The OXD Mirror: New Music for 3.8.13

BY OCCUPY THE DISCO / JOSH APPELBAUM

The OXD Mirror is a weekly music column brought to you by the boys of OCCUPY THE DISCO (OXD), a New York City based movement created by three music lovers, Ru Bhatt, Josh Appelbaum, and Tadeu Magalhães, who want to share their love for disco, house and dance music with the world.

We are now on Spotify!  Subscribe to our 'As Featured on Towleroad' Playlist to listen to tracks posted from past weeks.

 

French Horn Rebellion: 'Girls (Rogue Vogue Remix)'

French Horn Rebellion are 2 Brooklyn-based brothers that describe themselves as "band geeks gone wild." While normally I would scoff at a song from two guys paying tribute to the female species, the song also features vocals from ex-Le Tigre member and out lesbian J.D. Samson, thereby mitigating the chauvinistic nature of the track. Chicago disco DJ Rogue Vogue adds in his signature disco style and chops up the vocals, making this once cheeky pop song a fun, dancefloor-appropriate work. The track is available for free download through the link above.

 

Gold Fields: 'Dark Again (Penguin Prison Remix)'

Although recently my taste has leaned towards deeper and 90's-inspired house, this appropriately dark remix of Australian band Gold Fields' single 'Dark Again' really struck a chord with me. Penguin Prison added deep synths, rolling bass and a much more sinister vibe to this song, giving it a very 80's new wave feel. Gold Fields have a sound that is reminiscent of pop/rock/dance comrades Phoenix and Van She. Their debut album is available on iTunes here, and it's definitely worth a listen if you like the former two bands.

 

Kraak and Smaak: 'The Future is Yours'

Netherlands-based trio Kraak & Smaak have been producing their own original songs and remixes for artists like Sam Sparro, Moby and Jamiroquai since 2003. Their latest single features vocals from a personal favorite of mine, UK crooner Ben Westbeech. His smooth and sexy vocals go quite nicely with the slick "uptempo lounge" sound Kraak & Smaak have crafted.  If this single is any indication of the sound of their new album, we are in for quite a deep house treat. I'm also a big fan of Tom Trago's deep house remix of this song, which can be found here. For extra credit, check out the video for Ben Westbeech's slick 2011 single 'Something For The Weekend'.

MORE NEW MUSIC, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

C2C: 'Genius (Yuksek Remix)'

One of our weekly readers introduced us to DJ-band C2C this past week (Thanks Spencer!) and coincidentally this remix of their 2012 track 'Genius' dropped at the same time. The group, which hails from Nantes, France, is a self-described four piece 'turntable band' that has won multiple international DJing competitions. Producer Yuksek, also known as part of Peter and the Magician, puts his own spin (pun intended) on 'Genius', adding in classic pianos and an increasingly cascading beat.

 

Goldroom feat. Mereki: 'Only You Can Show Me'

Los Angeles' Goldroom, also known as Josh Legg, has been producing and writing tropically-inspired vocal house tunes for the past year to much fanfare here at OXD. His last single, Sweetness Alive, showcases his nostalgic and breezy sound which continues on with his latest, 'Only You Can Show Me.' This song was featured as the first track on The Magician's Magic Tape 30 before its official release. The track's vocalist, Mereki, will join Goldroom to provide vocals for his live tour.  Hopefully this song is a taste of what's to come of the great summer music months, much like in 2012 when poolside tunes like this one were in sheer abundance.

 

Alan Braxe: 'Time Machine (Le Crayon Remix)'

Alan Braxe has made quite a name for himself with his legendary original tracks, collaborative works with Fred Falke and Kris Menace, and remixes for the likes of Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Beyoncé, and Jamiroquai. He's back with a slightly melancholy, repetitive new track for Scion AV titled 'Time Machine.' Hot up-and-comer Le Crayon, a recent Kitsuné Records signee, adds a decidely happier bass line and disco beats that perfectly complemented my morning jog.

