Weekend Energy Preview 5-7

Here’s what’s in the mix for this Saturday night’s Weekend Energy. This week’s show is so thrilling, it’s like backflipping into an antarctic wave pool with two electric eels in your ears. It’s the two hundredth episode of Weekend Energy! To celebrate, I’m playing the best of Spring Semester (because it’s also the end of the semester for Murray State students!)

Highlights

Since this week is a “best of” episode, all of the songs are highlights! I’ve already written stellar reviews for most, if not all of the songs in this week’s mix. So for this week, I picked a couple that were some of my favorite discoveries of the semester, along with the blurb I’ve written about the song in recent weeks.

French Horn Rebellion – Beaches & Friends (The Twelves Radio Edit) -Their name alone is awesome, but this electro-pop nu-retro funk duo backs it up with one ridiculously catchy single after another.  Since the’09  release of “Up All Night,” I’ve had these guys on the shortlist on many playlists for this show, also being impressed with their remixes, namely Two Door Cinema Club’s “I Can Talk.” Their song in this week’s mix, Beaches & Friends superbly exemplifies  classic freshness. It sounds like it’s been around forever, but still relevant – even exclusive. If they’re hanging out on the beach with friends like The Twelves, they’re in good company. Nearly everything The Twelves touch turns to gold. Here’s an example. Oh, check out French Horn Rebellion’s video for “This Moment,” the newest single and on their new UK released album, “The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion,” which I’ll be picking up soon. Check out the video for Beaches and Friends.

GROUPLOVE – Colors (Captain Cuts remix) – See this week’s “Discovery” below.

Jaguar Love – Polaroids and Red Wine (Dave Scorp Remix) – Jaguar Love has been performing since 2008, but they are entirely new to me. A couple weeks ago, “Poloroids and Red Wine” came across my headphones and I’ve been magnetized ever since. They’re entirely abrasive and crude, the singer sounds like a frenetic chimp with its tail caught in a wall-socket, their rhythm is a like a sloppy drunk bathing in old jello… Don’t get me wrong, though, all of this is what makes them freaking #%@&* brilliant. Just watch the video below and you’ll see exactly what I mean. I’ve got the Dave Scorp remix in the show this week, who somehow manages to put together a solid beat behind the song – not that it needs it. I highly recommend their song Up All Night, which I’ll undoubtedly throw in to a future mix. Also, Piece of My Heart. Oh yes, you will love Jaguar Love. Check out Polaroids and Red Wine live.

2000FASTWOMEN – Letters from Vienna (2000FASTWOMEN vs NAPT Mix) – 2000fastwomen is an example of why the UK maintains its status as a world power in cultural achievement. When I stumbled upon this indie/hip-hop group’s new single Letters from Vienna, I was entranced. The cynicism accumulated from listening to hundreds of songs each week melted away. The original mix is funky and fresh the hip-hop is intelligent and artful and the explosive, grungy chorus will make you jump out of your seat. Brace yourself in the video below. I also recommend the more standard rock Let Go and the poppy Astray. Now, in this week’s mix I’m playing the NAPT remix. The remix takes Letters from Vienna to soaring heights. It’s got a tremendous build-up so it’s the opener. NAPT chopped up the lyrics and added a legendary drumbeat, knocking this thing out of this world. I hope you like it as much as I do. Here’s the video for Letters from Vienna.

(After the jump read this week’s Discovery and what Almost Made It)

Discovery

GROUPLOVE

GROUPLOVE is my discovery this week because when I played them the first time at the end of a show at the end of January, but Colors simply rocks. The version I played and the one that’s featured in this week’s mix is the Captain Cuts remix. GROUPLOVE was entirely new to me upon coming across this song. I was impressed by Captain Cuts remix of Manners by Icona Pop, staying true to the soaring indie vibe, while kicking up a danceable beat. This is rhythmic perfection. Show some love for GROUPLOVE, this LA-based group shows a lot of promise, especially when they let their colors fly! Here’s a link to their website.

Almost Made It

Foster the People

Here’s a group destined for greatness. Helena Beat is the catchiest song released this year. Its a winter anthem – warm and heartfelt to the core. It’s more indie than electro, but I don’t think you’ll mind. Check out another song of theirs, “Pumped Up Kicks.” You may be able to find it on YouTube, but many of the ‘videos’ have been removed by Sony, who apparently don’t want anyone to discover and share great new music. Anyway, here’s a live performance video:

Second Hour Rewind

The second hour rewind is the previous week’s first hour. Featured artists include Human Life, Grum, Dirty Vegas, Sampology, Rusko and more!

“Crank up your stereo, bust out the strobe light and kick up the bass.”

Weekend Energy has been blowing out car stereo systems, upsetting the neighbors and enhancing the night life of western Kentucky every weekend since July 2007 on WKMS. Host Matt “McG” Markgraf pours through hundreds of songs each week to create “the loudest show on public radio” featuring the best techno, dance and electronica from around the world.

Weekend Energy airs Saturdays on 91.3 WKMS from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stream it live on wkms.org Saturday nights.

Hear the show streaming online.