Get BENT - SSION's new album - FREE for a month!

Crosspost from Dangerous Minds.
 
Meet Ssion, the gender bending electro-punk dance band from Kansas City, led by front person Cody Critcheloe. Is Cody a man or a woman? I'm not completely sure, but it's not important - s/he can be whatever you want hir to be. And as with other current queer artists like JD Samson, Cody likes to play with people's traditional perceptions of style and beauty - witness the trademark combo monobrow and mustache, a pretty risqué fashion move in these anti-hair-biased times

Ssion (pronounced "shun") are a full on audio/visual/performance-troupe well known for their live shows and support slots for the likes of Gossip and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Critcheloe has been making a respectable career as a video director on the side, working with Peaches, Liars and Scream Club. Ssion formed in Kansas in 1996 and released their first material in 2003. The band released their last album Fools Gold in 2007 and with it the full length feature film Boy which compiled all their music videos and has been described as a "gay, punk rock equivalent of Forest Gump." Ssion have taken the step of releasing their new album Bent as a free download for a limited time, and it's definitely worth downloading. As with Tyler the Creator's first album Bastard, it's surprising to hear music released for free that is of this high quality.

Make no mistake though - Bent is pop music. It's party music, it's designed for dancing - for those moments at a friend's house when the sun is coming up, you've had a ball, but you've got that melancholic feeling that to quit now as it's can't get any better. There are shades of very early Madonna here, coupled with the classic mid-80s synth driven sound of the Pet Shop Boys and Eurodisco, all refracted through early 90s NY dance pop like Deee-Lite. Bent is basically the album the Scissor Sisters should have made by now, classy dance music stripped of the chintz (and Elton bloody John references) and honed to a sharp electro-pop point. It's pretty damn good. So my advice to you dear readers is to let a little bit of Ssion into your life - get Bent.

Ssion - "Clown"
 

 
Ssion - "Psy-Chic"
 

 
Ssion - "Luvvbazaar"
 

 
Ssion - "Credit In The Straight World" Excellent cover of Hole Young Marble Giants.
 

BOBBY O Returns!

That's right, the producer of some of our most favouritest Hi-NRG tracks ("I'm So Hot For You", The Flirts "Passion", the original "West End Girls", all the best bits of Divine music career) is back in the music production game. Bobby O's second only to Patrick Cowley in terms of legendary electronic disco producers of the 80s, and over the last few months has been uploading new material to YouTube from his 2011 album "Social Contract Theory". The basic principles of his prouction remain, only the sounds are bang up to date and the beats are harder. Here's a selection of tracks (which can be bought individually, or on the album, through CDBaby) - what do we think?

WARNING! This video contains lots of flashing colours and lights - like LOTS:



That's just a sampler - here's some more individual tracks. To hear even more, visit the YouTube channel of MassiveDance2010.

"When The Right One Comes Along"



"Temporary Lives"



"Identity Energy"

Niallist MARY POPPERS Mix on Soundcloud for download

I have put the Menergy MARY POPPERS mix up on Soundcloud so people can download it. My previous Menergy mix CYBERNETIC LOVE has almost reached 700 downloads, which is great!



Menergy MARY POPPERS Mix by theniallist

ZSA ZSA NOIR - Hey Lean Diggy Doggy
DEN HAAN - Gods From Outer Space
PATRICK COWLEY - Mind Warp
GOLDFRAPP - I Wanna Life (Niallist MNRG edit)
SCISSOR SISTERS - Invisible Light
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
MIA v PINEAPPLES - XXX Come On
VANITY 6 - Nasty Girl (Chuck Hampton Edit / Original)
SAM SPARRO - Pink Cloud
HARD TON - Food Of Love
MADONNA - Burning Up (Demo Mix)

Niallist BOLLOX Mixtape

Here's something a bit different from me - a mixtape I put together for the Manchester gay alt/pop club Bollox. It's a little bit disco, a little bit electro, a wee bit pop and a we bit rock. Enjoy!

