Category — Basement Jaxx

For the Scissor Sisters guitarist, Del Marquis, the mainstream music industry can be a little, well…limiting.

In the interim between Scissors albums (they’re preparing their latest now!), the artist chose to go his own way and explore an independent solo project for himself, collaborating with several different producers and artists (including Joan as Police Woman and Basement Jaxx) along the way.

After completing a handful of releases over the course of a year and a half, Del Marquis is now rolling out the final thrust of his indie turn with the Runaround EP–a maxi-single complete with eight new tracks and remixes.

“Runaround,” the main single off of the EP, is both a funky, stomping explosion of sound and a passing wink to the leading gentlemen of the New Wave movement–all without ever sounding inauthentic.

Other album tracks include “Lies By the Bed,” a jaunty, sauntering tune, and my personal favorite, “Each Time I Reach the Sun,” a six minute triumph that pits Marquis’ dark, echoey vocals against melancholy guitar chords and a crashing drum beat, at times recalling the greatest melodies from Depeche Mode. “As strange as it ever was, each time I reach the sun,” Marquis distantly coos along the devastatingly addictive chorus, only demanding to be put on repeat time and time again.

As a whole, The Runaround EP is vibrant, fun, and–dare I say–”hip,” proving that a good grove is forever timeless.

Click below to stream “Runaround” in full.

DL: Runaround (Louis La Roche ‘In 1995’ Remix)

The Runaround EP will be released on September 22.

Purchase more from Del Marquis on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

You know how I proclaimed the upcoming Basement Jaxx album to be the “Compendium of Cool” after seeing the tracklisting and whatnot? Well, I think the duo’s been one-upped already.

Enter DJ Tiësto, renowned Dutch DJ and electronica extraordinaire. For his aptly-titled fifth studio album, Kaleidoscope, Tiesto’s teamed up with a most colorful array of artists, from electro-pop staples (Calvin Harris; Sneaky Sound System) to completely left-of-center vocalists including Sigur Rós‘ lead, Jónsi, and indie-pop/alt-folk sweethearts Tegan & Sara.

Just check out the über-awesome list o’ tracks:

1. Tiësto feat. Jónsi – Kaleidoscope
2. Tiësto feat. CC Sheffield – Escape Me
3. Tiësto feat. Kianna – You Are My Diamond
4. Tiësto and Sneaky Sound System – I Will Be Here
5. Tiësto feat. Priscilla Ahn – I Am Strong
6. Tiësto feat. Cary Brothers – Here On Earth
7. Tiësto – Always Near
8. Tiësto feat. Kele Okereke – It’s Not The Things You Say
9. Tiësto – Fresh Fruit
10. Tiësto feat. Calvin Harris – Century
11. Tiësto feat. Tegan & Sara – Feel It In My Bones
12. Tiësto feat. Nelly Furtado – Who Wants To Be Alone
13. Tiësto – LA Ride
14. Tiësto – Bend It Like You Don’t Care
15. Tiësto feat. Emily Haines – Knock You Out
16. Tiësto – Louder Than Boom
17. Tiësto – Surrounded By Light

And if that wasn’t enough to set your hearts ablaze, here is the literally amazing Masashi Muto-directed video for the first single, “I Will Be Here,” featuring Sneaky Sound System’s lead singer, Connie:

A 2009 upgrade to “The Robot”? Now that’s something I can appreciate.

Kaleidoscope is due out on October 6 from Ultra Records.

Purchase Tiesto on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website

I guess I missed the memo, but apparently the members of Basement Jaxx are set to release an album-turned-”Who’s Who of Cool” compendium in just a few short weeks from now.

With collaborations from Kelis to Sam Sparro to Yoko Ono, the Jaxx’s fifth studio effort Scars (due out on September 21 on XL Recordings) looks to be quite the floor filler. Tentatively speaking, of course.

And now for the awe-inspiring track listing:

1. Scars ft. Kelis, Maleka & Chipmunk
2. Raindrops
3. She’s No Good ft. Eli “Paperboy” Reed
4. Saga ft. Santigold
5. Feelings Gone ft. Sam Sparro
6. My Turn ft. Lightspeed Champion
7. A Possibility ft. Amp Fiddler
8. Twerk ft. Yo Majesty
9. Day of The Sunflowers (We March On) ft. Yoko Ono
10. What’s A Girl Gotta Do ? ft. Paloma Faith
11. Stay Close ft. Lisa Kekaula
12. D.I.S.tractionz ft. Jose Hendrix
13. Gimme Somethin’ True ft. Jose James

Purchase Basement Jaxx Music on iTunes | MySpace | Official Website