First of all, this is remix is pure bliss and not the ignorant kind. MegaMan & Panic city have masterfully crafted a beautiful instrumental full atmospheric pads, classic XX guitars and rhythms sure to keep any music lovers interest. The arrangement is tailored around Baria Qureshi’s dreamy voice and there’s no attempt to grab your attention with technique because it’s all done with a grace and style that puts the song above all else. In the age of endless techniques, tricks and producer showmanship it’s refreshing to hear producers who stay true to the song. Anyways, this jam speaks for itself so if you’re like me and won’t be falling asleep anytime soon this is the track for you, enjoy.

The Xx – Night Time (MegaMan & Panic City Remix)

I’ve been in SoCal for almost two weeks now and it’s amazing just how slow paced life out here can be. I can’t seem to get accustomed to the time difference so its bad enough that I wake up 3 hours ahead of everyone but the lifestyle here is leisurely, I love it. Don’t confuse that with lazyness though, people out here still get it done, I myself feel more on the grind then ever, just without the excess worry and hurry you tend to feel on Broadway. So i’ll be…

Rollin’ down the street smokin’ indo, sippin’ on Gin & Juice

Laaaiiid back, with my mind on my money and my money on my mind. – Snoop Doggy Dogg (1993, Doggy Style)

Naturally, the music I’m listening to out here is bound to be on the slower side to fit the atmosphere. It’s also not a surprise that it would be by artist who call Cali home, which is why I’ve had this Nosaj Thing Remix of Islands on repeat for the last 2 hours. Nosaj aka Jason Chung is a young and very talented producer with a distinctive atmospheric sound and absolutely no respect for genres or any stylistic parallels for that matter. I’ve got another week left in sun so I have to get outside and keep this momentum going, enjoy.

The xx – Islands (Nosaj Thing Remix)

I get stumped whenever people ask me what kind of music we feature on EMPT, mainly because I think the best style is no style which in turn encompasses all styles, I mean it’s complicated. We don’t follow forumulas here, in fact we avoid them like a superstition. For everyone who want’s to know how we pick songs, well, we turn up the volume really loud and see what feels good. Anyways, I just spent last week in LA and if it wasn’t for this mixtape I would be a very unhappy camper – thanks SL…

I don’t follow any guidelines cause too many ni$#@z ride mine
So I change styles every two rhymes, hah, what the fuck…” (Jay-Z, 1996 22 Two’s)

Le Miel du Mois: Fevrier

A lot of these songs are taken from forthebeat posts from the last two weeks. Forthebeat’s KC found some real gems including an unknown band out of Atlanta called Sunglasses, a South Carolina native called Coma Cinema and then there’s California based Peasant, all acts to definitely look out for this year. Of course I had to include one of my ultimate favorites, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, actually there’s 2 tracks from them on this mix because after all, what’s a month without Karen O? A dull one friends, a dull one.

Le Miel du Mois at work? That’s much better than work at work! Download

Tracklisting:

1. XXXChange – Roll It Light It Smoke It
2. The Tough Alliance – Neo Violence (Shazam Remix)
3. Database vs. French Horn Rebellion – Beaches and Friends (The Twelves Remix)
4. Sunglasses – Whiplash
5. The Radio Dept. – Heaven’s On Fire
6. Ladyhawke – My Delirium (Walter Sobcek Remix)
7. The xx – VCR (Matthew Dear Remix)
8. Pinback – Fortress
9. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Elite Force Re-Fix)
10. Thieves Like Us: Drugs in my Body
11. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Turn Into
12. The Dig – Penitentiary
13. Peasant – Thinking
14. Coma Cinema – Flower Pills

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To say the least ’09 was an eclectic year for music, from Animal Collective to Kid Cudi, The Xx to Miike Snow, it seems like everyone had their 15 minutes of fame or should I say 15 seconds, I mean it is the internet age after all. However, when it’s all said and done, there are certain albums that cut through the ruff loop and find a permanent place in our rotation, Et Musique Pour Tous & forthebeat have come together to highlight those records. I’m not a fan of numbered list so I chose not too put these in a particular order because these albums are so different and unique that they shouldn’t really be looked at in terms of which is better, they should be appreciated separately and simply listened to, not categorized. We’re kinda throwing this post together last minute but we’ll revisit it soon with more commentary so hang tight, in the mean time check out some of the albums on the list and expect to hear from us soon, enjoy.

