10 years, 1 month, 2 weeks

Just over 10 years ago, in the last week of September, I experienced my first live Jaxx performance - a DJ set in Denver. I had just started law school, and it was a great set at a time when the buzz around the debut album was as high as could be. I had managed to grab a bootleg copy of their '99 Essential Mix (this was just before the dawn of Napster, and well before widespread high speed internet), so I had an idea of what I was in for, but being there live was so much fun. It was also the first time I made contact with the Jaxx. I just had to know who did that wicked dubplate of Soul II Soul's "Fairplay" that they played during their set, so I asked Simon. Unfortunately he didn't know (Wookie did, I later found out). I saw them again a few days later on my birthday in San Francisco

So what better way to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of my following the Jaxx sound than to fly to NYC to see them do it all over again at Santos Party House. To be honest, although I did want to catch one of the DJ dates on the tour, I wasn't particularly excited about going back to New York because I had just traveled there in July to see Grace Jones, and I'm not a big fan of the city in the first place. But after hearing the Jaxx's guest spot on Gilles Peterson's show, I was re-energized, and I booked my flight. I decided on only staying 1 night, no hotel, no luggage.

My friends and I arrived at the venue fairly early, but I had discovered Holy Ghost! was spinning that night as well, so I wanted to see them. We chilled on the dancefloor, soaking up the vibe for a while. Then, I happened to turn around as a group was passing, and I noticed Felix was one of them. He recognized me at the same time, and we exchanged hello's before he had to rejoin the group.

A little while later, we made our way to the main room upstairs, and while waiting for the bartender, another group of people passed behind us. I turned around again, and a petite young lady suddenly stopped and stood there staring at me. As soon as she asked, "Are you txjaxx?!", I recognized her: it was Vula! We did the hello/how are you thing, and she hit the VIP area. Now I was really glad I decided to make the trip.

So after the opening DJs warmed up the crowd, Felix started things off, and for the next two hours, we didn't stop dancing and cheering. While they don't play nearly as much original Jaxx material in their sets as they used to, they know how to work a crowd nonetheless. Vula did her thing on Red Alert and Oh My Gosh, and she saved the day when one of the dancers shut off the music accidentally. She also gave some shout-outs to the crowd, to Armand Van Helden (who was in attendance), and to yours truly! Thanks to Felix for that one!

After the set, I had a short chat with both Felix and Simon, and then it was off to bed for three hours before my flight back home. I had a great night with both the Jaxx and my friends. Thanks and much appreciation go to Jaxx HQ.

I can't believe I almost didn't go; I would have missed this:

Feelings Gone - US release

The Feelings Gone single has been released in the US! It's a whopper, at 11 tracks. Available on iTunes and Beatport.

1. Feelings Gone
2. Feelings Gone (alternate version)
3. Feelings Gone (Rusko's Stadium Rock remix)
4. Feelings Gone (Spor remix)
5. Feelings Gone (Adrian Lux & Flores full vocal remix)
6. Feelings Gone (Adrian Lux & Flores Intergalactico dub)
7. Feelings Gone (Felix's Hamma dub)
8. Feelings Gone (Felix's Jack dub)
9. Feelings Gone (Floating Points remix)
10. Feelings Gone (Sam Sparro remix)
11. Feelings Gone (instrumental)

Mixes and live sets and mixes!

Get your modems ready for some downloading!
First up, 2 mixtapes - 1 from Felix and 1 from Simon (thanx to the mysterious SuperJaxx for these):

Felix's "Easy / At Home" Mix
http://www.mediafire.com/?qbzmzmy0h1v

SiMix09
http://www.mediafire.com/?dmnddlrnzze

Then we have the Jaxx's live set from the Sudoeste festival this year in Portugal. The beginning's chopped off, but there's still another 85 minutes of great quality music to listen to:

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?4ly1ymmi2r0

Raindrops released in the US

Raindrops has been released by Ultra in the US (finally). You can download now through Beatport and iTunes.

Tracklist is:
1. Raindrops (radio version)
2. Raindrops
3. Raindrops (Funkagenda & Paul Thomas Re-Dux)
4. Raindrops (Robbie Rivera's Club mix)
5. Raindrops (Robbie Rivera's Juicy Dub mix)
6. Raindrops (Joker & Ginz remix)
7. Raindrops (Doorlys Dubstep remix)
8. Raindrops (AN21 & Philip Jensen remix)

Scars is out!

Get out your wallets, because Scars, the new album from Basement Jaxx, is released today in the US! You can grab it on CD or vinyl, or you can grab it on mp3 from several online stores, a few of which are offering various bonus tracks. From iTunes USA, you can get two outstanding b-sides, "One More Chance" and "Wheel N Stop", as well as the Paul Thomas and Funkagenda remix of "Raindrops." In the UK iTunes store, you only get "One More Chance." From the Amazon (UK) mp3 store, you get the Rusko remix of "Feelings Gone." From the Amazon (US) mp3 store, you get the Joachim Garraud remix of "Feelings Gone" and the Under New Management remix of "Raindrops." And Play.com has an unspecified remix of "Raindrops." Whew.
So, I personally recommend buying the CD and then scooping up the bonus tracks here and there.

