Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Only for rare, appropriate, monumental occasions does troysnoise break from its ethos of discovering and sharing emerging music.  We're getting lucky - the release of and eight year drought from a Daft Punk studio album qualifies for such an occasion.  

No doubt, the majority of bands and artists we share, have, in some way, shape or form, been touched by Daft Punk.  Beyond the obvious (LCD Soundsystem, Justice, Digitalism), groups such as Phoenix, Empire of the Sun, Neon Indian, Lemaitre, Hot Chip and Flight Facilities, to name a few, have all plugged into the Daft Punk motherboard.  That said, all bands are influenced by someone or something.  In Daft Punk's case, "Teachers" from Homework lays out their list of influencers: Paul Johnson, DJ Funk, DJ Street, DJ Rush, Hyperactive, Brian Wilson, George Clinton, Leo Lewis, DJ Hell, Louie Vega, Dr. Dre, Gemini, Jeff Mills, DJ milton, Red Velvet, not to mention George Moroder, Michael Jackson, and many others. 

Yet, Daft Punk absorbed the sounds of the past and created something more - blurring genres, sounds, places - giving life back to music.  Their albums have, in our opinion, taken us from the sounds of the street (Homework) to the club (Discovery), to the concert hall (Human After All), to the bright stage lights (Alive 2007), and now back to where it all starts (and ends), the bedroom (Random Access Memories).  The latest Daft Punk album has the characteristic catchy loops, syncopated beats and the funkiest of bass of lines, yet it has a certain groove and rythym that articulates the game of love.  It goes beyond asking you to lose yourself to dancing; it asks us to reflect on the humanity of music; the relationships we share; the people who influence us; the sounds of tomorrow, the music of today.  

There's a certain irony to the underlying "bedroom" theme of this album.  Much of today's music is created on a computer, at home.  This instant crush of an album is as much a slight of that reality as it is an acceptance and appreciation for where music currently stands.  Fragments of time, space, history.  Past, present, future.  Technology encroaching on society.  Singular, universal.  Machine or human?  Arguably amongst the biggest modern day music stars, 99% of the astute population couldn't identify either of the duo without the trademark robot outfits.  Do we know what Daft Punk actually look like?  This guise has been carefully crafted over the years, ensuring an audience appreciates the music, not the people.

We appreciate the music, and we too hope to continue doin' it right - helping our audience appreciate the fresh music we digitally love - all around the world, with emotion and high fidelity, in the prime time of your life. 

Within,

troysnoise

emerging music. discovered.

contact: info@troysnoise.com

Heylady

At first you'll think funk, then you'll get swept away by the bluesy bass lines and saxophones, and it's all topped off with soulful vocals that take Heylady's sound next level and combine it all into unbelievably unique and engaging experiences.

The Brooklyn-based crew just put the finishing touches on their full-length debut LP with Brian Lucey (Dr. John, The Black Keys) and they're showcasing the new tracks tomorrow night live in NYC.

So get off your bums and hit the dance floor, or you're gonna be blue.

Visit www.heyladymusic.com for more info.

Oxford - "White Pearl"

The plate du jour - French Funk, with service compliments of French native Oxford (not to be confused with the British town).  

Oxford - "White Pearl" - Pleasant, glittering, fuuuuunky, Daft Punk-esque.  What the song lacks in vocals it makes up for in woodwinds.  If you don't believe us, fast forward to 2:22 and you'll hear what sounds like a speed trip through the Museum of Natural History (Native American and Space exhibits included).  

Oxford - "Flashlight" - The sounds of outerspace are distorted through a funk-infused kaleidoscope.  Despite its simple beat structure, the track is great if you find yourself wearing a party hat lost at the rollerskating rink on disco-night.  Keep those feet moving.

help Heylady finish their debut album

For the first time, we're kind of sort of asking for some financial assistance.  It's not for us though, it's for a good friend and band, Brooklyn-based funk soul masters Heylady.  They're like most burgeoning young musicians in NYC - amazingly talented and passionate, yet under funded.  With upcoming gigs booked at Hiro Ballroom and B.B. Kings, they're building a strong rep and are ready to put the final touches on their first studio album.  They need your help to do it.  

Check out the video above that they put together and peep the live version of "Okay"posted below.  Then do what you can to help them out via their kickstarter page; in this era of music piracy and free streaming we can all afford to shell out a little keish for something like this.

Hey Lady - "Okay"

Here's a note from the band themselves...

We've been together as a band for a while now...we've played tons of shows all over the east coast, some big, and some small. Whether it's opening for George Clinton and The Parliament Funkadelic in front of thousands of people, or playing

Click to read more ...

Robotaki

With "analog sounds and raw waveforms" the Canada-based Robotaki remixed our pre-holiday track by Popular Computer last week and earned this first mention of 2012. 

