DIESEL

Here's another couple of bangers to the xXx fireworks:

First up, is GusGus – one of those bands that are always, just ‘there’. And after 12 years we wouldn’t have it any other way. We seriously don’t know how they do it, but they’re always turning up just when you were starting to forget about them and they’ll have only gone and dropped another piece of top notch, airy techno-soul. Now in their umpteenth incarnation (singer Earth has recently vacated to leave sole survivor President Bongo and relative newcomer Biggie Veira on their lonesome), a sixth album is pencilled in for release this autumn, and they will no doubt celebrate at xXx with a typically assured and unparallelled performance. Bang ‘David’ on - the standout track from ‘Attention’, arguably their finest hour - and start practicing some serious shoulder-popping.

Said popping is also handy warm up for the heavier minimal sound that Extrawelt drop. Making waves with the likes of Border Community and Cocoon for tiiiiime now, the German duo specialise in layering emotional synth patterns over pounding, tense basslines, and will sit alongside the likes of Soulwax and co very nicely indeed. Looks like Tokyo is going be rave-tastic, OI OI!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh4rfwBcRjY