STREAM HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR BLUE SONGS

The release of this album is the closest thing I have to Christmas...and this time Santa brought us the real deal.

Hercules & Love Affair - Blue Songs by moshi moshi music

They're hitting disco from a different angle...a little more tech, a little more house. "Step Up" is my fucking jam. That bass line and vocal melody are actually kind of reminiscent of Technotronic's "Pump Up the Jam" that Andy Butler has cited as really influential to his musical career.

GOOD SHIT HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR PLEASE COME TO AUSTIN TX!!!

PUMP UP THE JAM

Andy Butler has cited this as one of the songs that first got him into electronic music... I think it makes sense.



Technotronic — Pump Up the Jam (Download)

Viva Italo!

Hey there sailors...

I've been failing in the posting department lately, but alas, no excuses.

As I mentioned in my first post, Hercules and Love Affair came to London for one performance at Debut, at which they appropriately 'debut'ed a bunch of material from their upcoming release "Blue Songs."  In an attempt to avoid re-opening still tender wounds, I will only say that I missed the show by mere minutes.........

But I can't complain too much seeing as I spent the entire week before the show in Italy with the lovely Deprecious, exploring the land which has seen Rome rise and fall, given us the art and ideas of the Renaissance, fine wines and cuisine, and most significantly birthed a brief moment in the 1980s that left a mark on dance music forever that we have come to know as Italo Disco.

Characterized by synth-driven dance rhythms and over the top vocals that reek of Italian cheese, Italo took disco where need it needed to go after it lost popularity in the late 70s.

Kano, an Italo group formed in 1979, is a supreme example of the type of music being cranked out during this period.  Famous for their hit "I'm Ready," they released a fair amount of quirky tunes to which many folks around the world have danced the night away, including the fabulous "Now Baby Now."

Kano — "Now Baby Now (Kotey Edit)"

And in self-pity for missing the Hercules and Love Affair Show, I'll also post this track that Andy Butler created with Jason Kendig as the first release of their new record label "MR.INTL." I think it's pretty cool, a kind of techno/deep house thing going on, with a nifty vocal sample to boot.

Andrew Butler and Jason Kendig — "And I'm (So in Love With You)"

"I'm in London For You"

Hey Gang,

After being here for almost a month, it wasn't until this last Friday night that I got my first taste of London disco, so I figured there couldn't be a much better time for this inaugural post.

My first London-disco adventure was not a let down. Some friends and I headed out to a bar near Kings Cross to catch a set from Serge Santiago, who did not disappoint and kept the grooves coming with an Italo-heavy set, mixed with a lot of solid disco and house tunes.

A great house track from Serge Santiago, "Atto D' Amore":

Serge Santiago — "Atto D' Amore"

I've also been psyching myself up for the January release of Hercules and Love Affair's second album.

For those who might be interested, they're coming to London for one performance at Debut. More info here: http://www.friezefoundation.org/music/

This remix of "Blind" by the legendary Frankie Knuckles reminds me of what I love about both Hercules and Frankie.


Hercules and Love Affair — "Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)"

Anyhow, as being in London finally gave me the inspiration and motivation to try this out, I'll finish my first post with one last track, whose lyrics were appropriately misheard by Daddy as "I'm in London for you."

"Haven't You Heard?" by Patrice Rushen. A great dance-y disco ditty  remixed by the Paradise Garage's Larry Levan.

Patrice Rushen — "Haven't You Heard? (Larry Levan Mix)"