New Worlds

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I've been meaning to do this for a while, but what with the server issues (which we've got sorted, hooray!) and all that shitty stuff it's taken me longer than expected. Which leaves me with the nagging question, does anyone care about another 2007 list? Probs not, eh? Well fuck it. I've spent too much time on this not to post it. So here goes. I'm breaking the year in review stuff into three sections, all packed with goodness for my faithful readers, starting with the 15 best remixes of 2007. It should've been 10, but I just couldn't help myself.

2007's Best Remixes

15. Cazals - To Cut A Long Story Short (Vicarious Bliss Mellotron Mix)
This one was destined to be great. The next great hope for indie rock, Cazals, meets the criminally underrated Vicarious Bliss. It wasn't dancefloor material, but more a lovingly orchestrated, panoramic revision of the original. Genius.

14. Gameboy/Gamegirl - Sweaty Wet/Dirty Damp (G.L.O.V.E.S. Remix)
Taking the sweaty and the dirty part of the title all to literally, G.L.O.V.E.S. turned this into an absolute fire-starting banger. Electro-grunge bass lines and massive beats this made me coin a new genre in my head. I called it Metal-Tech. Whatever. This ruled.

13. The Thrills - Not For All The Love In The World (Sébastien Tellier Remix)
Again, this one was never intended to start any riots on the dancefloor, but not every remix should. This was just such a perfect blend of what on paper seems like two completely different artists. It just clicked. Sébastien Tellier's gorgeous synth-opera fit The Thrills' California-dreaming teenage fantasies perfectly. There it is again. Perfect.

12. Scenario Rock - Both Gotta Move On (Hey Champ Remix)
When everyone thought that this was SebastiAn remix, people were losing their shit saying that SebastiAn had lost his way. I for one loved it. Those crushed neon keys, sunglasses-at-night-cool bassline and blissful build up made me freak. And when it turned out to be Chi-Town's finest, Hey Champ, and not the famous Frenchman, I was made an instant fan. I've already played this too much, but god, it's wonderful.

11. Mercy Arms - Kept Low (Cut Copy Remix 12" Version)
Even though I never cared a lick for Mercy Arms (the whole Levi's thing and the excess amounts of filler on their EP really doesn't shake that feeling), this has been on non-stop repeat for weeks now. And it's not just the Cutters magic of this remix (though it is indeed magical), there's just something so compelling about the heart-on-your-sleeve, romantic lyrics that I can't get out of my head.

10. Dragonette - I Get Around (Midnight Juggernauts Remix)
Talk about polishing a turd. The Juggernauts went crazy on not only making Dragonette listenable, but also likable, danceable and gloriously entertaining. Could they please remix every Dragonette? Plz?

9. The Dirty Secrets - Five Feet Of White Snow (Miami Horror Remix)
Give the Dirty Secrets a hand. Sure, they're wading through a (lukewarm) sea of used-up leather-clad rock stereotypes, but they know their way around a good hook and what's more they know how to pick good remixers. First it was the Knife Machine, then Miami Horror. For me, Miami wins. Turbo-charged, rocking electro. Ace.

8. Feist - 1 2 3 4 (Van She Tech Mix)
Yes, everyone loved this. And for good reason. It was/is awesome. It was also a testament to how versatile Van She Tech is. It's a storm of electronic pop, cut and spliced together with the finest precision for the utmost dancefloor fire.

7. DJ Mehdi - Lucky Boy (Outlines Remix)
I guess it's a remix. If it weren't for Fafi's verse at the intro you could be mistaken for thinking it was just an Outliness track, because they hijack this thing and make it all their own. Fantastic.

6. Air - Mer du Japon (The Teenagers Remix)
These write-ups seem to be getting more and more inconsequential. Is ti just me? Hopefully. But what can be said about this that hasn't already? It speaks for itself.

5. Fields - If You Fail (Badlands Remix)
Okay, I still have no idea who Badlands are. If you are Badlands, put your hand up, because you, like, really, are like, way cool, and stuff. I had no idea how much I'd love this when I first right clicked and save link as'd it. And I've never posted it up here. I don't know why. I guess I was just saving it. It deserves to be up in a mega-post such as this, methinks. Yep.

