New Music: Playdoe

The New Music Feature has been disgustingly western and European so far, so I reckon It’s time to give it a more international feel with a bit of Bambaataaesque Hip Hop hailing from South Africa.

Playdoe are comprised of DJ Sibot and MC Spoek Mathambo, a duo who clearly don’t take their music too seriously and make sure it is about having fun first and foremost. Sampling a brand of Hip’Hop and Electro popularized by Afrika Bambaataa, George Clinton and Grandmaster Flash.

Their best known track, It’s That Beat, is an interesting blend of Dance and Hip Hop, with juddering basslines, arpeggiated keys, sassy female vocals and ridiculously absurd lyrics such as “Take a shit on your boss’ car”. It’s not exactly art, but it would be cruel to label such an accomplished and plain fun dancefloor banger as a novelty. Infact, the more I listen to it, I’m convinced it might be one of my favourite songs of the year.

The duo are currently on Tryharder records, along with Blood Red Shoes and Foals so they’re in good company. Definately one to check out for and a band to look out for in the future, especially with the recent success of other Hip Hop/Dance fusions in the past few months.

Check out It’s That Beat below and if you like it, make sure you download the Toxic Avenger Mix of the same song, I’m not sure if it’s better than the original, but it is more Justicey and heavier. Also make sure you check out their Myspace and listen to ‘Go Dumb Go Thick Mix’ which is pretty sexy.

Playdoe’s debut mini-album It’s That Beat is released by Try Harder on October 6. Download single It’s That Beat is available from September 22.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fuckplaydoe

MP3: Playdoe – It’s That Beat

MP3: Playdoe – It’s That Beat (Toxic Avenger Mix)

Bruce Willis Is Dead

Well, not really, obviously. It’s just the title of the new Mr Oizo track that I previously mentioned in my Justice mix post. As you would expect from any Ed Banger record, especially one by the creator of flat beat, it’s a big and dumb electro record in the best way possible.

Huge bassline, ridiculous repetition, sloganeering lyrics and heavy programmed beats. You know what to expect.

Looking back at the track that made him (briefly) famous still fills me with warm feelings of nostalgia and memories of painful headbanging infront of the TV whenever it was inevitably repeated on the music channels. But even when I listen to it now, beyond all the ridiculous hype and the ‘coolness’ of Flat Eric, I can appreciate it for being a genuinely good piece of ‘minimal electro’ first, as well as a piece of marketing genius.

MP3: Mr Oizo – Bruce Willis Is Dead