Gold Panda - 'Marriage' Video

Marriage from Gold Panda on Vimeo.

Middle Boop Radar : Plant Plants

Not too much is known about Plant Plants, in fact even trying to google their name proves to be a laborious task but what we do know is this: They create absolutely amazing music!

That sort of glitchy, minimal techno that people like Gold Panda and Pantha Du Prince have been famed for recently except much darker than Panda and more raw than Pantha.

The three tracks on their myspace (All demo's) offer us a mere taste into the mostly unknown world of Plant Plants. 'Hands That Sleep' proves the real highlight, with soflty echoed vocals, thundering loops and jangly guitar lines.

Oh yes, these guys are well worth checking out

http://www.myspace.com/pl4ntpl4nts

1. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner (Notown Records)

You can picture the scenario can’t you? You hear all this good shit about Gold Panda so you do some research on the guy and you think to yourself ‘oh here we go, yet another Electronica bedroom producer!’ and despite this form of dance music being very enjoyable to listen to there can’t be yet another up and coming, best new thing to come out of the scene can there? But as much as one imagines the predictably manmade house electronic beats and sampling, time and again one becomes mesmerised by the captivating multi talented, multi instrumental-sounding, warped dance fusion that is Derwin (No Surname) Gold Panda.

My first relocation of Gold Panda was a year ago when this buzz surrounding him started, having released the ‘Quitter Raga’, ‘Before’ and ‘Miyamae EP’s as well as various 7”. This followed on from me catching him on a live scale for the first time supporting the excellent Nite Jewell at The Cargo in Shoreditch and has since been performing many shows around London and across the world gaining a strong reputation. So here his debut full length LP. ‘Lucky Shiner’ has been eagerly anticipated by his band of followers and will no doubt rank him alongside fellow likeminded producers and musicians such as the already well established Four Tet, Caribou et al.

What this record does offer is a high scale sea of nostalgic emotions, all running through his Akai MPC2000XL sampler; the instrument that is the forefront of Gold Panda’s beauty. Opening with the albums first rendition of ‘You’, a track that later gets reprised at the close of Lucky Shiner, despite the fact both tracks contrasts in many ways. A track that involves various sped up renditions of the title word cut up instrumental loops to give us a standard setting album opener.

What makes this full length differ from his earlier EPs is how the sound expands its horizons across the dance music spectrum. American dance culture seems a prominent influence with the Chicago deep house reminding of ‘Vanilla Minus’, ‘Marriage’ and ‘India Lately’. Added to this, the Detroit Techno sounds of ‘Snow & Taxis’ in particular is reminiscent of The Field which is by no means a bad thing. So in that respect the album breaks away from the familiar hard hitting, sonic glitch production that we’re used to, and one that Gold Panda manages to portray so well. Further more, this release provides a range of tempo and dynamics, notably the relaxingly gorgeous acousticness of ‘Parents’ which gives ‘Lucky Shiner’ a chilled out album binding interlude.

Say what you like about the DIY aesthetic of electronic music. Gold Panda here has redefined the odds and created a masterful debut album that will put him up there alongside the big names in the movement. A record of pure bliss from start to finish that blends in a harsh, but subtle mix of experimental loops n beats. One last thing to add, and that’s if you get the chance to catch him in a live capacity. Do it!

Words: Freddy Rothman

Errors - Celebrity Come Down With Me (Rock Action)

There are normally only two reasons to release a remix album. Either to appeal to a different audience who (hopefully) learn to love you for yourself and finally buy your maudlin un-dance friendly release, or, so you can show off how many cool people you have at hand just chomping at the bit to remix your shitty track. In this case, Glasgow 4-piece Errors seem keener to showcase the talents of their friends, and also possibilities that lie with both the band and their songs. Perhaps they are living vicariously through the dance acts they have employed here to manipulate their sound, or perhaps this is their warning that the indie to dance ratio of their next release may be shifting. But don’t worry, probably not.

Each song is taken far enough away from the original to be worthy of its inclusion here, but the tracks which really push the boundaries of CDWM are from Gold Panda and Wax Stag. Gold Panda’s version of A Rumour In Africa bleaches out the layers of the original track and what is left is a pleasantly primitive, and at times euphoric, effort. Wax Stag’s more immediate, driven take on Germany rejuvenates the song into something that bursts with all the energy of a classic dance track. The Field, however, stay closer to the original melody of Bridge or Cloud, but drain it of much of its’ easy-listening elements to produce a never-ending monotonous dirge, the likes of which most dance fans should enjoy, but others may find a little self indulgent.

