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Photos / Live Review: The Presets, The Golden Filter @ 9:30 Club (2009.04.01)

The Presets

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One Track Mind: The Presets – “If I Know You”

the-presets

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MP3: The Presets – If I Know You

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MP3: The Presets – If I Know You (Heartbreak Remix) (thanks Modular!)

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MP3: The Golden Filter – Solid Gold

I’ve already paid lip service to “If I Know You,” one of the Presets’ most triumphant, and definitely the most sublime, tracks off 2008′s Apocalypso.  Julian Hamilton’s lingering, sombre vocals gliding atop the distant, steadily pulsating backbeat and back-mixed synth chord progression gives the entire track a naked, vulnerable feel that stands hairs on end, like a brisk pre-dawn breeze drifting over your skin.  Subtle reverb lilts off the vocals, casting  a further haze over the track.  Three-fourths of the way through the track, the bottom drops out to give way to gorgeously appointed, understated vocal harmony that is crushing, reaching the apex of their weight and vulnerability.  The fact that they scored a tastefully edited, equally sublime music video showcasing a mixture of modern, ballet and various other forms of dance is just icing on the cake (video after the jump).  Not surprising, considering we found in our interview that Hamilton’s brother is involved in dance.

But even more great news just hit the wire: the Presets are releasing both a single for “If I Know You” (dropping early April and packed with remixes of the titular track, including a particularly fantastic instrumental by Tom Middleton) and a new collector’s edition of Apocalypso (dropping May 5th) that includes a second disc, also full of remixes.

The Presets are hitting the 9:30 Club in DC tomorrow, Wed Apr 1, with the Golden Filter.  The consensus from their tour opening for Oceania-mates Cut Copy seems to be that their live show regularly trumped the headliner’s, on all levels.  I can testify to it being a gloriously sordid and sweaty affair that really can’t be beat for good times and good tunes.

Vid, tracklist for collector’s edition and complete tour dates after the jump.

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Audio / Video: The Presets – “If I Know You”

The Presets just dropped a bombshell of a music video, tracked to “If I Know You” from their 2008 album Apocalypso.

It’s single-handedly one of the most stunningly sublime and beautiful music videos I’ve seen in a long time, with some great (albeit creepily young) dancers. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this considering Julian Hamilton’s history with dance. Absolutely gorgeous and crushing synergy of sound, the visual of dance and some really tasteful video editing and interesting cuts.

In case it slipped under your radar, 9:30 Club just announced the Presets will be playing on 4/1 with the Golden Filter. Don’t miss it and check out our review of Apocalypso and interview with Julian Hamilton.

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MP3: The Presets – If I Know You

The Presets redo

The Presets got sick and had to cancel their DC tour date earlier this year.  But now they’ve returned triumphantly with Modular labelmates Cut Copy.

Refresh your memory by checking out our interview with Julian Hamilton and our review of their latest album, Apocalypso.

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MP3: The Presets – If I Know You

The Presets play RnR Hotel TOMORROW

I’ve seen the Presets twice before. Once, at RnR Hotel in DC, was a fantastic sweaty orgy of dance and fun. Do yourself a favor and get down to DC for this show tomorrow. It will be quite a good time. And if you’ve seen Cut Copy recently, it may provide a good comparison point for Aussie dance bands.

Get pumped with our interview and BYT’s interview.

Last chance kiddies!


Last chance for the delicious Presets prize package. Entries will not be accepted after 5PM EST today. Email us here with your name and contact info to be entered into this contest and notified of future ones.

As a reminder, the winner nets this swag by mail:

  • A Presets-autographed poster
  • A copy of Apocalypso (CD)
  • KIM 12″ vinyl
  • Assorted stickers

Now check out these tracks and read our interview with Julian.

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The Presets – Are You The One (Van She Remix)

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The Presets – This Boy’s In Love (LifeLike Remix)

The Presets Apocalypso Tour Giveaway


The kind folks over at Modular want you to have free shit. And they want you to celebrate the Presets new album Apocalypso and the associated tour. Therefore, it is only logical they host a giveaway with Aural States.

The winner nets this swag:

  • A Presets-autographed poster
  • A copy of Apocalypso (CD)
  • KIM 12″ vinyl
  • Assorted stickers

Anyone in the continental US can enter. Just send off an email to auralstates@gmail.com with your name, address and preferred contact method. We will notify a winner on June 2 and you will get a prize pack mailed straight to you from Modular HQ. And be sure to check out part 1 of our 2-part interview with Julian of the Presets.

For now, flash-back to 2k5 with this remix of a track off Beams then come back to 2k8 with this remix of “This Boy’s In Love” off Apocalypso:

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The Presets – Are You The One (Van She Remix)

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The Presets – This Boy’s In Love (LifeLike Remix)

Interview: The Presets (w/ Julian Hamilton)

Julian Hamilton (lead vox, keys) is one-half of the Sydney, AU duo the Presets. His pedigree is rather impressive, including a formal education in classical and even having a 2-year stint with acclaimed Aussie rock band Silverchair.

A few weeks ago Julian was kind enough to get on the horn and chat with Aural States, all the way from his home in Sydney. The Presets launch their tour tonight in LA supporting their latest LP Apocalypso. Be sure to enter our giveaway here.

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The Presets – Apocalypso (Modular)

Stay tuned for a Presets prize pack giveaway later this week as well as part 1 of our 2-part exclusive interview!

Sydney’s most notable electro-export in recent years is undoubtedly the Presets. Their debut LP Beams in 2005 is still one of the most convincing testaments to the infinite power of fusing the essence of electronic-driven genres like techno, electro and house with more traditional song structures and pop flavoring to make digestible dance tracks that aim to, and often succeed at, bringing the roof down.

On Apocalypso, Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes take their sound to a much darker realm. The entire album bears more European influence, consisting of much deeper techno and house grooves along with a more distant, synthetic and cold feel but tones down the oversexualized aspects present in many tracks off their 2005 debut Beams. As a whole, Apocalypso is much more cohesive than Beams, yet suffers from a certain bit of monotony with style and sound.

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Remixed for your pleasure…

I present to you remixes of tracks from Syndey Australia exports the Presets (Wiki, pictured right) and the deliciously dirty, now-defunct Death From Above 1979 (Wiki) . They can all be found on the remix disc Re-Sets originally bundled with the latest versions of the Presets’ debut Beams and the bonus disc from DFA1979′s LP You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine.

The Presets will be playing DC’s RnR Hotel on June 7th and I cannot wait. Enjoy the music in anticipation.

The Presets:


The Presets – Down Down Down (Digitalism Remix)

The Presets – Girl and the Sea (Cut Copy Remix)


DFA1979:


DFA1979 – Blood on our Hands (Justice Remix)

DFA1979 – Little Girl (MSTRKRFT Edition)

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