Sheena Beaston

Lady Gaga - Bad Romance (new video!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:25:00 +0000

The highly anticipated and much agonized over video for Lady Gaga's Bad Romance has just debuted. Sticking true to the blueprint by which she says it was conceived, the video finds the lost lady taken hostage by Russian sex traffickers, and well, the possibilities are endless.

With an abundant supply of fashion, freaks and frighteningly frenetic and amazing choreography, Lady Gaga outdoes herself with a polished video that unfolds the tale of her transformtion from imprisoned slave to victorious vixen over all maligned romancers.

Watch it now.

There's a certain amount of respect that must be attributed to Lady Gaga. As much as you may love or hate her, when a talented pop artist like she, is given the freedom to write the songs and create the visions that they embody, the results are tremendous.

Stellar song and SUPERB video.

mp3: Lady Gaga - Poker Face (Glam As You Club Mix)

Win Tickets to See Awesome New Republic and Fischerspooner (DJ Set) Tonight!

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:57:00 +0000

Hey all you Los Angeles radlets! Want to attend a pretty kickass party time tonight? Then jump on below this event flyer and hurry, cause this contest is a one day only deal!

Tonight, Cinespace in LA gets overtaken by Dim Mak, Fischerspooner (for what is sure to be an excellent DJ set), and a Beaston fave in Awesome New Republic. If you'll recall, we had the Miami boys on our CMJ bill and they totally tore the house down.

Want to attend this show with a guest?

Here's what you need to do, and if you're noticing trends with our contests, then yeah, you are spot on. We love our twittered world, and want you to be a part of it!

Simply copy, paste and send me this message via twitter: hey @sheenabeaston, you are awesome but awesome new republic is AWESOMER, so give me the tickets to see them @cinespacela tonight!

That's it! Contest will be open until 5pm EST today, and winner will be selected at random and notified via direct message/email.

mp3: Awesome New Republic - Digital World (Soulwax Remix)

Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets (Baby Monster Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:08:00 +0000

With the lack of any previous Beaston updates surrounding the winsome warbles of London's Ellie Goulding, you may have thought we didn't care for her brand of music. Quite the opposite, and we're going to explain why, so please do read on.

It's not often that an artist with merely a song two can so widely affect a fickle audience, yet so goes the way of Ellie Goulding's rise to stardom with one, a cover song, and two, what may be considered as a "best song of the year", come late 2009 listing time.

And with this instant notoriety comes the waves of abundant adoration and articles, so we took a back seat, partially due to the massive amount of exposure, but mainly due to the fact that the first time we heard Under The Sheets, a fit of "the cries" overcame me with no warning. Pairing Starsmith's stellar production with Goulding's vulnerably whispered vocals, the song struck such a strong and personal chord with me, that as much as I truly cherish it, it's hard to listen to frequently, let alone express my feelings about it.

In what will most definitely be heralded as one of the Beaston favorites of the year, it's in this 3 minutes and 48 seconds that I feel completely at a loss and totally full at the same time.

Our boys, Baby Monster, have supplied a remix of the song, which appears on the official single release out now through Neon Gold.

mp3: Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets (Baby Monster Remix)
mp3: Ellie Goulding - Under The Sheets

Performance - Reptile

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:44:00 +0000

**EXCLUSIVE**
Performance are a group of popminded individuals, hailing from Manchester. Together, they create anthemically rad synth-laden indiepop. That collection of descriptors right there? That's the quickest way into this Beastly heart.

The band's debut album, (we are) Performance, shot out in 2007, but since the release, the member's have gone on to seek out side projects. Joe STretch became an internationally published novelist, while the pair of Laura Marsden and Joe Cross founded the band Kiss in Cities.

Over the past two years of playing around in other ventures, Performance decided to rally up and join forces again for a 2010 return. To celebrate their re-emergence as an electropop force to be reckoned with, we're pretty pumped to give you the song, Reptile, as a Beaston exclusive.

