Marina & The Diamonds - Remixed

I'm the first to admit that I'm very wary of "hip" new pop acts. As a general rule, they're overhyped (La Roux) or just plain shit (Little Boots) but occasionally someone actually has the talent to match the praise that's been lavished upon them. Marina & The Diamonds definitely falls into the latter category. The Welsh diva's wit, insight and devastating honesty make for a heady mix - particularly when you throw in her quirky vocals and knack for writing a catchy chorus. You didn't need to be a NME journalist to know Marina was destined for big things and I'm genuinely proud to have interviewed the singer before her recent commercial breakthrough with "Hollywood". I'm so excited Marina now has a top 20 hit to her credit but I'm convinced she'd be celebrating a top 5 smash if the Ground Control remix was released as the official single edit. Her record company probably thought it was too fun and fluffy for a rising indie pop star but I think the song's electro-makeover is a work of poptastic genius. "I Am Not A Robot" will always be my favourite Marina track but this gayed up version of "Hollywood" is now a close second. Expect a review of her soon to be released debut album in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, enjoy one of 2010's best remixes (below).

The 9th Single From Sasha Fierce?

Now honey, you better sit down and look around, 'cause you must have bumped your head!

Just when you thought Beyoncé had taken off her weave and hung up her heels for the final time in the Sasha Fierce era, the diva has squeezed out yet another single. "Why Don't You Love Me?" is currently sitting at #3 on the US Dance Chart thanks to sizzling remixes from Lost Daze, Jump Smokers and Karmatronic - among others - and is a strong contender for the top spot. I'm pretty sure this is just a club release to keep the gays happy and provide Solange with some much needed pocket money (she co-wrote the song) but I'm still shocked that they bothered. I guess Beyoncé had a spare five minutes and just thought what the hell. Whatever the reason, it's an inspired choice. "Why Don't You Love Me?" has been a favourite of mine from the beginning, probably because it positively reeks of my Sol-Angel. The track is a funkadelic explosion of 70s soul with a killer chorus and truly memorable lyrics. Think of this as Beyoncé's "Sandcastle Disco". None of the mixes improve on the original but the Jump Smokers Remix seems to be getting the most attention from clubbers. My favourite mix comes from Swedish DJ RedTop (below). He retains the old school flavour but takes it a step further by incorporating disco elements for the full 70s experience. I know it's an acquired taste but I absolutely love it. Keep 'em coming, B!

Madonna Vs David Guetta - Revolver

It must be a cold day in hell because I'm not totally repulsed by Madonna's latest offering. After the bad Dannii B-side that was "Celebration", the oldest woman in pop slightly redeems herself with the second single from her recent Greatest Hits compilation. The album version of "Revolver" is utterly tragic - fact - but calling in David Guetta to overhaul the song was a wise move. The Frenchman mercifully deletes Lil' Wayne's embarrassing rap, speeds up the plodding beats and trims away all the excess padding. Unfortunately, he can't do anything about the plethora of bad metaphors littering the lyrics but the marriage of sex and violence works a lot better in this version. The end result wouldn't sound out of place on Rihanna's gruesome "Rated R" - if that shit actually contained fun music. I really hope they go with this as the radio edit. It's kind of nice to enjoy a Madonna single again (it hasn't happened since 2006's "Get Together") and I think it's only fair she reap some benefit from the current electro-dance craze. After all, the super cougar was already burning up the dancefloor years before Lady GaGa and Ke$ha were even born. Check out Madonna Vs David Guetta below. The robotastic extended version is even better but I can't find it on youtube.

Now that I've finally had something nice to say, can Madonna's army of trolls please stop spamming my email over this highly accurate post? Cheers.

