Armando presents Robert Armani - Armani Trax

Armando presents Robert Armani, "Circus Bells (Armando's mix)" (YSI link)

Armando presents Robert Armani, "Circus Bells (full length original mix)" (YSI link)

Okay, I lied about getting back into the swing of things. Seriously though, I'm getting back into the swing of things, starting....NOW! It's been a minute since we dropped any house music here, time to remedy that grave error. What better way to remedy it than with a stone cold Chicago acid house classic, Robert Armani's "Circus Bells"?

This one's the B side of the Armani Trax EP, a classic Dance Mania record, released in 1990. Longtime readers know that that label has guided so much of my listening, taking me from acid to ghetto in the span of an insanely productive decade. "Circus Bells" is one of the label's most famous and from the first peals of the bell on Armando's mix, you know you are in for something serious. It's like a call to arms or something for the dancefloor. After the last bell sound fades away, you get a devastating, 10 minute long acid tinged monster. Deep bass drums, hi-hats and clapping snares lay the foundation for a siren-like synth melody that worms its way into your head and will make you freak out. The original full-length mix is a few minutes shorter and lacks the bells-opening. You win with either one.

Dances With White Girls

Dances With White Girls, Burning Bridges and Making Paper (YSI link)

Yes, yes, we've been gone for much too long. Unfortunately, my computer has been in the shop for the past 3+ weeks, leaving me completely out of commission, out of music and out of luck. All of that is about to change, so be on the lookout for regular posting shortly.

In the meantime, I had to get word out about this special event in NYC tonight. Friend of the blog and one of Pound for Pound's favorite DJs Dances With White Girls, a.k.a. Frog, a.k.a. The Man Who What makes tonight's party at Bar 13 so special? It's celebrating the much-anticipated release of DWWG's first EP, New Crack Swing, the latest release on The Rapture's Throne of Blood Records and the record that will set the blogs on fire for the rest of 2008. Frog is taking over the Girls & Boys party tonight at Bar 13 (35 E. 13th Street), a full-on Union Square takeover. Thug house for the masses. He's joined by Andy Pry, Daisy O'Dell and a special guest, who I imagine may have some connection to the label. Head over to the Boys and Girls Myspace page for more info including RSVP link. For the record, there are already close to 1500 people interested in this one on going.com. I will be one of those people, you should too.

For those not in NYC tonight, I've included Frog's latest mix, which should both enjoy top listening status and convince you to purchase the EP. You hear me? Purchase the EP! We'll have more to say on this man and his music, but this is an adequate intro. Yes yes, good good.

P4P Video - Maestro

This one's a special one. Maestro is a film by Josell Ramos that chronicles the early days of disco and dance music in New York City. It takes a look back at the underground scene that gave birth to disco and house music, chronicling legends like Larry Levan, David Mancuso, Nicky Siano, Frankie Knuckles and Tom Moulton and legendary places like Paradise Garage, The Gallery and The Loft. It's an amazing document, a chance to go back to the beginning of dance music and hear the stories from the people who were there. Ramos talks with Siano, Mancuso, Knuckles, dancers from back in the day, club staff, lighting men, sound engineers and others. Add in some great archival footage from the various clubs and you've got yourself a history lesson kids should be learning in school. It will show you just how important this music and scene was in the lives of so many people, who were able to find themselves and be themselves in an environment that strived to bring people together.

Here's the video for part 1 (there are 9 total parts) and anyone who reads the blog should consider this essential viewing:



It got me to thinking about the dance culture that existed back then, in the late 70s and 80s in New York City, and what things are like in the NYC of today. I try to avoid nostalgia, as it's such a corrosive and pointless emotion, usually based on rose-tinted glasses that never quite tell the whole story. But, it's hard not to feel like NYC today is missing something, something big. I'm not sure if it's the cabaret laws that have shut down so many clubs, if it's the yuppification of Manhattan, if it's the fact that gay culture doesn't have to be underground anymore, if it's the fault of bloggers like me who talk about everything and prevent any underground from really developing, if it's the insane cost of living or a combination of all of those factors. Whatever it is, I feel like club life in NYC is at a nadir, more about being seen or making money than telling a story or celebrating music. Am I being too pessimistic? Am I missing something? Leave some comments and let me know your thoughts, as I want to be so wrong.

