28/09/2009

Welcome + August/September Podcasts


Music blogs and the Hype Machine have become indispensable tools for discovering new music. But their rise has also created a culture where every week a new artist is dubbed 'the next big thing', only to be exploited for blog hits and then forgotten as soon as another exciting act appears on the scene. This is especially true in the world of electronic and dance music, where the blogs have been taken over recently by a wave of second-rate electro and remixes disparagingly referred to as 'blog house' (Sheffield's Article Magazine has similar thoughts this month).

Duck&Cover will attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff and feature electronic music that will stand the test of time. So to kick things off, a couple of quick mixes of mostly oldish tracks to give you an idea of the kind of artists that will appear on the podcast. If you want the mixes to magically appear in your iTunes every month then subscribe here. Alternatively, you can just grab the Mediafire links which will probably be much quicker and more reliable - just remember to bookmark the blog and check back every month!

August 2009
1. Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe
2. M.I.A. - Pull Up The People
3. Modeselektor - Godspeed
4. Santigold - Say Aha (Tepr Remix)


Mediafire 16MB MP3

September 2009
1. Simian Mobile Disco - Sleep Deprivation
2. Soulwax - E Talking (Nite Version)
3. Daft Punk - Rollin and Scratchin
4. Modeselektor - Kill Bill Vol. 4
5. Surkin - Radio Fireworks


Mediafire 24MB MP3



I know, I know, two mixes both beginning with Simian Mobile Disco [pictured] tracks, but after seeing them open their set at The Plug last week with 'Sleep Deprivation' it just had to go in. The fact that Attack Decay Sustain Release is a truly great and unique album didn't help either. It's just a shame that the same can't be said, for the most part anyway, of their new release Temporary Pleasure. 'Pull Up The People' is a classic track from M.I.A.'s first album Arular whilst Tepr brings some extra bassweight to 'Say Aha' by Santigold, who is too often likened to M.I.A. on fairly shallow grounds. German producers Modeselektor provide some intricate electronica in the form of 'Godspeed' and bassy techno on 'Kill Bill Vol. 4'.

This version of Soulwax's 'E Talking' is taken from their excellent Nite Versions remix album - expect to hear more remixes of decent indie/guitar tunes on future podcasts. Surkin's 'Radio Fireworks' is a great example of electro done right and it's hard to believe that it's already three years old. Finally, 'Rollin and Scratchin' is a perfect example of a track that stands the test of time. Twelve years on and Homework is still incredible - who cares if you've heard it a hundred times before?