4. Digitalism - Pogo (Shinichi Osawa Remix)
Shinichi Osawa + Digitalism = Six Minutes Of Electro Crack. 'Nuff said.

3. Shout Out Louds - Impossible (Possible Remake By Studio)
As if this track couldn't get any damn better...Studio had to go and sprinkle some kind of luminous diamond dust all over it, baptise it in champagne, paint it gold and cover it in candy rocks that pop in your mouth. Get what I mean?

2. Timbaland - Miscommunication (Bloody Beetroots Remix)
I couldn't get enough of this and truthfully I still can't. This is why the Bloody Beetroots will take over the world.

1. M.I.A. - Boyz (The Twelves Remix)
How about those Twelves, eh? I was sick to death of everyone remixing Boyz, but these guys made it into something more, something amazing. God bless them. If you don't have it, I feel sorry for you. Get it. Get into it. Love it.

2007's Best Tracks

It was going to be a list of the year's best singles, but that would mean peeps like Damn Arms would miss out on their deserved praise, so it's tracks now. Dig it.

10. Sébastien Tellier - Sexual Sportswear
Whilst I'm reticent to use the word, there's really nothing better to describe Sexual Sportswear other than, of course, epic. This epic instrumental is like some lost leftover from Vangelis' Blade Runner score, filtered through the production smarts of Daft Punk and the sheer grandeur of a bearded French recluse's genius. Epic indeed.

9. Alan Braxe & Kris Menace - Lumberjack
Who could resist a bit of old school French Touch magic from the master himself, Alan Braxe? This luscious piece of instrumental synth pop had me gagging for more of those sparkling synths. Boo yah.

8. Justice - D.A.N.C.E. (Bumblebeez mix) [There's no point in posting the original]
Duh.

7. The Cribs - Men's Needs
Hoarse-throated, nervy indie rock at its best.

6. Damn Arms - The Boss
If you only pick one underrated Australian band to fall in love with, make it Damn Arms, kids.

5. Digitalism - Pogo (Digitalism's Robotic Remix) [see #8]
Duh x2.

4. Shout Out Louds - Impossible
Pure, simple, delightful Swedish indie-pop. Come on.

3. Bag Raiders - Fun Punch
As if you didn't know, Bag Raiders are kings among men. Seriously. No wait. Fun Punch is like a gift from the heavens. Like in that Forerro Rochere ad where Zeus lets his chocolate ball slip from Olympus down to humanity ("shhtawwwwp" anyone?). No, no, scratch that. It's like an alien technology from the future which arrives on Earth and scientists study it to harness the source of its otherworldly power. Yeah. Yeah that's it alright.

2. Cut Copy - Hearts On Fire
Can't. Wait. For. In. Ghost. Colours. Gahhh.

1. Midnight Juggernauts - Nine Lives
So good. So deliriously good. I imposed a rule on myself for this list. Only one track from each artist. Otherwise it would've just been the whole of Dystopia up here (#1 album of the year guys, I was just too lazy to do an album list...). So I could only pick one track from the Juggernauts. It had to be Nine Lives. It doesn't get better than this. Straight through the sun.

2007's Heroes and Villains

Heroes

10. Cut Copy
So what if Cut Copy only released two songs last year? Those two songs (Hearts On Fire et So Haunted) were some of the best out all year and have made the already staggering wait for Cut Copy's second album all the more difficult. Expect them to sit at the top of this list in a year's time.

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Rip)

9. Van She
While the Van She boys had something of a quiet year (well, unlike last year when they remixed anyone and everyone), Van She and Van She Tech were on-point all year. From their stellar remixes for The Bravery, Dragonette and let's not forget their world conquering Feist remix, to their space-rock comeback single Cat & The Eye, Van She kept us wanting more. With the new album dropping next year (as well as VST remixes of the album) you can be sure that 2008 is going to be a big year.

