It's the Supersound

Fashion (also known as Fàshiön or Fashiøn) were a criminally underrated 80′s post-punk/new wave act. Though their name and song titles and even their promo shots suggest one thing about the band (style over substance), taken out of context and out of the original scene, their music sounds unlike anything at the time.

These tracks actually come off the bonus material from the 2004 re-released version of their 1982 album ‘Fabrique’, retitled ‘The Height Of Fashion’.

Deep, dark and dubby with a thick slap bass and chuggy synth lines.

MP3: Fashion – Move On (Mutant Dance Move)
MP3: Fashion – Do You Wanna Make Love (At 5am)

Video Anabel Navarro Llorens via Valencia Fashion Week.

It’s the underlying element that lifts a track up to a monster groove. It’s the spine of the song. It can be deep and dark, or it can be grinning right along with you. It’s the slap bassline.

1. Move On (Mutant Dance Move) – Fashion
A B-Side from one of the 80’s best forgotten dark New Wave albums, Fabrique by Fashion. Actually an instrumental/alternate version of the single ‘Move On’, I absolutely adore this track. Once it hits 2:34 things start to get fun.

2. My Spine Is the Bassline – Shriekback
Featuring former members of Gang Of Four and XTC, Shriekback’s roots lay in punk-funk and post-punk. ‘My Spine’ is only one of many gold tracks Shriekback released during their Y Records years, but sticks out in my head as most fun.

3. Funky Stuff – Lizzy Mercier Descloux
Of all the basslines featured here, French/NYC 80’s punk-funk queen Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s cut ‘Funky Stuff’, has got to be the hardest. It’s actually a mutant disco take on the Kool & The Gang classic funk cut of the same name.

4. Keep It Up (Superbreak Edit) – BT Express
BT Express (originally named Brooklyn Trucking Express) are totally worth digging through. Their back catalogue is crammed full of gold disco-funk, including this number, which for me is one of the ultimate party tracks. Liquid bass, horns reaching for the sky, feathery licks. So good.

5. Come Back Lover (Remix) – Fresh Band
Another party tune, only one for later on in the night when you’ve found that girl and want to get to dance a little closer.

6. Make Change – Eddie C
Another bouncy funk edit courtesy of Canadian Eddie C on Flashback records.

7. Do It Anyway You Wanna (Greg Wilson Edit) – Mike T
Coming off his legendary Credit To The Edit comps, Greg Wilson delivers more solid gold with a sharp edit of the classic 1983 Mike T cut on Golden Pyramid records.

8. Slang Teacher – Wide Boy Awake
A total classic Goth/New Wave club forgotten gem. Wide Boy Awake was Kevin Mooney, bassist for Adam and the Ants on his iconic ‘Kings of the Wild Frontier’ album. They only released a few EP’s and 12″s but never an album before dissolving. Slang Teacher was the B-Side to the cheeseball track ‘Chicken Outlaw’ and god only knows why they didnt just stick to this style.

9. Knife Slits Water (7″ Mix) – A Certain Ratio
Masters if the post-punk rubber bass, maybe only second to Factory Records labelmates New Order, A Certain Ratio never seem to get the kudos they deserve. Still one of my favourite bands, from one of the most iconic defunct records of all time.

MP3: MIXTAPE #002: HEAVY SLAP BASS

Normally we favor single color post imagery, but for Jai Paul we break the rules.

How badass is Jai Paul’s personal branding in the artwork above? Let’s see what animals we can find: Fennec fox, brown bear, elephant, Rottweiler, panda, a few different members of the weasel family. Give equal space to various modes of transit such as: hot air balloon, fighter jet and luxury car. Then, add a few colorfully dressed Arabic men and a large shot of the new-to-the-scene musicmaker himself and I already love Jai Paul without even listening to his offerings.

Even better then that his sole original track, “BTSTU” is a stellar blast of future R&B that groups the Londoner in the fine company of acts like Hudson Mohawke and James Pants. Jai Paul sprinkles cosmic vocal dust over laser synths and clipped, dubstep-inspired beats, managing the difficult challenge with this sort of music of injecting melody into experimental compositions.

Jai Paul looks like he reads a lot of Dazed & Confused magazine. Hopefully they’re planning to write about him soon.

Jai Paul – BTSTU (320 kbps)

Converse wants you to start Summer off on the right foot.

...see what I just did there?

Kid Cudi, Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij & Best Coast - All Summer

Who doesn't love an amazing contest? Especially one that mixes music + fashion + internet. Well, the H&M Battle of the Bands Contest is in full force!

The ten highest rated bands who enter the contest will be eligible to win the chance to perform live at the H&M "Fashion Against AIDS" launch party on Wednesday, May 19th in New York City.

Those bands will then be reviewed by a panel of H&M judges, and one will be chosen to perform live at the H&M Fashion Against AIDS launch party.

The winning band will also win the following:

- $200 H&M Gift Card per band member
- Round trip airfare and hotel accommodations to New York City to play live at the H&M Fashion Against AIDS launch party.
- Custom H&M Apparel Package

Bands must have 5 members or less, and there are only about 30 videos uploaded right now to vote for so get yours in fast!

Check the official site for full details and instructions.

You probably will end up not even be paying attention to the songs, but Kitsuné just released this new video entitled "Kitsuné Ivy League."

All the music is featured on Kitsuné Maison 9 "Petit Bateau edition or the Cotton issue," which comes out April 26th. As far as the clothes go, everything robed & de-robed by Nils and Alazne is taken from the new Autumn Winter 2010 collection.

Playlist:
Jamaica - Short & Entertaining
Crookers feat. Yelle - Cooler Couleur
Silver Columns - Brown Beaten"
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work (The Twelves Remix)

The new Oliver Peoples'2010 Campaign features a short film entitled "Les enfants sennuient le dimanche" (The children are bored on Sundays) directed by Autumn De Wilde.

The lovely Shirley Manson and Elijah Wood model the Oliver Peoples eye wear while frolicking about to the sounds of Zee Avi's charming song "Just You and Me."

French gem actress Marion Cotillard has teamed up with Scotland's Franz Ferdinand on a new original song.

“Eyes of Mars,” created to promote a perfume for the French label Dior, can be streamed at Lady Dior.

Cotillard has the airy appeal that ScarJo & Zooey both maintain in their ethereal voices. Have a listen.

Some gems for you here. All very highly recommended.

You probably would have heard this one before out on some big speakers. Skatt Bros cult classic ‘Walk The Night’ was, and still is, a dance floor bomb.

MP3: Skatt Bros – Walk The Night (12” Single)

Finally got around to picking up the latest RVNG of the NRDS release, this time by Sweden’s Jackpot. I just have to like these guys even if it was just based on their influences: “the movies of Kenneth Anger, the music of Suicide, Velvet Underground and Bruce Haack, the words of William S Burroughs.” Plus a heavy dose of disco.

MP3: Jackpot – Brief Encounter

Now, this one I need some help with out there. This track comes off an album by UK group Fashion called ‘Fabrique’ (or the re-release titled ‘The Height of Fashion’. I cant find a copy of it anywhere; can anyone point me in the direction of a copy? Classic post punk/new wave. though this track comes off as dark, deep throbbing bass, midnight disco punk.

MP3: Fashion – Mutant Dance Move