For Parisian duo Justice to try and top their last live album, ‘Across The Universe’, it was always going to be a tall order. For one, their new live album ‘Access All Arenas’ doesn’t have the brilliantly produced Romain Gavras documentary to invite you into the world of a touring electronic act. And secondly: ‘Access All Arenas’ is very reliant on material from their first album, ‘✝’.

• Justice – Civilization

Eyebrows will be raised, but don’t be too quick to dismiss. If their last album didn’t quite kick like you wanted it to, or you didn’t exactly fall head-over-heels with the 80s ballad vocals and more modest electronic sounds, this will surely highlight the ability to meld the power of ‘✝’ with the vocal harmonies of Audio, Video, Disco.

What ‘Access All Arenas’ does, and it does it very successfully, is prove that too many people probably dismissed their last album, ‘Audio, Video, Disco’, too easily. Sure, it was a bit tame in places, but when you bring the new material into a live arena, splice it with old classics like ‘Genesis’ and ‘Stress’, something just clicks, suddenly it all begins to make sense.

• Justice – Waters of Nazareth

Daft Punk’s ‘Human After All’ was reviewed in a similar way – only to be proved wrong with Alive 2007. And you could argue that Justice have pretty much done that same feat. Now, we’re not going to say this makes their last album better, because that wouldn’t be true, but it does prove it wasn’t the backwards step everyone thought it was. ‘Access All Arenas’ gives you a second chance to take a new perspective – it’s basically that alternate ending we’ve all wanted.

‘Access All Arenas’ has been meticulously engineered to remove any of the guff from their previous two albums. You’ll no longer have to suffer the indignity of Metallica or Uffie every again. Instead you’re treated to the tribal vocals in ‘Civilisation’; the rapturous chorus’ from ‘Newlands’ and as fitting finale ‘Audio, Video, Disco’.

• Justice – On n On
• Justice – Audio, Video, Disco

By the end it’s hard not to be seduced by the duo’s brand of theatrical electro all over again. It’s been said so many times, but we’ll say it again: no-one does it like Justice, and when you listen to ‘Access All Arenas’ it couldn’t be any more true.

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As anyone who’s been paying attention may have realised, we absolutely love James Blake’s new album. Overgrown is a phenomenally confident step forward from the producer’s self-titled debut album – an emotionally rich, experimental and R&B-leaning record without a bad track to speak of.

The dulcet tones of The National are back once again. Demons is the first single and video from their sixth album Trouble Will Find Me, released on May 21st. Despite being a very apt song title for the band, Demons is quite and upbeat (for them) tune from the masters of dark and melancholic indie rock. The visual accompaniment is a shadowy scene of an artist at work, reminiscent of some sort of film noir art project. With their second single Don’t Swallow The Cap also being released yesterday, this is shaping up to be one of the albums of the year!

There’s something very poetic in the simplicity of Kurt Vile’s music. His music is a spacious, becalming mix of folk ballads and stoner rock, it’s simple and effective without ever feeling preachy. It is this attitude that Mr Vile has always brought to his work, he’s in a lucky position to be able to be the master of his own domain, making the music he wants to without any record label pressures or agreements. It is also with this freedom in which Kurt publicises his record, a very simple promo video, followed by an equally sparse first filmclip for Walking On A Pretty Day. He has baisically joined forces with renowned graffitit and signwriter ESPO to do his thing.

Check out his album Walking On A Pretty Daze out now via Matador/Remote Control

Via Dennis Scholl

In conjunction with Adidas, the brilliant bunch at Yours Truly have been running an amazing series of music videos under the guise Songs From Scratch. There have been a couple of astounding duos already, however the latest two sees some ex-collaborators get together again. Many of you might remember when Shlomo remixed Jeremih’s Fuck You All The Time and it’s no wonder why they asked them to team up again. The result is once again another trapped out Shlohmo beat, beautifully accompanied by Jeremih’s woozy vocals. Check it out!

• Shlohmo – Bo Peep (Do U Right) ft. Jeremih

To promote the Brooklyn Brewery’s MASH tour, filmmakers Landon Van Soest and Paul Trillo, created a stop motion tour of the borough using over 3000 still photos.

• Clarian – Claire (Guy Gerban Remix)
• Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Cyril Hahn Remix)
• Burial – Rough Sleeper
• FaltyDL – Straight And Arrow
• Hot Natured – Reverse Skydiving
• Jonas Rathsman – Bringing You Down
• Bonobo – Kiara (Cosmin TRG Remix)
• Jesse Ware – Sweet Talk (Cyril Hahn Remix)
• Michael Jansons – Addiction (MK Remix)
• Emma Louise – My Head Is A Jungle (Wankelmut Remix)

Back by popular demand our ten track playlist is set to get you moving. With a house theme lacing these tracks together, it’s easy to see why some of these remixes and tracks will feel like new discoveries but will hopefully turn your head with some nostalgic trickery. We showcase two tracks from emerging remix wonder kid Cyril Hahn. He is making a name for himself thanks to a sound which owes as much to the woozy hip hop-inspired aesthetics of the likes of Shlohmo as it does to the dancefloor. The Bern-born, Vancouver-based producer places his fingerprint on Destinys Child classic “Say My Name” and British songstress Jesse Ware with “Sweet Talk”.

In celebration of Bonobo’s new album dropping on Ninja Tune tomorrow, we pay our respects with a pacey and bleepy version of “Kiara” remixed by TRG. Other standouts come in the form of Hot Natured with “Reverse Skydiving”, an incredibly catchy tune which has been everywhere latley and also channels early Booka Shade under the jaunty vocals and Michael Jansons “Addicton” being remastered by MK.
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This playlist oozes quality and has staying power with some blockbuster remixes. Turn down the lights, turn up your speakers and pay homage to the electronic gurus who are setting the standard early for 2013.

Tracklisting
01. Clarian – Claire (Guy Gerban Remix)
02. Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (Cyril Hahn Remix)
03. Burial – Rough Sleeper
04. FaltyDL – Straight And Arrow
05. Hot Natured – Reverse Skydiving
06. Jonas Rathsman – Bringing You Down
07. Bonobo – Kiara (Cosmin TRG Remix)
08. Jesse Ware – Sweet Talk (Cyril Hahn Remix)
09. Michael Jansons – Addiction (MK Remix)
10. Emma Louise – My Head Is A Jungle (Wankelmut Remix)

Check out more of his amazing work at Dextro.org