2 Friends + Summer Disco Tape

So recently I made two new friends haha (terrible joke)... but seriously, these past few weeks I came in contact with a very interesting dance-house duo called Two Friends.  LA based Matt Halper + Eli Sones have been making dancey-house music for quite a while now, getting some major hype after dropping a few remixes for Milky Chance and Urban Cone not too long ago.


Recently though I've been sold on their latest edit- a sick remix of Vicetone's ''Angels''. The track is everything you'd expect of a banger summer dance track, and it's just about perfect for big party settings- I know, I gave it a spin this past weekend myself!  Another sick track I've been digging is their remix for Milky Chance's ''Flashed Junk Mind'', which is totally bomb- I've linked it below as well.


Be on the lookout for this LA based duo, they've been growing steadily over the past year or so and I expect big things from them in the future. Also, I did a new disco-house set filled with some of the sickest tracks I've heard all summer (with nods to a few Valerie era classics ofcourse), so be sure to check that out as well- special thanks to Matt and Eli for some early support!

Midnight to Monaco: Suicide (Track Premiere!)

and that's the thing about Future Classic... They just can't release bad music... After their last couple of releases, namely ''something about you'' (ala Hayden James) and ''Jungle'' by Panama, the label has definitively raised the bar for what constitutes worthwhile electro-indie music.
 
Get to know the name ''Midnight to Monaco''. Ricky Ducati and Donnie Sloan (aka Midnight to Monaco) are perhaps the most talented artists I've encountered in years. Their debut single (on Future Classic), ''Suicide'' is literally out of this world...Expect instant chills with this one.. What makes Midnight to Monaco so unique is that their style of music is unheard of.. ''suicide'' sounds like something by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Daft Punk, and Lorde combined. I know, a very odd combination, but a brilliant one none the less. enjoy!

 

Back Back Forward Punch - Settle The Score

One of my favorite aussie synth groups, Back Back Forward Punch (known by many for their last release, ''emergency bow tie'' which was one of my favs for quite a while), are out with a brand new track.. unlike their previous tracks, ''Settle The Score'' is pure future house. yes, not disco, no nu-wave funk, but future house. Normally when a synth group attempts something like this, the results are...less than stellar.. but props to BBFP, because ''Settle The Score'' is an instant classic. I'm definitely going to spin this next time I do a house set (which will be pretty soon...)... be sure to follow them here, and be sure to HYPE this on the machine.
 

Wild & Free: Low Pressure (FALQO remix)

Falqo's brilliant remix of Wild & Free's ''Low Pressure'' is flat out dope. Alexander White (AKA Falqo) has come a long way since ''feel your love''.. we expect great things from him in the future including (hopefully) some sneak peeks into future tracks.  
 

Swing Into It ft. HAERTS (AIMES Remix)///TRACK PREMIÈRE

Wow- no words necessary for this... follow AIMES here!

Shazeb's April Selection.

I have come across more quality music in the past few weeks than I have in the past 6 months...Maybe I wasn't listening intently enough..Or maybe right now is just a freaking great time for indie music. I have stumbled across quite a few future-superstars and quite a few tracks that will really, really show you the power of synth. Enough talk, lets get to the music.

What i imagine to be the perfect place to listen to these tracks..

Let's start with the finest track i've come across. Seriously though, no track has made me marvel at music quite as much as ''Rumored To Be Real'' by the Bee's Knees since ''Shooting Stars'' by Bag Raiders. and that's saying a lot. Think Chromeo, VALERIE, Hey Champ, and Van She mixed in a blender with a touch of space disco..yes, that is how sexy the Bee's Knees are. Remember the name, they will be huge.

NANTES is an indie-rock group that is, ironically, from the only other place that makes great music-- Australia. Their track ''static'' is in the same style of music as many tracks released by Nate Salman and Waterstrider (check them out ASAP).  Static is a catchy track that you'll have a hard time geting off repeat, so be sure to add it to your weekend playlists!

Bendix Mihle is definitely a very classy producer. He's been touching up tons of vintage disco/funk tracks in just the right way. His edit of the ''Put Your Hands Together'' by the O' Jays is simply bliss (smooth synths and classy rhythms)

Being the esotoric blogger I am, I feel inclined to show you this banger future-house track I stumbled upon earlier this week. Chris Lake is a champ, in every sense of the word. His remix of SNBRN's ''California'' is flat out beast...If you are human, then you will dance to this- such is the beauty of universally great tracks. Be sure to play this at some point at whatever parties/events you're going to this weekend--your friends and family (and haterz?! lol) will thank you.

One of our favorite synth producers, Kris Menace, has also just come out with a brand new remix for Audio District's ''Run Through the Street's.. The track brims with creative, uplifting, almost spiritual synths. Expect what you typically expect from Kris Menace: gold. 