DJ Harvey - Essential Mix 12.26.1999

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The House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House - House Nation

The House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House, "House Nation" (YSI link)

The House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House, "House Nation (The International Remix)" (YSI link)

The House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House, "House Nation (Track'n The House)" (YSI link)

Oh lordy, we're getting right back to full speed here at Pound for Pound. I contemplated starting off slow, maybe throwing up some new stuff that the kids are going nuts for now. But, fuckit, I know that my readers are the best in the world and they don't need to take it slow, we can jump right back into the thick of things.

Let's head right to the deep end, back to Chicago, mid-80s, one of Pound for Pound's favorite times and places for a classic track from The House Master Boyz and the Rude Boy of House, "House Nation." For the record, the Rude Boy House is the one and only, Farley "JackMaster" Funk, a.k.a. Farley Keith. This one dropped on our favorite label, Dance Mania, in 1986 and would soon become an anthem in the UK rave scene of the late 80s. This one's like a template for the sound we like here - sharp, primitive drums, a sick, kinda eerie bassline and a sample repeated over and over, a man's voice imploring the "House nation". It's all stripped down, consisting of few parts, but yet it sounds so damn perfect to my ears it's hard to believe how they can make it work. It has these peaks and valleys throughout, perfectly using the tempos

The remixes aren't quite at the level of the original, but are damn good in their own right. The International Remix is a shorter trip with some random new samples thrown into the mix. It doesn't have the peaks and valleys of the first one, it pretty much goes hard and fast (that's what she said) for the beginning, then slows down to a crawl towards the end with a final race to the finish line. The Track'n the House version is very similar to the original, the drums are switch up a bit, sounding a little less bassy and little more metronomic. For the most part, the original should do, sounds a little darker and filthier, but your mileage may vary.

Thanks to James Murphy and Pat Mahoney, who played this at PS1 on Saturday and reminded me how amazing this song is and how it kills the dancefloor. Messrs. Murphy and Maloney killed it, hope you didn't miss it. Okay, that's our first post in the return. Like riding a bike, people, like riding a bike.

Laidback Luke - Essential Mix

Laidback Luke, BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix February 23, 2008 (YSI link) (Sendspace link) tracklisting in comments

Let's stay in the present and upload the most recent Essential Mix on Radio 1 featuring Laidback Luke. I've actually been meaning to drop a few tracks from this new wave of big-room house music coming out of Europe that has dominated in Ibiza. Laidback Luke is a Dutch producer, who has been around for while but only has taken off in the last year or two. Some of his biggest successes like "Get Dumb" have come in collaboration with members of The Swedish House Mafia - Steve Prydz, Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. All of these names are essential, producer/DJs bringing that old funky Chicago house sound back with some electro and minimal thrown in.

This 2-hour mix is just awesome, awesome, awesome, like a night at Pacha without the Asian mafia or Jerseyites. It ranges from vocal house to electro to some techno, hell, there's even a trance-y euphoric vibe at moments. Listening to it, it's hard for me to believe that this is the overground in dance music; this set is so dynamic and sounds so great, nothing like the untz-untz stuff you have in your head. What I love most is the tempo changes, how he will drop out to just a vocal playing and slowly let the beat come back in and away we go once more. It's one of the best Essential Mixes I've heard in a while, wonderfully paced, a nice mix of current favorites, some Luke remixes and even some of his edits of classics like Daft Punk's "Teachers." I can't recommend this one more highly, especially for anyone who wants to get a sense of what clubland is like right now in Europe and the States.

Etienne Jaumet - Repeat Again After Me

Etienne Jaumet, "Repeat Again After Me" (YSI link)

While y'all are out dancing and partying and drinking and kissing, I'm home, watching Revenge of the Nerds and trying to talk myself into buying the Marc Jacobs derby shoes from his Spring line (if you work for MJ and can get me discount, holler at a kid) Most importantly, I'm home getting back in the swing of things here at Pound for Pound. We got through this week, barely, hope you missed me.

Let's start back with a great new techno track out of Europe from newcomer Etienne Jaumet, "Repeat Again After Me." This is his first release and it's a doozy, this slow-building, kinda ominous, kinda acid-y techno track that stretches out to 13+ minutes. Add in some non-jazzy horns and you have yourself a really sick track.