Agnes' Australian Makeover

It's time for me to eat some humble pie and admit that I was wrong about "Release Me". I still think that the average piece driftwood has more charisma than Agnes Carlsson and remain completely unconvinced about the quality of "Dance Love Pop" but her international breakthrough has grown on me to a ridiculous extent. There's just something utterly irresistible about those disco strings and that anthemic chorus. Imagine how amazing the song would sound if the writers had given it to an actual human being instead of a soulless Swedish robot! But I digress. Since being released in early July "Release Me" has doggedly hung around the lower reaches of the Australian top 100 (currently sitting at #64) but failed to make much of an impact. However, the song is finally starting to gather some upward momentum as a result of increased radio airplay, the onset of summer and a sizzling batch of freshly commissioned local remixes. Which is the whole point of this post. I'm wondering what you all think of the new Australian radio edit courtesy of Todd Watson:


Todd Watson Radio Edit

As far as I'm concerned the Moto Blanco Mix is still hard to beat for a hit of pure pop goodness but I really like this. Todd does the impossible and gives Agnes a bit of an edge. His version is dark and brooding yet still true to the original. I just think it might be a bit too much for Australian radio. To hear the other local remixes check out Neon's youtube channel. Speaking of new and improved Agnes tracks, Scandipop recently revealed that a new mix of "I Need You Now" will be Scandinavian diva's second single in the UK. I love what they've done with the song and hope the entire album is given a similiar overhaul. Oh and if Swedish pop floats your boat and you live in London, make sure you head along to Scandipop Live on the 29th of September to check out BWO. I'd go along just to throw things at Alexander Bard!

A Short Break

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'll be away from the computer for a while. I'm having an operation tomorrow and will be spending the next week in hospital. Trying to pick up a hot doctor. In the meantime, I thought I'd leave you with something bright, fun and pop trashtastic. I've been in an Olivia Newton-John kind of mood lately, so I thought I'd dust off one of the campest tunes in my collection. If you have a gay bone in your body, chances are you're already familiar with Olivia's 1975 #1 hit "Have You Never Been Mellow". That golden oldie never fails to put a smile on my face but it's a very different version of the song that I'm writing about today. Japanese Hi-NRG DJ Willie2400 remixed "Have You Never Been Mellow" a couple of years ago, transforming it into a gloriously cheesy dance anthem. It shouldn't work, and most people would argue that it doesn't, but I absolutely love it and think more of Olivia classics should be butchered for the dancefloor. Until later!

Have You Never Been Mellow (Willie 2400 Remix)

X2008 And Remix Heaven

Kylie's X2008 tour kicked off in Paris last night and if these pictures are anything to go by, this could be her most spectacular stage extravaganza yet! The costumes look magnificent, the setlist is positively breathtaking and from the accounts I've read thus far, the staging is nothing less than extraordinary. I'll be seeing the show on the 26th of July in London (I rather conveniently timed my holiday to coincide with Kylie's tour - yes, I am that tragic!) but I just couldn't resist taking a sneak peak. How fabulous does cheerleader Kylie look? What about Minogue Sr lounging on a giant metallic skull? Or the rather frightening but oh so fabulous Frankenkylie (below)? The prospect of seeing this camp spectacle with my own eyes is almost more than I can take! X2008 appears to be a two hour trip to Kylie heaven.

I'm just as excited about the setlist. Kylie is performing every song on "X" apart from "Stars" (boo!) as well as three new songs, a cover of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" (!) and a selection of her greatest hits. I really couldn't hope for more. I'll just have to remember to go for a piss when she drags out "SenSHITized"! Here's the setlist from Paris:

Speakerphone
Can't Get You Out Of My Head (Greg Kurstin Remix)/Boombox
Ruffle My Feathers
In Your Eyes
Heart Beat Rock
Wow
Shocked
Like A Drug
Slow/Free
The One
2 Hearts
On A Night Like This
Kids
Step Back In Time
In My Arms
Love at First Sight
Sometime Samurai (Video Projection)
Come Into My World (Fischerspooner Mix)
Nu-di-ty
Sensitized
Flowers
I Believe in You (Ballad Version)
Cosmic
Loveboat
Copacabana
That's Why They Write Love Songs
Spinning Around
No More Rain
All I See (Acoustic Version)