The track most people will be eager to hear is Supertribe. Their label bosses Mogwai have taken the already heavily electronic track and (thankfully) lost the pretentious French intro (when will people stop erroneously mistaking French samples for instant cool?). This softer version plucks the track out of the nightclub and injects some awkward synth to make it actually far more listenable. It’s the small changes here combined with layering of each artists’ own signature sound which make it a varied and engaging release.

One could question whether this album might alienate fans of their guitar-based electro, but, as Errors themselves proved with CDWM, in 2010 the barriers separating mainstream indie and dance are virtually non-existent. Similar to Health/Disco (Health) or Everybody Hertz (Air), this should satiate both loyal Errors fans who have already played CDWM enough to warrant a new copy, or people who are new to the band, but just can’t get enough of that electronic indie crossover (seriously, how much do you need?). Just as enjoyable (if not probably more so) for those who didn’t love CDWM, CCDWM is the perfect post club album for people with eclectic friends. It doesn’t have a shit track you’ll need to get up to skip, the artists are all cool enough to embarrass anyone who dares ask “What the fuck is this?”, and it’ll take at least three plays before you realise it’s been on repeat all night.

Words : Maya-Rose Boustany

Gold Panda – ‘Lucky Shiner’ (Ghostly International)

You can picture the scenario can’t you? You hear all this good shit about Gold Panda so you do some research on the guy and you think to yourself ‘oh here we go, yet another Electronica bedroom producer!’ and despite this form of dance music being very enjoyable to listen to there can’t be yet another up and coming, best new thing to come out of the scene can there? But as much as one imagines the predictably manmade house electronic beats and sampling, time and again one becomes mesmerised by the captivating multi talented, multi instrumental-sounding, warped dance fusion that is Derwin (No Surname) Gold Panda.

My first relocation of Gold Panda was a year ago when this buzz surrounding him started, having released the ‘Quitter Raga’, ‘Before’ and ‘Miyamae EP’s as well as various 7”. This followed on from me catching him on a live scale for the first time supporting the excellent Nite Jewell at The Cargo in Shoreditch and has since been performing many shows around London and across the world gaining a strong reputation. So here his debut full length LP. ‘Lucky Shiner’ has been eagerly anticipated by his band of followers and will no doubt rank him alongside fellow likeminded producers and musicians such as the already well established Four Tet, Caribou et al.

What this record does offer is a high scale sea of nostalgic emotions, all running through his Akai MPC2000XL sampler; the instrument that is the forefront of Gold Panda’s beauty. Opening with the albums first rendition of ‘You’, a track that later gets reprised at the close of Lucky Shiner, despite the fact both tracks contrasts in many ways. A track that involves various sped up renditions of the title word cut up instrumental loops to give us a standard setting album opener.

What makes this full length differ from his earlier EPs is how the sound expands its horizons across the dance music spectrum. American dance culture seems a prominent influence with the Chicago deep house reminding of ‘Vanilla Minus’, ‘Marriage’ and ‘India Lately’. Added to this, the Detroit Techno sounds of ‘Snow & Taxis’ in particular is reminiscent of The Field which is by no means a bad thing. So in that respect the album breaks away from the familiar hard hitting, sonic glitch production that we’re used to, and one that Gold Panda manages to portray so well. Further more, this release provides a range of tempo and dynamics, notably the relaxingly gorgeous acousticness of ‘Parents’ which gives ‘Lucky Shiner’ a chilled out album binding interlude.

Say what you like about the DIY aesthetic of electronic music. Gold Panda here has redefined the odds and created a masterful debut album that will put him up there alongside the big names in the movement. A record of pure bliss from start to finish that blends in a harsh, but subtle mix of experimental loops n beats. One last thing to add, and that’s if you get the chance to catch him in a live capacity. Do it!

Words: Freddy Rothman

Gold Panda plots November tour

A rising star who emerged from the bedroom scene last year, Gold Panda has confirmed a rather exciting UK tour this November, with support from the equally exciting Banjo Or Freakout. Having recently released his excellent debut full release 'Lucky Shiner', these dates come in ideal timing.

You would be foolish not to catch him at any of these following dates:

November
11 Brighton Audio
13 Newcastle The Cut
14 Leeds ConstellationsFestival
15 Manchester Ruby Lounge
16 Glasgow King Tuts
18 London Corsica Studios
19 Bristol Start The Bus
20 Norwich Arts Centre