Nah, this new post doesn’t mean that I found an apartment. I’m still looking and Sept 1st is coming really quickly, STRESS, but I got a chance to listen to some music at work today and it’s sounding pretty good. Surprising, compared to the rest of the summer. That’s right, fuck you Train with your Hey, Soul Sister. I can’t describe how annoying it is to walk in a mall and hear the song playing in every store I go into, go outside and hear some guy playing it in his car, get home and the radio is on with the DAMN song playing. Why do radio stations do it? It’s like they have a playlist of five songs and just put it on repeat.

Let’s start off with some one of my favorite bands of this … quarter of the decade, Vampire Weekend. The Miike Snow remix is pretty great, I love the added tunes to the song. Strangely with a very similar feel, the Grum remix of Marina and the Diamonds. I’ve always loved Grum remixes, that retro disco sounding electro? My love? I thought it died, but it’s still here! Fantastic. And lastly, the Blackbird Blackbird remix of Local Natives. Very wavy ambiance to the song. I’ve been meaning to get into Blackbird Blackbird, I’ll have to get the albums.

Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance (Miike Snow Remix)

Marina and the Diamonds – Oh No! (Grum Remix)

Local Natives – Camera Talk (Blackbird Blackbird Remix)

Wow, that’s a painfully harsh but true post Sasha. I post some of that stuff!! Haha, no no, I know what you’re getting at and I can’t agree more. I’m still posting remixes. My fear is that this is what my parents felt like when the 80′s came around, we’re not getting old are we? No! Music is just turning into this giant melting pot of junk. Hype Machine just doesn’t seem to be cutting it these days, it used to be the new music bible. I was listening to a house music station this week and even they were playing only older stuff. Remixes are getting dull, mash-ups are seemingly a new fad which has its gems, don’t get me wrong, but due to the sheer amount coming out these days, typically I think they’re stretching a bit. Remember when Justice came out with their remix of Simian’s We Are Your Friends? That along with Daft Punk’s new album two years before and Justice’s own album a year later was the revival of house/electro into the mainstream. Daft Punk definitely brought it in a decade before. Conclusion? We need another big electro house album to come out, by anyone. As much as I’m looking forward to another Justice album, I can’t see them truly living up to their debut. I may be wrong, I hope I am, but that’s how I see it.

This isn’t the reason I haven’t been posting enough, but it’s certainly adding to it. That’s my rant, I won’t whine about it more cause it seems I have been in every one of my posts since the start of this year. Thanks Gingerbeef, I laughed at that comment. My summer holiday consisted of moving to Toronto, working at the University of Toronto getting paid well below minimum wage as an intern, and now apartment hunting two weeks too late. My plans were to visit Japan and China again, but school got well in the way of that. Not that any of it isn’t enjoyable, it’s definitely a learning experience and for once in my life I’m actually sure that school is actually something I genuinely want to stay in, but it’s taking up the bulk of my time. Damn me being responsible!

In need inspiration, I need something to spark my love for music again the same way Daft Punk, Justice, MSTRKRFT, Moullinex, Van She, LA Riots, and so many other musicians did for me in the past. Oh, and the person who sent me mash-ups years before it became mega popular to do by everyone? Immuzikation. Shout out to you. Literally the only one who sent me mash-ups for the first 3 years of my blogging; now it’s half my inbox. Picture isn’t related to the music posted, more… reminiscing.

Some tracks for you, first Delorean Del. I’ve heard remixes by Delorean or at least I think its them. Great track, a little and short break from electro for you guys but jumping right back into it with Calvin Harris Yeah Yeah Yeah, La La La which was actually from his second album Ready for the Weekend. An album I listened to a lot and seemingly a track I completely ignored. It’s kind of grown on me this week. Lastly, a kind of strange track but it reminds me of the good old days, the Bobermann remix of Erol Alkan and Boys Noize. It’s got a strange intro.

Delorian – Deli

Calvin Harris – Yeah Yeah Yeah La La La

Erol Alkan and Boys Noize – Death Suite (Bobermann Remix)

All Hail, Katy Perry!!