If that isn't enough Kylie goodness for one day, a recently leaked remix of "Heart Beat Rock" is doing the rounds and it's absolutely brilliant. The Benny Blanco mix takes a decent album track and transforms it into something utterly fabulous. I love everything about it - even MC Spank Rock's craptastic rap! That might sound a bit out of character given my hatred of "All I See" featuring Mims but this time around the track has been entirely deconstructed to the point where the rap becomes an integral part of the song instead of an embarrassing afterthought. I also think MC Spank Rock is my kind of rapper. Not only does he amusingly mispronounce Kylie's name throughout the entire song (Cali!) but he also busts a rhyme about getting hard and I'm sure this is the first and only time you'll hear lyrics about 'tha hood' in a Kylie tune! The remix itself is blissful. I particularly love the sirens! Perez Hilton is streaming the remix and likens it to Fergie, which is surely the single greatest compliment Kylie has ever received. Check it out, this is my second favourite "X" remix after the sublime extended version of "All I See".

Ricki-Lee's UK Makeover From Hell

Ricki-Lee's amazing "Can't Touch It" has been butchered, almost beyond recognition, for its UK release on the 9th of June. Not only has the song been given the dubious new title "U Wanna Little Of This", it's been remixed into an unremarkable dance bore. Don't get me wrong, this kind of shit usually has me salivating but "Can't Touch It" is such a perfect pop song that this kind of treatment feels completely sacrilegious. Everything I love about the original is gone. The fabulous rolling drum beats, the quirky pop production and the subtle R'n'B flavour have all been ditched in favour of thudding dance beats and a cut and paste chorus. I would probably be singing the praises of "U Wanna Little Of This" if it were a remix but as the version being promoted to UK radio, it just doesn't cut it. It's such a shame because the original version has huge hit potential. "Can't Touch It" is perfect pop. The song is fresh, original and utterly infectious. "U Wanna Little Of This", on the other hand, sounds like a Booty Luv B-side. That's not a bad thing as such but Ricki-Lee deserves better than this. Decide which version you prefer, the new and unimproved version above or the original version below.

CC Martini's Champagne Taste

Now here's something different for Pop Trash Addicts - a catchy rap jam about a pot dealer by Australia's latest hip hop sensation, CC Martini. Don't be too put off by that description. CC might throw it down with the best of them but this rap queen keeps one foot firmly planted in the pop world. "Champagne Taste" is an intriguing debut single. It was released a couple of months ago and peaked at #68, which is actually pretty decent for an independent act specialising in this kind of bizarre pop/rap/rock concoction. I usually don't stray too far from the trashy pop scene but "Champagne Taste" is really quite hard to resist with its cheeky lyrics about dealing drugs and crashing parties. The chorus is a real treat. I'm sure there are plenty of us who can sympathise with CC's dilemma of having "champagne taste and a minimum wage"! Not bad at all for someone who was discovered at a Christmas party in 2005. Check out the video below.

Make sure you add CC as a friend on Myspace. You can purchase the CD single from Chaos or download it from iTunes. CC's album, called "All The Way" is scheduled for release in May 2008. Should be worth a listen!

He Used To Give Me Roses....

I have spent 168 hours of 2007 watching the first 14 volumes of "Prisoner (Cell Block H)". That equates to spending an entire week in the company of Wentworth's finest and I've enjoyed every single second. In my opinion, "Prisoner (Cell Block H)" is the greatest show in the history of television. Running from 1979 to 1986, "Prisoner" revolutionised Australian drama and set new benchmarks in quality and originality. I'm constantly in awe of the brilliant writing and fully fleshed characters. The latest installment (above) deals with Vera "Vinegar Tits" Bennett's departure from the show and I doubt we'll ever see a character as small, petty and painfully human as Vera ever again. I can't remember squirming as much as I did during Vera's farewell. The episode should be sent every soapie writer around the globe as a "how to" guide for quality television. I could write an essay about the show's amazing characters, groundbreaking storylines and enduring cult appeal but the "Prisoner" phenomenon is something you have to experience for yourself. Instead, I'm devoting this post to the show's much loved theme song, "On The Inside".

