DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Meddle (AC Slater & DJ Skeet Skeet remix feat. Goldielocks) (MP3)

Blackpool pop sensation Little Boots is in talks with Yamaha to create a keyboard that will excite budding musicians as much as a guitar.

The 25-year-old, who has just supported Kasabian at the Camden Crawl uses a Yamaha Tenori-On handheld music sequencer live on stage.

Little Boots, real name Victorias Hesketh said: "I'm really quite nerdy. It's a great ­visual aid - so much better than just another laptop.

"We're working with Yamaha to create a special one to take out to festivals.

"So often people think it's just robots and machines.

"To me it should be just as exciting as seeing a great guitar player. That's what I'm trying to do." [Click]

Hopefully this new Tenori-On works better than the current one she's using. At the singer's Studio B show in February, we reported that her onstage sequencer was having "technical problems."

Maybe she'll also have the new toy...erm, instrument, on hand at her upcoming NYC show at Le Poisson Rouge on Monday, May 18th. That new show comes sandwiched between a string of UK/European shows (though there may be just enough time for another gig to spring up). Openers include Hearts Revolution, who played Studio B in March, and DJ Dave P, of the NYC-dance staple FIXED. Tickets for the show are on sale.

Hands, Little Boots' debut album, is due in early June on Atlantic. She'll also be putting out an EP, Illuminations, on June 8th. Her record is being producted by "Greg Kurstin [of The Bird and the Bee] who is also producing her EP with Joe Goddard of Hot Chip."

Full track list of that EP with Little Boots' new video for "New In Town," her album's first single, and a YouTube-ready cover of Sugababes' "Overload," below...

Continue reading "Little Boots - new EP, video, Tenori-On & NYC show (on sale)"

photos by Jacob Blickenstaff

Hot Legs @ the SPIN party @ Stubb's in Austin - March 20, 2009

AUSTRALIA's THE AGE's SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST BREAKDOWN

Bizarre supergroup: Tinted Windows features members of Hanson, Cheap Trick, Smashing Pumpkins and Fountains of Wayne playing catchy guitar-pop.

The pin-up: Sienna-lookalike Little Boots combines pre-recorded beats with synth and live drummer.

Commercial breakthrough: Cutesy New Yorkers Chairlift are already featured on an iPod ad.

Novelty act: Hot Leg is the new 1980s hair-metal project for Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins.

Critical darlings: UK act Mumford and Sons and their four-part harmonies.

Stadium potential: London goths White Lies attempt to merge U2 and the Killers. Playing Splendour in the Grass.

Crowd favourite: Boston act Passion Pit -- big on hand claps and synths.

Best new band name: Airborne Toxic Event have just signed to Universal and combine Bruce Springsteen and the Hold Steady.

The novelty act played two shows (that I know of) at SXSW this past week. There was the Friday afternoon SPIN party (pictured above), and the 11pm set at Emo's Annex the next night. I caught the latter which satisfied my need to see the leader of the Darkness's new band at least once. I doubt i would go see them again, or even really listen to more than maybe a single, but they were fun, and they shred on guitar.

More pictures Jacob took on Friday, below...

Continue reading "SXSW 2009 - Day 3 in photos by Jacob"

by Andrew Frisicano

Ida Maria @ Union Hall (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

I wanted to re-release my album, the way I wanted it to be.

I have designed the artwork, added three new songs, and changed the track listing.

Now it sounds, looks and feels like I want it to feel, and I am so excited again.

The story behind this cover is a story similar to a homebaked applecake.

You take what you have in your kitchen and experiment a little and hold tumbs that no one will notice you kinda forgot the recipe.

And then it turns out tasting good as hell and nobody can ever make it again.

My drummer Olle is a photographer (!) and has shot the genius cover photo in his apartment in Stockholm, with use of just the light that was there. Lamps in the livingroom, and pocket flashlight.

The cover art is designed by my friend Jon Edergren. -[Ida Maria's Myspace blog]

Fortress Round My Heart, Ida Maria's 2008 debut, is coming out in the US, digitally on March 24th and on CD, April 14th, on Universal's Mercury Records. The US release will sport a new cover and re-arranged track list, but won't include the bonus tracks described above (though new song "In the End" will replace previous closer "See Me Through").

Ida Maria is one of the many scheduled to be at SXSW this week. She was/is supposed to play KCRW's Showcase at Buffalo Billiards, a show at Maggie Mae's , and is on the bill of Perez Hilton's "One Night in Austin" party on Saturday.

