Sound of Young New York II 'The Sound Of Young New York II' album

‘The Sound of Young New York’ (vol. I) surpassed our expectations with regard to how well received it was by press, consumers and even DJs and industry types.

In compiling a second volume it was important to change the mold of the mix CD a little. Where as the first compilation draws from quite a tight net of artists and remixers in a certain scene in New York at the time, the second attempts to stretch a little further from the world of indie dance to also include some hip hop and rock artists.

The CD is, of course, mixed DJ style for optimum enjoyment (again by Dominique and DJ Wool), allows us to make bands that may be less dance leaning come off a little bit more so and also flow the way a DJ can and Mp3 player cannot (not that we do not love our IPODs). Ironically, the way in which New York DJs mix and play has much changed since the last release. The slick house music style DJ mixing that could be found in East Village bars and clubs has since given way to rock and punk leaning DJs who could care less about beat matching and of course the always present cut n’ scratching from hip hop DJs. Most of the parties that really go off in the Lower East Side these days are very much a hodge podge of many styles even though dance music has remained alive it is usually best heard next to a Ramones or Outkast record. (Not they that is not dance music either, hey if ya can dance to it…)

Plant Bar, that was referred to in the last SOYNY release, did eventually re-open but in order to do so we had to sign an agreement with Consumer Affairs (New York City’s consumer safety department) that meant no DJing or dancing would occur at Plant Bar. Three huge ‘Please no Dancing’ signs also had to be posted and no advertisement, flyering or emails were allowed to be used to promote events that may encourage dancing at Plant. With our hands tied we attempted to create a mellower local bar vibe and turned out consumers into the DJs by designing a free MP3 jukebox. It didn’t work! Without DJs and the buzz around them, coupled with New York’s smoking ban, the bar’s business dwindled, which shows the power of the DJ. Plant Bar, unfortunately, will probably be sold by the time this compilation reaches the stores.

That is not to say New York nightlife is dead, there are plenty of great bars and venues in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are buzzing and the live music scene has been a huge part of that. We hope that this release gives you a little peek into this world.

ABOUT THE TRACK LISTING:

Itchy Revolutions ‘Face Me’

Itchy Revolutions is the new solo project from DJ Wool. One of Downtown New York’s premier hip hop DJs, Wool (aka Glen Brady) has been cutting and scratching his way into the hearts and minds of New York nightlife from three years. This song, which is previously unreleased, may remind you of Ian Brown, but is actually Glen’s own vocals. Weaving between funk, old skool dance and hip hop this track has been creating quite a stir on dancefloors. Previously unreleased.

The Faint ‘Your Retro Career Melted’ Ursula 1000 Remix (Astralwerks)

We presume that most of you are familiar with The Faint, but not as many people are familiar with New York’s Ursula 1000. Ursula, has been producing and DJing for over five years and releases on Thievery Corporation’s ESL label. His releases have ranged from downtempo to party breaks and loungecore (?) but here, as on some of his great white unsolicited remixes, he grabs the rock dance groove by the balls and throws it back at us like The Kinks on their first hit of acid. The track was originally release on an album of Faint remixes released on Astralwerks which we feel went a little bit unnoticed considering some of the great mixes on it (Tommie Sunshine, Thin White Duke, Junior Sanchez etc..)

D' Boldiss ‘Freak Huh ?’ The Glass Dub (Coco Machete)

D’ Boldiss is a New York MC that has recently been doing hip house tracks for Sean Holland’s Coco Machete label. Sean has been DJing for quiet some time on the US house scene and has always been a fan of anything a little different, as his label effectively demonstrates. The original version of this track was a smooth broken beat style hip house jam (enough references?) that got turned upside down when Sean asked The Glass to give it the remix treatment. On this version, the Dub Mix (there were three versions on the remix 12”) D’Boldiss gets her sexed up vocals cut up over a rocky four/four beat.. supposedly the French love it as does Sean, he claims it is his favorite release on Coco Machete.

