Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele are more commonly known as the driving force behind Soulwax and 2manydjs. The pair have recently unveiled a new ‘Radio Soulwax’ website and app, where they will be streaming a ton of new hour long mixes over the next 18 weeks. The app and site updates their infamous ‘As Heard On Radio Soulwax’ mix series, where they fused the likes of The Strokes with Christina Aguilera in genre busting mash ups. While the ‘mash-up’ formula has now far reached its sell by date, it’s easy to forget the hysteria Soulwax caused with those original mixes.
The new Radio Soulwax formula is as much a visual spectacle as it is audio, with each mix accompanied by unique video content. Users can stream the mixes from their website and app, plus download the mixes straight their iPhone, iPad or Android device. The first mix, in true 2manydjs style, sees them cut the vital opening seconds of a huge number of tracks into one mind boggling whole. The accompanying video features animated sleeves from each of the tracks featured, it’s safe to say it’s not something you should play with whilst driving!
You can catch 2manydjs performing at a a number of festivals and club nights this summer. Head here for their extensive tour schedule.
In 2001 Daft Punk released ‘Discovery’, an album that continues to influence countless other artists. A leaner affair when compared with their 1997 debut, ‘Homework’, on this album Daft Punk embraced an 80’s synthpop feel, rather than the Chicago House sound of their early work. While it took Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo six years to craft the album, for many it was well worth the wait. Opening with the stomping ‘One More Time’ ‘Discovery’ immediately grabs the listener and engages them through to the final chords of epic album closer ‘Too Long’.
The album was also accompanied by an animated film, Interstella 5555, in which the songs were juxtaposed against the adventures of a band in a parallel galaxy. The album also featured Daft Punk’s first ever collaborations, with American DJ/producers Romanthy and Todd Edwards on ‘One More Time’ and ‘Face To Face’ respectively. The album would go on to be a huge influence on the likes of Justice, Soulwax and LCD Soundsystem – who penned the track ‘Daft Punk Is Playing At My House’ in tribute to the French duo.
Back in 2001, Pascal Arbez-Nicolas aka Vitalic unleashed the ‘Poney EP’ on unsuspecting dancefloors around the world. The EP contained the frantic ‘La Rock 01’; a track that became a staple in a countless number of DJ’s and showcased a sound that would go on to influence both producers such as Soulwax and Justice, as well as über chic French labels like Ed Banger and Kitsuné. It was a long four year wait before Vitalic delivered his debut album, ‘OK Cowboy’. However upon hearing the engine rev that signalled the start of standout single ‘My Friend Dario’, it was obvious that it had been worth the wait. Never one to rush things, despite regularly making live appearances across the globe, we’ve had to endure another four year wait for the latest Vitalic album. ‘Flashmob‘ is released through PIAS on the 28th of September – containing 13 new tracks that promise to reignite the slightly flagging Electro scene. Added to this, there is also a new EP dropping the 10th August entitled ‘Disco Terminateur’, perfect who need their fix of jarring electro post haste.