"One Night in Austin" will feature Yelle, Solange, Lady Sovereign, Margaret Cho, Ladyhawke, Little Boots, Ida Maria and Thunderheist, plus "a very special Surprise Musical Performance." No word on who: "Not Tori Amos [but] one of our FAVORITEST acts of all time!!!!!!" [RSVP for the party].

UPDATE: Ida Maria never made it to her official SXSW showcases...

I don't think Ida Maria played either Maggie Mae's or Buffalo Billiards. I wanted to see her play while I am down here, but both nights, she was removed from the official sxsw.com website. She was replaced with Zee Avi on wednesday and with Val Emmich yesterday. I hope she actually plays the perez show. Looking forward to seeing her at MHOW regardless" [Ashok]

EW confirms that, "...Zee Avi, a tiny girl with a warm smile filled the lonesome last spot at the KCRW showcase on Wednesday night. It was huge opportunity for the newcomer -- her self-titled debut will be out May 19 -- filling in for Norwegian rocker chick/hype magnet Ida Maria, who was reportedly stuck in U.S. customs."

After the festival (if she makes it at all), Ida Maria is touring with Glasvegas through March, including a March 28th show at Music Hall of Williamsburg (on sale ) and a March 30th one at Webster Hall (on sale). Ida Maria also has a scheduled appearance at Coachella Festival on April 18th.

Ladyhawke visits NYC after SXSW. Little Boots was here in February.

All Ida Maria tour dates and the "Oh My God" video below...

Continue reading "Ida Maria - now on a major label, playing Perez Hilton's SXSW party???, Coachella & other places"

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Meddle (AC Slater & DJ Skeet Skeet remix feat. Goldielocks) (MP3)

Matthew Herbert @ Studio B - February 7, 2009

Last week in dance wound up being a lot of fun. Friday night I went to see Little Boots at Studio B. I arrived sometime around midnight and was shocked at how packed the floor was by the time she went on around 1:15. Despite her set being good, especially her cover of Giorgio Moroder's "Love Kills", and including everything I expected after seeing her at CMJ, overall I wasn't as engaged by her performance this time around. It was just me though. Everyone in the place was bugging out and there really wasn't any good reason not to. As brief as her set was, the late start (she was originally scheduled to perform at 12) derailed the entire rest of the night and I ended up missing both One Man Party and Danger at Webster Hall. A friend there texted me highlights of One Man Party's set which read like a more intensely awesome mix of the Soulwax/2ManyDJ's remixes and current electro that he played at Webster last month. As great as it sounded, the regret really hit when I watched the following video of the beginning of Danger's set which started with "Ave Maria" and went into a great live version of "9h20":

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (Streetlab, Matthew Herbert, Justice, One Step Beyond, DJ Sneak, more...)"

photos by Tim Griffin, words by Noah Perabo

Little Boots strolled onto the stage at Studio B just before 1:30 am in a hooded black dress to an enthusiastic welcome from the Brooklyn crowd that had patiently awaited her appearance (2/6). While her signature Tenori-On was lit up on a stand next to her, she explained that it was suffering from technical difficulties and would not be used. She proceeded to sing, dance, play tambourine and keyboards throughout a playful 30-minute set of throbbing electro-pop. Backed by impressive beats from her drummer and keyboardist, she exuded confidence and sass throughout the night even getting on the crowd's case at one point for not dancing as hard as their London counterparts. While her keyboard playing and lyrics ("I'm gonna take you home tonight, I'm gonna make you feel alright") leave something to be desired, her songs' constant hooks made it clear that she is poised for mainstream success. - Noah

Speaking of US mainstream sucess for UK artists, Adele, Duffy, and Estelle all, appeared, and took home awards, at the Grammys on Sunday night. More pictures from Little Boots' Friday night show below...

Continue reading "Little Boots @ Studio B in Brooklyn, NYC - pics"

Lucero @ Terminal 5 Friday night (more by Mike Lerner)

today in NYC
* DANCE
* Lucero @ Mercury Lounge
* Elysian Fields @ Joe's Pub
* The Black Keys & Doug Gillard Wellmont Theater
* Blank Dogs, Woods, WAVVES & Nodzzz @ Underground Lounge

Underground Lounge is located 955 West End Ave @ 107th St in Morningside Heights. The WAVVES show starts at 2PM.

Kanye West has been blogging about a lot of 'indie' music (and comedy) lately. There was the recent Aziz Ansari post, and the exclusive new Peter Bjorn and John track he posted. Kanye's other recent likes include TV on the Radio's David Bowie cover, Bon Iver covering Feist, Friendly Fires, Francis and the Lights, Passion Pit, Animal Collective AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LAND OF TALK.

