The Rapture has decided to kick off 2012 by releasing a compilation of remix’s for Sail Away, the opening track from “In the Grace of Your Love” that dropped late last year.  The Sail Away EP was released on Monday through DFA and includes some of music’s finest homies, with Cut Copy, Aeroplane, and Cosmic kids all making appearances.  Well done boys, well done.  You can stream the whole thing here.

 The Rapture – Sail Away (Aeroplane Remix) 

The Rapture – Sail Away (Cut Copy Remix) 

The Rapture – Sail Away (Cosmic Kids Lost at Sea Remix) 

posted by @clarkbs

Cut Copy are one of those bands that straddles the indie rock and DJ world. The remixes of their songs are sometimes as popular as their originals–especially when they get names like Mylo, Moulinex, Holy Ghost, Boys Noize and others to mess with their tracks.

I caught Cut Copy lead Dan Whitford at the soundcheck for their Miami show.

Cut Copy are here in Vancouver for a sold out show Friday and the good news is there is a second show on Saturday. Another favorite of mine Washed Out will be opening. See you there!

the interview show with Cut Copy

Cut Copy “Need You Now” (Architecture In Helsinki remix)

Cut Copy “Far Away” (Hercules and Love Affair remix)

Stayed tuned for upcoming shows: Skrillex, 12th Planet, Mother Mother and more!

the interview show is everywhere! (interviewshow[at]gmail.com)
follow us on twitter @interview_show

www.cjsf.ca (Vancouver, BC, Mondays 4:30-5pm PST and Wednesdays 12:30am PST)
www.ckdu.ca (Halifax, NS, Saturdays 1:30-2:00am AST)
www.radiocfxu.ca (Campus Community Radio, Antigonish, NS, Fridays 11pm-12am AST)
www.cfru.ca (University of Guelph Radio, ON, Tuesdays 3pm EST)
www.umfm.com (Winnipeg’s Hit Free Radio, MB, Fridays 6-6:30pm CST)
www.caperradio.com (Cape Breton University Radio, NS, Wednesdays 2:30-3pm AST and Fridays 5:30-6pm AST)
Permalink: http://winniecooper.net/tag/scott-wood/

Every once and a while it is nice to discover the hidden gems in your own town. This week, I’ve found two, Blood Diamonds and Matty C.

No one seems to know anything about blog sensation Blood Diamonds. So I called him up to get to the bottom of things. There is some weird dude screaming “Mass Effect” in the background. As revenge, I asked Blood Diamonds what he is singing in the shower lately. He wanted to sound all indie cool by claiming he sings Cut Copy‘s latest, but that isn’t what he ended up singing.

Matty C is a local DJ veteran and has just put out a single “Action.” When I called Matty C, he was playing with his baby daughter on the couch. You can hear her cooing in the background as we chat. Sweet shoegaze disco tracks and babies. This show never disappoints!

Matty C & Blood Diamonds on the interview show

Matty C “Action” (Kutcorners remix)

David Bowie “Rebel Rebel” (Matty C edit)

Blood Diamonds (ft. Wet Look) “Lasting Love”

Apache Beat “Another Day” (Blood Diamonds remix)

the interview show is everywhere! (interviewshow[at]gmail.com)
follow us on twitter @interview_show

www.cjsf.ca (Vancouver, BC, Mondays 4:30-5pm PST and Wednesdays 12:30am PST)
www.ckdu.ca (Halifax, NS, Saturdays 1:30-2:00am AST)
www.radiocfxu.ca (Campus Community Radio, Antigonish, NS, Fridays 11pm-12am AST)
www.cfru.ca (University of Guelph Radio, ON, Tuesdays 3pm EST)
www.umfm.com (Winnipeg’s Hit Free Radio, MB, Fridays 6-6:30pm CST)
www.caperradio.com (Cape Breton University Radio, NS, Wednesdays 2:30-3pm AST and Fridays 5:30-6pm AST)
Permalink: http://winniecooper.net/tag/scott-wood/

This track doesn’t really get going until about a minute twenty… and the lead in is a total fake out. But it’s a nice balance I guess between harder, heavily filtered sounds and those softer synths and piano.

Munk – Back Down (Cut Copy Jackmaster Remix)

Ummmmmm don’t forget to add Winnie on Twitter! Unless of course you’re a spambot. Or a space vampire.

Happy New Year…?

My New Year resolutions for 2k9:

No more fist pounds. If someone comes towards you trying to intiate one, the new thing to do is, “the downward wrist chop”, followed by a firm and audible “no”.

Try to quit smoking. Why not quit smoking rather than trying to? because smoking is so great. Everyone who smokes and tried to quit knows this, sometimes it takes quiting to realize. The most interesting people at any party are always found in the smoking area.

Be really mean. 2k9 is the year of being really mean. The hippie ideal of loving one another has not worked out. This year i’m going to try to be the biggest asshole / jerk / shit head I can. So far it feels great.

Lastly, because I can’t think of any other things that I could improve on, don’t hoard all the good songs. I have this imaginary mix tape that im always making and I save all the good songs for it. Fuck it. Heres to 2k9, isn’t it amazing? How many days till summer? Thankgod for music.

