We posted the original already, but this is simply too damn glorious not to share. Plastic Plates has made a name for himself in 2012 as that guy who takes pretty good songs and turns them into ridiculously fun and really good looking remixes (he’s also the only reason why I’ll listen to Adele). Felix has a pretty lethal pedigree (drummer for The Presets, Sneaky Soundsystem, etc.) and he’s Australian–so when he points in a direction, it’s a good idea to head that way. He’s pointed to Mexico, where we–and him–just got BUFI‘d.
With this uplifting, hypnotic, and percussive production, Bufi took a page straight out Plastic Plates‘ book, turning the good into the astounding. The result is Magician like–really, when I first heard this remix, that’s the name that came to mind. While Bufi is still somewhat under the radar, he–along with Pat Lok, Falcon Punch, and Chordashian–is a name I expect you’ll see plenty more of in 2013.
Tell me what I’m thinking of…
In 2012, I’ve realized that I kinda love a lot of things I never though I could even like. Deep house, Tofu (sorta), “Pressed” Juice, Yoga, and (moderate) Sobriety chief among them. Thanks to Bufi, “Mescal-infused electronic-disco” can add itself to that list. Cause while I don’t know what Bufi stands for (probably not Spanish for BUFU), it might as well be Spanish for “dance motherfuckers, dance.”
Celebrating a month full of creepy mustaches couldn’t pair any better than with a nod to erotic fiction. Shades of Grey is nothing short of powerful, due in part to Sam Sparro‘s soulful crooning. Sparro’s sound reminds you of early Prince washed in modern day dance synths. His original version of Shades of Grey is a ballad of pain and truth, and his falsettos will make you reach for the sky.
When you do what you do
Your gonna hurt somebody,
Hurt somebody, hurt somebody
When you do what you do
Your gonna hurt somebody,
Lose somebody, never knew somebody
Could be so bold, be so cold
Your gonna yell for me when you get old
When you do what you do, you might miss somebody,
Miss somebody baby.”
Plastic Plates completely changes the vibe on this remix. Instead of reaching for a tissue, you’ll be reaching for more room on the dance floor. The combination of grooves and synths maintains a sense of the ’80s, but in a different frame of mind. Plastic Plates is a regular on EMPT and, as usual, he’s brought his A-game on this remix. Assuming this track is unaffiliated with the E.L. James novel, I’m still crossing my fingers that this remix will be part of the film-version soundtrack.
Sail this ship to calmer seas Turn our backs on bush fires burn. Leave it on the coast
All the promises we’ve been given, given, given All the fires that we’ve feedin’, feedin’, feedin’ All the lies that we’ve been livin’, livin’, livin’ Am I the only one that’s still believin’
I can see you’re in it to go I think we knew this day might come I hope you’ll find what we never ooh Could never seem to love But if you find just one reason to return You’ll find me open arms.”
Making promises, having to say goodbye with that subtle hint of “I’d love you to come back, and if you do, I’ll be here waiting for you”, that’s when, If you’ve never been in that situation, the explanation might be hard to assimilate. Wondering about the future, wondering “what if”, I believe is the message The Presets wants us to stick with from this single.
The original is a modern pop song with 80’s influence, quite smooth in it’s energy. Steady and strong from the start only to come down a bit for the main verses to be savoured. I think this is a standout track from Pacifica and I’m sure it will show with the success it should garner in the next couple of weeks on the blogs and digital outlets.
Right from the start of this remix you’ll feel the usual Plastic Plates signature elements of nu disco. From the hand claps, bassline and all around energy. I like the original, but I truly believe Felix Bloxsom hits it with this one. I’ve included the original for your enjoyment and also so you can appreciate where my words couldn’t the departure of a Plastic Plates treatment from an original.
Plastic Plates burst into my world over a year ago with his heart-shattering remixes of Adele’s Set Fire to the Rain and Body Language’s Social Studies. I felt drawn to the hunt for more of his signature brand.The man behind the beat is Felix Bloxsom, an Aussie with a penchant for jazz. His percussion skill is more than evident in his work, celebrating syncopation and smooth beats.
Things I didn’t know I loved you
Only you can show me
Tell me what I’m thinking of
Only you can know me
Your second chance to join the dance
And make romances lady
You melt the ice, you roll the dice
My seven pillars swaying”
It’s incredibly exciting to be able to match a producer to his sound. Even more thrilling is witnessing the evolution of sound. Things I Didn’t Know I Loved is a first glimpse into Plastic Plates‘ personal creations. He found the perfect complement in the vocals of Simon Lord of The Black Ghosts. Together they find this healthy dance vein in which to inject a love song. With just the slightest bit of desperation in tone and subject, Lord carries the two-step feel of the track along with PP‘s new wave imagination. Throw your head back, and feel the love.