 

This week's post was written and curated by Josh Appelbaum.

For more information on OXD, check out our website and accompanying blog at www.occupythedisco.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter: @OccupyTheDisco.

Puerto Rican ATM Spits Out 'We Hate Fags' Receipt

A bar called El Ocho de Blanco and an ATM operator in San Juan, Puerto Rico have distanced themselves from an incident in which an ATM at the bar spit out a receipt with the message "We Hate Fags" printed on it, the HuffPost reports:

The ATM company’s president Jorge Torres said “someone from the outside gained access to the system and programming of the machine.” Torres said his company did not intentionally offend the LGBT community and would upgrade its ATM security to make sure nothing like this would happen in the future.

LGBT activist Pedro Julio Serrano thanked the companies for disavowing the homophobic message in a blog post, but also lamented that it happened in the first place. He said the incident made it clear that the island should pass a law proposed by Puerto Rican Sen. Ramón Luis Nieves criminalizing discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Normal Gays (a New Web Series): VIDEO

A new bite-sized web series about normal gays talking about normal things. Or not.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Jon Stewart Looks at the Selection of Candidates for New Pope, Suggests Bill O'Reilly: VIDEO

A "grope" of cardinals is gathering in the Vatican for a "molestation" until they reach a "fellatio" announced by white smoke rising from the chimney. The question is, will Bill O'Reilly accept a demotion?

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

In related news, the Guardian reports on the fault lines over certain issues that are emerging as the cardinals gather to vote:

Take Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro of Portugal and Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez of Mexico. In 2004, while papal envoy to Spain, Monteiro de Castro appeared to hint that the church should acknowledge homosexual partnerships as well as heterosexual ones. Although most countries defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman, he said: "There are other forms of cohabitation and it is good that they be recognised."

Sandoval has taken the other side. Three years ago he described same-sex unions as an "aberration" and was equally blunt on the subject of gay people adopting children, asking: "Would you want to be adopted by a pair of faggots or lesbians?" His other betes noires include at least one other Christian denomination, "you've got to be shameless to be a Protestant", and women who he believes fail to dress and behave correctly: "Women shouldn't go around being so provocative – that's why so many get raped."

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
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Colorado Civil Unions Bill Headed for Full House Vote After Appropriations Committee Approves It

The Colorado Civi Union Act, SB-11, is headed to the full House after it was approved today in a bipartisan 9-4 vote by the Colorado House Appropriations Committee. The Senate passed the bill on February 11, and Governor John Hickenlooper says he will sign it, so it's just one vote away from becoming law.

Brendon Ayanbadejo Talks About Getting Involved in the Prop 8 Case, Says LGBT Equality is 'Hardest Fight'

Baltimore Raven Brendon Ayanbadejo sat down with USA Today after a panel at EA's LGBT Full Spectrum event in New York City on Tuesday and talked about his participation in the fight for LGBT equality.

Said Ayanbadejo:

"[LGBT equality] is the hardest fight I've ever had to face in my life and I've seen my fair share of adversity growing up in the projects, growing up on welfare, a lot of gang violence. Basically having nothing then coming full circle to where I am today. I've seen a lot of adversity but this is definitely the hardest fight because a lot of people don't want to change."

He was also asked about the amicus brief he is submitting in the Prop 8 case:

Along with several professors, you and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe recently filed a brief with the Supreme Court urging them to reject California's ban on same-sex marriage. Why did you take that step?

Our thinking in this amicus brief is that I'm known to support LGBT rights and Chris Kluwe just as well, so we teamed up with a couple professors and we had an attorney write the brief. We presented it to the SCOTUS. I think it went pretty well. I had no idea how big of an impact it was going to be.

Now we're trying to get more high-profile people to sign on to our brief, which has to be submitted by March 24. We have Dominique Foxworth, the NFLPA president, UFC fighter Rashad Evans and Patrick Nero, the athletic director at George Washington University, where I'm currently getting my MBA.

Read the full interview here.