The xx – The xx

With spots on the majority of “best of” lists this year, even including a nod on the Fact Magazine “Best Albums of the Decade” list, is the self-titled, debut album from The xx. Each time I listen to this album, I discover a new favorite song. The first few to jump out were “Crystalized” and “Night Time.” But each time I listen, depending on my mood, my favorites change. From the song writing to the production, it’s amazing that this album is the creation of a group of now 20-year-olds, who met at the Elliot School in London, which also boasts famous alums including Hot Chip and Four Tet. Led by the production of Jamie Smith (Beats, MPC, who also goes by Jamie xx as his DJ persona) and life-long friends Oliver Sim (Vocals, Bass) and Romy Madley (Vocals, Guitar), the group lost their fourth member Baria Qureshi (Keys, Guitar) during extensive, world-wide touring, which will continue well into 2010. The reason xx has such mass appeal is because of the band’s ability to brilliantly fit together influences from, according to their MySpace page, Aaliyah to CocoRosie, Rihanna to The Cure, Missy Elliott to Chromatics, The Kills to Ginuwine, Pixies to Mariah Carey, and Justin Timberlake to Tracy + the Plastics. The greatest example is The xx cover of Aaliyah’s “Hot Like Fire.” With the ability to expertly cross-genres, the band suddenly and deservedly reached critical acclaim. Perhaps just as exciting as their debut album were the Jamie xx remixes this year. My favorite of which was Florence and the Machine – You’ve Got The Love (Jamie xx Remix), which leads us into another breakout album of 2009… – KC

The xx – Crystalised

Bat For Lashes – Two Suns

Two Suns is the place where epic fantasy, mystic love, dark adventure and highly ambitious song writing seamlessly come together to take us on a dark yet inspiring cosmic journey into world on Natasha Khan and her hedonistic alter-ego Pearl -

Fresh like the produce isle – that’s a Harlem for them.” – G.O.V

Like Merriweather Post Pavillion, most of the songs on this album require the listener to bring some imagination to the table. There are moments when this genre defying work might leave you in the cold if your not in Natasha fantasy land. Moments when abstract experimentation may have gotten the best of the music but should you dare to escape and enjoy outside of your personal listening needs, the experience will be one of a kind. My taste for all things this year has ended up at exotic, be it girls, music, entertainment, I need it to be something I’m not familiar with. Maybe I traveled too much as a kid or something but I need the atypical and perhaps this is why Daniel is hands down my favorite song of the year. No matter how many times I listen to this song, how close to home her emotional delivery may be, I can never listen to this songs and feel like it’s something I’m familiar with and that my friends, is priceless. – HMJ

Bat For Lashes – Daniel

Florence and the Machine – Lungs

Lungs, the debut album from Florence and the Machine, is the UK’s best-selling album of 2009, with over 100,000 copies sold within the first month of release. Led by frontwoman Florence Welch, who credits influences including Annie Lennox, Courtney Love and Kate Bush, Florence and the Machine is known for raw ballads, mostly about violence and death, yet sung in a beautiful, emotion-filled voice. This juxtaposition is daring considering the vividness of each song, but listeners can’t help but get caught up in the passion conveyed. Standout tracks include “Kiss With A Fist,” “Rabbit Heart (Raise Up),” “Dog Days Are Over,” and one of my favorite songs of this year, the commanding “Cosmic Love.” What some declare as its weaknesses are also its strengths – Lungs is an ambitious and sometimes wild debut, but Welch is a standout among her contemporaries. From pop to soul to folk, she takes a number of influences and executes an innovative album. Florence and the Machine go back into the studio in January 2010, and we’re rooting for an equally stunning follow-up. – KC

Florence + The Machine – Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

Who would have thought that an extremely weird, overly ambient psychedelic pop album would be on the top of everyone’s list in ’09? An album that requires so much patience and imagination from the listener to the point that it’s borderline inaccessible. Well, pretty much every one. Since the day the album was released, this critically acclaimed album has held title of king. Like I said though, as well received as it may be, this album is not for everyone. As much as people want new, they want familiar and if your always listening for something to bring you back home when your listening to music then this may leave you in the dark. What impresses me the most about this work is how such eccentricity manages to provoke thought and emotion. It’s not everyday you get an album that succeeds like this one did without the band somehow compromising their integrity so this is truly a special one. – HMJ

Animal Collective – My Girls

Miike Snow - Miike Snow

I didn’t have to see the band live to know that Miike Snow’s self-titled debut would be one of my favorite albums of 2009, but their Mercury Lounge appearance, co-headlining with Jack Penate, solidified their place in our top 10 — the show being one of my favorite live performances of 2009.  Surprisingly, however, Miike Snow has been overtly left off most critics’ “best of” lists.  The trio of songwriters and producers, which includes New Yorker and in-house producer for Downtown Recordings Andrew Wyatt, in collaboration with Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg, the Swedish production duo known as Bloodshy & Avant, have been the masterminds behind many pop and mainstream acts including Madonna, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue.  However, their experience doesn’t thwart our love for this album.  Miike Snow is a complete pop revelation, and one of the best indie pop breakouts of the year. – KC

