VARJANTA

Stacey Pullen – 2020 Vision (2009)

Luka K. — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:44:22 +0000

Stacey Pullen is the latest DJ to contribute to 2020Vision’s eponymously titled compilation series.

The Detroit DJ will follow in the footsteps of 2020 owner Ralph Lawson and edit king Greg Wilson, compiling his personal favourites from the label onto a single mixed CD. Pullen actually goes back quite far with the label, who are celebrating fifteen years on the scene this year. As Ralph Lawson explains, “Stacey was one of the first DJs to send us a fax to say he liked one of our tracks (”Raptures of the Deep”). When you are starting out, to receive praise from someone of his standing really
motivates you – it was a big moment for us. We got in touch with Stacey and asked him to remix the track which he did, and to have him on the label really cemented our reputation.”

Pullen’s mix looks to both the old and new from the imprint, kicking off with early material from Lawson, Carl Finlow and Paul Huggett’s Wulf’n'Bear project before fast forwarding to recent cuts from label regulars Mark Broom, Art Of Tones and Moodymanc as well as Johnny D’s now ubiquitous remix of 2020Soundsystem’s “Sliding Away.” There’s even one exclusive track included in the form of Dutchman Julien Chaptal’s tracky house remix of Simon Baker’s “Out Of My Head.”

2020Vision will release Stacey Pullen’s 2020Vision on July 27th, 2009.

Tracklist
01. Wulf & Bear – Needsy’s Run
02. Inland Knights – After Me
03. Wulf n Bear – Body Music
04. Simon Baker – Out Of My Head (Julien Chaptal Remix)
05. 2020Soundsystem – Sliding Away (Johnny D Remix)
06. Mark Broom – Take Me Home (Mihalis Safras Remix)
07. Art Of Tones – Terres Conquises
08. Random Factor – Outlaw (John Tejada Remix)
09. Random Factor – Beaten (Art Of Tones Remix)
10. Crazy P – Stop, Space, Return (Roberto Rodriguez Remix)
11. Moodymanc – V8
12. 2020Soundsystem – Psycho
13. Mark Broom – Riddim
14. Volga Select – Les Annees Des Plomb (Joshua Mix)

Luke Vibert – We Hear You (2009)

Luka K. — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:27:24 +0000

Luke Vibert will continue his prolific ways in August with a new album under his own name, entitled We Hear You.

The full-length reportedly will once again be a genre-defying record that combines his “idiosyncratic samples, sweetly strange melody, big bass and sloppy drums.” And while we haven’t heard the results yet, we can’t help think that we probably know exactly what Vibert connecting “the dots between Terry Riley, dubstep bass and hip-hop” sounds like. Either way, we’ll all be able to judge the results come August when the CD version of the album is released on Planet Mu. (It will be Vibert’s third album on the label.)

Planet Mu will release Luke Vibert’s We Hear You on August 10, 2009.

Tracklisting
01. Belief File
02. We Hear You
03. De-Pimp Act
04. Hot Sick
05. Square Footage
06. Batting For England
07. Pretty Old Acid Music
08. Dive And Lie Wrecked
09. Computer Complex
10. Porn Shirtwee
11. House Stabs
12. Marvellous Music Machine
13. Arrogance

Misstress Barbara – I’m No Human

Luka K. — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:18:27 +0000

Let’s face it: the idea of Misstress Barbara switching from lipstick fembot techno dominatrix to bona fide synth-pop chanteuse is a ridiculous one. From her early ’90s beginnings—first on the inchoative Montreal rave scene, then on the international level via circuit parties and Ibiza orgies—Barbara was always associated with the relentless side of techno. This magnetic aura is precisely what attracted her, according to early interviews, to the genre in the first place. That said, the Barcelona and Don’t Leave EPs, both released in 2007, showcased an aesthetic shift hinted at by her Come With Me mixed CD, a compilation that featured the likes of Sebo K, Trentemøller, Nahan Fake and Dominik Eulberg.

Fast forward to early 2009, and Misstress Barbara’s comeback single is starting to float around. Weirdly enough, it sounds like “Barcelona” with awkward vocals on top. Even more troubling: It’s a Leonard Cohen cover. That said, “Dance Me to the End of Love” is not as terrible as the idea sounds. (It’s definitely not as painful as Miss Kittin & The Hacker’s current take on “Suspicious Minds.”) But Barbara’s voice is, unsurprisingly, a bit flat, a fact that is unfortunately backed up by the banality of the lyrical content of I’m No Human, her first official album as a singer. The title track and “J’étais une fleur” are especially worth mentioning for their cringe-inducing powers (especially if you understand French).
No wonder, then, she felt the need to bring proper vocalists on board to alleviate the pressure. Bjorn (of Peter Bjorn and John fame), fellow Montrealer and soft-rocker Sam Roberts and the spunky Brazilian Girls all turn up; yet this unexpected display of friendship (unless these are the result of efficiently calculated record industry connections) turns out to be a poisonous gift in the end. A DJ-turned-singer such as Tiga understood a long time ago that no matter how many different collaborators you bring to the table with you to record your artist album, they should always help bring out the best in you—not make you sound plain and pale in comparison.