"Visual Dreams" and "The Boys" are instrumental backing bootleg remixes bootleg of songs by Girls' Generation, an apparently super popular nine-member South Korean bubblegum pop group I likely wouldn't have come across otherwise. 

Also peep Robo's remix of DJ Khaled's "Scale It Back."  Remixers without original material are rarities here but this one made the cut.

Wolfwolf - Happy Heart Breaks

Wolfwolf's "future funk" description seems just right, it's 80's disco and R&B meets the funk of the 70's and time warps itself on a synth board into the 21st century.  

Wolfwolf - "Must You Dance?"

Wolfwolf - "Your Move"

Wolfwolf is very new, just having launched his facebook page in April, and dropping the debut album, Happy Heart Breaks, June 1.  The Australian's first ever music blog interview here hits on everything from girls making out, Australia taking over the music world, and playing NYC for New Year's.  Playing piano since the age of three, all Wolfwolf cares about is getting people to listen to his music and feeling good because of it.

Get the entire album for free...read the interview and you'll find the link.  At least join the mailing list in return.

TN: Who is Wolfwolf and how many of you are in the pack?

Wolfwolf is me!!! A solo producer/performer. After years of being in bands, djing...etc. I wanted to create a solo performance based creation that relies on no one else but myself to get the crowd pumping. The Wolfwolf pack is my small yet very dedicated fan base, each and every person who has heard the album has been super supportive and which will surely result in the Wolfwolf pack growing quickly!

Click to read more ...

Digikid84 - Timelapse

If Knight Rider or Miami Vice was still on the tele, Digikid84 would be first ballot for the opening credits. 

If Quincy Jones and Prince had given birth to a love brat in 2009, it would’ve been him. The recipe: fingers running on a 80s keyboard and funky bass that can even make the dead dance.

Digikid84 - "Funk You"

Digikid84 - "Rebel"

The funk disco meets electro house on Timelapse is his debut release as the Paris-based act now hits the touring circuit.  Get it here - Timelapse

Kidding On The Square - Talk About It

"Kidding On The Square cuts to the chase with unapologetically fun, catchy dance music. Blending and bending a variety of pop genres both young and old."

The Brooklyn-based quintet immediately caught our ear three weeks ago while jamming out the opening set at Union Hall for fellow New Yorkers Milly Beau.

Kidding On The Square span the spectrum of musical styles, capturing the reggae and tropical funk of Poor But Sexy, The Clash, and 311, while peppering in jocosely candid lyrics that can kick-start the dreariest of Mondays.

The fuzzy Sublime-like riffs on “Rusted Heart” and "Talk About It" sound primed for the next episode of HBO's Californication.

Kidding On The Square - "Rusted Heart"

Kidding On The Square - "Talk About It"

After dropping their debut album, Talk About It, last fall, a second release is slated for late this summer.  The "five friends with day-jobs" may have a full-time musical career sometime soon.

Kidding On The Square - "Lift Me Up"

Poor But Sexy - Let's Move In Together

Poor But Sexy played its first show in May 2008, put out a self-titled debut EP in early 2009 and two weeks ago released their first full-length album, coined Let's Move In Together. 

The group is comprised of five of DC's post-punk notables.  Singer David Brown and bassist Brandon Kalber met playing in the punk-funk band Travis Morrison Hellfighters.  Guitarist and producer Jason Caddell brought the noise for 10 years as the guitarist in the Dismemberment Plan, and keyboardist David Durst composes for the punk-chamber music collective Anti-Social Music when he's not working out his Stevie Wonder licks in PBS.

In a time when too many bands follow the same set of cultural touchstones and fashion ideals, PBS is more interested in making you sweat than making you feel cool. (via poorbutsexydc.com)

If these lyrics and rhythms don't put you in a good mood, I don't know what will. 

Poor But Sexy - "Hotter Than A Poptart"

Poor But Sexy - "Big Chief"

Click to read more ...

Mitzi - Future Classic

Australian talent just won't go away.  My newfound friends from The Belligerents rec'd this four-piece Brisbane group called Mitzi last week.  Featuring members of BMX and Charlie Why, both The Belligerents and Mitzi will be opening for Neon Indian's first Australian gig on January 8th, which automatically gives all the credibility I need.

If you're looking for a quick description, it has a Chromeo meets Jamiroquai thing goin on.  According to their myspace they sound like "chugging trains," but whatever the description, you'll be head bobbin' and bouncin' around the dancefloor before you know it as the hooks and steady basslines take over.

The debut EP, 'All I Heard,' features three tracks and debuts in just a couple of days, "fusing the sounds of garage disco, NYC indie and the light heartedness of Australian pop into one killer record."  Stream two of the three below and then reflect, drop a line in the comments section with your thoughts.

so be calm / that's what i heard / that's all i heard