The song is an upbeat slice of fun pop that pairs sharp lyrics with a matching arrangement. Your gift is below.

mp3: Performance - Reptile

Chew Lips - Slick

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Last week, we brought you a video showcasing three acts that appear on the Kitsuné Maison 8 compilation. Included in the visual/aural presentation were London's dancepop trio, Chew Lips.

With only a handful of single releases to their name, Chew Lips' minimalist techno beats, coupled with smart-mouthed and edgy vocals are an easy addition to my musical battalion.

Tigs, Will and James have the ability to create genuinely unique pop tunes while maintaining a mark of sensibility and accessibility. Such is the case with previous works we've heard in Solo and Salt Air. With a new track, Slick, available for download, we're treated to another escape into pop bliss.

Grab it below, along with another one of our favorite Chew Lips songs.

Tha band is headlining a UK tour beginning on November 18. Hit up their 'Space for full dates and details.

mp3: Chew Lips - Slick
mp3: Chew Lips - Eight

La Roux - Bulletproof (Gashups Filthy Dubstep Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:47:00 +0000

This news has been out for a hot minute, and looking back through my drafts, realized I had this ready to go, but never actually hit that magic "publish" button. So here we go. La Roux has announced winter tour dates throughout the US and Canada, and we're planning on not missing the act this time around.

Hot off the heels of a sold-out stateside tour, South London synth-pop sensation La Roux have just announced a handful of dates on our lovely side of the pond. The tour kicks off in Boston on January 31 at the Paradise Rock Club and culminates in NYC on February 11. Theses dates will be followed by The Gold Tour, a series of shows in the UK beginning on April 26.

It's been a whirlwind year for the troupe and 2010 promises to continue in the upward path set forth already.

Here are the dates for both sets of events, and below that, go grab an ultra dubby dish of Bulletproof.

January 31 - Boston,MA - Paradise Rock Club
February 01 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
February 03 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial
February 05 - Montreal, QC - Metropolis
February 06 - Ottawa, ON - Capital
February 09 - Philadelphia, PA - Voyeurs
February 10 - Washington, DC - 930
February 11 - New York, NY - Webster Hall

April 26 - Reading Hexagon
April 28 - Brighton Concert Hall
April 29 - Cambridge Corn Exchange
April 30 - Bournemouth 02 Academy
May 02 - Glasgow Academy
May 03 - Sheffield 02 Academy
May 04 - Manchester Academy
May 06 - Cardiff University
May 07 - London Brixton AcademyM

mp3: La Roux - Bulletproof (Gashups Filthy Dubstep Remix)

Win a Pair of Tickets (NY and Chi) to See Bad Lieutenant!

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:20:00 +0000

If you're not up to speed on all things Bad Lieutenant by this point, let's familiarize! Yep, Bernard Sumner, New Order, etc...but this super group stands powerfully enough on it's own merit, complete with a fall tour to boot.

And if you've been itching to have your Bad fever scratched, then enter this simple contest, in which lucky ducks in both New York City and Chicago can score a pair of tickets to see the band live!

Here's what you need to do.

We start by stressing to follow us on twitter. It's logistically in your best interest to do so. Next, just copy, paste and send either of these 2 city specific messages.

New York City: hey yo @sheenabeaston hook me up with a pair of tickets to see bad lieutenant in nyc @websterhall on november 21

Chicago: hey yo @sheenabeaston hook me up with a pair of tickets to see bad lieutenant in chicago at park west on november 18

That's all you have to do! Contest will run until 5pm Friday, November 13 and winners will be notified by DM and email.

mp3: Bad Lieutenant - Dynamo

Drop The Lime's "Set Me Free" Gets Worked Over by NROTB

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:41:00 +0000

The past few months have been overtaken by Trouble and Bass mastermind, Drop The Lime. Whether it's his original songs, or the way that he expertly remixes and fixes up equally delicious delights, it's no lie that the blogworld has been overtaken with the mad genius of DTL.

Last month, a new song, Set Me Free, was introduced upon wanting ears. The track features the heart-stoppingly housey vocals of newcomer, Carrie Wilds. So how do you pay respect to an offering that is already prety much near perfect? Ask NROTB.

