sensual harassment: carnal spirits.

dl: SENSUAL HARASSMENT - Carnal Spirits (YSI)
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I'll admit it. When I posted "Mirror" a few months ago, I wasn't sure whether Sensual Harassment would ever appear on this blog again. At the time, I wasn't really sure what direction their sound was heading towards, and confession number two---I'm still not sure.

While I referred to "Mirror" as being "on the verge of power-dance-emo", their new tune sounds like Afrika Bambaataaa meeting up with Daft Punk for some watermelon lemonade. Listening to them back to back, I thought I'd struggle to recognize it's the same band, yet the instrumentation is consistent enough for the two songs to flow into one another. Compare these two tunes to "The Journey Has Merely Begun". Huh? WTF? It's somehow consistent but it's not! I don't know where these guys are going or where they've been, but I can't wait to hear them once they reach their final destination.

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- SPACE IT - HYPE IT -

hell yup!: saucy feets @ monkeytown.

HELL YUP!: Saturday 06.07.08
@ Midnight:30
MySpace Is a DJ Too: From ANORAAK to Z¹iz¹ek
@ MonkeyTown (backroom)
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If you're up for a little dancing and disorientation this weekend, please join me as I celebrate my UNBIRTHDAY tomorrow in Brooklyn. It will also be the release party for Saucy Feets (pictured above), the must have foot-accessory for this summer. Let's party together in the IRL!

brenmar: yeasayer remix.

dl: YEASAYER - 2080 (brenmar remix) (YSI)
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I remember that I once had this Choose Your Own Adventure book in which "you" get shrunken down to the size of an ant. The happiest ending finds you falling from very high into a cup of pudding! Oh, delicious...until you think about the physics of the situation. Technically you should have drowned in that pudding. But it sure beats the other option-- time-traveling and getting stepped on by a giant dinosaur! And you were just trying to time-travel back to the point before you got shrinky with it! Gadzooks!

Brenmar's remix of Yeasayer's "2080" is like choosing to confront the dinosaur. Except in this case, the dinosaur is magic and makes you as big as it is! And it wants to be your friend! And eat giant bowls of pudding with it! And then you'd step on people you don't like. You know?

Who is Brenmar? I'm glad you asked. Brenmar is Bill Salas, the man behind the drums/electronics of These Are Powers. He's done a remix of their song "Little Sisters" as well as remixes of Aa, Clipd Beaks, Mahjongg, and High Places. The tunes are constructed "out of old dusty records, digital and analogue synthesizers, microphones, samplers, pedals, toys, and found sounds." Such sounds make MGMT tour-mates Yeasayer's sufficiently more interesting, which is quite a task given that Yeasayer is (no offense) totally boring.

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- SPACE IT -

big bang tv: and the adventure of free sparks all night long.

dl: BIG BANG TV - Renter's Insurance (YSI)
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ITMS!! fave Big Bang TV is playing at Galapagos (70 N. 60th St, btw Kent & Wythe) on next Tuesday April 29th, and there will be NO COVER and FREE SPARKS ALL NIGHT LONG? The show is in celebration of Pomp & Circumstance's spring issue release and will also feature tunes provided by Heavy Jamal, The Kiss Off, and Ana Lola Roman. It all starts at 8PM, with BBTV playing at 9PM. And did I mention that there will be NO COVER and FREE SPARKS ALL NIGHT LONG? There is no reason to miss this.* It'll be more awesome than this!

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- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT -

* Unless you actually have a reason to miss this, and you feel inexplicably horrible that BBTV keeps scheduling shows when I have scheduled commitments. I mean...when you have scheduled commitments.

immuzikation: mgmt remix.

dl: IMMUZIKATION - Just Another Call With You (MGMT vs. lots) (YSI)
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Immuzikation has been popular on the blogs lately. And with good reason! Mashing up Daft Punk and LCD Soundsystem with MGMT, Yelle with Weezer, Justice with Boyz II Men*, Ratatat with Enon, Jay-Z with The Postal Service...the fun just doesn't stop. This Georgia boy knows where the party's at, and I'm personally inviting all of you to crash it with this new joint he sent my way. It goes a little something like this...

• MGMT - "Just Becuz" + Soulwax - "Another Excuse (DFA Remix)" + Prince - "When Doves Cry" + Chromeo - "Call Me Up" + Afrika Bambaataa "Planet Rock" + Stardust - "Music Sounds Better with You" = "Just Another Call with You"

"Just Becuz" is nearly five years old, recorded when MGMT were still at Wesleyan University. It's a bit dancier than most of their new stuff, yet it remains one of my favorite MGMT songs of all time. Long story short, Immuzikation is my mash-up GOD for doing this mix.

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- SPACE IT - HYPE IT -
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* Um, can we talk about Soulja Boyz II Men?

