BiBaBiDi

One's & Two's: Jacques Renault

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:36:08 PST

My good friend, the DJ/producer Jacques Renault, and I recently teamed up to commence a series of monthly dance parties at the subMercer, a club of both the highest quality and oddest decor/aesthetic. Get all the information regarding the rager right here, at Resident Advisor, or over on the Facebook. New York legend Brennan Green will be joining Jacques, so know that the party will be absolutely bonkers and certainly go strong until 4 AM.

Jacques kindly put together a disco- and house-heavy hour-long mix for Anthem in promotion of the gig. Check it out at Anthem Online.

Jacques Renault - One's & Two's Mix

One's & Two's: Prince Language

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:36:35 PST

To further promote Saturday's event with The No Comprendo and Terrible Records, I asked Prince Language (the man behind TNC, for those of you who don't know already) to give Anthem an exclusive One's & Two's mix. Today, he delivered. Jam to 70 minutes of madness before heading on over to the Tribeca Grand this weekend!

Prince Language - I Don't Wanna Be Normal

The No Comprendo and Anthem Present: The No Comprendo Discotel

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:01:20 PST

I'm throwing a party with Prince Language's The No Comprendo and Chris Taylor's Terrible Records at the Tribeca Grand hotel this Saturday, February 27. If you're in NYC, you really must come.

Language and DFA's Justin Miller will be working the 1s and 2s well into the morning and Twin Shadow will be performing a live set. You can get all the details at the Anthem party listing or the Facebook page.

If you're in NYC, please, please come. We're doing all sorts of fun stuff around the fiesta, including bringing a party photographer along for the ride. This'll be the joint to be seen at come Saturday.

Twin Shadow - Castles In the Snow

Twin Shadow - Yellow Balloon

Jean-Luc Ponty - Fast Lane (Prince Language Edit)

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:59:31 PST

Hey BBBD readers! My last three weeks have been an absolute whirlwind of craziness, so please excuse my lack of posts. I've got a new mix for you, though. Enjoy!

Nik Mercer - Whirl Mix

(1) Black Van, "Yearning (Emperor Machine Remix)"
(2) Tensnake, "Coma Cat"
(3) Force Of Nature, "To the Brain (Prins Thomas 118 Mix)"
(4) Alan Braxe & Fred Falke, "Intro (Original Club Mix)"
(5) Chairlift, "Evident Utensil (Jacques Renault Remix)"
(6) Metro Area, "Miura"
(7) Holy Ghost!, "On Board (feat. the DFA Celestial Choir)"
(8) Fabio Lendrum, "Trouble (CFCF Remix)"
(9) Ray Mang, "Look Into My Eyes"

Dead Disco Pulls № 5

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:24:01 PST

Thanks to Resident Advisor's top 100 tracks of the last decade list I've been digging through my archive of French music from the era.

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke's classic, "Intro," made the list, and that made me riffle through my Braxe and Falke folders―and beyond! For some reason, "Intro" and the Kris Menace jam that Fred Falke was featured on ("Fairlight") are the only tunes really pushing my buttons right now, but, obviously, they merely represent the tip of the tip of the iceberg in terms of French house and, outside of the fact that Falke was involved in both, are markedly unrelated.

Anyway―enjoy the tracks and expect me to throw up some more French classics soon enough!

Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Intro (Original Club Mix)

Kris Menace Featuring Fred Falke - Fairlight

Q&A with Air

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:03:10 PST

A few months ago I did an interview with Air―no introduction required, right?―and it was finally published in 'Sup, a magazine I've been doing freelance work for over the past few years.

Check out the full Q&A right here.

Air - Surfing On A Rocket (Zongamin Remix)

BBBD Mix: "More, More, More"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:52:00 PST

I decided to make another mix for no good reason. Enjoy it!

(1) DJ Kaos, "Rough Side"
(2) House Of House, "Rushing To Paradise (Walkin' These Streets) (DJ Harvey Streets Mix)"
(3) Jacob Korn, "I Like the Sun (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)
(4) Solange, "Robots Are Un-American (Special DJ Version)"
(5) Nick Chacona, "The Fear (feat. Kathy Diamond) (Beg To Differ Remix)"
(6) Gino Soccio, "Love Is (Edit De Prince Language)"
(7) Low Motion Disco, "Love, Love, Love (Aeroplane Remix)"
(8) Andrea True Connection, "More, More, More"

Nik Mercer - More, More, More Mix

D22

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:08:37 PST

Nothing to say. Just ride this classic out.