We follow the Quebecian duo of Mister Ed and Mr. P with great care and caution, if only because as soon as we spin one of their fixes, it's inevitable that the feet start flying and the sweat starts pouring, regardless of where we are at the time. So with both their Dark and Carnival mixes of Set Me Free, we proceeded with an anxious trigger finger.

As expected, delivery is a success. The two reworks do sound a slight similar, but it's the echoey nuances of the Dark mix that keeps us coming back for more. Both are generously grand and definitely Beaston approved.

mp3: Drop The Lime - Set Me Free (NROTB Dark Mix)
mp3: Drop The Lime - Set Me Free (NROTB Carnival Mix)

Amanda Blank in France (new video!); Tour with Peaches Begins November 13

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:13:00 +0000

The second half of 2009 has definitely fit nicely into the pocket of one, Amanda Blank. With her solo debut album, I Love You, seeing release, a bevy of videos, singles and remixes spewing forth, a tour alongside the queen of electroclash seems befitting of Blank's rise to international notoriety.

First up, the fine folks over at Grandcrew recently updated their stash of video selections with footage from this year's July 4 Eurockéennes de Belfort celebration in France. Blank took the stage, to what many considered an introduction to her new material. After having seen her live performance 4 times this year, it's safe to say that this video is a great representation of what's in store for her remaining 2009 dates.

Watch the lass, backed by power duo, Devlin and Darko, below.

Did you catch those transitions? The Missy Elliott hits make me love it a little more with each view/listen.

And in case you were wondering were you can find dates for Peaches' year long tour, with this leg being supported by Amanda Blank, well, those are here. You better believe this Beastly butt will be in attendance, comeplete with a change of clothes post sweatfest.

mp3: Amanda Blank - Shame On Me (Viking Remix)

Bertie Blackman - Thump (Suds and Soda Clash Up)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

We continue to be both amazed and at a loss for words when it comes to the music and messages coming out of Soho's (UK) Suds and Soda. We've written quite a bit about the mysterious pair, and are still no closer to revealing who they are, but that doesn't stop good music from flowing forth.

Now, this dynamic duo wows us with a rework, or what they like to call a "clash up". Bertie Blackman's Thump is a tune we were already crushing on, and now with the addition of some Suds, some Soda and whole gaggle of clashing, we've been given a second chance to love this all over again.

Here's what that randomly eccentric dup has to say about the fix...

"We have fucked with this one a fair pencil. Think the only part of the original is the acapella. All the beats and bass come from our sweaty pancakes! This one is inspired by peanuts(the nut) and peaches(the lady)

Clash Up = A musical collision featuring Suds and Sodas beats and treats. PHHHHHAAAARP!"

Who the hell knows how to translate weird? And at the same time, oh so rad!

mp3: Bertie Blackman - Thump (Suds and Soda Clash Up)

Fan Death - Cannibal

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:52:00 +0000

If it's a disco-influenced, pulse throttling jam that you're in the mood for this afternoon, then dadgum, you shall have it! Naturally, this track comes courtesy of a Beaston favorite: Fan Death.

Following in the recent success of the brilliant video for Reunited (watch it here), Fan Death return with a sneak preview of their A Coin For The Well EP, which is slated for a January 4, 2010 release through The Pharmacy Recording Company.

Newest to be heard from the output is Cannibal, which secures its roots much in the same dancey vein as Veronica’s Veil. Driven by a brilliant string motif, the lead track off the EP is churned out with dazzling results. This is a hook-filled dancefloor hit that is a pure leftfield pop classic in the making.

Now dance!

mp3: Fan Death - Cannibal

Robin Thicke (featuring Nicki Minaj) - Shakin it For Daddy

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0000

If you're a dear friend of the Beast, then you'll be well aware of my undying affection for all things Robin Thicke. He's my steaming cup of hot white chocolate, and his sensually driven songs are enough to make any listener weak in the knees.