Is there anything more achingly depressing than hearing Lynne Hamilton's morose ballad juxtaposed against the slamming of prison gates at the end of each episode of "Prisoner"? Despite its gloomy tone, "On The Inside" immediately struck a chord with viewers and became a #4 hit for Lynne in Australia in 1979. The song found a whole new audience ten years later when "Prisoner" became a cult hit in Britain. "On The Inside" was an even bigger hit in the UK, reaching #3 in 1989. Make sure you check out this amusing clip of Jason Donovan introducing the song on Top Of The Pops! Amazingly, Lynne's depressive signature tune was revived for the third time in the 1990s when it remixed and released as a tragic dance anthem. I love all of the appalling remixes but I've decided to share the unbelievably camp "Breakout Mix".

You can purchase all 14 volumes of "Prisoner" from Chaos. Volumes 15 and 16 are scheduled for released on Monday. Fanatics can pick up the entire boxset if you have a spare $1,500. I would do some bad things to get my hands on that shit!

Betty Boo's Floptastic Comeback

Betty Boo earned a special place is pop trash history with a string of iconic early 90s hits such as "Doin' The Do" and "Where Are You Baby?". Betty's unique combination of pop, dance and laconic rap was a revelation and she (rather unfortunately) paved the way for artists like Lily Allen and The Streets. Try not to hold that against her. Betty's debut album, "Boomania", still sounds fresh and original 15 years after its release and her massively unsuccessful second album, "GRRR! It's Betty Boo", is nothing less than a poptastic masterpiece.

While Betty's solo career went down the toilet at the speed of light, she successfully reinvented herself as a highly respected songwriter and has even penned tracks for international megastars like Dannii Minogue. After years of handing over her pop gems to other divas, Ms Boo has decided to hang on to a couple of them for herself. Betty scored her first solo "hit" in 14 years, when she peaked at #92 on the UK charts with "Take Off". Credited to Jack Rokka Vs Betty Boo, "Take Off" is an electro club stormer with a throbbing baseline and slutty lyrics about fucking in your car. Betty couldn't have hoped for a more fitting comeback!

You can order "Take Off" from Amazon UK or HMV UK. Make sure you check out the bootastic "Take Off" video. Betty hasn't aged a day!

The Spice Hags - Remixed

I'm finally getting excited about the Spice reunion and it has nothing to do with their putrid comeback single, "Headlines". That song is a four minute reminder of exactly how mediocre the Spice Girls were at their worst. Personally, I'd prefer to remember the good times - the non-stop hilarity of "Spiceworld", the gorgeous "Viva Forever" video clip and the wasted hours I spent memorising Mel B's "Wannabe" rap! That takes me to the subject of this post. In order to generate some buzz about the Spice reunion, the old bags have commissioned remixes of their old hits. I'm a complete whore for the Soul Seekerz and I immediately fell for their reworking of "Wannabe" - which has been restored to its former glory with a dazzling makeover. I believe that the Soul Seekerz remix might appear as a B-side on the "Headlines" CD single. I guess that means there is at least one good reason to buy it. On the bright side, the "Headlines" video clip (picture below) looks tantalising indeed!

The Spice Girls' "Greatest Hits" is released in Australia on the 12th of November. Strangely, "Headlines" is released one week later on the 19th. Both can be pre-ordered from Chaos.

Debbie Does The Soul Seekerz

2007 is turning out to be the year of ageing diva. Annie Lennox, Kylie, Thelma Houston, Celine Dion and Chaka Khan have all made waves with new or soon to be released albums. Sadly, Debbie Harry's first solo album in 14 years has been all but overlooked by everyone except her hardcore fans. I've been meaning to write something about "Necessary Evil" since its September release but I'm still trying to process it. Debbie has never played by the rules and her latest opus is another sublime mess of conflicting styles and genres. "Necessary Evil" remains something of an addictive mystery but one thing I'm not confused about is the quality of the album's first single, the superb "Two Times Blue".