From our BFF’s site Ohh! Crapp.

The Teenagers – Feeling Better (Minitel Rose Remix)

From This Scene Is Dead. Spacey techno to bug out to.

Autechre – Bike

Ponytail are from Baltimore. This one has spazz pop written all over it.

Ponytail – Beg Waves

Is this band really from Montreal?
Of Montreal – Engager

Lifelike usually lays it on a little too thick for my liking. this one is just right

Lifelike – L.O.V.E. Is What You Need

From You Can Call Me Pelski. Dubstepp.

Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game (Moody Boyz Vocal Mix)

Who won the Passion Pit remix competition on this song anyways? Who won the Reckenor one also? so many questions…

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (LOL Boys Remix)

Maroon 5 have a remix album out with some top notch producers on board. They have done a great job of actually making M5 listen-able.

Maroon 5 – This Love (Cut Copy Galatic Beach House Mix)

I love this. Songs like this cheer me up.

Ruby Suns – Palmitos Park (El Guincho Cover)

Well, the year is almost officially over and it couldn’t come soon enough… it’s time for my TOP TWENTY SONGS OF 2008!

You know I’ve never been the kind of person who could say with full conviction which movie is my favourite of all time or what the best restaurant is. See, I find it will almost always be dependent on how you feel at that particular point in time.

Of course, music is the same way. Even the most mundane routine in your day to day life can be perfectly captured by some song. And that song at that exact moment is the best song there could be… (Garden State would not have been as good a movie without that amazing soundtrack)

So anyways, it goes without saying then that I had some difficulty selecting my TOP TWENTY.

There are definitely songs on my list that have been fully rinsed in 2008. But hey what can I say? I ain’t no snob… I’m a fan of pop music just as much as I am a fan of the indie and sub-pop jams.

I won’t bore you with a commentary on each track.

Here are twenty 2008 tracks that have stood out to me… haters, get your hate on:

20. Metronomy – A Thing For Me (Mad Decent’s B-Live Miami Mix)

19. Matt & Kim – Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare

18. Santogold – Say Aha (Tepr Remix)

17. The Kills – Cheap and Cheerful

16. Ratatat – Mirando (YACHT Remix)

15. Portishead – Machine Gun

14. Friend – Secret

13. Mike Jones ft Lil Wayne – I Done Did It

12. Feist – I Feel It All (Escort Remix)

11. Radiohead – Reckoner (Diplo Remix)

10. Kid Cudi – Day ‘N Nite (Crookers Remix)

9. Lykke Li – Little Bit (CSS Remix)

8. Lil Wayne – A Milli (Say-Wut Remix)

7. Ladyhawke – Paris Is Burning (Cut Copy Remix)

6. Treasure Fingers – Cross The Dancefloor (Chromeo Remix)

5. Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire

4. Crystal Castles – Courtship Dating

3. Friendly Fires ft Au Revoir Simone – Paris (Aeroplane Remix)

2. Empire Of The Sun – Walking On A Dream

1. Cut Copy – Lights & Music (Boys Noize Happy Birthday Remix)

Goodbye to the year that was… brighter days ahead?

~ Your Only Friend

10.Tilly and the wall-o
Cute indie girls and tap dancing is a combination that never fails. I was a huge fan of their last album “Bottoms of Barrels” and 08s  O offers more of the same sing-songy girl vocals with some added synth here and there.  Tall Tall Grass and Jenny Lewis’s  Acid Tongue are tied up for my favorite Indie Girl Jam of the year.

Tilly and The Wall-Tall Tall Grass

9.Facing New York-Get Hot
Progressive funk Rock at its best. I blew these guys off for so long for some unknown reason and I’m glad I stopped that nonsense cause this shit’s my jam.  If you’ve ever enjoyed a Dismemberment Plan song check these guys out.

Facing New York- All A This

Facing New York- Me N My Friendz

8.Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
It’s Girl Talk, ya people have been mashing up tracks forever, but not like this. The man pretty much perfected his skill on this album. Take a rap accapella and layer it with a classic 90′s drum beat and a classic rock guitar riff and just keep repeating that process.  Makes for the perfect roadtrip mixtape.

Girl Talk- Hands In The Air

7.Louis La Roche-The Peach EP
This kid is 18 years old and people were mistaking his work for new tracks by Thomas Bangalter. Really?! He came out of nowhere and dropped in my opinion the best french house EP of the year. Ya the tracks repeat a bit but. dude is 18 cut him some slack. Already finished his LP due next year. expect big things.

Louis La Roche- Do You Remember

6.Vampire Weekend-S/T
Pretty much delivered on the hype of their EP. Everythings already been said about these guys. M79 is my jam.

Vampire Weekend-M79

5.The Cool Kids- The Bake Sale
This was my LA summer album. Bumpin 88 with the roof down driving down the PCH can’t  beat it.