Miike Snow – Animal

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz

One of our favorite artists, and favorite albums this year. Every song has this undeniable energy and magnetism that makes you want to dance, sing and scream like Karen O, (which you will never be able to), desperate to try and mimic a fraction of what she delivers on stage in both presence and performance.The trio (Karen, along with drummer Brian Chase and guitarist Nick Zinner) deliver an impressive record that’s an emotional and beautiful tribute to the love of the dance floor, with  epic tracks like “Heads Will Roll,” “Soft Shock,” “Skeletons,” “Dull Life,” and “Zero,” and acoustic versions of select tracks including “Hysteric” that evokes a different experience of the album altogether. As exciting and amazing as the rock/punk/dance sound is overall, what’s equally amazing is the band’s ability to deliver unbelievable lyrics that are concise and repetitive but powerful time and time again. It’s Blitz proves once again, that following the huge successes of Fever to Tell (2003) and Show Your Bones (2006), Grammy nominations and mass popularity won’t ever mess with the YYY’s overwhelming cool factor. – SL

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll

La Roux - In For The Kill

Lyrics about love and betrayal and that hair… This 80′s inspired electropop duo’s band’s name originates from front-woman Elly Jackson’s French heritage (born in Brixton, UK) and of course her red hair, translating into “the red headed one.” The English electro pop duo’s debut album first hit the scene in 2007 when the debut single “QuickSand” was released on an independent record label, before signing with Polydor Records, who released the full debut album in 2009. The second half of the duo is Ben Langmaid; Langmaid does not perform live with Jackson and refuses to be photographed or interviewed; Jackson holds her own as the stand out of the band. With hits including “Bulletproof,” the second single released, which debuted at # 1 in the UK Singles Chart, “In For the Kill,” and “I’m Not Your Toy,” the debut album threw Jackson onto the scene with a bang, gracing the pages of Rolling Stone, SPIN, NME and hundreds of other features in UK papers, online media and the music blogoshphere. Her performances this past year have also gained her a loyal fanbase, with rave reviews from Leeds, Reading, Glastonbury and U.S. festival debut, All Points West. While 2009 was the year of the red, 2010 looks like it will be the year of the gold for Jackson with her 2010 tour titled “The Gold Tour,” kicking off in April. – SL

La Roux – Bulletproof

Passion Pit – Manners

Passion Pit bathes in the same pool as many other artsy vigilante musicians such as MGMT, Friendly Fires and Late of The Pier. As my tutor at ACM once told me, genres are for people that work at record stores. These guys bring this concept to the next level.

Finding inspiration in a plethora of musical styles, this album grasps you from the first bar of music on the introducing track, Make Light . An indie four-to-the-floor beat with a properly produced drone bass line lays the solid ground for the guitars to slowly unfold their respective voicing. Any song that drags you through three verses of a lyrical depiction of being down in a gutter, to then insist that we have the power within to bring light into our lives is a solid introduction.

And it’s alright
Cause tonight there’s a way I’ll make light
Of my treacherous life.”

The ‘favorite song’ pedestal for this album is a duality fought between Moths Wings and To Kingdom Come. The teasing guitar lick and epic entry of the keys sets my skin alight. I’m a fond believer that if you don’t know what to say, write a letter. Michael addresses the entire lyric of this song to a dear friend in need of advice. Epic.
I could type a novel on each of these tunes, but for logistic reasons, I wont. Seeing as Sleepyhead has been satisfactorily covered in prior posts, I’ll take the pleasure in breaking To Kingdom Come down to its core. Right from the beginning, this tune shines a ray of sunshine up anybody’s yo hole. Even though the lyrics oppose this idea, except for the final pair of words: Feel Alive! Yes sir, I do now. The rest of the lyrical content covers the dilemma of dealing with unnecessary and dumbfounded negative criticism from the people you expect it from the least. I think we can all relate.
All in all, this debut album, to me, is a master piece. They kicked the industry’s door down, and here they are, and they’re here to stay. Some people compare their sound to MGMT and call them a pastiche. I beg of you, stop skimming through albums, pay attention and you’ll see the divine difference between the two. – JCOS

