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MP3: Black Dice – Glazin from REPO (2009)

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MP3: Thieves Like Us – Miss You from Play Music (2009)

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MP3: Thieves Like Us – Drugs In My Body (Long Version) from Play Music (2009)

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MP3: Get ‘Em Mamis – Rock Wit Me (Explicit) from TERAWESOME (2009)

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MP3: DAT Politics – Gee Gee from Minicomp 1 (2008)

So this shis show next Saturday (June 13th) is a big deal.  Lots of names, spread all over the board.  Mucho props to TaxLo for  bringing together a broad array of artists.

I have a pair of tickets and a copy of Dan Deacon’s Bromst to giveaway to the funniest/most interesting commenr.  The theme is summer lovin. Go.  And enjoy this new video from the Get Em Mamis after the jump.

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Enter to win 2 free tickets to the show at Sonar, Sat Apr 25th.  Just comment this post (or email us here if you’re net-shy) to join our contest mailing list and enter for a chance to win!

Winner will be drawn at random next Wednesday Apr 22!

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MP3: Simian Mobile Disco – Sleep Deprivation from Attack Decay Sustain Release

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MP3: Justice v. Simian – We Are Your Friends from We Are Your Friends vinyl

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MP3: Tittsworth – WTF (featuring Kid Sister, Pase Rock) from 12 Steps

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MP3: Triobelisk – Xrystal Eye from 1

Resident Baltimore super-promoters Taxlo score another big-name coup de grace for one of their flagship events: their 7th anniversary kick-off at Sonar featuring UK electro-fiends Simian Mobile Disco. Skyrocketed into notoriety by a flurry of blog-friendly remixes of indie-rock hype tracks and standards, as well as themselves being remixed.  Their track,  ”Never Be Alone” (recorded under their more rock-oriented incarnation Simian), was redone to much fanfare by a little French duo known as Justice.

SMD unabashedly take the typically dense and self-insulating genre of electronica, and reconstruct it from the ground up with a bit of much needed populist humility and a noticeably more focused goal: digestable and interesting dance music.

Almost all of their tracks orbit a single, often simple hook, sometimes accented by an ultra-catchy vocal chorus, and they proceed to grow and develop the hell out of it for, on average, the span of a lengthy pop song.  And they are one of the few who can successfully do so, essentially abbreviating the tenets of electronica into something that isn’t so imposing to the average non-circuit head. But they manage to do so while leaving intact aspects of merit to appeal to those discerning aficionados, weaving in influences and nuggets from electronic icons like Daft Punk and Aphex Twin and utilizing all manner of analog-electro gear that would make suitable fodder for any electro-nerd’s wet dream.

Add in their opening support Feadz, Tittsworth and Triobelisk, and you’ve got a guaranteed party that commences the commingling of populism and quality into one big sweaty former parking garage.

Big flier after the jump.

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TaxLo closes up its insanely high-quality 6th anniversary festivities with a spectacular show at Sonar this Friday May 30, headlined by Diplo, Dan Deacon and DD/MM/YYYY.

But wait, there’s more!

In addition to our still-going Presets contest, you, lucky reader, have another contest to enter!

To enter, it’s simple: comment on this post or email your name and location to us at auralstates at gmail dot com.

One lucky winner will score the following:

• 2 Tickets to TAXLO featuring DIPLO, DAN DEACON, and DD/MM/YYYY on May 30
• CUT COPY tote bag
• TAXLO 6-Year Anniversary Screenprinted Poster by Kevin Sherry
• BONDE DO ROLE sticker
• CUT COPY 3-D glasses
• DAN DEACON t-shirt
• 2 TAXLO buttons
• BONDE DO ROLE sticker
• DIPLO “AEIOU” CD
• CUT COPY “In Ghost Colours” CD
• BLAQSTARR “Shake It to the Ground” 12″ featuring RYE RYE
• BLAQSTARR “Shake It to the Ground” remix CD single feat DROP THE
  LIME, Santogold, Switch

TaxLo is seriously blitzing, with two other chances to win at BYT and Butterteam. Tasty downloadable Diplo and Dan Deacon bits here. Videos for “Crystal Cat” and “Okie Dokie” after the jump.

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Dan Deacon – Wham City from Spiderman of the Rings

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Dan Deacon – Okie Dokie from Spiderman of the Rings

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M.I.A. (Diplo Mix) – Fire Bam from Piracy Funds Terrorism Vol. 1

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This intrepid writer busted his foot while at this show. Jeff the Taper nearly killed himself by a bludgeoning to the head.

But you know what? Totally worth it. Monday night, Bmore again proved its mettle.

This show was a veritable who’s who of Baltimore (and even some DC) regional booty-movers-and-floor-shakers: Emily Rabbit, Dave Nada, Cullen Stalin, Scottie B, Blaqstarr, Rye Rye, it just goes on and on. Check after the jump for full review, more pics, and an Old Haunts track.

All photos: Josh Sisk

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UPDATE 5/6/2008: Blaqstarr did not end up playing this TaxLo, but thanks to Cullen Stalin for the heads up on the rescheduled date this Friday 5/9.

Baltimore based DJ Blaqstarr will be headlining an upcoming TaxLo at Sonar on February 29th. Tickets are only $8. Surely, this will be an event likely to happen once every four years, at most. (See what I did there…).

What’s it going to be like?

A lot like this:

“Shake it to the Ground” by DJ Blaqstarr, f/t Rye Rye (a 14 y/o Baltimore rapper).

To cement White Rabbits in the position of our first fanboyish artist obsession, I just finished an interview with vocalist/pianist Steve Patterson. Look for it later tonight/tomorrow morning.

UPDATE: Check out our exclusive interview with vocalist/pianist Steve Patterson of White Rabbits here!

Meanwhile, after the jump, podcasting Glass Candy and free White Rabbits songs…

Check out free White Rabbits, new songs from their daytrotter session here.

Click here for Taxlo’s podcast of Glass Candy Live from Baltimore, 01.18.08