Also today, the single for "Feelings Gone" is released in several countries (except the US, thanks guys!), again in various physical formats as well as digitally. However, over at Boomkat, there are 3 remixes that don't seem to be for sale at any other shop. Of course, there are territorial restrictions in effect, so if you're in the US and you have to have them, you'll just have to steal them off P2P networks instead of paying to support the Jaxx. It's too bad the labels make it difficult to support artists, but there it is. Anyway, rejoice! New Jaxx!

Hey free tickets

If you win them:
http://www.7digital.com/cms/competitions/basement-jaxx.aspx

Felix's Guest List

From Pitchfork, check out Felix's picks from the last decade:
http://pitchfork.com/features/guest-lists/7698-guest-list-2000s-edition/1/

You'll have to scroll down about half way.

Scars release moved up

Looks like Ultra has moved the US release of Scars up to 9/22 instead of 10/5. Not sure why no one announced this, but all the major retailers are showing the new date.

Kudos (not really, but...) to Jaxx HQ for making this a leak-proof album. I have not found ONE leak of this album yet on any P2P networks or 0sec sites. With the album release being only four days away, that is quite an impressive feat in this day and age. Very frustrating to some of us, but impressive still.

Yeah so...

Been gone for a while. This is not a personal blog, but I can't not talk about it. Almost three months ago, my 21 year old sister was in a car wreck and passed away. It's been a horrific summer, to say the very least. Needless to say, updating this blog and other relatively useless tasks have fallen by the wayside.
But after a while, you do have to push forward, pick up, not "move on" per se, but move along, continue with life, and shoulder the completely unfair, terrible reality while remembering all the good times.
I'm fortunate to have a big, loving family and friends. Those who know me personally know that the third part of that equation in my life is music. And music has really helped me through this. My other favorite group aside from the Jaxx is Massive Attack, and their new EP is so beautiful and so amazing, it's really helped.
And of course Scars is here in a matter of days. That title has some very personal meaning now. Funnily enough, "Feeling's Gone" did not impress me in the slightest when I first heard it. But shortly after the wreck, the song really gave me some good vibes, and I love it now; it's very comforting. Thanks to Simon and Felix for making it.
I'll be posting more updates now - there's a good amount of Jaxx activity going on. And I will be getting back to what this blog was originally intended to be - a catalog and review of Jaxx music from the beginning. Bear with me - I miss my sister so much.

Planet 3 EP

Frustration. Seems as if the Aussies were treated to a Planet 3 EP, which is exclusive to iTunes Australia. It features 'She's No Good,' 'Twerk (Planet 3 version),' 'Wheel N Stop (Planet 3 version),' and 'My Turn.'
If any of you guys are in Australia and want to drop that Wheel N Stop version my way, then I would appreciate it. Cheers!

**UPDATE - got the Wheel N Stop - thanks for looking!

Raindrops

So hopefully by now you've all heard the new Basement Jaxx single, "Raindrops." It's a great way to lead off the new album, and while it starts out quite poppy, the bass will relieve any worries of another Oh My Gosh or Hush Boy. Listen to it now on the Jaxx's Myspace page.
Pete Tong played a remix on his Essential Selection show this past Friday, so hopefully a full single release is on the horizon. You can hear the remix on the replay for the next 6 days.
XL has been suprisingly quiet lately, but they have added Basement Jaxx back to their main page, so we should be seeing some activity pretty soon.

New Album, New Single

Felix called in to Pete Tong this weekend, and he revealed the new album's title - "Scars". Well, I think that's it. To be honest, it was a bad cell phone connection from South America to London, piped through the internet to Texas, all with British accents. So, don't shoot me if it turns out to "Stars" or something else entirely.
However I could understand the first single's name properly; it will be called "Raindrops". No release for either album or single yet, but it is being mastered now and will hopefully be released in May or June.

Stay tuned.

New Thang

On the Jaxx Myspace page, you can now listen to the Planet 3 version of 'Twerk' (see last post) as well as a brand new song called 'She's No Good.' Also, there's a new image which could possibly be the new album cover. Time will tell.

2009 - We Have Album!

So Felix B a/k/a F Major called in to chat with Annie Mac this evening, and we got all sorts of details on the new Basement Jaxx album.

They're due to finish the album in a mere two weeks. They have enough material to do either a double album or one long one. Artists that will be appearing on the album include Yoko Ono, Lightspeed Champion, and Eli 'Paperboy' Reed. Joining them will be Yo Majesty, who we heard on 'Twerk' in 2008. Felix debuted a new spiffy version of 'Twerk,' which you can hear by listening to the archived show on Annie Mac's page. Apparently they've added some vocals by The Binary Kids on the track as well. Sounds different for sure, but I like it.

albumtouralbumtouralbumtouralbumtour.....let's go!