Passion Pit – Little Secrets

Fever Ray - Fever Ray

Fever Ray’s self titled debut album was groundbreaking. The electro sounds and lyrics are similar to frontwoman Karin Dreijer Andersson’s former project The Knife yet evoke an even eerier and emotionally intense feeling that’s fast paced and experimental in sound. Karin delivers a truly unique auditory experience that blends fantasy with the nightmarish and unknown. Seeing Fever Ray perform live at Webster Hall in New York City this year definitely remains unlike any other live show I’ve seen to date. “When I Grow Up,” “Seven,” and “If I Had A Heart” are among the best tracks off the album, with videos that parallel in the strange and unique. The album penetrates your curiosity, half terrifying, half calming, and draws you into Karin’s world that’s highly emotional, complex and wonderfully weird. – SL

Fever Ray – When I Grow Up

Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Who would of guessed that the pop/rock star persona was born in the midst of the Modern age, midway through the 19th century? Pas moi, pas du tout. Phoenix’s fifth achieved album is somewhat of an homage to this period in history. Lisztomania, remixed left right and center since the album’s release, is a direct allusion to the original rock star, Franz Liszt. Contemporary to his arch-rival Wagner, this dood lived it loud, large, and luscious. B!tches n Ho’s, the benjamins in his pocket (different currency at the time, but whatever), and the industries respect. He had the full kwan. Title single, and introductory track to the UK album release, this tune oozes the good ol’ phoenix bounce we all dig. The lyrics touch upon a touchy subject I ponder on quite often: women need to understand something. It’s all good and gold to be sentimental. But there is absolutely no need to be senti-mental. Keep it within boundaries girls. We try our best.
It also evokes the EMPT gospel,

Think less but see it grow, like a riot like a riot oh! Not easily offended … It’s time to show it off.”

What amazes me about every Phoenix album is the dalmatian ways of the guitar sounds: spot on. It is quite insane how the two guitars synergize to forge a soundscape worth admiring. And the keys? Don’t even get me started. They make the chester cheeto crunch that makes this band so unique. Oh, but the vocals are also as unique as a four-breasted PYT with a mute button included. This band is epic. Growing up in the same environment as Air and attending the same high school as Daft Punk and Justice, there is an obvious fact at hand: there must be something in the water in the outskirts of Versailles, cause their sound is crisp and shines like crystals.

Although most lyrics are not historical, the allusions are well embedded. Damn straight: Franz Liszt and his crazy ways; 1901, the approach to the end of Modernism and genesis of the Post Modern realm; The importance of Rome during the Italian unification; and the all failing attempts of armistice during both World Wars. It’s all there boys and girls. No need to hit the books, just sit back and enjoy this culturally enriching excuse for an album. For this isn’t merely an album, it’s the fifth book of a gospel being written in our modern day and age. – JOCS
Phoenix – 1901

As if Le Miel du Mois wasn’t already on fire, Steph and Kristin of Forthebeat took the popular mixtape’s best of the best to provide you with 9 of ’09, 9 remixes and 9 originals from our first official year in business.
Just when you think this tape is gonna slow down and its safe for you to take a  coffee break, you get smacked with a banger, then another and another… What’s the moral of the story? Sit your ass down and listen fool!! With the year closing in I couldn’t think of a better compilation to represent the taste and song selection we hold so dearly at EMPT, enjoy.

EMPT: The only blog you know with a bounce and a half.“

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Tracklisting:

1. White Rabbits – Percussion Gun
2. Delorean – Deli
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)
4. Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
5. Sleigh Bells – Ring Ring
6. Whitest Boy Alive – Golden Cage (Fred Falke Remix)
7. The xx – Crystalized
8. The Virgins – Rich Girls (The Twelves Remix)
9. Miike Snow – Sylvia
10. Telepathe – Chrome’s On It (Gold Panda Remix)
11. Florence and the Machine – Cosmic Love
12. Sebastien Tellier – Roche (Breakbot Remix)
13. La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix)
14. Air France – Collapsing At Your Doorstep
15. Lykke Li – Dance, Dance, Dance
16. Florence and the Machine – You’ve Got the Love (The xx Remix)
17. Friendly Fires – Paris (Aeroplane Remix)
18. The xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)

Well, the E.M.P.T. pre-party for our bigger and badder one year anniversary party was a huge success and we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone that made it out, we enjoyed your company and hope to have more and more reasons to keep celebrating, see you in November.

As many of you know, the first of the month on E.M.P.T. means a new tape from mixtape guru Steph Lund. However, I was in severe recovery mode after the party so not much got done around these parts so this months mixtape will be a day late but here nevertheless. Without further ado, here are some words from the genius herself, enjoy.

Le Miel du Mois: Octobre

The art of “the repeat”. When I fall in love with a song, its always the same, I can tell instantly whether I am going to completely love it in the first 10 seconds. This is usually followed by playing the song over and over until I can anticipate every beat and lyric.