A steady flow of remixes has been spilling out of Plastic Plates‘ bag of tricks, and he has yet to disappoint. His style always takes it to the next level, finding acclaim with his remixes of Adele, Body Language and Katy Perry. This time Plastic Plates (aka Felix Bloxsom) adds his signature groove-matics to Australian electropop outfit Sneaky Sound System.
Each layer of beat and effect lays the framework for this monstrosity of sound. First, a little shake, followed by a kick that makes your heart find a new beat to pulse to. The symphony rounds out and Connie Mitchell‘s vocals slide into the mix.
Friends, why can’t we be friends?And all the rules they don’t mean a thingSee the daylight brings a brand new starIt feels like nothing makes much sense when you’re the one.
Plastic Plates maintains a powerful consistency with his remixes. I have yet to find one that doesn’t take over my body, head to toe. And that’s just the direction the music moves you. You need at least one track every day that can simultaneously get you hype and chill you out. Try this on for Tuesday.
I love this track so much and the Plastic Plates remix of Jamaica is off the chain, giving this already tropical electronic mantra even more jungle fever, it’s the perfect song for summer especially since its starting to wind down. I know I know I shouldn’t remind you all, but I am in such vacation mode right now that I won’t let this summer end until I actually go on you. I feel like the older we get the less time we have to take adventure time/ vacation time/ however you want to look at it. There are always obstacles, thats why I have a huge tattoo of Ganesha on my back to remind me everyday that these obstacles are necessary to really understand life and the path that will lead you in the right direction, my life is full of obstacle and I don’t think I would have it any other way, makes each day more interesting.
If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” -Frank A. Clark
Plastic Plates really knows how to do any track justice, even though Van She had no issues making Jamaica into a track that I literally can’t get enough of, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, BANG, they take it to a level that really doesn’t exist, with their electronic genius. If you can’t get enough of Plastic Plates music like me then just go to their Soundcloud right now and make it your Friday playlist. I have a lot of running around today but I wanted to start you all off which will definitely get your Friday poppin’ like crazy, just don’t take your clothes off at work, EMPT can only take so much blame, enjoy!
As many of you know last night we were live @ Santos Party House in NYC with the French taste makers Kitsuné. Thanks to everyone that made it out, we look to do much more like that in the near future in both NYC and LA so stay tuned…
This morning I got an email from a French DJ/Producer named Jorge Bonjour telling me about a mix he wanted me to check out. He just moved to NYC and heard about our Club Night and made a mix using only the artists on the bill. Plastic Plates, Gigamesh, Computer Magic and Perseus in one mix, how could I say no? Turns out the kid Bonjour is pretty good. His mixes are clean, to the point and the tunes are of course right up our alley. We look forward to more from the new guy in town. In the spirit of the weekend, here’s an introduction to Jorge Bonjour and some music to get your pre-game soundtrack on point, enjoy.