Andrea True Connection - More, More, More

Dead Disco Pulls № 4

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:46:12 PST

My good friend, Josh Taylor, a.k.a. Prince Language, has been putting out disco edits on his little label Editions Disco for a few years now and these are two of my favorite cuts.

The Gino Soccio jam is one of the best edits I've ever heard. It's simple (no flashy, in-your-face filtering or remixing or anything) and clearly an ode to the Canadian disco legend's greatness rather than just being yet another club-ready boogie ("Love Is" is not a song you want to screw up―it's already just about perfect). "Yo Son" is more of a cut-and-paste job, but it's pretty spectacular in its own right. The track sounds like what would happen if Talking Heads transplanted themselves to the Middle East and took up disco production of the smooth, sultry, and soothing variety.

Happy hump day!

Gino Soccio - Love Is (Edit De Prince Language)

Prince Language - Yo Son (Edit De Prince Language)

Q&A with Lindstrøm & Christabelle/Studio Visit with Runaway

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 08:15:50 PST

I proudly present you with a rather long interview I did before the holidays with Lindstrøm & Christabelle for Anthem magazine. Please check the thing out as it's thorough and quite compelling throughout. Love him or hate him, Lindstrøm is one of the most dedicated producers out there. It was a true pleasure talking about the new LP, Real Life Is No Cool.

Read away!

Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)

Lindstrøm & Christabelle - Baby Can't Stop (Idjut Boys Remix)

I forgot to write about the studio visit I did with Runaway when I published the thing last week, but better late than never, right?

Read the article and check out its accompanying photos of the duo's Brooklyn studio!

Runaway - The Fire Below

BBBD Mix: "Lock Track"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:11:20 PST

I haven't published a mix to this blog in weeks and weeks and for that I feel bad. It's a new year, though, and, therefore, I feel as though I ought to give you all something special.

Here's my latest musical odyssey. It's about 50 minutes long and, in my humble opinion, really cool... save for the fact that my right channel completely dropped out for about one second for god knows why towards the beginning of the set.

Tell me what you think!

(1) Idjut Boys, "Jesta Dub"
(2) KZA, "Capricorn"
(3) Elitechnique, "Elektric Evening"
(4) Tensnake, "Keep Believin'"
(5) Lullabies In the Dark, "Code 7429 (Original Mix)"
(6) Putsch '79, "Asian Girls"
(7) Reverso 68, "Tokyo Disko (Part One)"
(8) Rude 66, "As"
(9) Panthu Du Prince, "The Splendour"

Nik Mercer - Lock Track Mix (direct MP3 link)

Nik Mercer - Lock Track Mix (ZShare link)

Dead Disco Pulls № 3

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:24:43 PST

Before I get into the music here, I'd like to remind you all that "Dead Disco" is on today at 12 PM, so please tune in if you can. You can always check it out at your leisure by going directly to the archives, but there's something special about listening in real time.

Okay―I've got some pretty spacey stuff for you today.

First is Tensnake's incredible, epic jam, "Keep Believin'." The guy just did a Resident Advisor mix, which I can't recommend highly enough.

Second up is I:Cube's Cosmic Marathon remix of Karma's "Beach Towel." The tune has this great slow, deliberate buildup that revolves around a thick yet bouncy bass, which ties the whole piece together, beginning to end.

Third, and last, we have Moxie's "Run Disco Run," a higher energy cut that features some pretty gay vocals and a subtle house edge. You'll soon understand where it got its name...

Tensnake - Keep Believin'

Karma - Beach Towel (I:Cube Cosmic Marathon Remix)

Moxie - Run Disco Run

Dead Disco Pulls № 2

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 07:17:05 PST

A few more tunes for fans―and fans to be!―of my Viva Radio program, "Dead Disco," which airs every Friday at noon!

First is DJ Kaos's "Kosmicher Ruckenwind," the latest from the extraordinary Berlin club staple. It's unlike anything I've heard from the guy before... an intricately layered and textured modern take on the work of 70s German kraut rockers like Cluster, Tangerine Dream, Harmonia, and so on.

Second is deep house anomaly Walter Jones' new jam, "I Am Loved" (the man, it seems, can only write songs about how much love he gets and feels!)

Third, and last, is one of my favorite Rvng Of the Nrds edits ever, the inaugural release's "Trip One (the Flying Squad Edit)" by Giorgio Moroder's Munich Machine. The edit, which is by the unparalleled Tim Sweeney under an alias, is one of the most infectiously groovy disco tracks I've heard in the 21st century. A high-water mark to say the least.