Detroit Grand Pubahs - Sandwiches

Pastrami and rye! We can make sandwiches!

Detroit Grand Pubahs, "Sandwiches (original 12" mix)" (YSI link)

Detroit Grand Pubahs, "Sandwiches (Krafty Kuts mix)" (YSI link)

Detroit Grand Pubahs, "Sandwiches (Bloated "Quarter Pounder" mix)" (YSI link)

Detroit Grand Pubahs, "Sandwiches (Bloated "Evil Bread" dub)"

Time for some late-night posting, can't think of a better time of night to put up Detroit Grand Pubah's "Sandwiches," to be honest. I feel like this bootyesque song should be playing at some strip club right now, albeit a very strange one, where, I'm picturing, the strippers and the pervy guys are all on mushrooms. Not totally why I'm imagining that, guess it's the helium vocals that give me a tripped out sense. I started listening to this one again recently, after hearing it on the Claude VonStroke Essential Mix, and it's been on straight repeat for days. It's proof that it ain't all lush techno in Detroit; this here picks up the booty house sound with a jackin' beat and less punishing sound than the ghettotech one. It's one of those wonderfully simple songs that finds a place somewhere in your brain cortex and never leaves.

The remixes don't really come close to the original 12" mix, but they're nice additions. The Krafty Kuts mix is my favorite, as it adds some delayed synths and a more breakbeat feel which picks the pace up. I couldn't find much info about the artist called Bloated, as he or she only had a few remixes in 1999 and 2000. It's a shame, as s/he comes with two original takes that veer quite far from the original. The "Quarter Pounder" mix turns into an electro-funk take, with this little guitar lick giving it a little 70s funk porno funk vibe. The rubbery bass and shuffling drums never let up, making this a nice extended version. The "Evil Bread" does feature some delay stuff and vocal trickery, but it's got a pretty 4/4 beat preventing from being the dub you might expect.

P.S. Who wants to come with me to the new Second Ave. Deli or Ben's next week? We can talk about disco and bass and housing issues and the awesome Celebrity Rehab show on VH-1! Yeah! It'll be fun.

Claude VonStroke - Essential Mix 11.10.2007

Claude VonStroke, BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix November 10, 2007 (YSI link)(Sendspace link) tracklisting in comments

We're coming up to the final few days of 2007, the time that we look back and list our favorites and wrap up a year of posts. For me, one of the biggest names of the year was Claude VonStroke, the man behind Dirtybird Records and some of the biggest dance tracks and remixes of the past two years. From his original productions to his remixes to the monthly party he and and the label began at New York City's APT club, the dude has been an essential part of my soundtrack this year.

It's fitting then that he would make an Essential Mix for the BBC Radio 1 program, capping off a big year. While it's super rad to see CVS get his due with this invite to the big leagues, it's way more rad that our man killed it on this one. Unlike the Mixmag mix I put up a few weeks ago, this 2 hour mix gives us a look much more into the man's influences, which I always love. He covers classic Chicago house, a lil' booty stuff, lots of new stuff from the techno and house worlds, edits, even a little hip-hop. Check the tracklist if you need to, but honestly, I'd just download and listen. This one is siiiiiccccckkkkkkk, like goosebumps and smiles and memories of past dancefloors and dreams of future ones. This dude has become a big Pound for Pound favorite in 2007, I cannot wait to see him solidify his lofty standing with an even bigger 2008. Yeah!

Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal - Flava In Ya Ear

Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal, "Trax 4 Da Women" (YSI link)

Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal, "Don't Bite It" (YSI link)

I wasn't sure if this was the right choice to start the week. On the one hand, I can't think of a better way to kick off the weekdays than with a Dance Mania ghetto house classic. On the other hand, I don't want you to peak on Monday afternoon, unable to regain the euphoria and joy that you will soon feel when you download the above tracks. I decided to go with this Traxmen/DJ Lil' Tal post with the acknowledgment that I will need to step my game and provide a few more peaks this week.