Van She - Wine Cloud's Water

8. Valerie
Who ever would've thought it? Big things are happening in France right
now. D.U.H. But forget the Ed Bangers, it's all about Valerie. First
it was College, then Anoraak, then the Outrunners, and then
Maethelvin. That's some serious shit. Add to that roster Minitel Rose
and it's jaw-droppingly good stuff. 2008 should be a big year for the
little crew. Be excited, kids.

The Outrunners - These Girls Are Dressed To Kill (Minitel Rose Remix)

7. Timbaland
We love Timbo. Straight up bitches. How could you not? And while 2006 was Timb's monster year with the big two discs with Nelly Furtado and JT, the man didn't falter in 2007 at all. From his work with 50 Cent, Duran Duran, Ashlee Simpson, errr, Sisqo and of course his own album, Timbaland made pop music safe for us all. God bless his hot-dog packet neck.

Timbaland ft. Jay-Z & Justin Timerlake - Laff At 'Em

6. Justice
They came, they saw, they partied. They also conquered the charts, the mainstream and our hearts. Awww. Justice are all grown up now and ruling the electro world right now. Yes their shtick will be stolen, re-fab'd and sold to 15 year olds the world over but they've been great.

Klaxons - As Above, So Below (Justice Remix)

5. Shinichi Osawa
Kitsune bad boy Shinichi Osawa was like some kind of extra awesome parasitic worm in 2007. That didn't sound so good. I meant well. I meant to say once he had a hold of you you'd be fully under the control of his hypnotic electro wonderscapes. Is wonderscapes a word? Spellcheck says no. But I think it ought to be. Because it sounds fitting for Shinichi Osawa's electrifying debut disc The One and his plethora of outstanding remixes for the likes of Digitalism and Soulwax. Fortunately you don't need to go to Bali to get this worm. And he won't give you chronic diarrhea.

Shinichi Osawa - Push ft. Ania

4. Bloody Beetroots
Bloody Beetroots were pretty much inescapable this year. Blogs loved them and so did their peers. With good reason too. Seriously, for a while there it seemed as though they were doing a remix a week. They're the idols of every bedroom producer out there, having toured the world on the back of internet hype for their white-hot remixes. Brilliant stuff.

The Bloody Beetroots - Harvest Time

3. The Twelves
After the slew of remixes for M.I.A.'s comeback banger who would've thought that a couple of dudes from Brazil could reinvent the tune into something completely different and completely amazing. From there The Twelves sprinkled itty-bitty disco-pop flakes over the likes of New Young Pony Club, Kylie and Asobi Seksu and became the go to guys for a little remix magic.

Asobi Seksu - Thursday (The Twelves Remix)

2. Bag Raiders
If I had squillions of dollars and ran a record label (or at least worked one...come on) I would throw bundles and bundles of money at Chris Brave and Jack Sabbath, aka Bag Raiders. Their records would line the hallways, Punch Reprise would be the hold music for the phone system, and they would remix every single for every other artist we had on the label. They're that good. Scary good. I swear I listened to their EP something like one hundred times this year. And their remixes...god damn. Is there anything they can't do? I've said it before and I'll say it again. Is Bag Raiders. Is Good. Now put your hands in the air.

Midnight Juggernauts - Twenty Thousand Leagues (Bag Raiders Remix)
Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Bag Raiders Remix)

1. Midnight Juggernauts
2007 was the year of the Juggernauts. Full stop. Dystopia showed off
their fully realised sound, in all its glorious scope and grandeur,
from the heart-pounding thump of bangers Road To Recovery and So Many Frequencies to the stunning Nine Lives and the epic Aurora, the group
weaved an edge-of-your-seat opus for the ages. So let's raise a glass
to the year that was and share a toast for Andy, Vinny and Daniel.

Midnight Juggernauts - Into The Galaxy (Radio Edit)
Midnight Juggernauts - Out Of The Storm (Original Mix)
Midnight Juggernauts - Tombstone (Comets Remix)

Villains

10. Justice
As I said above, Justice were everywhere. EVERYWHERE. They were fucking everywhere. They played at fucking Academy in Canberra. THEY WERE EVERYWHERE. Boys, seriously, take a vacation or something. Please. We all (us and you) need it.

9. Rogue Traders
I think only my countrymen will understand me here, but nonetheless; Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts Cunts.