And the last track I want to show you guys is just as beautiful as the first. Solarris's remix of ''Retrograde'' by James Blake needs no explanation... What it really needs is a nice, thorough listen. I haven't heard indie-disco this creative since...since ever...Solarris is definitely on to something, and trust me, he will be going places in future, so be sure to keep an eye on him. 

Les Fleurs Du Mal - Sinister Boogie In Paris (DISCOUNCHAINED Exclusive Mix)

Our good friend Ramzi from the wonderful Parisian disco blog, ''Les Fleurs Du Mal'' has prepared a wonderful synthy mixtape for Disco Unchained...Lots of gems scattered throughout, and trust us, Les Fleurs du Mal know french electro. So go ahead, press play and dance/drive/disco.  #Undergroundtothemax


1-Little Dragon - Paris (Golf Remix).
2-Etienne de Crecy - Sunset.
3-Lonely Boy - I Like Disco (Original Mix)
4-Blackstrobe - Me & Madonna (Tape To Tape Remix).
5-Tiga - Bugatti (Torren Foot Bootleg).
6-James Brown - Sexmachine (pHaZe Project Remix)
7-Lifelike & Tommi Bravo - Urban Sex.
8-Remote - Alcyone.
9-Wild Honey - An Army Of Fat Synths (The Emperor Machine Remix).
10-Crowns - Proper Motion.
11-Damn Disko - Muses.
12-Remote - Sinister Boogie.
13-Danglo - Catch My Eye (Armeria Remix).
14-After l'amour - Nuit Blanche Reves Noirs.
15-Boney M - Sunny (Houcemate Bootleg).

Arcade Fighters.

From sunny Brazil comes Arcade Fighters, one of the more interesting and creative disco-duos we've encountered lately. My good friends Rafael and Fernando (aka Arcade Fighters),  have prepared a very groovy old-school disco tape for us. Expect some classic disco in this mix along with quite a few gems scattered around here and there. Also, be sure to scope out some of Arcade Fighter's tracks here, they've produced quite a few gems themselves.

Empire Of The Sun - Wandering Star (FINAL DJS Remix)

My good friend Final DJS recently decided to remix one of the coolest new Empire of the Sun tracks, ''Wandering Star''. We love the original, it's magical. But Final DJS remix is not one to be overlooked. The entire time I was listening to the original track, I kept hoping there was a little more synth to it.  Final DJS's remix adds that extra touch to the original, making it just a little bit cooler. Be sure to throw some love at him here.  

Music for Dancing! EXCLUSIVE MIX by Shaz

So I thought about it, and I realized I haven't been keeping up with the house/deep house scene lately. Even though I adore a lot of music in that area of sound, I have recently been  too occupied with electro funk (how can I help it?). Anyway, I made a mix of the fucking sickest house/deep house tunes I've come across lately (with nods to the classics ofcourse). *LOTS* of gems in here, so be sure to scope it out properly. Also, lots of new mixes on the way (Anoraak, Les Fleurs Du Mal, Miami Horror, and tons of others).

Track Premiere...Golf: All In All (ANORAAK REMIX)

If there's one person's taste in music we trust, it's Anoraak's. He just knows the right people to remix and the right time to do it. Aside from being a talented artist himself, he has an ear for good music. Anyway, he just finished his latest remix for GOLF's ''All In All'' (a cool EP definitely worth checking out). Anoraak's remix is both nostalgic and fresh at the same time. The track features a very synth-y Valerie era sound, so if you've been following him since then, you're in for a treat. 

Kimbra.

Now you're just somebody that I used to know (echo: somebody!). Yes, a lot of you have probably heard Gotye and Kimbra's hit single ''Somebody'', it was a chart-topper a few years ago.For our more synth-y crowd, you probably know Kimbra through her stellar work with our own Miami Horror back in 2010. Her music has been on our radar for a while now and we absolutely had to get her down for an interview. And as a special treat for you guys, she has also given us a small playlist of the music she's into right now! Enjoy another Disco Unchained exclusive! 

Shazeb: Tell us about your work with Miami Horror and the whole 80s synth concept album they released a few years ago. How was that experience?  Do you see yourself making more of ''that'' sound in the future?

Kimbra: It was great working with those guys. We had all become friends while living in Melbourne and spending time with them opened me to a lot of great dance music. I remember discovering bands like Justice, Air, Sebastian Tellier etc through them - and that went on to inspire me a lot. I am always open to working on dance tracks that I feel a connection with, it often pushes me to access a different side of my voice which is interesting too.

Shazeb: How did you get into music? What would you say was your ''big break''? 