Thick released the album, Something Else, in September of last year...and ever the workman, has a new release scheduled to land on December 15. The aptly titled, Sex Therapy, promises to showcase the crooner's silky falsettos with a mix of urbanized beats and bravados.

The title track has been floating around for some time, but it was the outpouring of soul and style heard on the song, Shakin it For Daddy, that immediately perked up thine ears. Featuring the inimitably in-your-face vocalse of Nicki Minaj, the tune flows from minimalistically modern to hardcore hip-hop in a matter of seconds.

Also give a listen to Meiplé (pronounced Me I Play), which wrangles Jay-Z for some licks on this light and breezy flirter.

mp3: Robin Thicke (featuring Nicki Minaj) - Shakin it For Daddy
mp3: Robin Thicke (featuring Jay-Z) - Meiplé

Shakira (featuring Kid Cudi) - Did It Again (Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:35:00 +0000

While I haven't really writ a whole lot surrounding about Shakira and her new album, She Wolf, here on the site, you will know (if you follow me on twitter) that I have been slightly more than obsessed with the release. Long a fan, this new effort solidified my appreciation for the Columbian singer and songwriter.

So yes, you can bet I've been listening to the wolfish warbles of Shakira quite a bit, especially album tracks Men in This Town, Why Wait and Did It Again. The latter quickly caught my ear with an eclectic mix of Korean drums and syncopatically intriguing vocal groans and . The song was announced as the second international single from the album, and you can watch the official video for the song here.

And now that martian man, Kid Cudi, has jumped on board with his remix of the song, we have even more reason to love it...and subsequently, play it on repeat. Mixing the instrumentals along with/rather than just simply laying down a verse within, Cudi takes the song from smooth and sensual to a sexy staccato'd romp.

Status check? Infatuation.

mp3: Shakira (featuring Kid Cudi) - Did It Again (Remix)

Sambassadeur - Days (and new album news!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Valid question time. Why aren't Sambassadeur bigger here in the States then they currentlky are? Sitting high atop the mighty mountain of Labrador Records (for whom we continually swoon over), the Swedish quartet mix a variety of strings and sounds to form the most pleasant pop songs.

Making small bursts onto the scene since 2005, Sambassadeur quickly found a solid spot in my heart and on my playlists. With a confident collection of EPs to their credit, Anna, Joachim and both Daniels now look to the future with a refreshed sense of direction.

The band's upcoming single, Days, is a sweeping blow of grandeur, with enough big drums and constant tambourine-ing to compliment the easy tones of vocalist Anna Persson. The song will be included on their full length release, due out in January 2010.

Grab the song below, along with one of my favrotie Sambassadeur tracks, Subtle Changes. If you don't fall in love with the latter within the first 2 seconds, I don't even know what to say to you.

mp3: Sambassadeur - Days
mp3: Sambassadeur - Subtle Changes

Stress (featuring Rye Rye) - Nananah! (Electrolightz Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:08:00 +0000

By all accounts, I'd like to take a small dose of credit for introducing Electrolightz to a very nichey, totally critical and especially "cop my steez-able" blogworld. While there will always be the latter, we're still forging ahead in grand support of the boys who make our booties bounce.

First, the dudes smashed a Keri Hilson fix, then they totally demolished a La Roux track...only to dive on into a crowded pool of emails and make a splash with their remix of an unkonwn Swissman featuring a Baltimorian staple.

Stress is the above mentioned Swiss kid, and his jam, Nananah! pairs French vocals with a wickedly wonderful laydown by Rye Rye. Enter Electrolightz to totally turn the signaturely styled song into a monster of a face melter.

BONUS! More remixes of the original are coming soon, courtesy of Freak You and Justin Faust. Color us excited!

mp3: Stress (featuring Rye Rye) - Nananah! (Electrolightz Remix)

The XX - Shelter (Death to the Throne Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:31:00 +0000

Did they or didn't they break up? After swirling rumors of exhaustion and tensions after 1/4 of superpower babies, The XX, departed, much was to be weighed in on the hows and whys of the sudden news. All we can gather is that the 20 year old young'un was spent...after a nonstop touring schedule, it's not hard to imagine why.

