Stream: But We Did (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) - Thomas Dybdahl

Available now on Beatport: http://po.st/PRINSBP 'But We Did' is taken from Thomas's upcoming new album 'What's Left Is Forever' -- released 16th September.

Follow us down the garden path for a gentle seven-and-a-half-minute stroll why don't you. This new remix by Norwegian cosmic disco crazy person Prins Thomas takes fellow Norwegian Thomas Dybdahl's 'But We Did'. This feels a little bit more human than much of Prins Thomas' work - Dybdahl's vocals undergo a rather gentle cut-up treatment but it all feels naturalistic in its cosmic-ness.

'But We Did' is the lead single from Dybdahl's forthcoming album What's Left Is Forever, which is due out on 16 September - if you pre-order the album on iTunes you can grab the original now [standard / deluxe]. The remix is out on Beatport as an exclusive now and gets a general release on 4 August.

Single Review: Watching the World (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) - Surahn

Surahn is the latest signing to the DFA label, with his debut self-titled EP seeing a release through the label last year (it's on Spotify here). He was a touring member of Empire of the Sun, a founding member of The Swiss and has written with Usher (is that good? I lose track...). In other words, he certainly has some experience.

This single release hands the original track Watching The World (not actually on here, but featured on that debut EP) to Norwegian disco wonder Prins Thomas.

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On the a-side Prins transforms the gentle beach-combing laid-back disco of the original to a glamorous discoball Hi-NRG disco. Cue a steady four-four beat, heavy arpeggiated bass lines and a string backing. The dramatic vocals suit the heightened tone - it's a heartbroken tale of remorse from Surahn and Prins Thomas delivers a production to match.

It's high drama but it lacks some of the chilled, soulful feel of the original. On the flip is an instrumental, which benefits from the restraint that comes with the removed vocal.

Surahn's debut album is due on DFA later this year and it's shaping up to be an interesting release and this single is a good enough soundtrack whilst we wait.

Watching the World (Prins Thomas Diskomiks) is out on vinyl exclusively from the DFA online store and is released digitally on 26 February. You can pre-order the digital release from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate link].

Album Review: II - Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas

When Lindstrøm and Prins Thomas collaborated on their eponymous album for Eskimo two years ago it became the kind of cult hit most producers only dream of. Not only was it released to huge praise but it also helped kick start a Renaissance in italo and cosmic disco that has sent ripples of influence across much electronic music since.

Back with a follow-up, once again on & Eskimo Recordings, II is unsurprisingly more of the same.  Yet if more of the same was ever more welcome, BlackPlastic can't put his finger on when that would be.

And once again, this is a beautiful record. It's slow and slightly ponderous but at the same time does so much across its length that to complain would be churlish. The mood is literally perfect. This is a record to consume with an espresso whilst watching the sun rise and with a beer whilst watching the sun set. With the current bought of good weather we have recently seen in the UK BlackPlastic can't imagine a better soundtrack for being lazy in the sunshine.

Words can't really convey what it is like to listen to - instead of reading just go and check it out.

BP x

Album Review: Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7 - Various Artists

If Kitsuné Maison 6 was the melodic one and 5 was Gold then this one may sadly go down as the phoned in one. It's true ladies and gents, the Maison series has jumped the shark.

It's hard to put your finger on but there is just a general lack of any sense of care and attention here. Maybe BlackPlastic has come to expect too much but, for the first time on a Kitsuné album, there is padding on the tracklisting.

Chateau Marmont's vocodered 'Beagle' is possibly the world's dullest 80s / French house hybrid - whoever picked this out of all the tracks in the world needs a slap. Similarly Renaissance Man's 'Rythym' seems content to deliver exactly 0.3 ideas across the length of the entire track. Worst of all is La Roux's return on Lifelike's mix of 'In For The Kill'. Fine, it's a catchy tune - we already admitted we liked it - and we know Kitsuné were there first, releasing 'Quicksand' last year. And Lifelike is ACE. But seriously - we all know La Roux isn't cool and will be over before her forth single.

However - when Kitsuné Maison Compilation 7 works, it really works. And it is on the laid back, sun drenched tracks this happens most. Two Door Cinema Club sound like Phoenix at the top of their game on 'Something Good Can Work' whilst Phoenix sound like, well, themselves at the top of their game on the blissful Classixx version of 'Lisztomania'. Even the Golden Filter almost manage to explain their hype on the slow and funky 'Favourite Things' whilst Autokratz finally deliver on the Yuksek mix of 'Always More'. The highlight though - Prins Thomas' mix of James Yuill's 'This Sweet Love' is not just good - it's a glorious summer's walk of a track, surpassing anything that's ever appeared on a Maison compilation in BlackPlastic's opinion.

Inconsistent then - some of the best tracks from the series combined with some of the worst. It's a shame - a little more QC and Kitsuné Maison 7 could have been the best yet.

BP x