Kanye will be performing at the Grammys today. So will Radiohead. Nominees include MIA, Adele, No Age, Hot Chip, Daft Punk, My Morning Jacket and Death Cab For Cutie.

Antony was just on NPR.

Little Boots played Studio B last night. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Sunday (besides the Grammys)?"

Lindstrom @ Studio B - January 30, 2009

Even though I obviously wrote last week in dance and knew there was so much going on, I was a bit surprised by how much I wound up doing. I started off by hitting Studio B Thursday night for the Fixed party with Lindstrom. The B was full in its own right, but especially for a Thursday. The crowd was happily getting down to a set by JDH & Dave P until around 1 when Lindstrom took the stage. At that point everyone re-focused their attention toward him and proceeded to freak out. Once the crowd quieted after enthusiastically greeting Lindstrom, the Norwegian's spacey, disco grooves took over. While the intensity and pace that built with each track was mirrored in the crowd's frenzied dancing I was still finding the music a bit too mellow to be freaking out to. I really enjoyed it and thought it sounded excellent (especially "I Feel Space") - it just didn't make me have a disco freak-out. C'est la vie.

Evil Nine @ Sullivan Room - January 30, 2009

The following night I went to Sullivan Room to see Evil Nine. I had never been there before and was instantly put in a good mood while waiting in line for coat check when I heard a jungle-y version of the Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats". The good vibes continued when I entered the cozy, main room full of people dancing to a set (which I later found was from Sullivan Room residents 2 Damn Cheeky) that wound up being a great, varied mix of both genres and new vs.classic tracks.

After a half an hour or so Evil Nine began their set. It started off strongly and had a few high points that really had everyone moving. However, when those weren't happening I found myself a little bored. As much as I love some of the tracks I recognized like Soulwax's remix of Kids by MGMT, Fake Blood's remix of "Ring Road" by Underworld, and ZZT's "Lower State of Consciousness", I was really hoping their set would include a bit more new stuff to get into. Other than that it was a decent set and I left the venue feeling good about the night...which I thought was over.

I walked over to Love to meet some friends who were about to leave, but when I arrived I "had to hear this guy!". "This guy" was Stacey Pullen, who I slept on, mainly because I didn't get a chance to check out much of his music in depth before his set on Friday. I don't think I can accurately convey how angry I was with myself for not going. By that time of night (around 3:30) many deejays' sets would have been winding down, but Stacey's had no end in sight. According to those there earlier, Stacey's set had a briefly mellow beginning before things quickly shifted toward a set of deep, highly danceable house and techno that you could tell he would have continued playing for hours, had the lights not come up sometime between 4 and 5.

Thankfully Friday night is where the regret ended. The following evening I successfully re-routed some friends visiting from Montreal to Play Hard Social Club which wound up being more of a BS-ing crowd with sporadic random dance outbursts than a full fledged dance party, but it was fun nonetheless! The warehouse space was nice, the music good & loud (predominantly a mix of electro & disco), and the cocktails strong...before I knew it I was here, facing another intense and eclectic mix of electronic/dance parties and events happening this weekend. Here are some ways to get things started off on Friday....

Continue reading "the Friday night in Dance w/ Showtrotta (Little Boots, Lindstrom, Stacey Pullen, Danger, One Man Party...)"

"The scruffy Norwegian Hans-Peter Lindstrøm might still be better known for his collaborations with Prins Thomas, but he has on his own produced perhaps the most audacious musical statement of 2008. Inspired by the multistage epics from electronic music's past, Where You Go I Go Too nevertheless can't be explained away as a genre experiment. The centerpiece is the titanic, half-hour title track, where heroic Moog swaths meet beachy Balearic techno. The shortest of the three tracks, "Grand Ideas", might have sprung from new age composer Jean Michel Jarre's laser harp in 1981, but it would also kill on a contemporary dance floor. Throughout, Where You Go displays patience as it celebrates electronic music's origins in a way far deeper than Lindstrøm's previous disco throwbacks ever could. --Mike Orme" [Pitchfork's 12th Best Record of 2008]

Despite the nonsense a few weeks ago, it looks like Studio B will be open for a while and that includes the February 6th Little Boots show which is now on sale.

Also on sale: The January 29th Lindstrom appearance at the same venue which is one of one only three dates the Norwegian producer is playing in the US this month. All dates below...

Continue reading "Lindstrom tour dates, Little Boots tickets, Studio B status"

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Love Kills (Buffetlibre vs Sidechains remix) (MP3)

Ladies and gentlemen, don't forget to put your clocks back. 1st January is the release date of Rewind Part 2, the 70's, 80's & 90's cover project by Buffetlibre Dj's (http://www.buffetlibredjs.net).