DJ Kaos - Kosmicher Ruckenwind

Walter Jones - I Am Loved

Munich Machine - Trip One (the Flying Squad Edit)

Dead Disco Pulls № 1

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:04:58 PST

As promised yesterday, I'm going to try my best to regularly post music I'm considering or using for a future Dead Disco program. Simple, to the point, and varied. Sound good?

Today I've got four killer tunes for you! First up is a Larry Levan mix of Nami Shimada's "Sun Shower." (The track wound up being one of his final works.) Shimada was a huge J-Pop star in the 80s and I assume her label coaxed Levan into doing a mix while he was on tour in the Land Of the Rising Sun (he was big over there). The song, which is quite the club banger, is really strange considering that Shimada's unaltered hits were more along these lines.

Next we've got two Crème Organization releases. Rude 66's "As," which hit shelves last year two years ago, is an exceptionally creepy electro tune that you might hear in a disco minutes before the apocalypse. It's excellent. Bangkok Impact―a Fin who is half of the immaculate Italo outfit known as Putsch '79―has really been catching my fancy recently. His 2007 banger, "Premature Ejaculation," will never get old. Think Black Devil Disco Club with a DFA makeover.

Finally, we have Elitechnique, a Dutch group that's put out a few songs on Clone Records. My favorite jam by far is the swirling, cosmic "Elektric Evening" from 2008's Mirror Men EP.

How's that for a hangover helper?

Nami Shimada - Sun Shower (Larry Levan Mix)

Rude 66 - As

Bangkok Impact - Premature Ejaculation

Elitechnique - Elektric Evening

D21

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:07:18 PST

Since starting my Viva Radio program "Dead Disco" (tune in every Friday at noon!), I've been dedicating a large portion of my free time to digging through my massive audio archives, researching what I may have overlooked during the past decade or two, and keeping current with today's dance music―a high order to say the least. The upside is that I feel more engaged with music than I have since the heyday of BBBD. The downside, though, is that I don't know where to begin when it comes to posting new tracks on this blog. My goal is to throw random tracks that really catch my ear your way every once in a while, but I don't know how consistently I'll be able to do that as I'm already loaded with work as is.

For now, though, let's just sit back and listen to some old disco gems courtesy of Patrick Adams, one of the biggest and most influential producers of the 70s. Today I'm giving you some of the choice cuts from his 1978 LP by Phreek (Patrick Adams Presents Phreek). Phreek is one of my favorite Adams projects, but the man also put out some excellent tunes with Bumblebee Unlimited (a group I wrote about earlier this year), Cloud One, Universal Robot Band, and a handful of others.

The Harlem native definitely had a distinct sound: The bulk of his material featured traditional disco characteristics―thick and sultry bass lines, glamorous string arrangements, and so on―but he always made sure to throw in his own embellishments like primitive synth ditties, choir-esque choruses, and vocals by some... uh... very aroused females.

Check out my three favorites cuts from the first Phreek record and wrap your holidays up on a funky note!

Phreek - I'm A Big Phree (R-U-1-2)

Phreek - Much Too Much

Phreek - Weekend

"Dead Disco"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:36:31 PST

As of last week, I'm officially Viva Radio's newest contributing DJ. My program, "Dead Disco," which airs every Friday at noon, is off to a great start, in my humble opinion. If you missed the first show, you can catch up by checking out my archives. Otherwise, be sure to tune in tomorrow at 12 PM for my next batch of all things dance music, from early disco jams to 80s techno, club-ready pop to deep house cuts. Modern music trends exist cyclically (no one reinvents the wheel―they just rejigger, reframe, remix, retouch, and reimagine what's already there); "Dead Disco" aims to tie the new to the old and the old to the new.

Make sense?

As it's unlike me to post without providing you all an MP3, I offer you "Yamarena-I" off Pixeltan's long awaited and much anticipated eponymous EP. It's been five long years since we last heard from them! The good news is that the four songs they've stuffed our stockings with are stupendous in that they recall the heyday of dance-punk while extending their aesthetic into something frenzied and new. The bad news is that the trio is both busy with their own projects and the lead singer, Mika Yoneta seems to have returned to her home in Japan. Don't expect anything more from them for the next five years...

Buy the thing over at DFA's Web store.

Pixeltan - Yamarena-I

Q&A with Neurotic Drum Band

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:46:36 PST

I recently did an interview with electronic music legends John Selway and Elliot Taub, a.k.a. Neurotic Drum Band, as they have a superbly spacey yet robotically funky 12" out on Wurst Music Co., "Neurotic Erotic Adventure." We talked about all sorts of things, from the guys' past projects and efforts to their current collaboration. Hop on over to Anthem Online for the full story.

