Labor of Love

Houten Fire Station - Netherlands [Courtesy of the cool hunter]

Rock Number One
Cassius
15 Again
EMI Int'l - 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Cab Fare
Souls of Mischief & Hieroglyphics
That's When Ya Lost / Rock It Like That / Cab Fare [Vinyl EP]
Archives Inc - 1995
[Listen] [Know where to buy this? Tell us!]

Hold Up
Girl Talk
Night Ripper
Illegal Art - 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Main Theme
John Carpenter
Escape From New York - Extended Soundtrack
Silva America - 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Stop Me
Planet Funk
The Illogical Consequence
EMI Records UK - 2005
[Listen] [Buy]

Suite For the Ways Things Change Right Now [Kojiro's blend]
Beastie Boys & Prefuse 73
FmGT Exclusive
FmGT Labs - 2006
[Listen]

Wait for Love
Fred Falke & Savage
Omega Man [Vinyl EP]
Work It Baby - 2006
[Listen] [Buy]

Here's yet another mini-mix of tunes and beats from my off-the-wall collection aimed directly at your ear drums - Some old, some new and some totally exclusive.

French house duo, Cassius, is back with their third album. Known separately as Boombass & Zdar, they've released solid tunage in the form of the debut album 1999 and the half-way decent in my book follow up release, Au Reve. But the boys have been around producing mixes for Mixmag and even playing deck support for greats like, JT's favorite, MC Solaar. If you're a Cassius fan, then you know what you're getting into: fast beats, smooth synths and sometimes hit-or-miss vocals. "Rock Number One" lands on the hit side of the fence and in all honesty, it's the only track the on the new album that gives me that 'need it in my veins' feeling.

Next is a nice Hip-hop rarity from those smooth Hieroglyphics masterminds, Souls of Mischeif . With a sweet sampling of the original theme to the late '70s television show, Taxi. "Cab Fare" is an incredibly chill track. I only wish that the quality of the mp3 was a little better.

Every month or so there's a new mash-up track that we all need - my favorite still being Al B's mash of the "theme to Beverly Hills Cop" with The Beastie Boys' "Ch Check It Out." Sometimes though we get lucky and it'll be an entire album [like the bomb of gold that was Dangermouse's Grey Album]. Greg Gillis brings himself in as the current contender, riding as Girl Talk. Night Ripper is more impressive on the cuts and production values rather than the way that it sounds - ooh, but I'm always a sucker for some Weezer & the Pixies mixed with anything.

Escape from New York is one of John Carpenter's best films, mainly because Snake Plisken is such an awesome hard ass mother fucker. If you haven't seen the film yet and you're an action flick fan, check it out, it won't disappoint. Carpenter is known for being very involved with the sound design of his films - one of my favorites being the main theme to In The Mouth of Madness. The "main theme" to Escape From New York is equally unique and fitting for its film - with a slick synthesizer melody following one path - just like Snake, get in it's way and you're toast, or just enjoy the ride. Can anyone tell me WTF is going on with the ever rumored Escape from Earth? "Welcome to the human race" baby.

Italian electronic collective Planet Funk has two albums, each of which only half listenable - that's not to say that they don't have a few really great songs though. Their first album, Non Zero Sumness featured the trance era, Groove Radio induced hit, "Chase the Sun" as well as the remixed too many times, "Inside All the People" [the Deep Dish remix is the best - don't waste your time on anything else]. Their second effort, The Illogical Consequence, just like the first album has a couple of really great tracks, but more than a handful of unlistenable poo poo. "Stop Me" might be the best track on the album. It's a great track as far as Italian tech pop is concerned - you know, because that's a HUGE market ^_^. It's progressive and it's got a really catchy beat. Scratch that electric itch and put it on - it's only a click away.

Once again, the mighty smooth and rightly tight Acid pro, Kojiro, has dropped another beat love child on our doorstep here at FmGT Labs. This stellar track features The Beastie Boys' "Right Now" synkronized perfectly with a loop from Prefuse 73's "Suite for the Way Things Change." It's a solid creation and we want more real soon. FmGT <3 Kojiro.

Ending it off is a track from Fred Falke & Savage in true Daft Punk style. Fred has worked closely with Guy & Thomas on a variety of projects and could be considered to be just as responsible for that dank electronic funk as the DP themselves. I've been holding my breathe for quite some time for Falke to release a proper album because I need something besides Mylo to relieve me of the pain that was Daft Punk's third album. French House, deep, dark and moving - I know ya dig it.

So that's it for today, a grab bag of tricks sure to make Felix proud. Have you welcomed Roy yet? Stay Tuned -- Silent K.