As last premiere, we are glad to offer a very special song: Buffetlibre vs. Sidechains remixing Love Kills, a new Freddie Mercury cover by Little Boots. It has been really exciting to join Little Boots, Sidechains and ourselves in a song for this compilation. [Buffetlibre]

Little Boots dates below...

Continue reading "Little Boots - new Buffetlibre remix, updated US dates"

photos by Faith-Ann Young

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Meddle (Baron von Luxxury's Technicolor Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood remix) (MP3)

"I had a photo shoot for a big fashion magazine thing yesterday [October 26, 2008], I've never really done anything like that before so it was kind of weird, within about 5 minutes I had 6 people descend on me involving things like this:

Yeah I know, I have no idea either, it was a bit like Stars In Their Eyes except I wasn't quite sure who I was supposed to be at the end. Anyway it was quite an experience. After that we legged it to soundcheck at The Annex for the NME Showcase but unfortunately we were already too late and it turned out half of our techy stuff wasn't working not to mention my throat is still in ruins but we got through it and there was a good crowd. I tried to teach them the phrase "put a donk on it" but I'm not sure if New York is quite ready for that!

Stayed around to watch Passion Pit, by which time it was absolutely rammed. They were good, I like some of their songs a lot, one about 'tears like diamonds' which I think is a nice phrase."
[Little Boots]

That CMJ blog entry on NME explains why Little Boots' hair looks so different than it did in the pictures from her show the night before The Annex, and two days after The Annex. More pictures from that show, and a couple of newly scheduled US dates, below...

Continue reading "Little Boots - more US shows & CMJ pics (from the Annex)"

DOWNLOAD: Tittsworth - WTF (Nadastrom remix - Stretch Armstrong Edit) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tittsworth - WTF (Eli Escobar remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Presets - This Boy's In Love (Lifelike remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Runaway - Use Me (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Midnight Juggernauts - Into the Galaxy (Grandmaster Flash remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Daisy O'Dell - (3 live mixes): Electro Bounce, Groovy Disco Breaks, and Boogie Hits (yousendit MP3 link)
DOWNLOAD: Mikix The Cat - Freeze (Kanji Kinetic remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Captain's Holiday Mix '08 (Mediafire MP3 link)
DOWNLOAD: Evil Nine - All the Cash (Glitch Mob Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: John Acquaviva - November '08 Mix (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Drlkt Freddie - Airtight (MP3)

Fake Blood is not Soulwax

I took two nights off after my early start Wednesday night, leaving me eager to hit the B Saturday night for a party that featured a nice mix of deejays that were both familiar and new (to me). I arrived in time to catch the tail end of Van Scott's set which featured a dancey Lykke Li remix, a super-voded mix of Little Boots' "Meddle" (which I later found out was by Treasure Fingers), and lots of other recent tracks.

Franki Chan followed with an excellent mix of some tracks I didn't recognize along with some new favorites including Whomadewho's "TV Friend" (one of the remixes that just came out at the end of last month) and a lovely hybrid version of the Soulwax remix of the Chemical Brothers' "Hey Boy, Hey Girl" that featured the original "super star deejays" vocal sample instead of "2manydj's" but as far as I could tell, retained all the instrumental parts from the Soulwax remix.

Princess Superstar took the evening in a highly dancey meets retro direction, dropping some current stuff mixed with some updated, oldie but goodie classic 90's tracks. Her set segued into Larry Tee's with the pair performing a live version of their hit "Licky" that's had dancefloors freaking out since last winter. Larry's set had everyone getting down and remembering what an innovator the pioneer of electroclash was and continues to be.

The night ended with a bang that unfortunately, hardly anyone was left to see: Nadastrom absolutely killed it. I'm not sure what specifically was great about their set ...it might have been the song selection, excellent mixing, just the right amount of wobbly bass...but one of the most satisfying elements of their set was the enthusiasm the pair maintained as the not too big to begin with, Studio B crowd dwindled down to a few handfuls of people:

Continue reading "the week in Dance w/ Showtrotta (Fake Blood, Lifelike, Larry Tee, Tittsworth, Moby, Evil Nine & more)"

portraits by Kyle Dean Reinford, live shots by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Meddle (Baron von Luxxury's Technicolor Remix) (MP3)

Yesterday was the release date of Little Boots's Arecibo EP and to celebrate, we have a new remix! This is the Baron von Luxxury remix of Meddle, which is a slowed down disco-esque jam that you will love.