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PREVIOUSLY ON ITMS!!: Download the original "Just Becuz" and an ol' skool mix of "Kids". (link)

sensual harassment: mirror.

dl: SENSUAL HARASSMENT - Mirror (YSI)

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I don't know diddly-hoo about John Barclay or Todd Thomas (The Fashion Brigade, Emergency Broadcast System), but I certainly do enjoy "Mirror", a song from the Brooklyn duo's latest project Sensual Harassment. I was first drawn to them by their photos on the space, in which the members' faces are consistently hidden behind two animal masks-- a pig and a crocodile/alligator (?). I'd be disappointed if I found out they perform without these costumes. Because the world needs more animals that rock.

The rocking on this song is on the verge of power-dance-emo, which somehow doesn't make me feel shameful. Even the vocals are slightly Conor Oberst-like, making me really wonder why I don't feel shameful. I don't know if their album has been officially released yet, but they worked on it with a dude who worked with The Cure and a dude that worked with Snoop Dogg. Drop it like it's hot hot hot!

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- SPACE IT -

pdl: featured on listen up podcast.

dl: PDL - Lots To Do (YSI)

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I can't deny that my blog has blatant ties to the Vanita Phone Company*, so I should probably mention that PdL was featured yesterday on the Listen Up! podcast.

You may have previously heard his song "Happiness" thanks to FLUXBLOG. Or caught word of his "playdate" Matt & Lil Kim album on BIGSTEREO or the Matt & Kim website. Maybe you heard his Cassie-OH remix of Cassie's "Me & U" on Discobelle or Palms Out Sounds. Or perhaps you were one of those people who were like "WTF is this?" in the comment section of MAKE blog's post on Gertrude, his LED drawing machine. And if you read this blog, you'll notice that his face is totally in a flyer two posts down (so sue me if I like to promote my friends!)

If none of this rings a bell, then now is the time to get familiar. His debut solo album Stop Means Go will be available digitally very soon, so I will spare you from anymore details...because you will probably be hearing about him again on this blog. Uh, very soon.

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BONER TRACK: PDL - Give (Dan And The Landladies remix) (YSI)

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- SITE IT - SPACE IT - VIRB IT -

hell yup: good friday fun.

Remember. Jesus didn't die for your sins so you couldn't dance. So get ready for good times this Good Friday at Boulevard Tavern (579 Meeker Ave, map it)! With $5 all you can eat burgers, franks, and tots, you'll recall that the Lord may have left you...but he hasn't left you hungry! If you can't make it, here's a little sample of what you'll be missing out on...

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dl: HELL YUP - HONEY00RAIN (YSI)

-- DMX Krew - Honey
-- Vashti Bunyan - Come Wind Come Rain

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dl: HELL YUP - MADMUSIC (YSI)

-- Goblin (feat. Missy) - Tenebre (Hell Yup Pass That Shadow Remix)
-- Justice (Feat. M.I.A.) - Phantom (Hell Yup Bucky Done Died Remix)
-- Dan Deacon - Big Big Big Big Big

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dl: INDETERMINACYPART1 (YSI)

-- (Robert Ashley -> John Cage -> Robert Ashley) + Live-coded Beats
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- SITE IT -

big bang tv & the rowboats: live in outer space.

dl: BIG BANG TV - send/receive (YSI)
dl: THE ROWBOATS - Eyes Closed (YSI)
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Okay, okay. I guess Bushwick isn't really outer space, but if you're looking for something to do in the NYC area tonight...you should check out Big Bang TV, The Rowboats, The Creature DJs, and DJ Mangoose. They'll be venturing on a mission to move "your hearts, minds, and (occasionally your) butts" at Don Pedro (map it) @ 8PM tonight. $3 beers will be provided ALL NIGHT LONG.

I can attest that my heart, mind, and butt was moved quite often when I last saw Big Bang TV at Europa. As I looked around, I noticed many feet that were moved to tap, many heads were moved to nod. I even noticed Matt's "I Fucked Jack White" t-shirt. You know? Because he was wearing it when he played. You too can notice things like this. But not until you go to this show tonight. Plus, if you pretend hard enough...maybe Bushwick will feel like outer space, no?

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- BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT -
-BUY IT - SITE IT - SPACE IT -

big bang tv: send/receive.

dl: BIG BANG TV - send/receive (YSI)
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"Big Bang TV is what happens when four people who can't agree on anything try to make music. Matt is a singer/songwriter, Scott is a hip/hop DJ and producer, Joe was metal drummer turned electronic musician, Andrea's last gig was playing accordion for a female folk trio."

At least that's what they say. Someone else might say, "Big Bang TV is a four person band hailing from Brooklyn." Then some asshole like you might say, "Oh, another one of those?" And then I'd get all up in your face (kind of like that one time some kid in my class "Primate Behavior: The Real Monkey Business" did when I expressed uncertainty about Spank Rock). I'd say, "No, they're actually GOOD"...Because they are. You'd listen to their music and realize that I was right...Because I was. Got it?