I:Cube feat. RZA (Versatille)

Now if you are going to talk about New York MCs and producers, no one has stood out as much in the past decade as RZA. Main producer of all Wu Tang related releases and knowledge dropper supreme, RZA has always done it different. Very few New York MCs work with dance artists but here RZA drops his party style rhymes over a dope beat by long time French Funkateers I:Cube. This is the record we have been waiting ten years to be made and we love it! Right down to the dog barking. Again we kind of feel this tune went a little unnoticed but as always I:Cube deliver quality production, wicked off kilter beats that RZA should be proud to have spat upon.

The Stills ‘Still In Love Song’ 12” Extended Mix (Vice)

The Stills moved to New York from Canada after signing to the Vice label that was launched two years ago. They recorded a great indie rock album but for us the coup d’etat was when, instead of commissioning remixes, the clever Canuks at Vice, had the engineer from the album to a 12” edit of their first single. Obviously when you labor over a mixing desk for months on a record, you have a pretty good idea of what makes it rock, and the 12” mix is superb, no extra bits added just a great remix in the classic sense, take the multi tracks and remix them to sound a bit more dancey… we love it and so do all the dancefloors.

!!! ‘Me & Guliani Down by The Schoolyard’ (Touch and Go)

!!! (pronounced chk chk chk or boum boum boum or any three one syllable words you like in a row) are fab. Anyone who has seen them live know how crazy they are, taking raw dance gooves and piling layer upon layer of insanity upon them, add some horns and some weird ass lyrics and do it for ten minutes and there you have it. We know them because the trumpet player, Gorman, used to work at Plant Bar and we are very happy to include them in our mix. They are based in Brooklyn but there are so many people in the band that they are rarely all here at the same time. Check out their live show if you can. The new album out this summer includes production work by Maurice Fulton, although this track was produced by the band’s singer.

The Voices ‘Sure Thing’ NYC Extended Mix (Plant)

This band, comprising of Chris Field and Steve Yanko, are actually from Toronto although Chris now lives in London. When Dominique was DJing in Toronto Steve handed him a CD and a few weeks later Plant signed ‘Sure Thing’. The original version was too short for a 12” so Steve came down to New York and did this great extended version. The 12” is being released on Plant Music with a remix by Gomma’s Munk. Chris is on vocals and guitars and Steve on beats and production. Previously unreleased.

The Glass ‘Forever’ (Plant/Four Music)

As part of the Plant label roster The Glass gets to rear their head again on volume II of SOYNY. This track ‘Forever’ is previously unreleased and shows the more tripped out side of the band’s material. The Glass are now signed to Four Music in Germany and their single ‘Won’t Bother Me’ is being released in The UK and Europe July 19 on Fine/Four Music. Look out for live appearances from July.

Elefant ‘Bokkie’ (Kemado)

Elefant are probably the least dancey of all the artists on this comp but somehow the fact that they write such amazing songs and their drummer is so damn good we felt they belong here. Led by tall pretty boy Diego Garcia, their sound is part Bowie and part Lloyd Cole but hey perform like a young garage band. Their album is full of teenage heartbreak with a good old New Yorker cynical twist and this song really captures their spirit. Previously unreleased on vinyl.

Dead Combo ‘You Don’t Look So Good’ (Output)

Now everybody know that Trevor Jackson signs good bands but he really outdid himself with these guys. Aside from being the two coolest guys you are ever going to meet, Harri and Nuutti, as their names may suggest, are originally from Finland. Now, of course, they are staples of the Lower East Side scene and can be found drinking heavily and amusing us at their weekly party ‘shit sandwich’ (held at Plant Bar until June). Their live show is amazing and they have an ability to lose instruments, plane tickets and their tour manager’s sanity to an applaudable extent. They are also great fun to watch Spinal Tap with and Nuutti’s new venue is called ‘11’ in homage to Tap guitarist Nigel Tuffnal. Surprisingly Trevor let us license this, their first single, which will probably be released around the same time as this album. Thanks.

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Sound of Young New York II - The Sound Of Young New York II