Geneva Jacuzzi - Cannibal Babies

In the wake of David Bowie's death, it seems almost trivial to discuss music by other artists. When someone as beloved and admired as David Bowie passes, there is a lot of reflection about that persons legacy and the memories of their life. Bowie in some way or another arguably effected every musician making a go of it today, and ultimately changed the way we think about and process popular and independent music. How could anyone ever come close to filling such a polarizing figure's shoe? The answer is, they couldn't. There will never be another Bowie, but instead of searching for his successor we should really be celebrating the vast trove of sonic visions he bestowed upon us. Bowie paved a path for glam and funk artists of the 70s and even spawned a new wave of outsider music that framed the sound of the 1980s. His embrace of music videos, synthesizers, and androgynous imagery are what eventually made possible the exuberant pop music we hear from artists such as Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Adam Ant, and even Madonna. Today, Bowie's presence is inescapable, and his high wire dance between pop and the avant garde, still viewed as something of true admiration. We can easily point out his influence over large artists like LCD Soundsytem and even Lady Gaga, by why not probe the lesser known acts like Geneva Jacuzzi, who really shine in the ultra violet light of the weird. Jacuzzi has been weirding people out since 2008, with her own brand of sleaze-pop, that stands in line with with artists like Ssion, or Ariel Pink. The synths are heavy, the beat banging, and the vocals echoing through an endless slinky, dripping with motor-oil. The video here for Cannibal Babies, is filled with minimal imagery: Jacuzzi languishing infornt of a white background as the pixels distort in and around her. She's clad in a Bowie-esque unitard and her teeth glisten with a dark substance, as she sings about "cannibals coming out of my sex." Jacuzzi dredge's up feelings of nostalgia for ancient discos packed with popping freaks. While at the same time she consistently brings a vibe entirely her own to her tracks, giving this and all her songs a blurred sense of the past and the future. Bowie may have written the book, but he no doubt would have given a thumbs up, to the next chapter, being written by Geneva Jacuzzi and other's not unlike her.

David Bowie - Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy)

Showcasing his mastery of threading synthesized melodies and unusual beats, James Murphy needlepoints one of David Bowie's latest singles into a slow-building, dark-disco opus. Beautifully unassuming, a round of applause morphs into a trance inducing beat, while a square-wave synth gesticulates under Bowie's horse vocals. Its a wondrous thing; tune in:

Arcade Fire - Reflektor ft. David Bowie

Here it is. The latest from Montreal's finest, accompanied by two mind warping videos. One of them directed by the post-punk visual master himself, Anoton Corbijn. Upon first hearing this new single my ears were quickly reminded of David Byrne and epic Talking Heads dance tracks, but after 4mins into this fantastically dark, black & white clip I had a brief flashback to My Chemical Romance. Win Butler's painted eyes and the rest of the band dressed in black, marching through a bleak landscape seems oddly enough, very MCR-esque. Don't get me wrong Arcade Fire are no My Chemical Romance (ROFL!) , but seriously am I the only one seeing a connection here? I think this sort of relation to bands of the past, whether highbrow or lowbrow, always seems to erupt when a familiar act gears up to release a 'concept album.' You could say all of Arcade Fire's records have been concept albums of some sort, but this one has been marketed as more dance oriented. Employing James Murphy to man the production helm is always a great sign when someone tells you they're getting into dance music, but for Arcade Fire, a band that has singularly risen above all of their Indie compatriots and subsequently contributed to defining the last decade of music, it means its gone be some next level shit. Point being? This record could be super dope and is def worth a listen. Also DUHHH did you not read this post title??! This jam features BOWIE, BRO!

T. Rex - Metal Guru

Another monotonous Monday is upon us and so it is truly time to look back in anger. For today's installment I'd like to feature the Glam Queen himself, Mark Bolan aka T. Rex. Massive 70s rock icons, T. Rex erupted around the same time as Ziggy Stardust, and helped transform the UK's fixation from mod-culture to one more based around Glam. Metal Guru is one of those infectious jams, with an unrelenting chord progression that drills into your brain. The song has minimal changes and is carried by Bolan's effeminate, mumble-whine, vocal delivery. Truly a perfect rock anthem - and one that influenced countless other acts, including one group of super fans in particular, who were quick to borrow the melody and production style ;)

Thom Yorke Ad For The Grammy's: Ashes To Ashes

New 'hip' advertising for the usually terrible Grammys features such kewl artists as Thom Yorke and Lil Wayne. In this commercial Thom explains how Bowie's "Ashes To Ashes," was one of the first video that made him want to be a performing artist (and also separated from all his mates who thought it was 'too weird'). Check out the clip here:

And here's Bowie's weird video for "Ashes To Ashes"