The bad news first….I am cutting all non-sense music, and non-sense in general, from this point on. That means I am not open to mash-ups, n-th remixes of Electronica Top 10s*, and tracks “inspired” by your influences that sound remarkably similar to your influences. Also included are promotional sales of famed musicians’ latest releases and requests to promote festivals. This about sums it up for now.

Why so grouchy, Sasha?

I think the biggest reason for my absence that Jon pointed out is the fact that electronic music is starting to saturate the market and it is well on its way to become the major cash cow of the music industry. Sad, but seemingly very true. It does not mean that I don’t like my electronic music anymore, or that I am just being an ass pissing on everyone’s parade. I am just concerned that it will end up like Hip-Hop at the beginning of the last decade. Hip-Hop has not recovered yet, and it may never. We all need to think about that for a minute here and see what we’re doing. So I did and decided to voice myself against it actively, and everyone sending me, or thinking about sending me tracks should be at least aware that I will scrutinize your stuff more rigorously. The good music I will, of course, post and the bad music will definitely be made an example of. As I have told Jon, I will not participate in the new hot music market that everyone is gleefully humping for cash now and will, in about 3 years’ time, abandon like a rape victim. I have more integrity than that. Principles, people, is all we got to cut through the crude bullshit of today’s music industry….and bullshit in general.

I will elaborate on this with some examples, since most people reading this right now are more audio-sensible that anything else, and I know from experience that sometimes words and statements are better expressed with music.

My first example is Dude Royal – Duck Duck Goose. I have no problem with people sending me Hip-Hop; matter of fact I encourage it. I grew up with it and love it. Don’t insult my intelligence with awful NERD copies, however. If you take your influences serious and want my respect, and more importantly, my support you will have to a) find someone more artisitc than Gucci Mane as an influence (ODB is kosher, of course) and b) hire someone not sounding like an untrained mid-pubescent Pharrell. And this is just for starters. I could go on, but we have ground to cover here. Maybe in the next post I’ll put more fodder into this…see for yourselves. Good jesus, you can really make out the Gucci Mane School of Failing at Life. I want to ask him if this is what he really does at clubs

Dude Royal – Duck Duck Goose (produced by Christian TV)

Now to contrast Dude, I will show what new Hip-Hop should sound like. I was planning on writing on Rob Roy months ago, but I got angry, as mentioned before. Alas, here is what needs to be done in Hip-Hop from now on. It is a simple track, just like Dude’s, but this is executed extremely well. It gives you an almost 90s RnB feel, but with a current flair of using snyths and beats. It’s funny that these guys sort of, kind of collaborate on some projects, considering the major differences in the approach to their respective music. Listen…

Rob Roy – Rollercoaster Baby

And if you say “Sasha is confused…the songs can’t compare because their premises are different.” Well, here you go…a party track of Rob’s:

Rob Roy – Duval

It’s nice to be back and I see a better, more constructive way of dealing with the plethora of music, and un-music, in the future. It will not always be positive, but it will always be true and honest. That much I will guarantee. Send word if you want to raise your voice; I am easily reachable. Until you hear from me again,

I remain yours honestly,

Sasha

*tolerance period is 3 months after release date

Where have I been the last two weeks? On break, I’m taking a real summer holiday for the first time since I started this blog, not that it isn’t a pleasure to post music I love for you guys! Unfortunately this summer isn’t exactly a holiday, I’ve got work 9-5 or around that anyways cause I’m always late. So the little time I have off I’m going to spend it exploring the new city. Not to mention finding good music these days in the genres I’m looking at seems to be getting harder.

New writers? I don’t know what’s with me and new writers cause it’s always the same deal. It takes me weeks to train them so they can get used to the blogs functions as it’s pretty weird on Sundtrak, and then they post for a good couple months which is really nice then they all but disappear. Gone! So it’s hard to weigh out if it’s worth spending that couple weeks worrying about another writer vs them taking a bit of the pressure off me to post for a couple months before they leave. This is what it feels like to run a retail or fast food joint and hire high school students! I’m not a corporation. I love you old writers! Was sad to see you all go.