Kimbra:I always remember writing songs from a very young age. I recorded onto cassettes from the age of about 8 picked up guitar around 13 and soon entered a high school competition called the Rockquest which was the first time I started performing original songs in front of people and developing a deep love of the songwriting. I started producing demos from that point (some on guitar, and some using a Boss 8 track sampler) and uploading them onto Myspace which was where my manager first found my music and offered me the chance to move from New Zealand to Melbourne (where he was based) when I was 17 and record my first album. I think that was the moment I was pushed to really find myself as an artist.

Shazeb: Where would you say your greatest influences have come from in regards to your own ''sound''?

Kimbra: I would say my love of experimentation and layered sound worlds comes from a lot of the psychedelic rock I listened to in high school like The Mars Volta/NIN, but I have also been influenced by the jazz-like approach of artists like Bjork and Jeff Buckley... and pop artists who have been universally engaging (like Michael Jackson) while still being so creative and boundary pushing.

Shazeb: What are your top 3 favorite tracks at the moment?

Kimbra: 

Redinho - Playing With Fire

The Great Curve - Talking Heads

 Emily - The Singers Unlimited

Shazeb: Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? 10?

Kimbra: Sitting in a garden with a guitar. 

Shazeb: What's Kimbra's favorite horror film?

I used to think The Grudge was great when I was a kid. 

Shazeb: Tell us about your new stuff. Any new albums, EPS, or singles in the pipeline?

Kimbra:I am writing new music which feels great. I plan to keep putting music out. I just released a cover of 'I'm Wishing' (from Snow White) for a recent Disney project in Australia and there will be some very exciting collaborations coming out early next year. Watch this space!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Below are some of the tracks Kimbra has been vibing to over the past few weeks. Be sure to follow her here for some rad new releases in the coming months. 

Else - Fangs.

It has been a while since I've posted, but I really want the music I share to have an impact. Finding gems takes time and patience- with this new surge of internet music there is a lot of garbage floating around as well.  On a lighter note, It's been quite a while since I've heard something this good. Our friends at L'ordre just dropped Else's brand new track, ''Fangs''. Brilliant, lush synths and chilling, funky vocoders make this track absolutely perfect for late-night drives. Be sure to throw some love at Else here while he's still underground (which can't be for long with music like this).

Hayden James - Something About You

'Something About You', by Hayden James, is the second track from the 'Teen Idols' compilation out 19th December on Future Classic. The compilation includes various tracks released on Future Classic throughout 2014 plus four exclusive tracks from Touch Sensitive ('Teen Idols'), KOA ('All Of My Love'), 123MRK ('Gotta Choose') and Hayden James. " Something About You'' is an instant classic, a track that deserves no explanation- only a nice thorough listen.

Empire Of The Sun - Wandering Star

We've been fans of Empire of The Sun for years...From ''We Are The People'' to ''Walking On a Dream'', they haven't released a bad track. In fact, their record is clean. They don't produce garbage or filler-tracks, only real music, in its most rudimentary form. This may sound like a tad exaggeration, but trust us, just listen to their latest track. 

Their latest track, ''Wandering Star'' is just about as cosmic, spiritual, and trippy as it sounds. Originally designed to be on the score for the new Dumb and Dumber film, the track is definitely one of the finest produced by Empire of the Sun. Absolutely uplifting synths and butter-smooth vocals make this track more than a gem. They make it an instant classic. Be sure to add this to your weekend playlists and expect some insane new tracks over the next few weeks. Also, get ready for exclusive guest-mixtapes from Miami Horror and GLOVES.

From The Vaults: Keenhouse - Ari-es (NightWaves Remix)

Part of the reason Disco Unchained was created was because we wanted to perpetuate a very particular, very uplifting synth sound. As most of our old-school followers probably already know, 2007 to 2010 was the golden-age for revival synth music. Bands like College, Anoraak, and Minitel Rose and blogs like Valerie  and DiscoDust helped create the underground synth scene.  

From the late 2009 era comes NightWaves, one of the most talented, progressive, and brilliant producers to have ever hit our radar. His remix of KeenHouse's synthwave classic ''Ari-es'' is nothing short of mind-blowing. Nu-disco guitar snippets, uplifting synths, and an overall spacey feel make this track an absolute gem. This remix is perhaps the epitome of the sound we're trying to bring back. A must hear.

Jimmy Whoo: The way you love feat Lonely Band

          So it's been a while since I've posted but I've been gathering some awesome tracks to share with you guys. Here's something that's been on repeat all week here at Disco Unchained. Out of Paris, France comes Jimmy Whoo, one of the most interesting electronic-rock producers I've come across in a long time. I've was hooked immediately after I heard ''The Way You Love''. The track boasts an extremely unique sound, something like a combination of Van She, Mansionair, and Blood Orange. Super chill, and absolutely perfect for late night drives.

                                                                       --- Shazeb

FARE SOLDI: Mixtape + Tracklisting

FARE SOLDI made a kick-ass mix for us with all their favorite tunes. Be on the look out for our exclusive interview with them as well (coming soon).



