Tokyo Fun Party, Digiki, and SoccerBoy

I'm thinking this post might be better suited as three separate blurbs, but since all three subjects are closely related and interdependent, putting together one mega piece is better than splitting it up.

Okay. Here we go.

Tokyo Fun Party is a Tokyo-based record label owned and operated by a pretty intriguing international crew of DJs and musicians. SoccerBoy (AKA Takashi Otagiri) started the company and quickly brought on Paris-born, Tokyo-dwelling Digiki (MySpace) to do A&R and generally kill it at the T.F.P. club nights (Juliana).

Digiki is truly a jack of all trades. The guy co-founded 101 Tokyo when he wasn't compiling his stellar Polypunk mix series, recording his own material, DJ'ing parties, and collaborating with a myriad other artists. Now, Digiki's got a whole pile of new material out, with another batch on the horizon.

Dense Music is, for the most part, a collection of remixes of tunes off the last LP, Beat Vacation. Two singles have been released so far ("Draftpunk" and "Pancakes"). Below are mixed samples of each single. You can find way more information on both (including just how to buy the things) over here.

Back to SoccerBoy, though. This guy has been tearing it up in Tokyo for a good while now, injecting an Ed Banger dose of grittiness and brashness to the otherwise hyper-melodious and bubblegummy dance scene in Japan. His stuff is a mix of everything under the sun ... a little Diplo rhythmic fun tossed around, a little Girl Talk mashing dropped in, a little Justice-esque rager sprinkled about. He can't stay still. Check out a mix he put together below as well as two remixes he did (so, so good). You can catch more remixes here and more mixes here. Now you totally want to go to Tokyo, right?


Digiki - Draftpunk Teaser (Mixed by SoccerBoy)

Digiki - Pancakes Teaser (Mixed by SoccerBoy)

Dead Kennedys - Kill the Poor (SoccerBoy Otagiremix)

the Velvet Underground - Waiting for the Man (SoccerBoy Otagiremix)

SoccerBoy - Sucker Bombaclaat Vol. 1.1

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Bakers at Dawn

Nebraska's CD-R indie label, Series Two has added a new artist to its roster, and, as usual, made a wonderful selection! Bakers at Dawn (AKA Marcus Sjoland) hails from Malmö and sounds sort of like Elliott Smith or Nick Drake ... done Swedish style.

The singer/songwriter has released a CD-R album on the twee/lo-fi label, Canarie Records and now has a new album out on Series Two entitled Best of Bakers at Dawn (he's only been around for three years or so and is already releasing retrospective compilations of sorts ... must be a prolific guy).

The below MP3s are pretty low quality, unfortunately, so just sample 'em and buy the full-length over at Series Two Records' MySpace page. It's hot and sunny in L.A., but this slow, melodious, and contemplative music seems somehow fitting. It brings peace and harmony to the cacophony outside.

Bakers at Dawn - Hopeful

Bakers at Dawn - Endless

Bakers at Dawn - Tomorrow

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The Alligators

Typically, my memories of growing up in Cleveland is all the connection I need to the Midwest (or thereabouts -- I still think Cleveland is more akin to a coastal city than say, Boise). I stick to the coasts, as terrible as that sounds. While there are certainly good bands sprouting in the pastures and prairies of Nebraska, Idaho, North Dakato, and all surrounding States, that stuff doesn't appeal to me as much as a Baltimore group does. And, to make another terribly generalized statement, most of the Midwest's musical offerings are the U.S. version of a British pub band or the 1970s bar band transplanted to a modern age. Bland beyond conception.

That being said ... Provo, Utah's Alligators have really caught my ear. I'm a little stunned, but not afraid to admit my adoration for this quintet (I believe it's a quintet ... they have experienced a confusing number of lineup shuffles).

The Alligators are a pretty standard pop-punk indie band, but with a multitude of twists. The keyboards add a Metric-like post-punk edge; the female vocals soften the blow of spiky guitar hooks and heavy, straightforward bass lines; dueling guitars bring a complexity and layeredness that is rare.

But what would one expect from such a dynamic crew? The members met in a [high school?] film class, formed the Alligators, split because of work, a trip to Japan, and more school, but eventually found themselves all back in ... Utah and picked right back up where they left off. Check out a couple tracks below. Get more on the MySpace page.

the Alligators - Touch

the Alligators - I'm Dungeons, You're Dragons

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Future Sound, Pink Skull, Littl'ans

This week's Internet installment of Anthem's Future Sound is pretty stunning. The five bands profiled include Pink Skull, the Littl'ans, Abe Vigoda, the Answering Machine, and Blonde Acid Cult. A varied and compelling shortlist, to say the least!

I conducted the Littl'ans interview ... that was thrilling. Blonde Acid Cult was also a pleasure to talk to. Be sure to check out the whole story! There's plenty of content not worth missing.

