The xx came through Toronto this week and got a chance to sit down with the home-team AUX TV and talk about their “universally adored” debut album xx.

P.S

We covered The xx in a full post with history, and 21 remixes (all of ‘em at the time)

Canadian Tour Dates:

April 3 – Le National, Montreal

April 4 – Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto

April 13 – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver

April 20 – Kool Haus, Toronto (with Hot Chip)

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Dragonette? Little Boots? – delicious…

But how do the powers that be decide to promote this culmination of female wonders? How about with a remix of Dragonette’s “Pick Up the Phone” done up by none other then Michael “Van She” Di Francisco himself.

This feels a little like 2006 and I like it – So listen to the tracks, buy a ticket early (and often) and I’ll see you in Toronto.

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Download: Dragonette – Pick Up the Phone (Michael di Francesco (Van She) Mix)

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Download: Van She – Kelly (Breakbot Remix)

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Download: Dragonette – Fixin to Thrill (Don Diablo Remix)

VIDEO: Dragonette – Pick Up the Phone

oh and how about a Van She Tech interview?

VIDEO: Scion Radio 17: Van She Tech Interview

Dragonette + Little Boots and Fan Death North America Tour Dates

Mar 06 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Mar 07 – Portland. OR @ Hawthorne Theater    
Mar 09 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore Auditorium   
Mar 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre
Mar 12 – Pomona, CA @ The Glass House   
Mar 13 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
April 22 – Atlanta @ Masquerade Hell Stage
April 23 – Washington @ 9:30 Club
April 24 – Philadelphia @ Pure (Making Time)
April 28 – Boston @ Middle East
April 29 – Montreal @ SAT
April 30 – Toronto @ Phoenix Concert Hall
May 01 – Chicago @ Metro

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Miike Snow who officially formed in 2007 and later made a spash (in a big way) in 2009 with their self titled debut album “Miike Snow” – which in my books, is the #1 break-out album of the year.

This Sweedish band finds its beginning in the duo of Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg who as producers and songwriters garnered some major success under the monikor “Bloodshy & Avant” working with artists such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Kelis and even won a fucking Grammy for Best dance recording for the track “Toxic” by Britney Spears (who the fuck knew)

Their blend of pop and widely acceptable sonic accompaniment has Miike Snow (by this bloggers opinion) capturing a juicy mouthful of the crowd craving more MGMT – only time will tell I guess.

They started their first UK headline tour this month (January) 2010 and look to be coming through North America later this year.

Go see them when you can. To our loyal readers in:

Toronto – Pheonix Theatre – April 3rd, 2010

Montreal – Club Soda – April 2nd, 2010

New York – Webster Hall (Sold Out) – March 27th, 2010
New York – Bowery Ballroom – March 28th, 2010

p.s

I purposely left Crookers out of this little post because well, who doesn’t know a fair bit about Crookers?
Italian sensation? We all remember that Kid Cudi remix right? – They are around and well and should be doing more soon. See? – easy speasey.

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Download: CROOKERS – Remedy (Feat. Miike Snow)

and don’t forget the video! In my opinion its the Miike Snow homage to Justice’s – Stress, but don’t take my word from it, compared below.

VIDEO: Crookers Ft. Miike Snow – Remedy

VIDEO: Justice – Stress

Miike Snow Tourdates

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Earmilk and Embrace have teamed up to give you the chance to see Basement Jaxx DJ next Tuesday, Nov 3rd. at the Century Room in Toronto. So if your going to be floating around the downtown core, take the time to see te dynamic duo of dance – Deal damage to yourself and others. Show Details at embracepresents.com

Now, lets cut into a decades worth of hits:

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Download: Basement Jaxx – Scars feat. Kelis, Melka & Chipmunk

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Download: Basement Jaxx – Wheres Your Head At

Deadline

This Sunday night (around 9pm) we will randomly select an entrance candidate and post it on our facebook as well as this post.

How to Enter

1. Visit Earmilk’s Facebook Fanpage and Become a Fan
2. Write on our Wall “Dear Earmilk, I want Basement Jaxx Tickets from Embrace“
3. Tell Your Friends to Post on our wall for you “Dear Earmilk, I want to get Basement Jaxx Tickets from Embrace“
4. Check this post (and our facebook) on Sunday night (Right After Suicide Sundae) and we’ll announce the winner! (randomly chosen from those who enter)

Poster

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AutoErotique are from Toronto, and they’re coming in masked through the backdoor. You may have seen them as VND/LSM before but they’ve been rocking the AutoErotique for awhile now.

VND/LSM caught notoriety when Diplo dropped their Rhianna remix on a session he created for Pitchfork (not bad huh?), they also did a mean remix of some Beyoncé action with “UH OH!” which I always enjoyed – Its a little dated now because well, its Beyonce but it still bang, bang, bangs – do what the song said.

I’ve seen them around town and haven’t herd too many compromising stories, which is good and bad but I will tell you one thing – When these young guys get going they still paint the walls with blood and sweat.

Now, with AutoErotique we hear what seems to be sweeping the electro nation. Young artists who’s quick and dirty remixes are giving way for full featured and luscious original productions. From the bottom up these guys come and it is truly a great sight to see their name on the left side of some new tracks

VND/LSM

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Download: VND/LSM – UH OH!

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Download: VND/LSM – Umbrella (Rihanna 192K – DIPLO MIX)

AutoErotique

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Download: AutoErotique – Gladiator
Keep Reading…

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If you live in Toronto, you’ve probably seen Vitaminsforyou. It seems like this band (led by Bryce Kushnier) is from Toronto, but its not – they just play here. Vitaminsforyou is from Winnipeg originally, and made Toronto a halfway to glory (or maybe a 3rd level of hell for those of you who hate Southern Ontario, hah)

Vitaminsforyou is considered by many one of the pioneers of lo-fi bedroom electronics. Vitaminsforyou played nxne09, but I missed ‘em. I’ve seen them before so I knew what I was missing, it was a gameplay decision so – Bryce, if your reading this, I’m sorry.

Even though I missed them this time, it won’t be the last – Kushnier has taken a strong hold in Toronto, collaborating with many different bands, one of which is a personal local fav of mine – Do Make Say Think.

Anyway, onto the music.

Kushnier’s early work did pioneer “lo-fi bedroom electronics” but he has grown (or maybe just changed). The latest album He Closed His Eyes So He Could Dance With You (2009) maintains the mood and appeal of earlier work, but finds itself using far more synth and less traditional instruments. He also stepped away from his worldy (and at same time homely) charm that was established on The Legend of Bird’s Hill. This 2006 album contained multiple voice samples (including a cute answering machine message from “emm”), and many songs referencing many different people as well as foreign and domestic countries and cities alike.

Overall, Vitaminsforyou maintains gloomy home-brewed digital ambiance and glitch with not-so-driving kicks which makes for song progressions that don’t quite make you want to dance – more just bob your head in a dim lit club. Its sort of like if Depeche Mode and Junior Boys played together for only you and your friends. Judge for yourself and support local music

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Download: Vitaminsforyou – 1986 [2006]

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Download: Vitaminsforyou – One Nite Stand [2009]

and finally a little remix action, I’m sure there are more but sticking with the Canadian theme, we’ll post the Jokers of the Scene (Ottawa) remix.

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Download: Vitaminsforyou – B4U (Jokers of the Scene Remix) [2009]

Vitaminsforyou – Me & My Mirror & my monome

Suppport Local Music!

• myspace.com/vitaminsforyou
• myspace.com/domakesay
• sfeericle-records.com

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