Hits The Spot: By Your Side

Dear 2011, slow the fuck down.

How it's March already is beyond me but it also means that At Home, the third single from Crystal Fighters debut album Star Of Love, dropped yesterday.

This wouldn't normally have much of an impact on my day, as I'm too busy on my quest to claim absolute victory on every front, except that the remix package features an absolute gem from the new producer on the block E. Russell.

He's rolling out magic, bro.

Crystal Fighters - At Home (E. Russell Remix)

In Motion: Milky Skinned Girl

FOE - Tyrant Song (dir. Entrepreneurs)

So we're fashionably late once more, but don't let our tardiness for dramatic effect have any bearing on matters - it's time for a brutal audio/visual one-two combo from the somewhat symbiotic pairing of Foe and the omnipresent puppet-master Entrepreneurs.

Tyrant Song is the lead track from Hot New Trash, Foe's debut EP which will be released through new label on the block Stella Mortos on April 4th both digitally and on 400 ltd vinyl.

There will be a no doubt sordid and debauched label launch party taking place on April 8th at The Macbeth, which will feature appearances from both Foe and Entrepreneurs as well as IT favourite Ghostpoet and Pettre.

Before I leave this lurid dungeon of depravity for an altogether more upmarket gathering, check out/download/freak out to the Entrepreneurs remix which is available over at RCRD LBL here.

In Motion: Ward Off My Death

Psychologist - Comes In Waves (dir. Tali Clarke prod. Woodsy)

I don't know exactly when Psychologist's conception as artist happened. I don't know how directly involved with the birth we were back when we were young. But I know that I couldn't be happier for this circle of life to have finally come full turn and to wake up today to a sort of re-birth and new beginning for Iain Woods...

Fitting then, that he should choose similar themes to introduce us to his first official release, EP Waves of OK, dropping digitally and on etched 12" vinyl via Moshi imprint Not Even 28.03.11. Lead track Comes In Waves is another hauntingly sparse and soul-baring, chest-splitting lament, accompanied by a beautifully self-produced falsidical paradox of a video that can be seen for the first time above.

Psychologist debuts Waves of OK - backed by a 12 part choir - in it's entirety on 16.03.11 at St. Matthias Parish Church, Stoke Newington - tickets here.

Hype: For Now

Born from the embers of Great Eskimo Hoax and reared in a kitchen in Selly Oak to a soundtrack of Wolfgang Voigt, DJ Koze and Thomas Fehlmann, are Worcestershire duo Pocket House.

Whilst they are no strangers to Oxford's Blessing Force collective - Dom is the drummer for Jonquil and Andrew plays live for our beloved Trophy Wife - of which they will inevitably be compared, it's the delicate little flourishes, samples and electronic touches that I find so endearing.

Exemplified perfectly in the four minutes and thirteen seconds of Pops.

Pocket House - Pops

Hits The Spot: Loves Eternal Odyssey

We first shone a light on Abe a while ago, and today the torch burns in their direction again with this remix of How To Dress Well's Can't See My Own Face.

As influenced-admirers of Tom Krell's softly-softly approach, Abe delicately re-direct his bedroom R 'n' B deeper into late night Benzo oblivion; opting not to alter the arrangement dramatically, they simply stretch the original out, introducing extended and re-worked 'tro's and a little of the warped 90's soul sound they're quickly establishing as their own.

Lifting an already fragile vocal, it's re-laid loosely over loops old and new with a second-hand stickiness that leaves it sounding barely there, curled up at the edges, close to losing it's grip on a residual reality...

What the fuck am I talking about? What does that even mean? I'll tell you: nothing. You can make your own minds up, you don't need me chatting sixth-form shit @ U.

How To Dress Well - Can't See My Own Face (Abe Remix)

In Motion: A Broken Bow

Evryone - Flamingos (dir. Entrepreneurs)

So then 2011, let's be having you. My first proper post of the year and it's a veritable IT love-in.

After introducing the wonderfully eccentric Evryone to the blog world back in August of last year, it seems fair that we offer the exclusive drop of the video for their début single Flamingos.

Such news would bring a smile to my face even at the worst of times, but that smile quickly turned to a grin once I heard that the video is directed by the ever multi-faceted Entrepreneurs, of whom I'm expecting a big year ahead.

Done.

3 TODAY

The blog has been running for 3 years today. Happy Birthday to us and Happy New Year to you.

In Motion: Fine Lines

Breton - December (dir. bretonLABS)

Check out the fresh video for December, taken from their aforementioned Counter Balance EP on Hemlock Recordings. Whilst it's buffering, cop the 12" from Pure Groove or the digital package from 7Digital.

In Motion: No One Said

Dave.I.D - Only Me I Can Save (dir. Simon Owens)

We all know that I love a bit of Dave.I.D, so obviously I'm more than happy to share the news that he'll be releasing his Gangs EP on 31st January 2011, of which the above track is taken.

As usual it will be out on his own Off The Uncertain Button imprint, which has teamed up with K7! since his last release, and if you want to brave the current mind fuck that is Myspace you can hear the EP in its entirety here.

He'll also be performing some secret shows in London in the coming weeks as well as finishing up on preperations for his debut album.

Hype: The Centre Of My World

It's a marathon, not a sprint she says.

It's a grind I think.

I don't have the puff I think.

With a last gasp I catch Abe, draw it in deep, fill my sails with it.

And the horizon burns bright her finish line.

This is beautiful I think.

Abe - Think Of More