I do have a post for you today though and with school right around the corner I might have some more coming your way soon. Starting off with the Midnight Conspiracy remix of Crystal Castles Vietnam. They actually already remixed a CC track Crimewave a while back, this one’s great for the track. That sound is what I always have a weakness for. A great remix from Glasnost of Tiga What You Need. And yes, another remix of Two Door Cinema Club by The Chaotic Good. We’ve heard a lot of remixes of this track, but what are you gonna do about it? It’s a great track to remix.

Crystal Castles – Vietnam (Midnight Conspiracy Remix)

Tiga – What You Need (Glasnost Remix)

Two Door Cinema Club – What You Know (The Chaotic Good Remix)

It’s 30C out here in Toronto and it’s 9AM. Is this a joke? What’s going on? Is this Canada or not?! I thought the deal was we got extreme cold in the winter and not too hot in the summer. Anyways, lack of brain power at the moment, this is going to be a very straight forward week update post which may or may not contain a lot of mistakes. I was looking for pictures at first and was trying to make it related to the post title; things that are hot, but all that did was make me feel even warmer. I decided to do all of us a favor and post with a picture of a nice cold snow cone! First is a remix by Mylo and Sharooz of Robyn Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do. Overall the track both really impresses me and makes me laugh. It kind of sounds like they had a lot of fun remixing this track, not really following a rigid format. Second is the Gigamesh remix of Mike Posner Cooler Than Me which caught my attention. And lastly, none other than Katy Perry‘s California Gurls which as annoyingly popular as the song is is so damn catchy. Remix by Passion Pit, their remixes always surprise me cause it’s so different from their actual music. Sorry for the lack of posts over the last two weeks, I’ve been in Ottawa my hometown more than where I’m living now in Toronto but I’m back now!

Robyn – Don’t Fucking Tell Me What To Do (Mylo and Sharooz Mix)

Mike Posner – Cooler Than Me (Gigamesh Remix Final Version)

Katy Perry – California Gurls (Passion Pit Radio Remix)

Week four of being in Toronto; old friends, drinking booze, unhealthy food, G20, being locked out of campus/work, holiday. After all this madness, a serious lack of music or good electro at least. When will this next electro revival be? When Justice releases a new album? I certainly hope it comes sooner than that. I’ve found a few great tracks to satisfy my needs until then. First off, a track which sent to me from a friend, thank you maybe you should write for us, the THIS/Is remix of Paradiso Girls Patron Tequilla. It kind of reminds me of the good old days when I just started this blog up, amazing remix. The Lorenz Rhode remix of Moullinex Superman, his most recent single. I’ve always liked Moullinex’s remixes, I’m very curious about his originals which he seems to be concentrating on now. And lastly, the John Poincarré remix of Chic which I heard on Hype and couldn’t pass up. It reminded me of Daft Punk in many ways.

Paradiso Girls – Patron Tequila (THIS Is Remix)

Moullinex – Superman (Lorenz Rhode Remix)

Chic – What About Me (John Poincarre Remix)

It’s that time of the year where I shameless plug Canadian artists. Kind of a Canadian weekend update post. Haha, not actually, but strangely I’ve been finding this great new music coming out and they’re all Canadian. The only sore point of Canadian music at the moment is Justin Bieber, although he did get into the music industry pretty much on his own at an amazingly young age. I respect the guy, not his music for the obvious reason that I am not a twelve year old girl. Moving along, starting off with the new head liner Drake. It’s a mash-up by Chi Duly, it’s actually a whole mash-up album called October’s Very Cold mixing Coldplay and Drake. Anyways, this track mashes Drake I’m Still Fly featuring Page and Silver Medallion and Coldplay The Scientist. Every time I listen to the track, I hear the dubbed in vocals but I can’t help but sing The Scientist. It’s great. Second is from Arcade Fire and their new track We Used To Wait from their upcoming album The Suburbs due for August this year. I’m actually really excited now cause this track is amazing. I’ve listened to it too many times to count. And lastly, Stars Fixed from their upcoming album The Five Ghosts which comes out June 22nd, something to look forward to. You can actually stream the whole album here.