But that's not to be focused on, because we are drooling over a blogger fave's new mix of the London troupe's iconic song, Shelter.

Death to the Throne has long been popping up here in Beastonia. And while he is bummed out that he didn't notch into DJ Mag's Top 100 list, that hasn't stopped him from cranking out a major mix, which we might be able to call his personally vendetta'd opus against the results.

He says: "Apparently, I don't make enough "guido" house. If anything, I thought I made too much, but I was wrong. So I made this remix, which sounds like David Guetta having sex with another David Guetta, while being watched by a bunch of David Guettas."

Whether he's being serious or silly, there's one fact that is undeniable.

We are in love with this mix and no list can make us say otherwise.

mp3: The XX - Shelter (Death to the Throne Remix)

The Hood Internet - Mixtape Volume Four (free download!)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:08:00 +0000

I can think of no better way to start our work week/Monday morning than with a huge gift in the form of something free, something amazing and something musically diversely perfect. Of course it comes from some of our fave Chicagoans, The Hood Internet.

It's been just over a year since the last installment of their mixtapes dropped, they recently posted up their 300th "Hood track", and in order to celebrate, their new mixtape is all yours, mine and ours...for free!

The new mixtape has 30+ recent Hood Internet favorites compacted into just a lil bit over an hour of rad raging times. Cover art comes from the talented artist Karen Tinsel, and you know we've got a super slick track list for you to follow along.

1. Intro
2. David Banner vs Fujiya & Miyagi - Get Like Pterodactyls
3. The Beastie Boys vs Matt And Kim - Good Ol' Fashion Rump Shaker
4. Kanye West vs Cage & Aviary - Touch The Television
5. Lil Wayne (feat. Babyface) vs Royksopp - Comfortable Up Here
6. Passion Pit vs Juvenile - Back That Sleepyhead Up
7. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince vs Daft Punk - Summer Circuit
8. Public Enemy vs HEALTH vs Nosaj Thing - Bring The Tabloid Sores
9. AZ (feat. Ghostface) vs The Golden Filter - Solid Gold From New York
10. Modest Mouse vs Kanye West - Floating Paranoia
11. Clipse vs Yuksek - Kinda Like A Big Break
12. Weezer vs Glass Candy - Buddy Holly's Imagination
13. Bangers & Cash vs Bag Raiders - Bang Raiders
14. Amanda Blank vs VEGA - No Reasons To Like You Better
15. Michael Jackson vs Ratatat - Billie "Wildcat" Jean
16. Kid Sister (feat. Pitbull) vs Phonat - Free Control Ocho
17. Twista (feat. Erika Shevon) vs Boys Noize - Wetter And Jeffer
18. Flo Rida (feat. Ke$ha) vs MSTRKRFT - 1000 Times Right Round
19. R. Kelly (feat. Keri Hilson) vs Sally Shapiro - Number One Christmas
20. Drake vs The Rapture - Best Jealous Lover I Ever Had
21. Bon Iver vs Friendly Fires vs Aeroplane - Lump Sum Of Paris
22. Jeremih vs Handsome Furs - Birthday Furs
23. Yung LA vs Solid Gold - Who Ain't I Gonna Run To?
24. Major Lazer (feat. Santigold) vs Dirty Projectors - Hold The Stillness
25. Dead Prez vs Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop
26. Soulja Boy vs Joe Jackson - Swaggin' Out
27. OJ Da Juiceman (feat. Gucci Mane) vs Discovery - Make The Loop Aye
28. Glasses Malone vs Chromatics - A Moment To Remember Haterz
29. Paper Route Gangstaz vs Animal Collective - Animals Collecting Money
30. B-Hamp vs Little Boots - Ricky Bobby Boots
31. Ghostface Killah vs Beirut - Save Me Concubine
32. Keri Hilson vs The Glitch Mob/TVOTR - Red Dress Turnin Me On
33. Dorrough vs Bibio - Fire Ant Paint Job
34. Outro

What's even better? You've got 2 options for downloading fun. You can snag the entire hour long mixtape in a tidy mp3 here. Or you can pull individual tracks from this mega zip file, if you haven't already added these to your arsenal along the way.