“Is It OK,” with its strident pads à la Trentemøller, and album-closer “Talk to Me” are decent pop songs with decorative strings and jovial horns, but they will not help further Misstress Barbara’s DJing career, nor will they take her on top of the charts. One could pertinently ask, then: what’s the point? Even the bouncing “Four on the Floor,” which has the type of thrilling exuberance usually associated with Thin White Duke remixes, can’t do much to salvage its surroundings: As outstanding as it is in such a context, it only enhances that fact that I’m No Human is a techno-pop album that will be perceived as anecdotal at best, i.e. a half-funny distraction to listen to between DJ sets. Misstress Barbara might not be human, but on the basis of her first long player, she ain’t that much of a singer either.

Tracklist: Misstress Barbara – I’m No Human

01. i’m no human
02. is it ok feat. Sweet Bjorn Yttling
03. dance me to the end of love
04. four on the floor
05. push pull
06. ouais
07. etna
08. j’ étais une fleur
09. i’m running feat. Sam Roberts
10. four days apart
11. talk to me feat. Brazilian Girls

The Pirate Bay Trial Should Be Re-run

Luka K. — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:55:35 +0000

The judge in the pirate bay was unsuitable and should have been replaced. That’s the opinion of several experts.

An investigation by Swedish public radio shows that the judge in the Pirate Bay trial has been a member of several pro-copyright associations, rendering him unfit to preside over the trial, which hinged on accusations of copyright infringement.

Judge Tomas Norström is a member of the Swedish Association for the Protection of Industrial Property, and the Swedish Copyright Association, among others. He strongly denies that this influenced his decision in any way.

Now the Pirate Party is demanding that the trial be re-run with a different judge. Party leader Rick Falkvinge says that this is a case of inexcusable corruption and perversion of justice. Not only did judge Tomas Norström work for a foundation that also employed one of the representatives of the film business, but one of the investigating police officers involved in the trial went on to work for one of the companies involved before the trial was even over.

Sweden’s former Ombudsmen of Justice, Rune Lavin, says that he himself would not have taken the case in this situation and it is clear that Judge Tomas Norström should not have done so either.

Adam Freeland – Cope™ (2009)

Luka K. — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:08:44 +0000

Grammy nominated producer Adam Freeland will unveil his newest full-length in June under a new moniker, Freeland.

Freeland, who is perhaps best known for his nu skool breakbeat sound, has sliced off his first name from the project as an acknowledgement that Cope™ is a new beast: a full band project. The album, which sees Freeland acting as producer for the likes of Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee, Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago and Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Ramirez along the way, features Kurt Baumann fronting Freeland and singing on a variety of tracks throughout. Says Freeland, “I’ve always mixed rock into my sets anyway, so having a band is just a natural progression from that. Freeland has all the hard-hitting grooves of my DJ sets, but played live they’re even more raw, personal and in your face. This is the sound I’ve always heard in my head, so now I want to hear it as loud as possible!”

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Marine Parade will release Adam Freeland’s Cope™ on June 9, 2009.

Tracklist
01. Do You!
02. Under Control
03. Strange Things
04. Bring It
05. Mancry
06. Borderline
07. Rock On
08. Silent Speaking
09. Best Fish Tacos in Encinada
10. Only a Fool Can Die
11. Morning Sun
12. Wish I Was Here

The Pirate Bay Trial Verdict: Guilty

Luka K. — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 09:58:23 +0000

While only a few weeks ago, it seems like an eternity since the trial of The Pirate Bay Four ended and the court retired to consider its verdict. The prosecution claimed that the four defendants were ‘assisting in making copyright content available’ and demanded millions of dollars in damages. The defense did not agree, and all pleaded not guilty – backed up by the inimitable King Kong defense.

Today, Friday April 17, the court issued its decision.

Peter Sunde (born September 13, 1978) alias ‘brokep’:
Verdict: Guilty – 1 year in prison

Fredrik Neij (born April 27, 1978) alias ‘TiAMO’:
Verdict: Guilty – 1 year in prison

Gottfrid Svartholm (October 17, 1984) alias ‘Anakata’:
Verdict: Guilty – 1 year in prison

Carl Lundström (born April 13, 1960)
Verdict: Guilty – 1 year in prison

The court said that the four defendants worked as a team, were aware that copyrighted material was being shared using The Pirate Bay and that they made it easy and assisted the infringements.

While the court did not agree with the plaintiff’s estimates of losses (around $12m), it still set the damages at 30 million SEK ($3,620,000). This a hugely significant amount and the court has ordered that the four should pay this amount between them.

Peter Sunde has already explained that this decision does not mean the end of the line in this case. There will be an appeal which means we are still far away from the ultimate decision – possibly years away.

As for the fate of the site, Peter has already promised that The Pirate Bay will continue. The site itself was never on trial, only the four individuals listed above.

This is a breaking news story, please check back frequently for updates.

Post from: TorrentFreak