Pink Skull - El Topo

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Padded Cell, "Faces Of the Forest"

I vividly remember first hearing two particular artists at some underground Turntable Lab-esque record boutique in the heart of Shibuya a few years back: Whitey and Padded Cell. As it always is in such a shop, there's a certain thrill that comes along with vinyl sampling ... pulling a 7" or 12" from it's sleeve, approaching a polished and well-kept turntable, flipping the disc on it, putting the headphone on, tweaking the bass, middle, and treble, and, finally, listening to the organic sound waves only a wax recording can produce. A sublime moment.

I wish I could hear Padded Cell's new stuff in such a fashion, but alas, my gear isn't up to snuff. I'm confined to sample the cuts on a mediocre pair of speakers sans the glamor of a posh Tokyo record distro. That being said, the new material is spectacular, and there will be a time that I hear this stuff in a more proper and reverential manner.

But what is the "new stuff" exactly? The London disco/funk/psychedelic/post-punk duo has a new dark, brooding, and spacey LP coming out on Monday, May 19 on DC Recordings. The label's been kind enough to make a pretty cool e-card for the forthcoming Night Must Fall full-length, so if the below freebie ("Faces Of the Forest") ain't enough to hold you over until the album's release, hop on over there and check out more material! The record is going to be great ... quite possibly their best yet.

Padded Cell - Faces Of the Forest

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Cazals Remixed by Blamma! Blamma!

BBBD has long been a fan of London's Blamma! Blamma!, and while everyone seems to be giving the duo props these days, we can't resist this time 'round as their remix of Cazals' (MySpace) "Somebody, Somewhere" is just too good to pass up.

Blamma! Blamma! warned me to be careful with this one as "it bites," and that it definitely does. A driven, energetic remix that chugs along at a rapid, robotic pace from the very beginning to the end. Nicely filtered vocals, bouncy synth lines, and noisy beats suit the original's aesthetic well. Check it out below. (Blamma! Blamma! gets extra points for making the longest remix title in history.)

Cazals - Somebody, Somewhere (Blamma! Blamma! Somebody Stop Me Mix)

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Lykke Li + El Perro del Mar

Whoever dreamed up the paring of Lykke Li (MySpace) and El Perro del Mar (MySpace) was ... a genius. (It's might've just been record label politics, but in all sincerity, putting the two Swedish chanteuses on the same bill is a phenomenal idea.)

The artists represent the two main cities in Sweden (Ms. Li hails from Stockholm while El Perro del Mar comes from the slightly less trendy Gothenburg); they both are reviving soul music in their own way; they both slyly dig their way into your heart with their minimalist yet rhythmic and funky style and aesthetic; they both will leave you wanting more. Like a well curated museum exhibition, the Lykke vs. del Mar U.S. tour is moving in how the two singers contrast each other. Lykke is in your face and unabashedly pushes the envelope -- you'll succumb to her wacky dances and melt to her bold vocal talent -- while El Perro del Mar is more subdued and delicate, sublimely merging the old soul of the 1960s with the lo-fi indie-pop of Swedish compatriots like Jens Lekman. The back-to-back sets will stun you ... the similarities with connect the two while the differences accent the other's talents, fortes, and unique qualities.

BBBD is proud to say that it was one of the first Stateside blogs to show love for Lykke Li (thanks to a tip from the wonderful T. Cederteg, and we urge you all to check out a show. This is a rare and exciting opportunity! Check out the widget after the jump to get the scoop on shows and all that good stuff.

Lykke Li - Dance, Dance, Dance

Lykke Li - Everybody But Me (diskJokke Remix)

El Perro del Mar - Somebody's Baby

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BBBD Muxtape No. 4

Since BBBD's founding in 2004, we've debuted a number of new "columns," "features," podcasts, and the like ... none of which really seemed to work. (Yeah, believe it or not, there was a BBBD "radio program"; likewise, we attempted a myriad weekly round-ups and plenty of other nice-try-maybe-next-time regulars.)

We're practically guaranteeing that our Muxtape series will remain constant, though.

Check it out! We've just put together BBBD Muxtape No. 4! The eight-track mix features Zongamin, Annie, new Munk, Human Highway, Golden Bug, and all the other greats you've been itching to tune into! Enjoy, loyal readers.

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Magic Johnson

I just got off a pretty major Kills trip today, so Portland's Magic Johnson is definitely workin' it for me right about now.

While the duo's lineup is slightly different than the above mentioned group's -- "tag team drum/guitar duo Ana and Mando" bring the noise -- they've definitely a comparable aesthetic. With more shouting, D.I.Y. punk, and brash, lo-fi noise stirred into the mix. These two are connected to the Smell in L.A., mind. In fact, their latest 7" EP, Telenovelas (they sing in Spanish!), was released on the Smell's in-house label, olFactory Records (I've said it before, but man that's a great name). Six bucks for six songs!? What would you rather purchase? A lame $.99 iTunes track or a ragin' wax-embedded powerhouse garage jam? The latter, of course!

Plus, Magic Johnson counts Mika Miko and New Bloods as friends ... so they can't be all that bad (if you're feeling like judging a book by it's cover today). Check out a couple songs below. Face melting.

Magic Johnson - Querida

Magic Johnson - La Casa

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