Okay, so I kind of can’t believe this is actually happening right now but this is ACTUALLY HAPPENING right now.

MuuMuse favorites Angela McCluskey (of Télépopmusik fame), BT and Sultan & Ned Shepard have all come together to join forces with L.A.-based DJ Morgan Page for “In The Air,” the first single from his forthcoming studio album due out later this year. WHAT?!?!

The extended mix of the almighty collaborative club track–which was just released to Beatport on July 5 (yesterday)–is an (unsurprisingly) mind-blowing 7 minutes of luscious, pounding House rhythms, live instruments and signature hypnotic vocals from Ms. McCluskey. “I’m feeling a… / I’m feeling a change in the air,” the chanteuse croons on repeat.

Oh, and the lyrics were reportedly pieced together by clippings of magazine headlines. I MEAN…!!!

In The Air feat. Angela McCluskey (Extended Mix) by morganpage

Chills. Absolute chills. This is everything. I cannot wait to add this to my Summer Nights soundtrack of ’11!

“In The Air” was released to Beatport on July 5. It will be released to iTunes on August 2. (Beatport)

It’s time for a brand new MuuCast!

Fair warning: This isn’t a collection of juicy booty bangers or sizzling electro stompers–instead, it’s the stuff of dreams.

Inspired by my recent longing to travel, plenty of downtime and perhaps a touch of the holiday blues, I now present MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away, a sampling of songs with one idea in mind: To take you far, far away.

Music’s always been an escape for me, but the following collection inspires an especially strong sense of wanderlust. It’s the music I listen to when I’m looking for inspiration, feeling emotional, or–most often of all–when I’m preparing to drift into slumberville.

The playlist begins with El Perro Del Mar‘s “Change Of Heart,” my definitive come-down anthem for dulling the sound of loud drunks and creepy scumbags while riding the last train home out of Grand Central at 2 A.M., and closes with one of my all time favorites, Duke B‘s “Hey You (feat. Angela McCluskey),” which is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. (It also makes an appearance on MuuCast Episode Three!)

Regardless, it’s yours to keep. I hope you enjoy the escape!

…And the semi-awkward spoken word introduction.

DL: MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away

Oh, and apologies for no actual Utada on the tracklisting–I just thought her cover for Single Collection Volume 2 made a perfect match for the MuuCast’s mood!

To see the full tracklisting, click “Read More”!

Read More…

One of my favorite sweet chanteuses from many of Télépopmusik‘s works, Ms. Angela McCluskey, has wandered her way onto a Schick commercial campaign recently, featuring a brand new track called “I’m Not The Girl,” produced by LMNTL (a name that, until I spelled their name out just now, eluded me in its meaning. Wow.) The singer announced in a MySpace bulletin that the track was now available from Schick for free–not that she entirely loves this version of the song:

we did it a few weeks ago ..I;m still not convinced this should be the verison…as I know the vibe you all liked was the ah ah oh oh bit lol but the agency insisted on a song…whichyou might like…Im not too crazy about it …for more chilled electronic which is what the commercial is check out my telepop stuff….not too many words just a cool vibe…

Anyway, I think the song is gorgeous–perhaps a bit more structured and wordy than her usual work, but still just as airy and pleasant as anything else.

Just because she’s not in love with the song doesn’t mean I can’t be after all.

DL: LMNTL – I’m Not The Girl (featuring Angela McCluskey)

As anyone should already well know, Télépopmusik is one of best electro trip-hop acts around these days. Of the wide range of collaborators through the Télépopmusik collection, no artist is more representative of the classic Télépopmusik sound than the incredible Angela McCluskey. (Who, by the way, happens to have a lovely discography of her own right.)

Just a few days ago, a track called “Hey You” cropped up on her own MySpace. While I can’t guarantee it as a new Télépopmusik creation, it sure sounds like it. The song has since become a staple of my nighttime soundtrack. It’s both ethereal and absolutely essential, bursting with rich, textured layers and heavenly vocals.

Sadly, I have discovered in my incredible frustration that I cannot rip the track or find it elsewhere. I suppose that’s intentional…No bother, then. Please check out Angela’s MySpace here and listen to the track on repeat. I’m sure you’ll find yourself playing it on repeat the whole night through as well!

My my, what have we here? Pop minimalism–that’s what!

M. Mercer and Matt Keppel are the bodies behind the force known as Microfilm. After relocating from Chicago to Portland, the group is releasing their sophomore album on Nov. 11, entitled Teenage Symphonies.

I’m slightly in love with Microfilm’s overall sound–It’s raw, yet maintains melodic moments of dance and trip-hop that elevate each track’s overall composition. Formulated with all of the flavors that make pop minimalism so delectable in the first place, Microfilm’s sound contains tiny droplets of all of my favorites: The throbbing intensity of Kaito, the melodic crafting of the Pet Shop Boys, the electro tingles of Télépopmusik, and occasional flarings of Royksopp‘s vocal techniques.” Beautiful work, especially considering this as a fully independent release.

Thanks to the band, we’ve got the title track of the album right here for download! This is a great one, similar to Royksopp’s “Poor Leno” off of their first album, Melody AM.

DL: Microfilm – Teenage Symphonies

Have a listen at the group’s MySpace here, or go to iTunes to buy their music!

Head over to Télépopmusik‘s MySpace right now to hear a brand new track from their upcoming album to be released in fall of 2008!! It was just uploaded right now, so hurry! The song’s called “Ghost Girl,” and it’s pure grinding synth heaven, which is a completely new angle for the eclectic French musicians. It’s a bit Goldfrapp in some places thanks to the the sexualized, unaffected female vocal delivery, though there are some harder, electro moments that Télépopmusik has never touched upon in the past–This band’s always evolving their sound! I’m quite pleased by what I’m hearing…Simply lovely. Go, go now!

Slow news day, no?

Well then, I suppose that calls for one of my obligatory favorites posts. Télépopmusik is yet another group you hear on almost every commercial in existance. The band’s core has gone through some reshuffling a few times, but the core remains the same for the time being: Fabrice Dumont, 2square, and Antipop, all of whom have their own solo projects to attend to. As a result, the delayed third album is still in production for this year (I pray).

These musicians share a love of all things electronic, and their work proudly speaks for their acheivements in raw, creative music. From “Breathe,” their arguably most infamous track, to the awe-inducing, sweeping tracks like “Don’t Look Back” and “Stop Running Away” from Angel Milk, Télépopmusik has been at the forefront of my most played albums list every year. Their style is varied; their lyrics equally eclectic. Helped in part due to an ever-shuffling roster of guest vocals per track (Angela McCluskey is a particular stand-out vocalist), the band is cemented in unpredictability; I never know what to expect next from them. I eagerly await their third effort, though I know it will be thoroughly breathtaking once again. Oh yeah, and any band with a dancing panda on the cover is guaranteed the title of “perfection” by my standards. Take that as you will.

DL: Telepopmusik – Breathe (featuring Angela McCluskey)
“Love Can Damage Your Health”

One of my favorites, “Into Everything”:

Buy Telepopmusik’s Genetic World and Angel Milk at Amazon.

By the way, I still can’t stop thinking about blinking.
And you, what do you think?