Tracklisting:
Jeremy Glenn – New Life (Perseus ‘Summer of 83’ Remix)
Perseus – Running back 2 U
Gypsy and the Cat – Jona Vark (Plastic Plates Remix)
Citizens!- True Romance (Gigamesh Remix)
Plastic Plates – More Than Love
The Magician feat Jeppe – I Don’t Know What to Do (Plastic Plates Remix)
Computer Magic – Found Out (Panther Hands Remix)
Grouplove – Tongue Tied (Gigamesh Remix)
Computer Magic – Running
I’ve never been a big fan of looking back, sure it’s comforting to reminisce about the good old times…
Hey you know everybody’s talking about the “good old days”
Everybody! The good old days
Well, let’s talk about the good old days…” – Gladys Knight
But in my mind the past does more harm than good. If you think about the past so much you’re going to constantly be ignoring what’s happening to you right now. The past is good for one thing and one thing only – educating yourself, learning from your mistakes and those of others, otherwise it should be avoided like the plauge. Your current situation is a result of your past thinking and thus your future situation will be a result of your thinking right now! However, if you keep thinking the same sh*&tty thoughts because you can’t stop thinking about the past you’re going end up with the same result. It will happen over and over and again and you’ll just be wondering why but the past is why…
Life is like a treadmill ni*#@s running in place,
Getting no where fast, a whole year done passed…” – Jay-Z (It’s Like That)
Like I said, the value of the past is education, it’s the only way to break the pattern. Otherwise it already happened and if you really think about it, it doesn’t even exists anymore, it’s literally just in your head. My conductor, the late great Walter J. Turnbull always told us – “you’re only as good as your last show.” That always stuck and it means more to me now than ever. Think about your job, say you’ve put in years of service but if you start screwing up today it’s good bye. If you’re in a relationship, those first months or years we’re wonderful but if you stop showing love, caring to impress, to improve and always keeps things fresh things are bound to go sour…
You’re only as good as your last show” – Walter. J. Turnbull
So what does all of this have to do with LMDM? Well, if you’ve been following LMDM these years you’ll know that this ruthless forward thinking mentality is at the very nature of Steph’s mix tape series and listening to this special version inspired all these thoughts. For those unfamiliar with the series this is a great way to get to know it, here’s why
Instead of a “best of” 2011 artist and songs mix, our end of the year mix is a compilation of the best of LMDM’s of 2011. I tried to chose one track from each month, of the past 11 LMDMs but that was tough and turned into two select tracks per month, because lets face it, 22 tracks is better than 11 and I wanted this holiday tape to be a BIG one. Every LMDM I listen back on reminds me of what I did that month and the little moments that made the month, and piled on, that made the year. …Here’s to Hec and EMPT moving to LA and to a bigger better faster stronger 2012.
I think releasing Ryans mixtapes on Monday’s has completely altered my perception of this previously dreaded day. I don’t know about you guys but everything in my life revolves around music, it’s my bread & butter, my hobby, basically all of the above. I love it so there are no complaints, however I’m a fan of music before anything but since I’m always behind the scenes I rarely get to play that role. That’s why these mixtapes are such a treat for me. Once a week, I get to totally kick back and just enjoy someone else’s work on and vision and that’s mastercard priceless to me. By now you all know these tapes are predictably amazing so I don’t have to sell it to you, just Ryan Radler mixing up styles and genres like clockwork. That said, I’m gonna order some grub and chill out for the entirety of this tape before getting back to work, a much needed break. Enjoy.
SUMMER: a n t i – w i n t e r 3b
Everything Good – JENSON SPORTAG (TEEEL REMIX)
Pumpked up Kicks – FOSTER THE PEOPLE (THE KNOCKS SPEEDING BULLET REMIX)
Kilometer – SéBASTIAN TELLER (A-TRAK REMIX)
Drinking in L.A. – BRAN VAN 3000
Kiwi Maddog 20/20 – ELLIOT SMITH
And So I Know – STONE TEMPLE PILOTS
Ghost In My Head – NIVA
Bicycle – MEMORY TAPES
Another Time – BRAHMS
Social Studies – BODY LANGUAGE (PLASTIC PLATES REMIX)
Nova – THE SOUND OF ARROWS
Sleepwalk (Extended Version) – SANTO & JOHNNY
Somebody to Love Me – MARK RONSON AND THE BUSINESS INTL. (FT. BOY GEORGE & MIIKE SNOW)
Fail Forever – WHEN SAINTS GO MACHINE
Salty Air – J. VIEWZ
So Long – RILO KILEY
The second I pressed play on this tape I had to stop dead in my tracks to sit back and take it all in. It’s only Wednesday and this has already been one heck of a week…
That’s why I’m heading for the coast, it’s the only reside I know… – Loud Valley
Of course, dead smack in the middle of it all Steph sends me a therapy session in the form of a mixtape that puts everything in perspective. The first five songs in this tape were meant to be together, in that order and released on June 15th, 2011. If you’re busy, overwhelmed with work and need something counter the load put this on repeat, it’s guaranteed to make it better. If you’re an LMDM fan you already know each tape stands along and this one is no different.
I myself have a bunch to do before heading to the water this weekend but I had to share this new tape with you before doing anything, enjoy.
The artist I am most excited about this month is Metronomy. Check them out if you haven’t already.They have three albums and have done many many amazing remixes. Another is Connan Mockasin, another UK based artist, but native to New Zealand. I couldn’t contain my excitement and amazement for CM’s video for “Dolphin Love” when my friend Maggie Godwin first showed it to me. Read her post and watch the video here. Connan supported Mystery Jets for a London show last summer and most recently opened for Warpaint on their UK tour.