Le Miel du Mois repeats one of my new favorite artists: UK’s The xx. Enjoy, and be sure to: repeat.”

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1. The Xx – Intro
2. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Soft Shock (Them Jeans Acoustic Remix)
3. X-Wife – On the Radio
4. Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars
5. Tiesto – Feel It In My Bones (Feat. Tegan and Sarah)
6. The Xx – Crystalized
7. Metric – Gold Guns Girls
8. Fake Blood – Fix Your Accent
9. CSS – Let’s Make Love And Listen To Death From Above
10. Lykke Li -  Breaking It Up
11. Sean Bones – Dancehall
12. Beirut – My Wife, Lost In The Wild
13. Dntel – Last Songs
14. LCD Soundsystem – Someone Great
15. Cold Cave – Life Magazine
16. Hooray for Earth – Surrounded By Your Friends

A lot happened this weekend and I’d never thought I’d be saying this but I’m kinda glad it’s monday. I went to Megu Saturday night, a restaurant which I highly recommend to anyone into Japanese food. I don’t know how they do it but after eating the black cod and kobe beef you literally feel like you just had sex, it’s that good. That may sound weird but all the foodie people reading this will know what I’m talking about. Anyways, a few bottles of Saki and a friends birthday party led to a pretty wild night and I’ve been recovering since.

After this nonstop weekend I’m feeling like I need some medicine in the form of music and that would be The XX. Their debut album has been out since August 17th and I’ve been slow to write about it because I actually listen to the music I post and up until today the mood of this album didn’t match my disposition. XX is slow and soothing contemporary chill music, the perfect soundtrack for relaxing and kicking back, exactly what I need right now. Their understated sound is refreshing in face of the whole synth pop 1980s dance or die craze. Though the R&B influences are prominent I’m hesitant to box it into any particular style or genre. To me the XX are a 20 year old band with 30 year old minds, their lyrical content and production are mature and sound experienced. They’re not pulling out all the stops to try to impress you and they focus on details other bands don’t even think of, very impressive. Here are a few of my favorites from the album, enjoy.

The XX – Islands

MP3

The XX – Vcr

MP3

The XX – Heart Skipped A Beat

MP3

It’s the first of the month, so cash your checks and get up.” – Bone Thugs

Aside from the usual check cashing  and up getting, the first of the month is always exciting for us because it means a new version of Steph Lund’s Le Miel du Mois premiere’s on E.M.P.T. Since it’s inception back in May Le Miel du Mois has been downloaded over 800 times, and that’s not counting the nearly month long shut down we had to overcome. This popular mixtape displays a broad yet refined taste in countless genres, styles and feelings – quite fresh. This is one that needs to be listen to the whole way though as all the songs come together to paint a coherent experience. So without further ado, here are some words from the mastermind herself, enjoy.

Septembre. septembre. les feuilles. le vent. The beautiful feeling of fall across your neck, buzzing through your hair, down to your legs making you run faster and faster until you fall oh into fall into fall into fall. This mix is a little bit softer than the summer mixes. The second to last track is Fever Ray. I was first introduced to Fever Ray a few months ago, when I received it in the mail from The Album Club. If you haven’t heard about the UK’s TAC yet, I suggest you check it out here: http://www.thealbumclub.com/concept.php. Fever Ray is the debut solo album from The Knife’s frontwoman, Karin Dreijer Andersson. I love Karin’s voice, ever since I fell in love with Röyksopp’s “What Else Is There” released in ’05. She is eccentric and eclectic and sometimes her vocals and lyrics scare me, but nevertheless keep me wanting more:

Fever Ray’s If I Had A Heart lyrics:

This will never end
cause i want more
more, give me more, give me more”

Le Miel du Mois at work? That’s much better than work at work! Download or Download (clic droit+enregistrer sous)

1. Neutral Milk Hotel – The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1
2. La Roux – I’m Not Your Toy (Jack Beats Remix)
3. Beirut – My Night With A Prostitute From Marsaille
4. Bloc Party – Letter To My Son (Twins Remix)
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Heads Will Roll (DIGIRAATII Dance Til You’re Dead Remix)
6. Phantogram – When I’m Small
7. Betty Botox – Synthetic Love Juice
8. Mumm-Ra – She’s Got You High
9. The Xx – Shelter (Them Jeans Drum Edit)
10. Fruit Bats – Ruminant Band
11. The Notwist – Boneless
12. Bad Veins – Go Home
13. Brendan Benson – Metarie
14. Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart (Fuck Buttons Remix)
15. TJ Lazer – AMFPDSSBWYGTSWABOHC