1) Whirlpool productions - From Disco to Disco 2) Alan Braxe & Fred Falke - Intro 3) Light Year - The Pop Shot 4) Etienne De Crecy - Am i wrong 5) Uffie ft. Pharrell - ADD SUV (Armand Van Helden rmx) 6) Ian Pooley - 900 Degrees 7) Le Knight Club - Rhumba 9) Le Tigre - Deceptacon (DFA rmx) 10) Pino Daniele - A me me piace o’ Blues 11) Crystal Waters - Gipsy Woman 12) Juan Maclean - Give me every little thing lyrics 13) Samantha Fu - Theme from Discotheque 14) Thomas Andersson - Washing Up (Tiga rmx) 15) Jimpster - Porchlight and Rocking Chairs (Kink rmx) 16) Black Machine - How Gee 17) Mr. Oizo - Cut Dick 18) Still Going - Still Going theme 19) Fox da Fox - Precious little diamond 20) Metro Area - Miura 21) Zoot Woman - it’s automatic

The Other Tribe: I Can Give You Anything

The Other Tribe has been on our radar for a long time now. We've been fans ever since we heard ''We Should Be Dancing'' a while back. What makes The Other Tribe so unique is the sheer depth of their music- their lyrics complement their sound perfectly (think GLOVES and his remix of Van She's  ''Changes''). 

The Other Tribes' latest release is rather interesting. ''I Can Give You Anything'' features classy synth and even classier vocals. A true gem, just waiting to be found. Be sure to give the track a spin below, and definitely throw some love at The Other Tribe here. 

Pierre Maulini on M83 and STAL

You literally have got to be living in a cave if you haven't heard of M83. Midnight City anyone? We recently got in touch with our good friend Pierre Maulini who, aside working with M83 for some time, also runs a solo project called Stal. In our latest interview installment, the DU team brings to everything there is to know about Mr. Pierre, from his work and experience with M83 to his favorite horror films.

1) Tell us about Stal. Explain the project to us a little better.

After my worlwide tour with M83, I decided to start my own project. I always played a lot of guitar and i wanted to explore new horizons in terms of composition. That's why i started playing keyboards more. I learnt a lot about them these past years, and found my own approach. I had never worked alone before that. And i really enjoyed it, even if i'm always ready to hear critics etc..I'm trying to write sincere songs, mixing my indie background with a lot of mainstream influences. I want STAL to be a generous, sincere and true project. A real mix of electronic and rock music. On the other hand, on stage we're a 3 piece band, and it will sound a more rock. Live shows are very important to me, i think it's the future of this industry. We have a lot of nice stuff coming up and i can't wait to hit the road again. 

2) You used to work with M83, what was that like? Tell us about your work with them in the past. What happened?

M83 was my biggest experience so far. Anthony ( M83's brain) is a friend of mine and we used to lived in the same town in the south of France. We used to hang out together. I played in a band called A Red Season Shade,  and he used to come to our rehearsals. One day, when he was about to release his album "Saturday's= Youth" in 2008, he asked me to join the live band. I accepted. We toured the world for 2 years, headlining  shows as well as opening for big acts like Kings Of Leon, The Killers, Depeche Mode etc... But you know touring for someone else is sometimes pretty difficult. Being far away from home and your loved ones is hard especially when it's not your own project. Overall, it was a great experience though and without it, i probably wouldn't have started STAL. 

3) Where would you say your greatest influences have come from, in regards to your sound?

My life with its ups and downs is certainly the biggest influence.

When it comes to music,i could classify them in 3 categories :

1/ all of my teenage indie music that comes from emo/punk bands to post rock bands. I'd say my favorite one is Sigur Ros.

2/ Mainstream. I used to be a fan of Coldplay, Kings Of Leon, Foo fighters and other rock stuff. These stadium rock bands are a kind of fascination for me. 

3/ Film music. i love cinematic music, i've got a few favorite composers like Max Richter, Olafur Arnalds. In this category i'd also say more minimalist music like Sakamoto or Steve reich.  

4) What's your favorite horror film?

Braindead ! 

5) Favorite track? (This is hard and we're notorious for asking this but try your best)

Sigur Ros, Vaka. This track changed my life.

6) Tell us about your future projects. Any EPs or albums in the pipeline?

My new EP will be released on Sept 29th via Arista/Sony Music France. It comes with 2 new tracks and great remixes ( and a crazy video clip). We are also building a new live set for the next shows. The album is recorded and planned for early 2015 ! Can't wait !

7) Is there anything you'd like to shout out to your fans?

Hope you guys will dig our sound. Don't forget to follow us on facebook if you want to be updated on our releases and shows ! We may come near you!

Here's our favorite track by STAL. You can tell he's been the creative genius behind M83- his sound is iconic.