Hot Chip at Prospect Park in 2012 (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Astralwerks Records was founded in NYC in 1993 as a primarily electronic arm of Caronline Records. When they hit it big in the late '90s with Chemical Brothers, Air and Fatboy Slim band, Astralwerks became one of the biggest indie labels in the country. They've since been picked up by Universal Music Group and have expanded into other genres but they do maintain a focus on the electronic. To celebrate their 20th anniversary this year, Astralwerks will release a limited edition box set, Astralwerks: Music in 20/20, on Record Store Day (4/20). The compilation features previously unreleased or rare tracks from Hot Chip, Air, Diamond Rings, Kraftwerk, Kings of Convenience, Doves and others plus previously released tracks by The Chemical Brothers, The Beta Band, Fatboy Slim, Cassius, Basement Jaxx, Royksopp, a Four Tet remix of Sia and more. Check out the full tracklist and trailer video for the compilation below.

Hot Chip are on the festival circuit this spring/summer -- including Coachella, Primavera Sound, Osheaga, Lollapalooza, and others -- and as mentioned, they're stopping in NYC for a show at Roseland Ballroom on Tuesday (4/9) before Coachella. Tuesday's show is with The Crystal Ark (DJ set) and Tanlines. Tickets for that are still available. All dates are listed below.

Meanwhile, TONIGHT (4/8) at Le Poisson Rouge, Hot Chip side project The 2 Bears (aka Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell), who are also playing and touring around Coachella, play a a show with Ladies Night. Tickets for tonight's show are still available. All dates are listed below.

Tanlines, who open the Roseland show, are also playing Coachella and have other dates coming up including shows with Passion Pit and Vampire Weekend, but not Passion Pit's NJ show with Phoenix or Vampire Weekend's Roseland show.

All Tanlines, Hot Chip, and 2 Bears dates are listed, along with the Astralwerks album tracklist and trailer, below...

Continue reading "Hot Chip are here, featured on Astralwerks' RSD compilation w/ Air, Diamond Rings, Kraftwerk & more (updated dates)"

Diplo released the "Express Yourself" 7" this month, the single for that track from his EP of the same name. You've already seen the video for that song, which features bounce artist Nicky Da B, and below we're offering a stream of the single's b-side, "Move Around" (featuring Elephant Man and GTA). That's the cover art for the 7" above. Pick up a copy on green vinyl.

Diplo, Grimes, Skrillex (one of the greatest guitarists of all time), Tokimonsta, Pretty Lights, and others are set to head out on the Full Flex Express Tour, a tour of Canada on a train modeled after The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and The Band's 1970 Festival Express tour.

Although the Full Flex Express tour doesn't come to the US, Diplo, Skrillex, and Pretty Lights will all be in NYC later this summer for Electric Zoo, which returns to Randall's Island from August 31-September 1. Tickets are on sale now. The full lineup is listed below. Skrillex will also be in the NYC area for Bamboozle this weekend.

Speaking of electronic dance festivals in New York, the Electric Daisy Carnival will occur at MetLife Stadium this weekend from May 18-20. The lineup includes MSTRKRFT, Richie Hawtin, Fatboy Slim, Bassnectar, and others. Tickets are available. Full lineup below.

In more related news, the touring Identity Festival, whose lineup was a bit better last year but certainly bigger this year since it sold out in less than 24 hours, returns to NY on July 28 at Jones Beach. Artists playing include Datsik, Eric Prydz, Nero, and more. Full lineup below.

Festival lineups and stream below...

Continue reading "Grimes taking a train ride with Skrillex & Diplo; Electric Daisy Carnival, Electric Zoo, Identity Fest & other EDM news too"