Blog: Plastic Cowboys

So, to coincide with the launch of their new 7" single, 'Leaving The House/Voices' (through This Playround Records), Foreign Office have unleashed a remix competition for budding producers interpret the single as they please. One of the first back was this piece by Warrior One , and a little tasty it is too. Foreign Office - Leaving The House (Warrior One Remix) (YSI) J. X

• Foreign Office - Leaving The House (Warr... » FOR OFF - WARRIOR ONE MIX - MASTER_v1.ai....mp3

Fenech Soler unleash the video for their new single, "Stop and Stare". It is nice. released on April 19th, the package comes with remixes from Jaymo & Andy George, Tony Senghore, Mighty Mouse and Reset. Investigate. J. X

Hey guys, just a quickie to let you know you can check out KiD COLA 's March Beatport chart here: KiD COLA March Beatport chart J. X

Ex-goodbooks man Jocks goes all disco and lovely for this mix of Ou Est 's next single. Arranging the vocal really rather well over the warm synths he makes the whole thing incredibly catchy though without really relying on any of the hooks of the original. Thanks to Bigstereo for getting this out earlier in the week. Ou Est - These New Knights (Jocks Remix) J. X

A young gentleman previously of Japan and New York base (hence the name) now based in the UK where he has been crafting melodic electronic pop Ou Es t (a little) but has a more rounded pop voice and bigger and deeper synths. Perhaps more Penguin Prison meets Ellie Goulding than Camden's Poster boys...? Either way, discovered through our good friend James of 88days and Brilliantly Different and the track came from Discodust who finally managed to pull a download out of Japa . Thank God [...]

How I only discovered this the other day i'll never know, but Spanish producer Nighty Max is on top form right now with his blend of disco and electro. Desperate to get a full quality track i can play out but in the meantime check out this lovely piece. Buffet Libre are doing some work with him at the moment, more on that in... May? Nighty Max - Iglou (192kbs) J. X

• Nighty Max - Iglou (192kbs) » nighty_max-iglou.mp3

These New Knights from Ou est le swimming pool on Vimeo . Ou Est unveil video for new single, "These New Knights". It seems to mainly involve them walking around London being badass. J. X

Van Halen said it first, but this LA production duo said it twice. And put it in their name. Which, of course, i enjoyed. I was really convinced though when i found Jump Jump Dance Dance had remixed MSTRKRFT's "Heartbreaker" and made it sound not shit. In fact, they made it sound pretty ace. Here we have their new single, due out on Feb 26th on etcetc and remixed courtesy of Leeds soon-to-be-legend Grum , who we are also very fond of. Jump Jump Dance Dance - Show Me [...]

So, Starry Eyed... Destined to be the biggest pop tune of 2010? Yeah, it seems pretty likely. Time to sit back and wait for the remixes to roll in then. Every now and again it hits me how big Ellie Goulding is going to be this year and it's a little scary. Obviously, we had Jakwob 's a while back in 2009, and here in January and now Russ Chimes has put forward his effort (via Neon Gold Records and Discodust ) which is a big and reasonably ecstatic piece [...]

L-Vis 1990 has gone all swirly and deep on this Sissy Nobby remix, making it perhaps my favourite thing he has done. J.

San Fransisco based Eskmo has had been bringing earth-shaking bass to the region well known for the notorious San Andreas fault. Well, i'm guessing between the ground shaking capabilities of both the city may just be in a spot of bother.* With releases on labels such as Planet Mu yuu might epect some glitch laden abstract electronica. In aspects you might be right as they're certainly are not many people doing this bizarre mixture of dubstep-esque half-step rhythms mixed with electronic ambiance in faintly Boards Of Canada kind of way, especially [...]

I found an email in my inbox this morning simply stating that I "may like this band." Often i ignore these, but it was so simple and not full of the usual crap that I figured i'd make the effort. As such, it turns out Fez , outside of the reasonably woeful name, actually make simple, breezy and uplifting indie-pop tunes. Lowlight is probably the best example of said style. Hooky vocals lead into big pop choruses, vocal harmonies and breakdowns that are likely to be in your head for days. And all of it is written [...]

I knew i didn't trust clouds, they have brought the return of my winter nemesis. Bah. Well, to cheer myself, and you hopefully, up I am mostly going to be listening to this track that has been doing the rounds of late. Discovered through my good chums at 88days Brusque Twins have made a swirling piece of downbeat electronica that seems to have taken much influence from early minimalistic post rock alongside side the deepness of acts such as Boards Of Canada . Do investigate. Brusque [...]

They don't really make grinding, bass heavy dance tunes, though going on name alone one might be forgiven for thinking so. Here James Blake takes on Untold 's "Stop What You're Doing" is a half step monster. The bass throbs in and out over a slightly funky beat, while melodies and vocals swim around around in a sea of other wordly goodness. Yay. Definitely got this somwhere else. Can;t think where though. Pretty sure it was The Fader [...]

Well, as the weather warms*, we no longer need to be salting the roads. Which is nice as i was getting slightly sick of ice skating around London at general and constant risk to my health. If i want to go ice skating i'll go to a rink, don't want to do it on my doorstep. Any how, the breakdown in this Franki Chan remix of The Very Best at around two minutes in should provide all the grit you'll need for the next cold spell. The [...]

Pete Davis and James Banbury, aka Dadahack have released this absolute warm electro genius onto the 'net via, i think, the unceasingly marvelous Discodust . Seven minutes of pulsating bass and harmonic melodies. Will fit nicely in a disco, house or electro set. See also, great vocals from Hannah Robinson. Dadahack ft. Hannah Robinson - Hello Dust J. X

Getting a bit sick of over-bearing garage influenced fidget basslines? Yeah, me too. So i suppose it's lucky then that A1 Bassline has drifted from his traditional slamming bass tunes to something a little techier, more refined and more interesting! Check it out: Fugative - Superfly (A1 Bassline Remix) Fugative myspace... J.

So, obviously The XX record was one of the best tings to happen in 2009, we all know that. There were also a selection of very valid remixes as well, see Renaissance Man, What Breeze Do You Blow etc. This one is new to me though. IT takes the aching meoldies of "Shelter" and blends it with some sub bass and makes into into a heavy yet slightly lad back piece of half step melancholy. The XX - Shelter (Graphics Remix)

Rediscovered this old track when i picked up some new Desire last week and ended up marveling at it for a long time. This is an absolutely heartbreaking piece of disco-pop that absolutely display every second of pain she has been through. Sound cheerful? It's not. It is, however, a stunningly crafted song. Desire - Under Your Spell J. X

Old tracks, but as Salem are one of my favourite things of 2009 i decided it would be worth sharing in case anyone missed them. Imagine the downbeat, ambient moments of Health, then picture them warped and twisted into something entirely new and fantastical. Salem . Salem - Frost Salem - Sweat J. X