Kitsune Maison Compilation 2

Joakim, "I Wish You Were Gone (Jk Dub)"

Adam Sky, "Ape-x"

We're gonna keep right on going with our French focus, let all the haters jump off the bandwagon. This is my newest purchase, Kitsune Maison Compilation 2, a ridiculously good compilation collecting tracks from the Kitsune label of Paris. What makes this so good? Well, it's obviously the music, but what really puts it over the top is the fact that the good people at Kitsune have been son quick to bring out their newest 12"s on CD and give people a sneak peak at the next big thing to drop on the label. Here, it's the newest single from Simian Mobile Disco, who we'll get to later this week. It's nice to see a label that goes the extra mile for its fans.

Kitsune is not just a label, though. From what I can tell, they are almost an arts collective, dealing in music, fashion, parties, etc. If anyone has more info or knowledge of this, holler. A lot of the Paris stuff seems to be the product of collectives or groups, which seems to be a more and more common feature of the best art coming out around the world. Has Barthes' death of the author finally arrived? Has the value of collective work taken precedent over individual artists? Not sure, but worth some thinking.

As for the songs above, they all top-notch, slightly lesser known tunes from the label. I actually had a hard time picking something, as everything sounds soooooo good to me right now. First, listen to the bass at the beginning of Adam Sky's new single "Ape-x." Simply massive, it takes you over. Joakim's "I Wish You Were Gone (Jk Dub)" is one of the label's hits, a nice long, but driving song that feels like a journey filled with starts and stops, new sounds and ideas, but always pushing forward. Buy the CD at Turntable Lab, as it doesn't get better than this.

-After all of that depressing stuff yesterday, I figured that I would make it up to you by sending you to grab this FREE EP featuring the Spank Rock remix of Lady Sov's "Hoodies", Ghislain Poirier and others called Chocalate Swim. It's a collabo between label Chocalate Industries and the Cartoon Networks' [adult swim.] A really nice helping of music, nice to see established groups coming together to do bigger things.

-For a good laugh or frightening example of the idiots that run this country, listen to this song created from a Ted Stevens (Republican Senator from Alaska) speech on Net Neutrality. Via Alternet, we are pointed to this new techno remix of the speech by the people at Boldheaded called "A Series of Tubes." Chez Lark has the text of the speech for those interested. Like Chez Lark, Firedoglake make the essential point, which is that this man has no clue about the Internet and he is in charge of the essential debate on the future of the Internet, net neutrality. Help, please.