Duchess Says is already established as the secret weapon of the hotly-tipped Summer Lovers Unlimited label. Secret because SLU's lead act, Dandi Wind can steal headlines faster than Thomas Crown, but also because Duchess Says is, you know, an actual band.
That doesn't keep them from standing on the cusp of club culture, however, as their method also follows the style of the times: excellent bass work, minor-key overload and ghost-like vocals. Lead singer A-C projects a spectre of energy atop a warped Moog rock sound and the name "Black Flag," well, who's an idiot?
So it is obvious why Juan MacLean turns in such a stellar remix. Almost a decade ago, MacLean was a member of Six Finger Satellite, a google-it Providence-based band that completely heralded this twisted rock trend. (It so happens their main sound man was one James "LCD Soundsystem" Murphy and so forth). Mr. MacLean is right at home in the wacky electronic-rock realm, and his propelling night-techno revision is perfectly appropriate to play at peak time. In fact, it's well recommended.
Download: Duchess Says - Black Flag (Juan MacLean Remix)
Summer Lovers Unlimited
Duchess Says on MySpace
Dandi Wind is a freak. She'd probably tell you just as much. In reality two people (Dandlilion Wind Opaine and Szam Findlay), the duo is on the cutting edge of new music: a place where art, music, noise, performance and beats collide in stunning synchronicity. There is a very real possibility that music will continue to be more spectacle than performance, and in that trend, Dandi Wind is on the cusp.
Like many freaktronic acts (Dan Deacon, White Williams, SMD, Erase Errate et al.) their music lends itself to the art of the remix, sending splits all over the 'net to find the most compelling resculpting of the sound. They gave us access to the vault, and two really caught our attention. Both of the caustic and compelling "Adolescent."
The Stop Die Resuscitate Remix turns in a thumping, cranking mix that reimagines Opaine as a vicious, bitmapped party vixen, while the Royalists make Adolescent into a big room banger, complete with stepped-up breakdowns and progressive touches.
Both are available on the $5 remix album via hot label Summer Lovers Unlimited, which also includes jawns from the likes of Nick Catchdubs, Mehr Licht and South Central. Live dates coming up in San Francisco (March 9), Los Angeles (March 10) and to reprise last year's buzzworthy performance at SXSW. Welcome to her world.
Download: Dandi Wind - Adolescent (Stop Die Resuscitate Remix)
Download: Dandi Wind - Adolescent (Royalists Light Mix)
Dandi Wind at Summer Lovers Unlimited
