A message from Alan Braxe...

I was like an over-excited school kid this morning as I woke up to a message from one of my all-time music heroes - Alan Braxe (be it through his kind label manager, but still awesome nonetheless!).

Best known for his production work as Stardust on the mahoosive 'Music Sounds Better With You', I've been a big fan of the French filtered sound since I started DJing 15 years ago, as championed by labels such as Roulé and Braxe's own Vulture imprint.

I'll never forget the first time I heard 'Intro' as a fresh-faced DJ playing my first ever over-18s set, an all-time house classic Braxe produced with Fred Falke back in 2000. A game-changer for me at a time when I was still too young to legally be in the club at all.

Today the label got in touch as they're looking to work with the blog on some editorial material, and as a golden handshake sent me a simply incredible live set from Vulture's own Shook. I've been listening to it for no more than 10 minutes (and have already heard samples from 'Superstition' and 'Hold Tight' by Change) and it's making me want to head out right now! I've got to admit, I often give short-shrift to DJs that splash their sets with endless cuts, samples and FX, but Shook prove how incredible it can sound when done right.



The set is awash with disco-funk loveliness and that unmistakable filtered sound, reworking countless classics into pure dancefloor perfection. I haven't heard a set quite like it since the Daft Punk 'Alive' shows, so safe to say it's something truly special.

Enjoy, and watch this space for more Vulture output coming to your musichole very soon. :-)

P.S. I have asked the guys at Vulture just when we can expect to see the Roulé material released for official digital download. Not sure if they'll know, but I'll update you when I hear back.

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #12

Marking the Queen's birthday here in Oz, things have gone a bit soulful/R&B this week, mainly down to the man Steve Ripley over at Soulfood who continues to prove himself a complete music superstar.

Tracks come from Diggs Duke following this week's interview with Tall Black Guy, plus the usual crazy niceness with two tracks from Omar's much-anticipated new album 'The Man', more biggies from Tru Thoughts, First Word, Ninja Tune and Stones Throw, alongside a fresh REFLEX take on Daft Punk and my very own Bastard Jazz edit. Have a wee listen, my good friend.

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #12 by Sllmusic on Mixcloud

#12 - 3rd June 2013

01. Diggs Duke feat. Vaughan Octavia - Is It Love? (Thundercat Cover) (Bandcamp) [download]

02. B.jamelle - Rose Tea (Bandcamp) [download]

03. Sheree Brown - Time For The Party (Expansion Promo)

04. Timotha Lanae - ALBUM TRACK 2 [UNKNOWN]

05. C. Robert Walker - Something's Going On (Expansion Promo)

06. Omar - Fuck War, Make Love (Freestyle Promo)

07. Omar - Simplify (Freestyle Promo)

08. Quasimoto - Brothers Can't See Me (Stones Throw Promo)

09. Natural Self - An Invisible Light (Tru Thoughts Promo)

10. Nickodemus feat. Sammy Ayala - Baila Tu Manera (Whiskey Barons Remix) (Wonderwheel Promo)

11. The Impellers - Do What I Wanna Do (Clear's Muchacho Sucio Remix) (Légère Recordings Promo)

12. Kid Loco x Captain Planet - My Daddy Ningani [Stop.Look.Listen. Lumpy Mash] (Soundcloud) [download]

13. Omegaman - El O'man Boogaloo (All Good Funk Alliance Remix) (Fort Knox Promo)

14. Daft Punk - Doin' It Right (REFLEX Remix) (Soundcloud) [download]

15. Kid A - BB Bleu (Eliphino Remix) (Ninja Tune Promo) [download]

16. Yosi Horikawa - Stars (First Word Promo)

17. Hidden Orchestra - Vorka (DC Breaks Remix) (Tru Thoughts Promo)

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Daft Punk - Doin' It Right (Reflex Remix) (FREE DL)

This is why REFLEX is the remix producer to watch out for this year.

After his incredible reshuffle of 'Rock With You', here's the first take on 'Random Access Memories'.

Free to download - get involved.

Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (Columbia)

Okay, here goes...

I've had a couple of days to digest the new Daft Punk album 'Random Access Memories' which was unleashed on the world via an iTunes stream earlier this week (as well as the inevitable leak via a well known file sharing site). Rather than get into the debate, I've just been trying to absorb what's set to be one of the music events of the year, regardless of what side of the fence you might be on currently.

This exercise has bought me to one conclusion: it's impossible to judge the merits of this new album on a few day's play, as compared to Daft Punk's previous longplayers which have now had years to settle into the psyche of their fanbase.

For me, this album is more of a grower than Human After All, Discovery or Homework, which were all peppered with instant club hits. This plays more like a true artist album the duo have no doubt been waiting to write for years. A coming of age story, this new 13-tracker showcases a new, more mature Daft Punk sound which places their biggest influences right at the forefront of every track (Giorgio Moroder, Nile Rodgers, Todd Edwards). It's almost a modern reinterpretation of the very sound they were sampling heavily in the earlier days, the whole album driven by live session work rather than filtered disco cuts that have dominated much of their sound for years.

Anyhow, I'm loving it. It's all there - that same fresh, innovative vibe, with all the trademark Daft Punk compression and vocoder work. A triumph - there, I said it.

Check one of my favourite cuts from the album - 'Lose Yourself To Dance'. Be sure to catch the killer Chic-esque lead guitar - lovely.

'Random Access Memories' is out via Columbia on 17th May. | daftpunk.com