The Arecibo EP is out today on 12" vinyl and digital retailers, featuring "Stuck On Repeat," "Meddle," and remixes by Fake Blood and Ebola! This is her debut American release, you can buy the 12" here. Or on iTunes.

One of the shows Little Boots played in NYC during CMJ was the BrooklynVegan day party at Knitting Factory (10/25). More pictures from that day below...

Continue reading "Little Boots - an EP, a new remix (MP3) & more live pics"

Photos by Chris La Putt

A 24-year-old Blackpool lass (aka Victoria Hesketh) who is shaping up to be 2009's big pop breakthrough. Popjustice.com has called her "the pop star we've all been waiting for for years and years and years". [Guardian]

Little Boots played to "an anxious and overdressed" crowd at the Tribeca Grand at midnight on Wednesday night (10/22) and, according to Chris, "they were not let down". Chris also added...

"Mixing beats on a brightly blinking Tenorion it definitely sounded as if Hot Chip has a new successor to their throne. What I feel makes her different, is, if you take away the tenori and the hype, she still knows how to make wonderful hooks and that voice is such a knockout."

OK, maybe Chris is getting carried away with the "successor" thing, but Joe Goddard from Hot Chip is producing her album, and she does do a mean "Ready for the Floor"...

Little Boots - Ready for the Floor (Hot Chip) (on tenori-on)

Catch her this Saturday for free at the BrooklynVegan party at Knitting Factory. More pictures from Tribeca Grand below...

Continue reading "Little Boots @ Tribeca Grand Hotel (CMJ), NYC - pics"

by Showtrotta

DOWNLOAD: The Whip - Trash (South Central remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit - The Very Best Mixtape (ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: The Whip - Divebomb (FFS remix) (MP3)

Shout Out Out Out

It's CMJ time again. In a city where there are almost always some good acts passing through it's hard to understand what exactly the big deal is about the CMJ Music Marathon. Then you realize there will be "over 1,000 artists, in more than 65 venues in 5 days" and you have yet to even look at the schedule! Get crackin', run around, and get down! While last year's marathon (which featured Simian Mobile Disco, the Black Ghosts, MSTRKRFT, and Justice to name a few) will be hard to top in terms of dance music, this year's is by no means shabby.

What looks good to me on the official schedule is here (though note that the Little Boots Annex show is actually on Thursday). Explanations & more info is below. Also, be sure to read the official CMJ schedule carefully, as typically late night dj events will often be listed under the following day (ie: a Tuesday night dj set starting at 1am will actually be listed on CMJ's schedule under Wednesday)....

Continue reading "the CMJ week in Dance w/ Showtrotta "

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Late of the Pier - The Bears Are Coming (Emperor Machine Rmx) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Eugene Francis Jnr & the Juniors - Beginners (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fanfarlo - You Are One of the Few Outsiders Who Understand Us (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Faunts - Intantly Loved (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Faunts - Memories of Places We've Never Been (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Faunts - M4 (Pt. I) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kirsten Ketsjer - The Brigde (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kirsten Ketsjer - Ernie and the Sand (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kirsten Ketsjer - Foot and Foot (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Novillero - A Little Tradition (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Radio Luxembourg - Scooter (MP3)

someone enjoying live music (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Visa issues have kept a few foreign bands out of CMJ this year (Florence & the Machine and Neon Neon among them) but there are still quite a few who are crossing the border to play this week. Here are ten that I'm not only looking forward to but, except for one maybe two, felt were not getting the attention they should...

Continue reading "10 bands/artists to see @ the CMJ Music Marathon "

by Showtrotta

DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Meddle (Designer Drugs remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Little Boots - Computer Fairyland Mixtape (MP3)

This summer you couldn't read an electronic music blog without coming across Little Boots (aka Victoria of Dead Disco). I first became familiar with her music through Fake Blood's excellent remix of her track, "Stuck On Repeat". Having only heard his version in which the vocals are very sparse, I was very surprised at how much she sings in the original versions of her tracks. Good stuff - which is saying a lot because - 1. I am really weird when it comes to vocals in electronic music, and 2. I [Showtrotta] really like very, very few female vocalists. Here's a video of her singing "Stuck on Repeat" while she plays the Tenori-on:

All the Hot Chip fans might be interested to know that Joe Goddard from Hot Chip (and Greg Kurstin from The Bird And The Bee) is producing her record.

Download three tracks above, one of which is Little Boots' free Computer Fairyland mixtape. The tracklisting for that is below. Also below: the dates and times of the four live sets, and the three DJ sets, Little Boots is playing in NYC during CMJ week...

Continue reading "Little Boots is in NYC for CMJ (4 live shows), MP3's, videos"