October Podcast

Just in time to count as an 'October' mix, this month's Duck&Cover podcast takes a break from its usual electro/techno/whatever-you-want-to-call-it focus and instead features a selection of artists from around the world that are all bringing something different to the table.



1. Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance (Buraka Som Sistema remix)

Buraka Som Sistema [pictured] transform the Swedish singer-songwriter's downbeat original into a carefree, fire on the beach, time of our lives epic. As the winter evenings draw in, the song's bouncy rhythm and fuzzy synthesisers are enough to make us forget about the harsh temperatures outside and just dance, dance, dance.

2. Buraka Som Sistema - Aqui Para Voces (Brodinski remix)

This Lisbon based collective are at the forefront of the 'kuduro' genre. Originating from Angola, kuduro blends techno and house with traditional African styles to create a truly unique sound. Brodinski's remix of Aqui Para Voces is a fairly minor rework but just happens to be at the right tempo for this mix. Be sure to check out the original and the rest of their Black Diamond album.

3. Radioclit - Divine Gosa (Switch remix)

French-Swedish production team Radioclit make up two thirds of The Very Best. The global influences of that project and its excellent Warm Heart Of Africa album are clearly visible in their work as Radioclit too. London's Switch gives 'Divine Gosa' the remix treatment here with rolling drum loops and wonky synths proving to be a simple but infectious combination.

4. Major Lazer - Pon De Floor

Switch, meanwhile, has collaborated with US producer Diplo on the Major Lazer project which sees the duo try their hand at dancehall, teaming up with a variety of Jamaican artists in the process.Guns Don't Kill People...Lazers Do is a bit hit and miss, but 'Pon De Floor' is a definite highlight. The hook might be daft, but when combined with marching drums the effect is irresistible.

5. Diplo - Bandida (ft. Deize Tigrona)

Diplo. A phrase concerning fingers and pies comes to mind. When he's not busy producing mixtapes with M.I.A. and Santigold or generally remixing everything in sight, he spares a few moments to get Brazil's Deize Tigrona - who also provides the vocals on Buraka Som Sistema's 'Aqui Para Voces' - to drop some lyrics over Devo's 'Mongoloid'. Inspired.

Listen to the podcast here:



Alternatively, grab the Mediafire link here (19MB MP3) or subscribe using the link in the sidebar.

Have a good Halloween - I'm off to construct a costume.

Surkin to play Club Pony + other news

Just a quick note to say that French producer Surkin, as featured on last month's podcast, will be playing at Sheffield's premier electro/techno night Club Pony next month. Should be a good night - details on Facebook and tickets available now from the usual places.


Artwork by Kid Acne. London Road, Sheffield.

In non-electronic music news, for an hour and a half of really good alternative music check out Eric Shapiro and Clara Chinnery's new show on Sheffield University's Forge Radio every Thursday at 9.30pm. Listen again to their first show here, featuring Duck&Cover favourites Animal Collective, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart and TV on the Radio amongst others. On a related tip, my review of Leeds band Wonderswan's gig at the Harley a couple of weeks ago was published in Fuse - page 11.

October podcast should be up in the next couple of weeks...

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?