Tag: reflex

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Music Remixes

Talking Heads – Once in a Lifetime (The Reflex & The Scrumfrog Rework)

I spent my last week of 2014 smoking joints on the top of St. John, sipping Red Stripes on a beach, and reflecting on the last year of my life. 2014 was probably the best year of my “adult life”, and looking back on it, I feel like I accomplished maybe a quarter of the goals I set for myself. I made some money and found a new home in Colorado.

I’m living in the future, where weed is legal and I can grow a few plants without worrying about jail. And I love it.

But I also lost some friends, people I thought I could trust and turned out to be snakes–partially because I made mistakes and partially because most people are not trustworthy. I also partied far too hard at times, and as a result, became scared that, at 27, I was trending towards the Jim Morrison path.

Since then, I’ve reigned it in, gotten back on track, and feel more confident and driven than I have since I have in a long time.

I don’t think I’ve become the person I ultimately want to be, and as I near 30 and see my friends getting engaged, I’m scared I’m not making the moves that will put me where I want to be when I am indeed 30.

As Hec inspiringly wrote the other day, it’s important to never forget the past–to remember your victories, your losses, the good and the bad times. But when you’re not day-dreaming about nostalgic memories, it’s more important to live in the moment, to set goals, look forward and get harder, better, faster, stronger.

Because as my late, wise grandfather once told me, “Only an asshole looks backward.” You can’t change the mistakes you’ve made or the people that have come and gone throughout your life. But you can use that knowledge to make yourself more impervious the fakers, the haters, and the people who will bring you down.

As I set goals for 2015, I know what I want. I want ownership. I want power. I want stability. I want the Knicks to get the #1 draft pick. I want good people in my life. I want to eliminate the bullshit. I want to perfect my craft. I want to be in complete control. And most importantly, I want to be the person I know I’m not, but that I will be.

You have one lifetime, and what you make of that lifetime is only up to you.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/183644502″]

My friend showed me this remix in The Scrumfrog’s Burning Man Set, which has immediately (along with Tycho’s mix) made me want to make the voyage to burn:

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/174562010″]

Categories
Music Remixes

Reflex – Sunset (Club Mix)

REFLEX - SUNSET EP COVER 

I know for many of you summer may still seem far off. Beijing, Toronto and Paris are hovering in the 50s, and sweaters still abound across the northern and southern climbs. But the season has unequivocally arrived in Rio and LA, my current location. And with it, my current musical artifact fixation, the summer jam.

Ready for another?

French synth-pop duo Reflex have popped up on EMPT before, and if you liked them then, you’ll like them now. “Sunset (Club Mix)” is classic Ibiza day-party fare: simple, light beat, a pluck bass that doesn’t take over, staccato synth stabs, shimmering pads, and of course sexy Euro-tinged vocals that receive a full chop’n’sample treatment at the drop.

The band tags all of their tracks as “seadisco.” They’ve apparently coined this subgenre, as I couldn’t find any other references on the entire internetz! EMPT regulars know of my constant crusade against sub-genre proliferation, and I’m going to have to bring the hammer down here, though gently. If seadisco means music with a disco beat that works well at beach parties, I at least get where they’re coming from. But then, isn’t that just about all disco or electro-pop? Reflex gets credit for coining a phrase and pushing it, because it remains true that bands need some sort of differentiator or aspect to which fans can cling to separate them from the pack. As much as I like Reflex, it’s undeniable that there are a ton of bands that sound similar (La Roux and Yelle lead this particular pack). 

Ludmila Cassar’s vocals are the real deal though. Good production is easier to come by than a talented vocalist, and she combines all the pieces you look for: consistent delivery (as in, she has a voice and sticks to it across all tracks), recognition that this isn’t the place for deep lyricism, and sex appeal. Nothing wrong with having a gorgeous French woman fronting your band.

If you dig the Club Mix, check out the original track (it’s much more dance-floor oriented). Scratch that, check out ALL of Reflex’s remixes and original work. The songs all sound similar, but different enough that the similarity is a good thing. Dive into the short video below for an EP preview and an awesome snapshot of Reflex’s Asia tour. SPOILER: it includes an infinity pool on the 40th floor of a skyscraper. Enjoy.

Reflex – Sunset (Club Mix)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1FgPMF6gUU]

Categories
Music Remixes

EMPT Premiere: DJ CAM – Uncomfortable (REFLEX Remix)

REFLEX-music-seadisco-fixed

Situationally speaking, we’ve all been there. Finding ourselves in uncomfortable positions followed by a reassurance that —in the end— we’ll be OK. The not so good reality about that is that sometimes it’s more wishful thinking than an actual foreshadowing with any degree of certainty of a desired outcome.

We’ve been yearning the balearic sea disco avec that sexy touchez français that is REFLEX. That’s why EMPT is proud to bring you the exclusive premiere of their new remix for DJ CAM’s Uncomfortable. The clash between the funky electro-disco personality with the balearic looks is a fusion not found in many places and sonically, we can almost taste the sand, the sea and the blue sky on this one. André and Ludmilla (the duo behind REFLEX) watermark this remix with their signature vintage synth chord progressions and it makes me smile. There’s something very rewarding about a fresh new production with a hint of something you can tell apart and claim as “the REFLEX sound”.

This track will be officially released in exactly one week from today but you can enjoy it and get it starting today by clicking the link after the jump. As you read this they are halfway through their US tour and I couldn’t stress enough the fact that you should catch their show if it’s anywhere near your locale. I’ve been wanting to see them live since I first heard about them.

Here’s a list of the shows left on this leg of the tour:

03/13 : Gold Lounge, Las Vegas, NV
03/14 : The Garden,  El Paso, TX
03/15 : SXSW Geisha Room ( Nubase Showcase )

03/16 : SXSW Nook Amphitheatre – Live

03/22 : The Next Door, Honolulu Hawaii – Live

DJ CAM – Uncomfortable (REFLEX Remix)

Categories
Music Remixes

EMPT Premiere: Shindu – Just Go (Reflex Remix)

So, I’ve been lucky enough to have been rocking this on my iPod for two months now. And now it’s time that, as faithful listeners of all things good here at EMPT, we brought you the exclusive premiere one week in advance of its release: The Reflex remix of Shindu’s Just Go.

Just Go is a homage to doing what you feel like doing and not giving much thought about what ifs. The true value of this piece of sonic greatness lies in the way that Ludmila Cassar and André Dalcan (a pair both in and outside the studio) –in all aspects– vibrate at the same frequency. The result is a concoction they’ve called ‘Sea Disco’. It has 1 part nu disco, 1.5 parts synth pop and 1/2 pure indie dance. Or so I believe is the recipe (we’d have to ask them).

Sir Jerry Bouthier (Continental Records head and main A&R) sure knows how to select only the best from what France has to offer. And righteously so, he’s one of the main remixers and curators of Kitsuné Maison label/fashion house and all around powerhouse of good taste. I’ve been following Reflex’s work for the last year now and proof that I am not alone in the thought that amazing things are lined up for this duo from a place in the world that has a big big part of my heart — the South of France –is that a plethora of their remixes and reworks have made it to Kitsuné Maison compilations with great success.

One thing that we pride ourselves here at EMPT is not only handpicking the best the world of music has to offer but highlighting artists that we believe will be at the forefront of high quality music in the future. Reflex is just that. And we couldn’t be more proud to share this one with you.

Make sure you stay on the look out for December 10 on all digital outlets so you can purchase this cool tune. In the meantime, hit play as many times as you’d like after the break.

Shindu – Just Go ( Reflex Remix ) by REFLEX