"Two Times Blue" is Debbie's most immediate and catchy single since "I Want That Man". The irresistible blend of guitars and subtle electronic bleeps provides the perfect canvas for the most spine chilling chorus of the year. "Two Times Blue" is positively grand. Unfortunately, no one seems to have noticed. Happily, Debbie's gorgeous anthem is slowly finding an audience with dance fans thanks to the Soul Seekerz's brilliant remixes. Soul Seekerz are probably best known for working their magic on Dannii's "Perfection" (and for destroying Robyn's "Handle Me") but the "Two Times Blue" remixes could be their finest moment. The extended mix is truly a thing of beauty but I'm posting an equally fabulous radio edit.

"Two Times Blue" is yet to be released in Australia and as far as I know there are no plans to do so in the future. You should be able to find a copy of "Necessary Evil" on Ebay or you could order it from Amazon or HMV UK. Make sure you check out Debbie's Myspace and drop by Soul Seekerz' Myspace while you're there. Don't be put off by the video clip for "Two Times Blue" (below) - it's kind of terrifying but the song is pure bliss!

Comeback Of The Decade - Melissa Tkautz!

Australia's queen of trash is on the comeback trail - yet again! Melissa Tkautz really is the most determined diva in show business. The last I heard, Melissa was lining up to play herself in a zombie movie after being dropped by her short sighted record company. As much as I love the idea of Mel running from zombies in hotpants and high heels, I was even more excited to learn that this living legend is back in the studio!

I started to get suspicious that Melissa had something on the boil when she re-surfaced on the social scene, looking breathtaking at the Urban Music Awards and appearing as a costume judge at this year's Sleaze Ball. Classy! I did a bit of digging and discovered that Melissa is indeed poised for yet another comeback. Apparently, Melissa is busy recording an album of DJ collaborations. I'm not sure what that means exactly but Melissa and dance music sounds like a winning combination to me! I'll be interested to learn if any of the songs from her recent scrapped album are included. I was lucky enough to hear some of the tracks from it recently and they are, without a doubt, some of the best material she has ever recorded. "Fake It Good" and "Not Enough" are both potential smash hits!

Jade Macrae - In The Basement

Jade Macrae's pop makeover is as fabulous as it was unexpected. Jade was launched as Australia's answer to Beyonce a couple of years ago and instantly became the poster girl for our surprisingly diverse urban scene after a string of top 50 hits - most notably the magnificent Kelis rip-off So Hot Right Now. I liked Jade's debut album but her latest single takes her to a whole new level.

"In The Basement" represents a huge change of direction for Jade. Recorded in Stockholm's famous Maratone studio and produced by Max Martin's associate Arnthor Birgisson, Jade's new single is a slinky pop extravaganza. Gone are the urban adornments of her first album, "In The Basement" is unashamedly POP! Jade's new sound is a perfect fit for her voice and glamorous image. I can't help but feel that this fabulous diva has found her true calling. "In The Basement" has all the hallmarks of a pop classic - smutty lyrics, killer beats, a camp spoken interlude, high quality production and an insanely catchy chorus!

If Britney came up with something half as good as this song it would be number 1 for months. Which takes me to my next point. Australian radio is run by a pack of arseholes. "In The Basement" is undoubtedly one of the best Australian tracks of the year and could not be any more radio friendly. And yet, all I hear when I turn on the radio is that crack whore stripper, Ne-Yo and Rihanna. What does a local artist have to do to get some airplay? It doesn't help that the single is impossible to find in stores. In the circumstances, it's amazing that Jade managed to chart at all. The single is well worth ordering from Chaos for the remixes and B-side. I actually quite like the ghettotastic MPHAZES Remix but the club mix is more my style. I was expecting the usual tacky dance anthem but this is surprisingly dark and sexy. The link will only be up for a short time. If you like it, do this poor diva a favour and order the song or download it from iTunes.

Jade is about to embark on a string of live shows to promote her upcoming album "Get Me Home" - which is described as sexy electro-pop! Pre-order your copy here. To learn more about this fabulous talent, check out Jade's website and Myspace. Don't forget to watch the sexy video!

