It’s not every day that we have a “hip, young band” gracing the pages of our brilliant website but Archie Bronson Outfit – Domino’s very own trio of bearded ruffians have always had a fond place in my heart. Whether it was their obvious references to psychedelic dark disco type stuff or their crazy rhythms, they always seemed alright to me.

The hotly-tipped and ever so talented Moscow remix the group’s second single from the album Coconut with a lovely and balmy Balearic finish.  Hypnotic and all soft synth pads, it just proves that these Archies are alllll right.

Archie Bronson Outfit

The Clash shed a lot fans when they released ‘This Is Radio Clash’ in 1981. Released on a 12” between the ‘Sandinista’ and ‘Combat Rock’ albums, it was a massive club smash, promptly entered the disco charts and the Clash famously divided their fanbase. It marked the point when the band started to experiment with their sound to incorporate dub, dance and gospel influences. When they went to New York in the early eighties, they started to immerse themselves with the burgeoning rap scene and the culture that went with it.

Hooking up with infamous graffiti artist Futura, who they asked to go on tour with them, they released this downtown classic in 1983. With the Clash providing the dubbed-out groove and Futura rapping on top, it’s one of the many exciting examples when NYC’s music scenes cross-pollinated, creating an explosive downtown clash.

Futura 2000 – The Escapades of Futura 2000 (dub)

One of my favourite Metro Area songs ever, this bubbling track from 2006 seems to sound better every year. Does that mean the quality of ‘dance’ music is generally declining or does it mean that I need to get out more? Anyway, since the gloomy weather has taken hold, I fancied posting this. A sumptuous slice of minimal nu-disco, with its spongy electro-bass and lush synth-pads, it should cheer you up almost immediately. Well, it cheers me up!

Formed by brothers Stephen and Martin Eicher in 1978, the Swiss band Grauzone were part of the ‘Neue Deutsche Welle’ (New German Wave) – a collective of European bands who took their inspiration from punk, early electro and the grey decaying urban cities around them. From its early beginnings in 1981 from the underground punk scenes of Berlin, Dusseldorf, Hamburg (amongst others) to commercial success in the mid-eighties, the NDW is now regarded to have exerted its influence on genres such as, new beat , electroclash and the ‘dance-punk’ phenomena of the early noughties.

‘Film 2′ is one of the genre’s understated masterpieces.  A b-side from the hit single ‘Eisbar’ (which was later covered by the Ad Man’s wet-dream group Nouvelle Vague), the track is unnerving and extraordinary. With it’s slightly off-kilter four to the floor beat and minimal yet driving sound, it’s a song that was way ahead of its time. Featuring on many mix compilations over the years (most notably Hot Chips’ DJ Kicks album), just shows the timeless quality of this cult 1981 gem.

Grauzone – Film 2