Below, a few of our indiviudal favorites.

Good morning, indeed!

mp3: Clipse vs Yuksek - Kinda Like a Big Break (The Hood Internet Mash)
mp3: R. Kelly (featuring Keri Hilson) vs Sally Shapiro - Number One Christmas (The Hood Internet Mash)
mp3: AZ (featuring Ghostface Killah) vs The Golden Filter - Solid Gold From New York (The Hood Internet Mash)

Nightriders - Take My Hand (Justin Faust Deep Mix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Justin Faust has long been known around these parts as the lord of the dreamwave-aliciously rad dance floor killers while making you simultaneously shake and swoon. So an early morning email received from the German gent is always a treat and makes me spring forth from my slumber chamber and get to getting on!

This Faust fix revolves around the already tasty tune belonging to Boston boys, Nightriders, with Take My Hand.

The original is a slick space ride through the stratosphere, but Faust does what he does best: giving the song the "Justin Jumps" in that we're now entrenched in an early AM sweatfest due to his deep bass addition. Yeah, it's a bit of a contrast from the JF mixes you're used to, but I guarantee you're going to love it all the same.

Hits play, and repeat. Got it? Play and repeat.

mp3: Nightriders - Take My Hand (Justin Faust Deep Mix)

Woops, My Bad!

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:19:00 +0000

Forgot to let you in on a little secret. I trekked to my parents' for the weekend, hence the lack of updates.

If you may recall, today actually marks my sister's one year wedding anniversary. So congrats to her and my brother-in-law, and we'll have plenty of rad goodies for you tomorrow.

That is all for now.

Hyper Crush - Sex and Drugs (Benny Benassi Sfaction Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:24:00 +0000

If there's two things that I'm really good at doing, it's being hyper AND developing crushes on people, songs and inanimate objects. That said, we've got some tunes full of 8-bit radness that speaks directly to the ADD-riddled schoolgirl underneath this beastly facade.

Hyper Crush is the doo-hop, electro, deathcore super group of three shit-faced extra terrestrials known amongst the elite simply as Donny, Preston and Holly. Their destiny is to be acclaimed in epic proportions, and if these tracks are any evidence that all is possible, then we're jumping on board their intergalactic wagon.

Between their Clinton Sparks Mixtape (which you can download for free here), the Benny Benassi remix of their hit, Sex and Drugs, and an upcoming full length in 2010, you'll be dancing so hard and fast that you may just rocket off into Hyper Crush's sexy little solar system.

mp3: Hyper Crush - Sex and Drugs (Benny Benassi Sfaction Remix)
mp3: Hyper Crush - Don't You Want Me

RebekkaMaria Leaves the "AsIn" Behind as She Debuts New Material

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:08:00 +0000

Swedish/Dane, RebekkaMaria, first fell across our desks around this time last year with her brand of inspired and intrgiuing blisspop. Formerly known as AsInRebekkaMaria, the chanteuse nixed the (sorry, yes it was annoying) "AsIn", and has new songs to prove she can stand up to her solo name status.

Rad man, Raj, over at EQ got the dish on the happenings...

"The first album went of in just one tangent so to speak. It didn’t represent me as a complete artist, which is one of the reasons why I erased the prefix As In. That is also why the coming album is much more personal and containing a greater depth than Queen of France. When I am writing music I need silence and solitude. While being alone and away from the city noise, I get in touch with sides of myself that I am not use to in my daily life. For me nature makes a whole other kind of noise."

You know what, we still love her either way...although typing her name is world's easier without the prefix and cheers to that!

Her new single, Oh Solitude, was released with the b-side, Robin Parts, which mixes modern Danish artists with classic composers in a new symphonic sound. Both are highly recommended and definitely Beaston approved!

mp3: RebekkaMaria - Oh Solitude
mp3: RebekkaMaria - Robin Parts

Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel (Wallpaper's Mariah Mashup)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Roll call: Fool's Gold? Check! Wallpaper? Here! Mariah Carey? Wait...what? Let's do a little explaining.