Grease Remixed

I stumbled home early this morning and faced the usual post-party dilemma of not being able to sleep. I cleaned the bathroom, did some ironing and then settled down to watch Grease for probably the 5000th time. Some people have comfort food, I have 1978's highest grossing movie musical! I still remember being completely transfixed the first time I watched Grease on TV. In a disturbing sign of things to come, I identified with Rizzo and thought Sandy was a bit of a bore until that magical movie moment when Olivia unleashes her inner slut and pussy whips Danny with her tight, black spandex pants and dashing new perm. No matter how many times I see the film, I never get sick of that moment or the magnificent song that accompanies it. "You're The One That I Want" was written by Olivia's long-time collaborator John Farrar and became a world wide smash hit, reaching #1 in the US and spending 9 weeks at the top of the UK charts. The song has been covered numerous times but I'm not really interested in hearing the song performed by other voices. I'm much less averse to tragic remixes of the original and "You're The One That I Want" has been butchered by some of the trashiest DJs in the business. The masterminds behind Almighty need no introduction and their interpretation is as fabulous as you would expect. However, the prize for the best remix belongs to Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg Vs Grease! I'm not sure which demented mind created this unholy mix but they are clearly some kind of evil genius. Enjoy!

The Chief's Fisting Anthem

I guess I should be ashamed of liking Paul "The Chief" Harragon's craptastic cover of Spandau Ballet's "Gold" but I'm not. This kind of fabulous rubbish only comes along once every couple of years, so I'm savouring each glorious second of it. The song is pretty abysmal but it's better than I expected from an ex-footballer/host of Channel 9's Footy Show. The standard version is so bad it's good but I seriously love the fagtastic dance mixes on the CD single! Mike Felks, who recently remixed some tracks for Slinkee Minx, has transformed The Chief into a Hi-NRG dancefloor diva! The addition of the lyric "if you've got a hand and a fist, you're indestructible" ups the gay factor to an unprecedented level. The bizarre lyrics apparently relate to Paul's trademark hand gesture but all those fist references mean something else entirely in this part of town. Sit back and enjoy the year's first fisting anthem!

You can purchase this future darkroom classic from Chaos, Sanity and iTunes. Make sure to check out the glamorous video clip. Nothing gets me going like a butch footballer wearing mascara!

Roxane Is Sexy!

I thought I'd quickly post this before I run off to find some cut-off gloves for tonight's Samantha Fox concert! Roxane's debut solo single has been plagued with more drama than an entire season of "Bold & The Beautiful". "Sexy", a glorious slice of pop trash built around a throbbing sample of Salt 'N' Pepa's 80s classic "Push It", was almost scrapped when Sophie Monk performed the same song in a lingerie commercial. Sanity finally prevailed and Roxane's stunning anthem was released on Monday. All of the remixes are great but I've settled on the trashy Electro 7", although the House 7" is just as worthy. I know I've declared my love for "Sexy" several times already but I find it more fabulous with each listen.

You can purchase a copy of "Sexy" from Chaos, Sanity or iTunes. Don't forget to check out the amazing video clip.

EliZe's Japanese Makeover

EliZe is the Dutch Dannii and I mean that as a massive compliment! EliZe was a child star in Holland, who was best remembered for singing about growing breasts - "Het Tietenlied" - literally, "The Tit Song" (!) until she became an international pop sensation and one of my favourite trashy divas upon the release of her brilliant anthem "Automatic". That song is Euro-pop at its absolute finest - driving beats, catchy lyrics and a slutty "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" inspired video. EliZe proved that she was a diva to be reckoned with by following "Automatic" with a string of fabulous hits ("Into Your System", "Shake", "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and my favourite, the amusing J. Lo inspired "No Latino") and an exceptional debut album, "In Control". While desperate UK divas like Rachel Stevens and Lisa Scott-Lee tried and failed to launch careers as second rate Kylie impersonators, EliZe embraced the trashy goddess within and just stole blindly from everyone - with truly fabulous results!