There's this band called Radiohead. You may have heard of them once or twice. Big Bang TV lists them as an influence on facebook. I hear a lot of kids have been listening to this album called In Rainbows, and I have this vague feeling that those same kids would enjoy BBTV's send/receive EP. They might even love it so much that they become fans of Big Bang TV on facebook, but let's not jump to any conclusions. Don't you hate when bloggers (even vaguely) compare bands to Radiohead? I know I do.

With the combined sounds of guitar, turntable, electric and acoustic drum, bass, laptop, and a few mouths, Big Bang TV creates a sound that can only be (self-)defined as "experimental-electro-post-indie-rock-hop". If you are living anywhere near Brooklyn, you can experience such sounds live on February 21st (10PM @ Europa) or March 7th (8PM @ Don Pedro's). For those of us who aren't lucky enough to have such an experience, I offer a consolation prize-- a free download of "Send/Receive", the title song off of the send/receive EP. It should be noted that this EP is only $3 and equipped with a nifty hand-painted cover. I'm not sayin'. I'm just sayin'...

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- buy it - site it - space it - face it -

gidgetsparks: top friends.

GIDGETSPARKS may have been shown some love four posts down, but I am inclined to say that she deserves a bit more.

With the help of producer machinedrum, she has joined the ranks of musicians that have made songs about the space. Before I go on about this song, may I highly recommend visiting her space and streaming it? The animated graphic in the back of her page creates an entirely hypnotic effect when paired with the song. For a few seconds, I was compelled to put this Brooklyn white-girl rapper in my top friends. Then I realized, I don't even KNOW this chick. It's creepy enough to blog about her twice within a short period of time, but I think putting her in my top friends would be even creepier. And then I thought to myself: Why am I such a tool for thinking about my top friends on the space? That is lame city. Plus, this song is half a joke, right? I can't even tell.

The lyrics of this tune aren't quite as mind-blowing as "rubberband handz" and "guffawguffaw", consisting merely of...

• "Put me in your top friends. I'm not in your top friends. I thought that we were best friends. So put me in your top friends. Take me off your top friends. Don't want to be on your top friends. We were never best friends. So take me off your top friends."

Clearly not her best work, but they kind of shine some light onto the weirdness of the "Top Friends" feature on the space. I mean, think about it. How many tweens (and sadly adults too) have expressed these concerns? In fact, I was just on a friend's page and saw word for word a comment that read: "WHY AM I NOT IN YOUR TOP 8???" Seriously. Are you kidding me? Is that really such an important part of your life? Yes. Apparently it is for them.

In any case, the lack of words in this jam showcase machinedrum's awesomeness. I am hoping that I will be in attendance at the August 23rd show so I can be too scared to say hello to either of these people.

I am awkward.

dl: GIDGETSPARKS w/ MACHINEDRUM - top friends (YSI)
dl: GIDGETSPARKS - rubberband handz (YSI)
(electro/hip-hop)
- space it - space it -

unicornicopia: one woman emotional sound sculpture.

UNICORNICOPIA has accordions, a Barbie Ferrari double cassette karaoke machine, a mbira from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe, and a lot of other instruments and things that make sounds. She makes music with these things.

Born Natalie Weiss, she has been performing as Unicornicopia since 2001. The project has taken many forms-- a rock band, a musical with puppets, and now "a one woman emotional sound sculpture". I know, I know...a one woman WHAT? Don't fear listener. All you need to know at the moment is that she is a pretty girl with a pretty voice, and she makes pretty extraordinary experimental pop music. You can figure out the rest later. Her vocals are very reminiscent of someone I can't really think of. Essentially, if you like the voices of Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs of The Finches or Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, then you will probably like Natalie Weiss when she sings. You will especially like her if you always wished those other two bitches* had accordions.

Currently, she is recording a new album produced by Joe McGinty, a former member of The Psychedelic Furs who has also worked with Nada Surf, Amy Rigby, and Ronnie Spector. She promises that it will be "uplifting". If you like this uplifting music and happen to be in the Brooklyn area, be sure to check her out on June 24th (Luna Lounge, 8PM). I would if I could. But I can't.

d/l: UNICORNICOPIA- Grace. You're a Dear. (YSI)
d/l: UNICORNICOPIA- Crash My Bike (YSI)
(experimental pop with a pretty voice)
- space it -

* Okay, so they're not bitches. They're just girls! But sometimes I like to call people bitches. Sorry.

WEBBYVANDERQUACKIN': Unicornicopia also worked with Travis Stewart of Machinedrum, who just so happens to be streaming "OOHEE", a Yo Majesty track that a lot of the internet might not have heard yet. Hear it on his space. Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." is the single of the week on iTunes, and it seems that the general iTunes community doesn't like it much, eh?