The Cool Kids-88

4.Crystal Castlees-S/T
At the beginning of the year they put on one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. On Halloween they were terrible which  pretty much sums up crystal castles. Stealing a bunch of ideas and coming out with in my opinion the most unique  I don’t give a fuck sounding album of 08. Courtship Dating better be on everyone’s  top 10 tracks list.

Crystal Castles- Magic Spells

3.Cut Copy-in Ghost Colours
Nothing beat this album sonically. So relaxing and chill yet so danceable. Ya Hearts on fire came out at the beginning of 07 but any album that has that killer sax solo  deserves to be on a top ten list.

Cut Copy- Lights and Music

2. Forgive Durden- Razia’s Shadow
So I grew up being obsessed with Seattle’s pop punk scene.  Which will explain my top two albums of the year as both stem from musicians out of the area. Razia’s Shadow is a musical created by two brothers Thomas and Paul Dutton and a host of guest vocalist playing the different characters throughout the story. I’m not going to get into the details but it’s a mix between Moulin Rouge and Aladdin with Aaron Weiss of Mewithoutyou Narrating in-between songs to get the full context of the story . For someone who had little to no recording budget this is a masterpiece of a musical.

Forgive Durden-The Missing Piece

1.Kay Kay and His weathered Underground
I suck at writing ( Which is why I write for music blogs where a simple sentence is adequate to sum up a post) so I’m stealing this  summery of my favorite album of  the year from  I guess I’m floating.

For those unfamiliar with the ways of Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground, here’s a bit of backstory: the band was formed from the ashes of Gatsby’s American Dream. Kirk Huffman and Kyle O’Quin picked up the pieces and brought over their quirky songwriting and peripheral instrumentation, crafting their debut album over three years in Seattle. Upon completion and release early this year, the band played a sold out show at the Triple Door, about which Huffman remarked “I thought we’d be playing for ten people. This is the greatest night of my life!”

mellifluent orchestral vibes, free-flowing bigtop circus music, drums that thump as much as they float, and melodies you won’t be able to escape for days. Everything but the kitchen sink. It’s epic.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Hey Momma

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground- Birds ( On A Day Like Today)

WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!


To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.

10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]

2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in.  The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end.  The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80′s vibe alive.

Cut Copy – Feel The Love


9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]

MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008.  This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio.  The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.

MGMT – Kids

8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]

Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &

Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]

3-Way Tie

disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.

2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape.  Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink.  Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes.  Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.

Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)

2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world.   Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)

The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek

Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008.  Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future.  Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all.   My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?

Girl Talk – Still Here


7. The Dodos [Visiteur]

Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound.  The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list.  Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III.  All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again.  Please…

The Dodos – Jodi


6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]

This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums.  CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art.  His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy.  My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list.  However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.

Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light


5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]

I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that.  Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same.  Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal


4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]

People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away.  Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means?  Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.

Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life


3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]

The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists.  This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home.  For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).  

Bon Iver – For Emma


2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]

Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid.  The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008.  While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better.  The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.

Crystal Castles – Vanished


1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]

Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them??  Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80′s movie about girls.  I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album.  Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings.  If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output. 

Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected


Honorable mentions to:

Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that.  The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy.  Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics.  Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.

Damn Arms is a two piece band out of Melbourne, Australia comprising of Yama Indra (a.k.a. Gloves) & Tim Sullivan.

This remix will be the third track on the 7 track single for the Far Away release, with other versions being delivered by Hercules & Love Affair & Golden Filter, plus Aeroplane and Knightlife remixes of Hearts on Fire and So Haunted. As well as an unreleased original by Cut Copy themselves to close the release.

Also coming real soon is Damn Arms’ first original release for 2008 in the form of a 12″ titled ‘Destination’, to be released on Bang Gang 12″s in early January. Be excited

Cut Copy – Far Away [Damn Arms Remix]

Two of my favourite bands have announced a joint tour this fall. I know I will be there when they roll thru Vancouver.

Check out this site in September for a killer interview with The Presets. And I am working on getting Cut Copy too. I’ll keep you updated.

SAT 9/13 – Monolith Festival – Denver, CO
MON 9/15 – The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
TUES 9/16 – Fine Line Music Cafe- Minneaplis, MN
WED 9/17 – Metro – Chicago, IL
FRI 9/19 Sound Academy – Toronto, Ontario
SAT 9/20 – Club Soda – Montreal, Quebec
SUN 9/21 – Webster Hall – New York City, NY
MON 9/22 – Webster Hall – New York City, NY
TUE 9/23 – Paradise – Boston, MA
THURS 9/25 – The Trocadero Theater – Philadelphia, PA
FRI 9/26 9:30 – Club – Washington D.C.
SAT 9/27 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
MON 9/29 – Emo’s Alternative Lounge – Austin, TX
TUES 9/30 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX
FRI 10/3 – The Glass House – Pomona, CA
SUN 10/5 – Mezzanine – San Francisco, CA
TUES 10/7 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
WED 10/8 – Showbox At The Market – Seattle, WA
THURS 10/9 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, B.C.

I can’t leave you with out some tunes. Here are my two favourite remixes right now.

Cut Copy “Hearts On Fire” (Knightlife remix)

The Presets “This Boys In Love” (KIM remix)