I had high hopes for the international prospects of "In Control". The quality of the music is consistently excellent and EliZe is not exactly hard on the eyes. "Automatic" was released around the world (including Australia) but "In Control" is still difficult to find outside her home country. That is until the album's recent Japanese release. I've always been slightly jealous of Japanese music fans. Album covers are often changed (for the better) and bonus tracks are usually added to the tracklist. As you can see, the Japanese version of "In Control" boasts a far more appealing cover than the original version (below) and it has been enriched by a couple of wonderful remixes.

The first time I heard the Japanese remix of "Automatic" I was appalled. EliZe's Euro-pop classic has been transformed into a trashy trance anthem, which sounds like a cross between Cascada and Alex Gaudino's "Destination Unknown". However, by the second listen, I was too busy shaking my arse (with lots of class) to care about the song's lowbrow makeover. In fact, I kind of love it. Apparently, trance is still very much the leading dance genre in Japan and the remix is a shrewd move to appeal to the Japanese market. I wish lovely EliZe every success.

You can purchase the Japanese version of "In Control" from HMV Japan or order it from Chaos but expect to pay around $40. If you're a casual fan, the standard version of "In Control" is now available to download from iTunes and wont leave you bankrupt. "In Control" is highly recommended. Check out EliZe's website for more details.

A big THANK YOU to Nori for all his help with this post!

The Hampdens - Generation Y

After a string of well received EPs, The Hampdens have finally released the first single from their upcoming debut album. "Generation Y" is another perfectly crafted pop song from the Perth trio. As far as I'm concerned, any track that begins with the line "sick and tired of apathy and (Kurt) Cobain tributes" is an automatic winner! Don't be put off by the band's quirky image. The Hampdens are often described as "literary" and "intellectual" but they are a pop act to the very core. "Generation Y" is a great example of a tune that manages to be witty and catchy at the same time. Impressively, the band make the combination seem effortless. Take the line - "Meet me on Myspace tonight, I'll be there waiting". It's a sharp commentary on our generation but it sounds positively romantic within the context of the song.

The Hampdens have very kindly provided a free download of Generation Y (Teenager Remix) on their website. The remix transforms the song into a slightly jarring electro number, which reminds me of early Depeche Mode. The original version in all it's ambient glory can be heard on The Hampden's Myspace. The band's album is scheduled for release in October. Until then, you can purchase "Generation Y" and their other EPs from Chaos or iTunes.

Carol Jiani - Hit 'N' Run Lover

This week sucks harder than Anthony Callea in a dark room. I desperately need some cheering up and have found some solace in the music of my favourite (and quite possibly, the only) Nigerian disco diva. Uchenna Ikejiani moved to Canada in the late 1970s, changed her name to Carol Jiani and released one of the best loved tunes of the entire disco era in the form of "Hit 'N' Run Lover". In fact, the song is so well regarded that Carol has re-released it no less than a dozen times! "Hit 'N' Run Lover" has been one of my favourite songs for years but until very recently, I was completely ignorant about the extent of Carol's musical legacy. There is so much more to Carol than her monster disco anthem but even if she had spent the past 26 years living off "Hit 'N' Run Lover", that would still be more than enough to secure her place in the pop trash hall of fame.

"Hit 'N' Run Lover" is a slice of disco magic that still shines brightly after all these years. The song also has the uncanny ability to survive even the most tragic remix with its fabulous essence relatively intact. Speaking of questionable remixes, a friend recently sent me a craptastic trance remix (thanks Jamie!) and I have been pumping it ever since. Listening to this "gem" has perked me up no end and I'm sure some of you trashy bitches will find it just as appealing. This version of "Hit 'N' Run Lover" sounds like the bastard child of Stock/Aitken/Waterman and Cascada. Yes, it's that classy! I apologise for not knowing the exact title of the mix but I assume it's either the 2006 or 2007 re-release.

For a comprehensive and fascinating overview of Carol's career, read her fabulous "Disco Museum" profile. You can find more information on Carol, including details of her upcoming UK club tour on this glamorous fansite and Carol's Myspace.