr Fun and the Gift (not so great) released this gem back in 2005 on Wah Wah 45s. I don’t know much else about them, but the Roger Troutman-esque talk box vocals are pure wowzer in the trouser.

2. Hall & Oates – One on One

It could only be John Oates and Daryll Hall. A perfect balance of raw sexual power and pitch perfect delicacy.

3. Yukihiro Takahashi – Disposable Love

A beautiful song from a golden era of Japanese pop music. Yukihiro of Yellow Magic Orchestra is on top form. Possibly my favourite track on the mix and the competition was pretty stiff (oooooh…).

4. Roxy Music – Lover

Little known B-side from “The Same Old Scene” single. Definitely wading into Bourgeois pop territory now. Best listened to in the back of a Bentley, wearing a tuxedo, half cut, on the way home to your flat in Chelsea. Needles to say, Ferry’s vocals are outstanding, genius.

5. Metro – Gemini

Pop-stalwart Peter Godwin is bang on the money here. Top strut-worthy guitar and bass work and when the drums kick in you can really give it large in your dandy pants. Again, incredible vocals, it knocks me out every time.

6. Naked Eyes – Promises Promises

Always loved this, Naked Eyes remind me of Bros but minus the 13 year old fan-base. Heartthrob JellyBean Benitez doing his thing in the studio and earning his bread by inviting Madonna to feature on vocals (I think they were “going steady” at the time).

7. Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly

Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe met by chance in a Hi-Fi shop on the Kings road. A match made in heaven you could say.
In 1992 the pair filled in for Simon Bates’ on his Radio 1 show for an entire week, they played “The Age of Love” Watch Out for Stella remix every morning. I’d love to hear those recordings.

8. Stefano Pulga – Love Taker

Ok, I’m pushing it here with a later period up-tempo Stefano Pulga single. You probably don’t here music like this in clubs anymore for a good reason. However, if we got rid of all the chaff and replaced them with hairy stallions and women in lycra, then we wouldn’t have a problem.

9. Prince – Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad

It wouldn’t harm you at this point to whip your top off, try not to notice your inferior physique and focus all your energy on playing air-guitar during Prince’s epic solo.

10. Tatsuro Yamashita – Someday

It’s all about the rolling bassline and Yamashita’s effortless vocals on this. Great sunny day record for hanging round the pool with the lads.

11. Rik Kenton – Bungalow Love

Ooooh yeah, just how I like it. Junk-shop Glam at it’s best. Rik Kenton played guitar in Roxy and some other top bands. You can’t make music like this unless you’ve done a lot of gear.

12. Nuala – Make Up

German’s are good at making visceral, edgy, uber cool music that gets you sexually excited. Pogo around your bedroom until the record stops, then weep because the lead singer is so unattainably beautiful that she would never, ever talk to you.

13. Todd Rundgren – Izzat Love?

Part angel, part spaceboy, Todd Rundgren I am your biggest fan. He should be bottled in case of a nuclear war, one day we’ll need to remember what pop music was all about. If my memory is correct, Neon Indian sampled this record a couple of years ago on their hype machine smash, Deadbeat Summer.

14. Phil Manzanera – Island

As you step on to the treadmill press play, by the time it finishes you will be a new man, believe.

15. Passengers – The Last Romantic

I assume that you appreciate an end of the night roof-raiser when you hear one. If you’re still propping up the bar when the pianos start on this, pop down a button or two, head for the floor and think MACHO.

Elliott (Naive Melody) – A Perfect Winning Smile

• Talc – Modern Love
• Hall and Oates – One on One
• Yukihiro Takahashi – Disposable Love
• Roxy Music – Lover
• Metro – Gemini
• Naked Eyes (ft. Madonna) – Promises Promises
• Pet Shop Boys – Love Comes Quickly
• Stefano Pulga – Love Taker
• Prince – Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad
• Tatsuro Yamashita – Someday
• Rik Kenton – Bungalow Love
• Nuala – Make Up
• Todd Rundgren – Izzat Love?
• Phil Manzanera – Island
• The Passengers – The Last Romantic

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As it’s Halloween it seemed apt that I shared this mix that I originally did for The Moroders, inspired by 1970′s & 80′s Horror Movie Soundtracks…

“When it comes to 2nd hand record shopping there are few sections that are as thrilling to me as the ‘Soundtrack & Library’ one.
An intriguing and beguiling part of the record shop, in between the ’50 Brass Band library tracks’ and ‘BBC Sports Sound Effects’ LP’s you occassionaly come across an old Italian Horror Soundtrack by Goblin or Riz Ortolani or a synth score by John Carpenter or Giorgio Moroder.
Even your mainstream movies have their secret goodies with Pete Best’s ‘Crocodile Dundee’ supplying a low slung Didgeridoo heavy chugger and the breathy, ethereal ‘David at the Institution’ at the end of ‘Endless Love’ is a weird downtempo number worth checking out next time you see it in your local Oxfam.
The library LP is another great mine of little known synth and funk classics in waiting.
Bruton & KPM are the most obvious examples but there are a world of rare and obscure tracks waiting to be discovered by the pioneering digger.
This mix is a collection of Library and Soundtrack music featuring some of the aforementioned producers and labels and, of course, some less well known ones.
It’s horror themed and is best played in a car, alone, on a rainy night. Possibly approaching the outskirts of a rundown industrial city. Maybe you see something out of the corner of your eye. Perhaps there’s an old lady pushing a trolley full of cats. Should you pick up any stray hitchhikers whilst listening to this? Do you really want to stay the night at the decrepit motel you’ve come across…
Feel free to request any I.D.’s in the comments section, I’m happy to help.”

1. Sunset, East Lancs Road
2. A Mist Descends
3. Look Out, Gang!
4. Recon
5. They Attack, They Attack!
6. Scouting for Supplies
7. Memories of Lovers
8. A Hero Emerges…
9. The Traps are Laid
10. Wave Two, They Return in Numbers
11. Resistance is Futile?
12. Fight Fire with Fire (Part One)
13. Fight Fire with Fire (Part Two)
14. We. Are. Compromised
15. A Final Embrace?
16. Contemplation of Fate
17. From Disaster to Victory

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