Continuing with the theme of all things Australia, late last night the new Hole in the Sky promo landed in my lap. From the same Australian label that brought you that killer Jacques Renault release JD covered a while ago, Hole in the Sky presents Tortoiseshell, a group of lads hailing from Sydney. They list their influences as Talking Heads, A Certain Ratio etc. etc. The Canyons produced debut single “This Girl” is simply bliss and a gorgeous piece of work. I have here the Canyons dub for anyone who wants to play it out. I think Jad from BigStereo beat me on this one but alas, here you go:

MP3: TORTOISESHELL – THIS GIRL (CANYONS DUB)

Digital release date: June 14; 12″ release date: June 28. Stay peeled.

Negativ Magick are back in form with another round of perfected death disco edits.
I never thought Id hear a club ready Primitive Calculators track, but here it is. Sweaty, thumping, fleshy beats beneath hard visceral vox; this is just fucking mean. Catch these guys supporting Canyons at New Guernica this coming Thursday (1st April) here in Melbourne. See you there.

MP3: Primitive Calculators – Pumping Ugly Muscle (Negativ Magick Edit)
MP3: Death in June – Foretold (Negativ Magick Edit)

NYC’s Jacques Renault (one half of Runaway) can do no wrong at the moment. Every mix/track he has dropped in the last few years hasnt seemed to tire in my ears yet. Favicon is his new release on Canyon’s own label, ‘Hole In The Sky Recordings’, and its four tracks of pure disco edit gold. This is going to be on heavy rotation for a while.

MP3: Jacques Renault – Norman’s Fire

Brought to my attention by Canyon’s latest BIS mix, Australia’s own DFA/Modular signing, The Canyons, have remixed Tame Impala yet again.

MP3: Tame Impala – 41 Mosquitoes Flying in Formation (Canyons 41 Mojitos Poolside Dub) (requested to be removed)

Still on the topic of Modular, one of their latest signings, Adelaide three-piece disco-outfit The Swiss, have just released their first EP titled “Bubble Bath”, available right now, digitally, on iTunes (the 12″ is released Feb 18th). You would probably be aware that the self-titled track is creating great hype and quite a stir among us all, but then again, you must really hear the Tensnake remix of “Manthem”…

MP3: The Swiss – Manthem (Tensnake Remix)
MP3: Moonlight Hours – The Holidays (The Swiss Remix)

Dangerous Dan, the man who kicked off Bang Gang 12 Inches with his & Nicky Van She’s “Around the World Again” brings us his shiniest new release “The Ritz”, backed with a Riton remix. As you can probably guess, the track samples Taco’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” and has received great acclaim from DJ Kaos, Diplo, Aeroplane, Beni (who is, FYI, Dan’s bro) et al. Stay tuned for the release as it just dropped today, so keep your eyes peeled (check JunoDownload or Modshop).

MP3: Dangerous Dan – The Ritz

Lost Valentino’s last year created the beautiful debut album “Cities of Gold”, and now have just released the final single “Nightmoves” for the album. Although I prefer the original “Nightmoves” when they were still known as The Valentinos a very long time ago, the single does come with some nice remixes from The Aston Shuffle, Bear Funk’s Bottin and Dekker & Johan.

MP3: Lost Valentinos – Nightmoves (Bottin Remix)

The beautiful Nomi, who is in the group Jessica 6 and also was part of Hercules & Love Affair, has teamed up Rampa for a release on Italian house label Rebirth. Excellent excellent excellent remix by Dr. Dunks (Still Going/Rub N Tug).

MP3: Nomi & Rampa – Inside (Dr. Dunks a.k.a. Eric Duncan Remix)

Saving my best for last, New York’s Levon Vincent’s “Double Jointed Sex Freak” 12″ release just screams pure hotness. Can’t stress enough how good the release is – 3 huge rough, mass-vibing tracks. I know it’s sold out on Phonica so hunt this down elsewhere because it will do you wonders.

Canyons are fast risers. Signed to that Aussie label, the Sydney based duo (formerly Perth) have just recently signed a deal with DFA too, due to release a 12″ in July. How to describe this track? Its got a touch of balearic, with a dark and low pulsating bassline, and a haunting horn creeping through the beat. This is definitely a dark, midnight club track but a very promising evolution from their last big track we featured on Waves, Apples & Pears.

MP3: Canyons – Blue Snakes

Marc Regueiro-Mckelvie, AKA Popolice, is probably the most underrated Melbourne act around, producing some of the most mesmerizing pop/shoegaze. I honestly cannot sing this guys praise enough. Creative genius. Every time I see him play is a treat, even if my eardrums do suffer a little afterwards from the wall of noise. These recordings don’t really do him justice, and you should do yourself a favour and pop on down to his next gig, wherever it may be. Some of you may have heard a track of his on the Cut Copy So Cosmic mix last year too.

MP3: Popolice – Middle Ground

MP3: Popolice – Stave Year

I am incredibly jealous of Zach Condon. Not only did he start producing his own music at 15 (as Real People), he began the San Fe band Beirut and produced two albums and was touring the world by the time he was 21. They were fantastic at Golden Plains this year too. This track is a beautiful little downtempo electronic track, complete with Condon’s soaring vocals, from his solo work.

MP3: Zach Condon – Venice

Canyons will be big. Theyre already billed to play Nevereverland, Laneway Festival, supporting Lost Valentinos and Tame Impala. They even have the Jonathan Zawada (pretty much everything modular) artwork stamp of approval. Apples & Pears is a pleasing funky, disco track that reminds me a little of some of The Avalanches more upbeat numbers.

MP3: Canyons – Apples & Pears

An oldie but a goodie. Back when New Order still sounded gloomy.

MP3: New Order – Dreams Never End