M.I.A - Born Free

M.I.A, Born Free from ROMAIN-GAVRAS on Vimeo.

Yes fresh from child birth and a distinct love of making a statement in the modern new age ten(ties) M.I.A has linked up with Rusko to release her 3rd full length album currently untitled (you decide apparently so get on it!), and with it comes judging by a free Mp3 entitled There's space for ol dat i see (no my spelling has not gone to shit) and this rather graphic video for the song Born Free you get the feeling that ones immense rise to fame coupled by in the mainstream associations with T.I and Danny Boyle, the song has a certain influence to highlight people's ignorance of issues that need to be discussed and Miss M.I.A has not shyed away from making this point as brutally as possible.

Teaming up with Roman Gavras who's C.V includes directing music video's for French electro duo Justice which depicted strong parisian gang violence, Mr Gavras is no stranger to courting controversy, the purpose of this video seems to highlight a marauding military service seeming to punish a loosely based minority (in this case being ginger people) and uses this vague scenario to highlight what seemingly is rhetoric towards war but inclining in my view that although we are born free we still live as a subject as opposed to a citizen.

The song itself being honest leaves alot to be desired but saying that, it lasts for 9 minutes and in my opinion is making more a point then actually formulating a smash hit, known for hit records since the inception of Kala, Born Free and the rest of the unamed album I feel will take M.I.A in a new direction, making music that points towards cultural significance and tredding in areas that many wouldn't, the song, just for the video is bound to cause a stir, lets see if it does....

A Day for Independents - Ed Banger

Redefining UK dancefloors in the noughties and way into our new decade of future hits, Ed Banger and in particular Pedro Winter have set a master class on how to churn out a outlasting plateau of hits that make dancefloors become sweaty hip t-shirt orgies with the occasional gurn.

Since starting the label in 2002, where the French music scene, internationally anyway was defined by what record Daft Punk was releasing, a year after discovery and we still couldnt get enough of the subtle synth oritentated tones that were asking for just that song 'one more time' and 'harder, better, faster, stronger', but in the midst of this dominance Mr.Winter seeked to bring about the electronic fever pitch in the form of new artists and my word how the success rolled in.

But it wasn't an overnight grandeur of endless success, it took 2 upstarts who received national notieriety in the form of winning a school competition to shape the mould and bring about the Ed Banger magic dust which seems to be sprinkled everywhere in this year 2010, with the help of Simian Mobile Disco and a handy remix of 'We are your friends' the labels stock options (i know there arent any but it popped into my brainbox) sky rocketed, it had reached the mainstream ears of people who seeked an Obama style change in dance music, we had grown a little tired of DP inactivity and the swift turn of the head for the parisian underground but finally...... YES WE HAD FOUND SOMETHING!

Out of the blue its almost as if magic was happening, Uffie, a long time label fiend found success with Pop the Glock, Justice travelled 'Across the Universe' (check out the DVD = AMAZING) in support of that oh so lovely symbol, Mr.Oizo saw a resurgence and we were introduced to new artists such as Krazy Baldhead, Busy P (Pedro Winter) DJ Mehdi and Sebastien, a new fever pitch of noise which seemed to resemble this revolution screaching UK dancefloors until people were forced to engage in throwing down some drunken shapes.

This is a new day for independents, as it appears the premise of mainstream success is to move on to the mainstream labels and that what has recently happened with the labels biggest stars Justice who the world expects a killer second album on the newly revamped Elektra records, in the meantime not to discourage Mr.Winter we have Breakbot who is killing the UK dance scene at the moment with his Baby I'm Yours song in particular the siriusmo remix (below, PLAY), in the meantime lets hope France keeps throwing these gems onto British shores and Mr Winter devles deeper into the Parisian underworld to seek out new talent for nurturing.