8. Shit Blogs.
I love blogs. I made my own because I love them so much. But too many blogs only care about jumping on a trend and getting to the top of the Hype Machine. I'm somewhat guilty myself. I like to know people are reading. I like being on the Hype Machine. But I won't post something just for that reason. This cycle is getting more turbulent, more vicious and more hollow it seems. Keep me honest, please. Look at us here, having a sentimental moment. You all knew I was a delicate flower. I'm just thinking too much and don't want blogging to become a joke. Polemic done.

7. Sneaky Sound System
I used to dig Sneaky. I mean, they were this up and coming indie group who knew how to make really good and really catchy party tunes. They were doing it hard there for a while which only made them more endearing. But since I Love It crossed over to the pop-mainstream
consciousness things just haven't been the same. Sneaky are fucking everywhere. You find them on the gig circuit at festivals and NYE bashes. What's next? Little Harry Goldberg's Bat-mitzvah? Seriously, Sneaky would be at the opening of a letter these days. I know I'm
griping. I know they're good and they've got Donnie Sloan as well. But come on guys. Re-packaging an album that's, what, two years old with a bunch of stickers? That's lame. Get out of the spotlight and cracking on something new before everything wears thin.

6. Black Ghosts
I'm not one to hold a grudge (it's not like I'm directing you here...) but the Black Ghosts had a really shit year. I blame them. After the initial promise of Face and Anyway You Choose To Give It, their two subsequent singles have been bland, tasteless wank. Maybe it's just me. If the band are taking a new direction good for them. I just won't be following.

5. Too Many Remixes
D.A.N.C.E., Fancy Footwork, Boyz, Gravity's Rainbow. How many bloody remixes do we need? 5? Fuck no. 10? Why stop there? Why not release a remix album for every track on Myths Of The Near Future? That's gotta sell. Of course, me being the sucker I am will get every one....sigh.

4. Delta Goodrem
Those readers outside of Australia (and the UK I guess) won't really get/care about this the way those who've suffered through Delta's comeback will. I wish I was you. With an overload of bronzer and designer styled post-felatio hair, Delta made a sweeping return to the Australian pop music stage. It had all the bland ballads and glossy over-production you'd expect, and was reeking of fame-hungry self-importance from the get go. Delta wants your soul.

3. Hats
What is the fucking deal with fucking hats? Seriously. I'm not talking about caps or even top hats, but those fucking fedora hats that every second scenester with their parents' credit card is wearing these days. What's the fucking deal? I don't care how much you like Matt Corby or how "rad" that dude at General Pants told you you looked, you look like a cunt.

2. Distortion
I'm not saying that Distortion is evil or has any of the malevolence
contained in the bottomless pit of douche-baggery that is Delta
Goodrem, but the ever increasing ubiquity of people turning up the
distortion and bit-crusher on their bass has led the style to show its
wear. This year saw the major purveyors of disto-disco (Justice,
Digitalism, Teenage Bad Girl, Boys Noize) release albums, and while
Justice and Digitalism managed to vary their sound on record with a
Valentine or an Echoes to match every Waters of Nazareth and Magnets, Boys Noize and Teenage Bad Girl were not as impressive. This is a rumination on the state of distortion-electro more than a death knell or a condemnation, after all, it's still being done well by kids like
Whitenoise. I guess I'm just asking has the distortion bubble boiled to its limit? We'll see.

1. Across The Universe
Holy shit. I had forgotten how bad this was until I was trying to remember things I hated about 2007. It was the most vile, tacky, unintentionally laughable hellspawn to surface in 2007. Quite possible the worst movie I've ever seen. And I've seen this. And this. And half of this. Go die.

It's not over yet. As if this mega-post couldn't get mega-er-er, here's some more juice.

2008's Hopefuls

In 2008 I would like more of this.

Cut Off Your Hands - Oh Girl

More from these guys.

The Teenagers - Starlett Johansson (Connan and the Mockasins Remix)

And some more of this.

Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor (Extended Version)

Much more of this.

Danger - 14H54

And this.

Strip Steve - Tommy Boy [REMOVED BY REQUEST]

It's good to be back, everyone.