Niallist Bollox Mixtape by Theniallist on Mixcloud

Dusty Springfield - That's The Kind Of Love I've Got For You
Christeene - Fix My Dick
Britney v Kelly - Gimme More Shoes
Men - Credit Card Babie$
Bad Taste Barbies - Working Up A Sweat (Niallist PumpMixx)
Lio - Banana Split
Polysics - Memorabilia
Silverclub - The Goldener Reiter
Yo Majesty! - Party Hearty
Den Haan - Release The Beast
MIA v Pineapples - XXX Come On
Saltylips - If Ur A Bear (Niallist Mixx4Nick)
Gift Grub - Where's Me Jumper?
The Stone Roses - Elephant Stone
Schneider TM - The Light 3000

Exclusive! PIERRE PASCUAL Interview

You may remember a few months ago I came second in a remix competition for the French artist Pierre Pascual. Well, I have been a fan of Pierre's work for a while, and with the release of his new EP "Spanish Summer Sex Party" I decided to send him some questions for Menergy:

Who is Pierre Pascual?

A long time ago I stopped asking myself that, it helps me to be free. Sometimes I’m producing music for myself or other artists, videos, participating in exhibitions, doing shows, writing, etc. Most of my work is related to music, first for my first musical project Chose Chaton and now, under my real name.

What made you want to make music?

Music has been a very important part of my life since i was teenager, a way of escaping from a world I did not understand very well and, as I was very shy, music & writing were my only ways to express myself and share intimate things. After that, I studied cinéma & dramatic art, but i always wrote songs and finally it became my full time job after years. That is still a way i love to share things, and that is also for me a great way to mix different media I work on like video, sound design, production, acting…

Who are your main musical influences?

A lot of things! Crystal Castles is the band i really love to listen all the time, I admire their musical approach, the mix/production, the energy. I also love The Knife, Robyn, PlanningToRock, Roisin Murphy… Pop with an experimental approach. Experimental artists like Meredith Monk… Some of Kate Bush's albums are also some of my all time faves, and I also love eurodance/italo disco/hi energy/retrohouse and new beat from the 80’s and 90’s.

You just directed your first video - how was it?

Really great. It was decided one week before the shoot. I met a girl, Olga who had that empty three level parking lot, and I said to her, let’s do a video here. I had that spanish cover "Mi Novio es un Zombi" coming out and it was the perfect place… I wanted something very fresh and instinctive, just a reunion of people from the underground… That is the first time I have worked as a director, even if I am always very involved in each video with the artistic direction. I really want to thank Julie Reumont who helps me filming all that, Nicolas Olivier for the lights and everyone in it. I like what we have done, it is very close to what I am actually.



Lady Gaga or Beyonce?

Sorry, i don’t wear perfume.

No, to be honest, i like some of Lady Gaga stuff, even if i think she could
sometimes try some radical, different things. I feel close to people who can do things with a certain sense of humour

Paris is the city of love - do you think this is true?

Two days ago, the parliament rejected a law proposed by the opposition to
allow gay people to marry in France. That is very sad cause France has become
a very conservative country, very late in all social changements… The French
government is homophobic, a lot of people are saying it, more and more…so
the city of love only for some people, sadly. I want to be more involved in
fighting for equality and visibility in France, i try each day to do what i can.

How is the gay scene in Paris?

Quiet. But thanx to internet, there are new gay/queer bands emerging and
i hope soon we all have more visibility and places/clubs/parties to show our
work. That is sadly kind of difficult in Paris if you compare it with some other
cities like Berlin, Madrid, London…

Who are your main style/fashion influences?

The street, garbage, rebels & old English ladies. And all my stylist friends
who are very talented.

Are you coming to the UK any time soon?

I’d love to come soon! I had a show in London in 2008 at the Arches for the
Act Art Festival. Great memories, i really love UK and British people, they are
so créative and free …



You can buy the "Spanish Summer Sex Party" EP here. For more info, visit: www.pierrepascual.fr. And you can find Pierre on Facebook.

NIALLIST: Menergy POPPERS Mix

A brand new mix form the Niallist, featuring some of the tunes that rocked the floor at the last Menergy. Enjoy!

Menergy Poppers Mix by Theniallist on Mixcloud

ZSA ZSA NOIR - Hey Lean Diggy Doggy
DEN HAAN - Gods From Outer Space
PATRICK COWLEY - Mind Warp
GOLDFRAPP - I Wanna Life (Niallist MNRG edit)
SCISSOR SISTERS - Invisible Light
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
MIA v PINEAPPLES - XXX Come On
VANITY 6 - Nasty Girl (Chuck Hampton Edit / Original)
SAM SPARRO - Pink Cloud
HARD TON - Food Of Love
MADONNA - Burning Up (Demo Mix)