These two tracks come from the Traxmen & DJ Lil' Tal Flava In Ya Ear EP, Dance Mania 083 for those who care about those things. It's another essential release from the Chicago label, a good example of the early 90s sound that they developed, which moved away from the earlier acid stuff. One listen to "Trax 4 Da Women" and your life is better. It's that simple. This is minimal house at its finest, a 909, vocals and attitude are more than enough to make me (and hopefully you) lose my shit. Traxmen and DJ Lil' Tal employ a sort of verse and chorus thing, where a few words find themselves being repeated at the end of a verse, like ride, shake and whip. Wait for the 2+ minute mark when the kick comes in, oh boy, so massive and orgasmic I don't want else to say. "Don't Bite It" is much busier, with more percussion, some keys and two different sampled vocals coming in to up the ante. I feel like this one would work better in the club setting, a little less experimental and more in line with the booty music we all know and love.

I'm going to be in transit today, heading back to Philadelphia to hang out with MR. That means no party post tonight, but lots more coming tomorrow before I head back home.

More Surkin Remixes

Paul Johnson, "Hot (Surkin remix)" (YSI link)

Justine Electra, "Killalady (Surkin remix)" (YSI link)

I wanted to put up one last post for Surkin as the year comes to an end, as he's had a huge 2007. I had to put up this remix of a Paul Johnson track, as it perfectly encapsulates some of Pound for Pound's main interests: Paris electro remixing a Chicago house legend. Johnson is a stone-cold legend, from his early releases on Dance Mania to his classic albums on Peacefrog to his remixes of people like Green Velvet and Joey Beltram, dude has had a hand in the development of house music for more than a decade. Anyway, really rad to see Surkin given a chance to remix "Hot," since he has always seemed like one of the Paris wave most in tune to the booty past. The remix is good, not his best by any means. This one took a few listens for me to get into, it has sort of a twisted jackin' sound that isn't immediate.

I actually much more prefer his remix of Justine Electra's "Killalady" from her 2006 album, Soft Rock. This may be one of the best I've heard from the boy wonder, a raging-yet melodic electrotech track that works from the first laser synth sounds. Surkin sounds much more forceful on this one, with the sharp drums, claps and bass. Love the breakdown about a minute and 45 seconds in, where the song sounds like it battery quickly dies, then bang! Sonic assault. As I've said, you need to cop the guy's entire catalogue, Turntable Lab seems to be a great source for it. Or check the Arcade Mode store for the non-US people. I really can't wait to see what 2008 holds for the young man.

Armand Van Helden - NYC Beat

Armand Van Helden, "NYC Beat (MSTRKRFT remix)" (YSI link) 320

Armand Van Helden, "NYC Beat (Emperor Machine remix)" (YSI link)

Armand Van Helden, "NYC Beat (Prince Language remix)" (YSI link)

Let's keep going on the New York City theme. I had originally planned on posting this song early last month to honor my 1st year of New York City living. Technically, I guess I have been here more than that if you include my team in the Lower East Side, but I don't include that and don't have any recollection of it. So, yeah, yea me for a year in New York City! I moved three times, and have seen a man with his face burnt off by acid three times on the subway.

Here's the final single from Armand Van Helden's Ghettoblaster LP that I have, been out since early summer. "NYC Beat" is definitely my favorite of the onslaught of singles that have come with this album, a great original from the legendary Van Helden. Dude easily morphs into a new sound when the situation calls for it, this one's made for the indie dancing kids with its big beats, sick bass, guitars and anthem-y vocals. MSTRKRFT does their thing, chopping it up like only they can, creating another staggered monster. Would've loved them to really let go at one point and just destroy me with bass, but that's just me.

However, it's the other two remixes that deserve your full attention, both of which take the temperature down and stretch things out nicely. First, Emperor Machine turns in a bleepier, dubbier version that really works well. I just love how he takes his time and gives the song real movement, like how he drops everything out but the bass early on and builds back into a discofied funk tune that you never want to end. Wonderful. Oh, but the real treat here is the Prince Language remix, I want nothing more for Hanukkah than more remixes and releases from this dude in 2008. He brings the cowbell out early and often and you know I won't ever hate that. From there, he turns in a percussion feast, at times dubby, at times toe-tapping funky. I like it, hope you do too.

If you haven't already, grab a copy of Ghettoblaster, a great album from a dance music master.