The fellas also were kind enough to give me an MP3 of the tune, so you can sample it before buying the wax!

Neurotic Drum Band - Neurotic Erotic Adventure

Joe Goddard, Apples, Apricots, and Tropical Punch

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:06:22 PST

Hot Chip fans rejoice: Our favorite fidgety, funky outsider U.K. pop group is dropping a new album in 2010 (download the unofficial lead single, "Take It In" below), and, to tide us over during the wait, we've got co-frontman Joe Goddard's mostly-instrumental debut solo LP, Harvest Festival (grab the full album over at Traxsource). The 12-track record is, by no means, an exemplary work in the trope of Hot Chip's output, but it's a sturdy one that, at best, holds up well on its own, and, at worst, illustrates an extension and maturation of the H.C. sound the world has come to love.

Harvest is, to me, like the merging of a younger Boards Of Canada, glitchy techno, and soothing pop ditties; it's a little scattered and helter-skelter, but bouncy and light-hearted throughout. "Apple Bobbing," a calming yet swirling and energetic jam is the clear standout cut, but no songs are let-downs. "Lemon and Lime (Home Time)" is a bass-heavy pop ballad of Hot Chip proportions as well as an example of Goddard's voice at its best (at times, he sounds like your warm, patient grandfather telling one of his countless tales)―if any track gets made into a video, this would be the one!

Grab the songs below and let yourself drift through Sunday...

Joe Goddard - Apple Bobbing

Joe Goddard - Lemon and Lime (Home Time)

Joe Goddard - Pear-Shaped

Hot Chip - Take It In

D20

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:21:20 PST

D20 is upon us!

Recently, I've been listening to a fair amount of 70s and 80s French music―everything from Bernard Szajner to Karen Cheryl―and I figured it's about time I share some of it with you!

Since I'm in a disco sort of mood today, we'll talk about Voyage, a very theatrical yet loungey disco group that made music you'd be more likely to hear at a cocktail hour rather than a thumpin' club. That's not to say the tunes on their 1979 LP, Fly Away, are timid, meek, or tired―they just have a more subtle, subdued funkiness and swagger to them that is unusual within a genre known for oftentimes being rather bombastic and in-your-face. Some of the songs, like "Eastern Trip," dabble in more experimental-leaning electronic ideas, while others, like "Tahiti, Tahiti," pull from world musics you'd be more likely to find on a David Byrne record than a West End 12".

Fly Away and it's predecessor, the spectacular debut Disco Around the World, were, oddly enough, followed up by 3, which took a decidedly new wave pop turn (for the worse). LP4, One Step Higher, found Voyage truly returning to its disco roots, but without the same sort of gusto and innovation they'd utilized to make the first two records such classics. It sounds more like an 80s teen drama soundtrack than an actual disco album.

Anyway―check out the below four tracks from Fly Away and wrap your workweek up with good vibes!

Voyage - Souvenirs

Voyage - Eastern Trip

Voyage - Tahiti, Tahiti

Voyage - Let's Fly Away

The Tough Alliance, Remixed

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:50:12 PST

It's been far, far too long since I wrote about one of my favorite Swedish groups, the Tough Alliance, the founders, owners, and operators of Sincerely Yours, one of my favorite Swedish labels. It's quite a shame, too, since I was, for a while, the biggest Swede-head I knew.

TTA hasn't really done much of anything since 2008, but now they're sort of back with a remix EP titled Prison Break (get all the MP3's at Sincerely Yours). As such releases go, it's pretty damn good. The remixers overall respect and keep intact the duo's unique style while simultaneously shifting its context. Juan MacLean brings "A New Chance" to 90s acid house clubs; Woolfy spins "Neo Violence" for dubbed-out disco dancers; and El Guicho sprinkles "First Class Riot" with baile funk.

My favorite remix is definitely the Juan MacLean one, so that's what I'm dolling out to all of you this brisk yet sunny New York Monday morning! Check it out and, again, be sure to buy the whole EP.

the Tough Alliance - A New Chance (Juan MacLean Remix)"

BBBD Mix: "Viva Radio Test Program"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:33:24 PST

I've got some cool news for you all today!

I may soon be Viva Radio's newest DJ! Part of the application process is, obviously, the creation of a test program. Since this will never be aired (fingers crossed I get the gig!) and I technically own the thing, I thought it'd be nice to give it to you guys. I wish you could somehow vote for me, but alas, all we can really do now is wait!