We geeked out for Fool's Gold's catchily cutesy song, Surprise Hotel, a bit ago...and if there was one recommendation we'd make to make it better, well, we wouldn't look to Mariah Carey first, but then again, we're not the masher here.

Eric, of Wallpaper, writes:
When I first heard Surprise Hotel, I felt all these little thought bubbles effervescing in my brain. There is a lot to take in, on a musical level. The original vocal coats this exuberant track with a calm, peaceful beauty. So I started combing the universe for a vocal that seemed as wilin' out as those guitar parts and roughly the same tempo and / or key. Turns out Mariah Carey's Emotions is already in the exact same key (the relative minor) and dances atop the rhythm section like it was born to. This is the first segment of SiSTRS from Different MiSTRS.

Safe to say, we're big fans of this mash. More Mariah is always good Mariah.

mp3: Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel (Wallpaper's Mariah Mashup)

Introducing: Donkeyboy

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Pop, rock and electronica...all thrown together to collectively amount to one of the most overlooked and easily digestible albums of the year. That, in a few words, sums up the rise of Norway's Donkeyboy.

The Donkeyboy quintet is fronted by brothers Cato and Kent, who write and share lead vocal duties on almost all of the band's fresh, melody driven and 80s-inspired songs. The siblings are joined by Thomas, Peter and Alexander, who take care of drums, guitar and bass duties. Formed in 2005 the band are now ready, willing and more than able to scale the heights of the international pop world.

Releasing their debut single, Ambitions, in March of this year, followed by first album, Caught in a Life, last month, the lads quickly have secured a loving spot in the land of Beastonia.

Second single, Sometimes, is equally refreshing and catchy. So much so, that fellow Norwegians, a-ha, have asked the band to support them on the UK/Oslo leg of their Foot of the Mountain tour later this month.

mp3: Donkeyboy - Sometimes
mp3: Donkeyboy - Ambitions

Royksopp (featuring Karin Dreijer) - Tricky Tricky (Tits and Clits Remix)

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:53:00 +0000

Every time we type this Hungarian power duo's name, we feel a little naughty...and we like it! Then we move forward and listen to their dynamic reworks, and we get even filthier, because their mondo ace mixes make us want to do all sorts of devious things.

Tits and Clits produced this remix of Royksopp's Tricky Tricky for the competition that the Swedish boys had surrounding the release of the single. It's a wobbly and wickedly worked over fix of the original...keeping Dreijer's vocals in tact, instead opting to shake up and strip down the instrumentals.

Play count so far this morning: 5 and not stopping...

Royksopp recently released their newest single, This Must Be It. So, you know, go buy it here, cause there are some super sweet mixes included in the package.

Royksopp plays Webster Hall on November 23 and 24. Tickets here.

mp3: Royksopp (featuring Karin Dreijer) - Tricky Tricky (Tits and Clits Remix)

Kite in the Air - Magic Marker

noreply@blogger.com (Sheena Beaston) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:27:00 +0000

It's a known fact here in Beastonia, that I await with baited breath at the mere mention of new music coming out of camp Kite in the Air. They've impressed with every effort thus far, so it's so surprise that in getting an email late this aftenoon from lead vocalist, Emma, that there would be the subsequent post immediately afer listening.

Kite in the Air blew me away with their self titled debut EP back in May, so word of a second EP, due out later this month, makes me smile like no other.

Tonight, I've got the title track off of the late November release, Magic Marker, and can I just take a minute to revel, and say...WOW. The trio of Emma, Mike and Jed dive into an electronic pool of softly touching elements and emerge, drenching listeners in a wave of liquid love. Keep it locked in til the 2:00 minute mark when the song beefs up a bit and the always tight production takes the song to a bigger and beefier level.

Sit back and say aaaaah.

mp3: Kite in the Air - Magic Marker