Drake vs. Coldplay – The Fly Scientist ft. Page & Silver Medallion (Chi Duly Mash-up)

Arcade Fire – We Used To Wait

Stars – Fixed

Let’s start off with an awesome remix by Aeroplane of Breakbot Baby I’m Yours. I’m always impressed by Aeroplane’s remixes, if you can remember their amazing remix of Au Revoir Simone last year. This sounds something almost out of Tron at the beginning, I love the retro sound and I’ve far from gotten my fix of it this year. I haven’t really paid much attention to Breakbot but I really have to listen to more of his stuff. The original track is completely different from the remix though; retro but not electro. Well, I haven’t posted any Katy Perry tracks in almost a year and in honor of her new, well month old single I will be posting the ALGERONICS remix of the California Gurls. Since that summer of I Kissed A Girl, Katy Perry really fell behind Lady Gaga at least in hype. Maybe that will change with a new album coming out this year. And lastly, the Epyk remix of Jamaica. Nice improvements to the track. I totally thought I posted Jamaica, this track was produced by Xavier de Rosnay from Justice. It seems I never did though.

Breakbot – Baby I’m Yours (Aeroplane Remix)

Katy Perry – California Gurls (ALGERONICS Remix)

Jamaica – I Think I Like U 2 (Epyk Remix)

First official post from the big T.O., I finally have internet and everything is moved in. This post is more of a chart update, I haven’t had much time to surf around or search through my inbox looking for music. I wish there was an email provider that worked like Hype, anyways, three tracks I couldn’t stop listening to this weekend and yesterday. The Punks Jump Up remix of Miami Horror Moon Theory, haven’t heard any Miami Horror lately, meaning a month or two, but time has been trudging by. Reminds me of the old sounds though, quite nice to hear resurfacing. The Millionyoung remix of Memoryhouse To The Light House, both names I can’t say I’ve ever heard of but I definitely listened to this track at least 15 times today. I just put it on repeat and never got tired of it. And lastly, another group I haven’t heard from in a while, Soulwax. They remixed quite the appropriate track Yeah, Techno! by Paul Chambers.

Miami Horror – Moon Theory (Punks Jump Up Remix)

Memoryhouse – To The Light House (Millionyoung Remix)

Paul Chambers – Yeah, Techno (Soulwax Remix) (removed by request)

Well, I’m finally packing up my life and moving to Toronto. It’s about time but that means a couple things. New job and city means less time; that will either make me post even more which was what happened in the first two years of university for me and my grades plummeted as a result or I won’t be posting as much for a bit as I readjust. Also, I won’t have internet for a while. So depending on how reliable the internet at Starbucks is and how lenient they are with me stretching their bandwidth by downloading music, don’t expect me to post as much as before. Check in from time to time though, I’ll save the best tracks for the post I’ll make from time to time. Anyways, as usual, I’ve got three tracks for you today to start the week off, the Chew Fu remix of Rihanna Rockstar 101 which was pretty good. I’ve posted some Chew Fu remixes before and have always been impressed. The Mustard Pimp remix of Shinichi Osawa EEAA, more club this time. And the 80Kidz remix of Metric‘s Help I’m Alive. Not completely sure if I’ve already posted this but that doesn’t matter, I like this remix.

Also, here is some stuff from my inbox. I’ve yet to listen to it thoroughly, but the tracklists on these mixes look good. Maybe you can let me know via comments what you think of them! The Team Randalism mixtape Les Ailes Du Papillon and the PUNCHES mixtape Somebody Has To Help You. And from recent web stuff, check out Kid Cudi – All Talk feat. LCD Soundsystem, Christian Bale, and Chip Tha Ripper, and Kanye West – Power feat. Dwele. I didn’t post any of this as an mp3/streaming by the way, so for those of you who don’t read my posts (probably lots of you), you’ll miss out!

Rihanna – Rockstar 101 (Chew Fu Teachers Pet Fix)

Shinichi Osawa – EEAA (Mustard Pimp Remix)

Metric – Help I’m Alive (80Kidz Remix)