(1) Four Tet, "Love Cry"
(2) Bottin, "No Static (Club Version)"
(3) Johnny Hammond, "Fantasy (Faze Action Special Disco Mix)"
(4) the Phenomenal Handclap Band, "You'll Disappear (Jacques Renault Remix)"
(5) Lindstrøm & Christabelle, "Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)"
(6) Still Going, "Spaghetti Circus (Radio Edit)"
(7) Röyksopp, "This Must Be It (Rex the Dog Remix)"
(8) Au Revoir Simone, "Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)"
(9) Annie, "Don't Stop"
(10) Greg Wilson, "Elektrons Get Up (GW Special Edit)"
(11) St. Etienne, "Spring (Air France Remix)"

Nik Mercer - Viva Radio Test Program

Pink Skull, "Endless Bummer"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 07:24:23 PDT

Over at Anthem Online I not only did a really fun and interesting Q&A with Pink Skull in support of their forthcoming sophomore album, Endless Bummer (Rvng International), but I also scored an exclusive track for all you audiophiles to boogie to.

Check out the whole thing right here and download the tune below. It's a rager.

Pink Skull - Endless Bummer

BBBD Mix: "Radio Edit"

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:24:45 PDT

It's a truly beautiful day in New York, so I decided to meet up with a friend at Washington Square Park and get out of Brooklyn. The sunshine, comforting breeze, and autumnal foliage palette inspired me to make another BBBD mix for all of you! I know, the workday is over by now (at least for us EST'ers), but I urge you to download this sucker and save it for tomorrow if you are indeed en route to dinner, prime-time TV, and bed. Maybe the weather won't be quite so spectacular when you return to the office and you'll find yourself itching for a pick-me-up.

Strap yourself in for a solid 40-minute mix, folks!

Oh, yeah, and I made a goof between the diskJokke and N.D.B. songs―my sincere apologies for that in advance... I'll work on subduing these twitchy fingers!

(1) Andrew Weatherall, "Walk Of Shame"
(2) diskJokke, "Some Signs Are Always Good"
(3) Neurotic Drum Band, "Robotic Hypnotic Adventure"
(4) Still Going, "Spaghetti Circus (Radio Edit)"
(5) Lindstrøm and Christabelle, "Baby Can't Stop (Radio Edit)"
(6) Beyonce, "Broken-Hearted Girl (Alan Braxe Remix Radio Edit)"
(7) Jackpot, "Encounter"
(8) Karen Young, "Hot Shot"
(9) Ramona Brooks, "I Don't Want You Back"
(10) Greg Wilson, "Walking On Confusion"

Nik Mercer - Radio Edit Mix

Anotheranthe № 1–3

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:46:16 PST

Normally, I don't repost or link to items I've authored on other Web sites or in magazines, but this seems to be an exception.

I've written three columns for the wonderful Dutch Web site Anothersomething.org, a combination arts and culture blog, and design firm and fashion label calling card of sorts (I urge you to check out their shop). The column I author, cutely dubbed Anotheranthem, is about, very generally and vaguely, "anything I like" that somehow fits in with the rest of the Anothersomething.org vibe. The first article I did was on independent book publishers I like; the second concerned various products made through compelling collaborations; and the third and most recent is all about "new disco" artists I love and adore (Lindstrøm, Prins Thomas, diskJokke, Aeroplane).

Check out the archived pieces and today's new one when you get a chance! To entice you, I've included some tunes (one song by each of the discussed musicians) below.

Lindstrøm - Monsteer

Prins Thomas - Mammut

diskJokke - Some Signs Are Good

Aeroplane - Caramellas

BBBD Mix:

nik.mercer@gmail.com (Nik Mercer) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:07:29 PDT

I've got a little 40-minute Friday mix for all of you! This one's quite the heavy-duty banger, though, so be warned as it may not be safe for work or any calm environment.

A few of the tunes I've already posted, but a good number of them are new to the blog. If anything, hopefully this will get you psyched for the weekend; it certainly got me pumped up before I went out last night!

(1) Lindstrøm & Christabelle, "Baby Can't Stop (Aeroplane Remix)"
(2) Bottin, "Sciarando El Scurro"
(3) Lindstrøm, "Breakfast In Heaven (diskJokke Remix)"
(4) Vitalic, "Flashmob"
(5) CFCF, "The Explorers (feat. Sally Shapiro)"
(6) Matias Aguayo, "Rollerskate (Radio Edit)"
(7) Âme, "Setsa"
(8) Majeure, "Teleforce"
(9) Munk, "Back Down (Cut Copy Jackmaster Remix)"
(10) Korallreven, "Loved-Up"

Nik Mercer - Breakfast In Heaven Mix

Links for 2006-07-01 [del.icio.us]

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT

Links for 2006-06-30 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 PDT