The Post NY Chill

So this time of year is known for having a few... all leading up to that holy grail of party nights New Years Eve. Most people around the country will be nursing a serious hangover come new years day. Others will be saving themselves for the numerous big name festivals that fall on the 1st of January and some will even be mashing the two together with a lot of chemical help I'm sure. So in the knowledge that at some point following NY festivities you will be feeling under the weather I've complied a few songs and a mixtape on the more chilled out side because I can't imagine anything worse than a grinding dubstep bassline when I'm  paying from the previous nights shenanigans.

First up a great remix of Bag Raiders new single Sunlight. Melbourne producer GLOVES immerses the original with super soft synths, filtered vocals and funky percussion to bring us a down right, feel good song.

Bag Raiders - Sunlight (GLOVES Remix)


It was a terrible tragedy when Ou Est Le Swimming Pool frontman Charles Haddon passed away back in August. I could see a large future for the British synth-pop group. Frankmusik has done a fantastic cover of their original hit 'Dance The Way I feel' which is full of those signature powerful Frank vocals. Southern California trio Fiero up the ante a little on this one with their masterful bootleg.

Fankmusik - Dance The Way I Feel (Fiero Respect Bootleg)


With Breakbot you are just guaranteed a good song and this one is no exception. With top notch vocals from Parisian singer Irfane this one is lo-fi bliss. The Aeroplane remix is also very noteworthy, however you will have to pick that one up at Beatport. (I can't give away everything)

Breakbot - Baby I'm Yours (ft. Irfane)


When I first this song I freaked out. I love the original by Bon Iver and it seems that it became a huge Indie favourite. Das Kapital applys a perfect amount of everything in this re-rub. Perfectly executed drums and a powerful yet somehow distant and appropriate bassline. Combined with the soft vocals of the original this song is truly a masterpiece. I had one of my frequent "this is the best fucking song ever" moments with this one however I think given that over the last few weeks it's accrued a serious number of play in my iT that it's justified.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love (Das Kapital Rerub)


This one is similar to the last as I was also a big fan of the original. Edward Shapre & The Magnetic Zeros  have seen a lot of success in 2010 especially with their song Home. RAC takes an absolutely blissful road with this mix, this song is a definite improvement on the original. You can't help but smile when you listen to this lovely piece of music.

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home (RAC Mix)


Last but not least the mixtape. This mixtape would have to be one of my favourite and probably one of my most listened to. Cut Copy usually known for their synth-pop originals have been known to play a DJ set from time to time. They release this mix a few years back and I instantly fell in love. An hour of super cruisy, laid back pad-synth laden awesomeness. This one goes down well where ever and whenever you play it. Cutter are on the verge of releasing their third album and you can preview some of it here.

Cut Copy - So Cosmic


Bonus vids.....NICE!

Happy Birthday.

So I realised today that Smidgem has hit the big 01. That's right it was a year ago Saturday that this blog was brought into this world to share with you all the wondrous joy that is music. I'm not going to lie I feel a little warm inside writing this, I imagine it's comparable to that of raising a child (almost definitely not comparable), the feeling of creating something that has come so far in so little time. From it's ever so humble beginnings as a page that I could share music I was "feelin'" at the time, to having numerous contributors each in their own way diversifying the content (as much as you can in the small niche' of Electronic music) and making Smidgem a happy place for music lovers around the world. A year ago a I never would have thought that our inbox would be overflowing with promo or that we would have interviews and exclusive content but I guess that just goes to show the power that blogs have in the modern age of music. This is something that I've only come to realise since I became part of that world, albeit a small part it's these masses of small parts that make the whole. For the future? Onward and upward I say, the Blogosphere will only grow more and more each day and with it the number of people acquiring their music from blogs will grow. I would also like to add a huge thank you to our readers, whether you're a regular or this is the first post you've read everyone at Smidgem would like to say THANK YOU. Also I would like to thank you if you've read this far into my rant but I feel it's deserving of such an occasion. Smidgem will endeavour to make our second year bigger and better than our first not sure how or why but I know we can.

Oh and here's a song, a bit of an old one now...however I can't think of a song more appropriate.

Cut Copy - Lights & Music (Boys Noize 'Happy Birthday' Remix)
Lucas