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Mstrkrft

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Mstrkrft

MSTRKRFT (pronounced "Master-craft") is an electronic music group from Toronto (The Beaches), Ontario, Canada who are signed to Dim Mak Records. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler formerly of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P (Alex Puodziukas) formerly of the Mississauga electropop group Girlsareshort.[1][2][3] Al-P was also the producer for Death from Above 1979s album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine as well as several of (Jesse's former band) Black Cat #13's records. The duo has been close friends, as well as work partners, for a long time.[4] MSTRKRFT also produced Die Mannequin's first EP, How to Kill, and Magneta Lane's second LP, Dancing With Daggers.[5]

MSTRKRFT have been commissioned to remix songs by such artists as Justice, Bloc Party, Metric, Wolfmother,[6] Annie and The Kills.[7]

History

File:Mstrkrft06.jpg
JFK and Al-P w/ dsrnr @ The Social, Toronto, ON

Their first single was "Easy Love", released in 2006. They released their second single, "Work On You", on July 6. In contrast to the "Easy Love" music video, "Work On You" featured animated robots similar to those found in classic cartoons (see: Voltron, Transformers ). Although The Looks is MSTRKRFT's first album featuring original content, the band has created remixes from a variety of other artists ranging from Buck 65 to The Kills to Sebastien Grainger's band, Death from Above 1979.

MSTRKRFT released their first LP, The Looks, on July 18, 2006 in the United States and February 2, 2007 in Britain. Keeler and Al-P told Eye Weekly weeks before the release of The Looks, that as the album was being finished, the planning stages for a follow-up record had already begun. Describing the upcoming album's new direction, Al-P said that the album would be "darker, underground disco and house with elements of American rock music."

The "2007" version of their song "Street Justice" was also released as a single. On the band's website message board, Keeler mentioned they were also working on a compilation album composed of their remixed tracks. Street Justice was also featured on the THQ action game, Saints Row 2. Neon Knights was also featured on Need For Speed: Pro Street, and their remix for Justices' D.A.N.C.E. was featured on the movie "Meet The Spartans".

Their song "Paris" was featured in a 2006 commercial for the online music store URGE. In 2007 MSTRKRFT appeared at the WEMF World Electronic Music Festival.

In September 2007 MSTRKRFT performed at an Australian spring music festival "Parklife" in Brisbane. They performed their remix of the song "Woman" from Modular label mates Wolfmother. Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother appeared on stage and sang live while MSTRKRFT performed the remix.

In 2008 through Obeygiant.com released a mix cd with Z-Trip. In conjunction with this CD, Obey offered the Art work print, entitled Soundclash of the Titans. On May 24, 2008 MSTRKRFT were featured on the famous BBC Radio 1 show, The Essential Mix. MSTRKRFT later performed at the 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which included a diverse group of artists ranging from Metallica to Jack Johnson.

On March 17, 2009, MSTRKRFT released their second LP, Fist of God. All songs were written by Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P. Initial critical response has been average at best, with major periodicals Spin, Rolling Stone, and Blender giving the album less-than-stellar reviews. The album features guest appearances by John Legend, E-40, N.O.R.E., and Lil' Mo, among others.

Equipment

MSTRKRFT's latest live setup consists of a Pioneer DJM-800 mixer and 2 Pioneer CDJ-1000MK3 CD Turntables controlling Serato Scratch Live on an Apple Macbook Pro. They also use an AKAI MPC-500, Roland MC-202, and a Pioneer EFX-1000 for added effects during their sets.

In the studio Jesse and Al use Digidesign Pro Tools mixing software along with a complement of hardware synthesizers and drum machines such as the Roland SH101, the Sequential Circuits Prophet 600, the Roland TR-909 which they mainly use to "trigger older synths" and TR-707, the Moog Voyager, the Roland MKS-80, and the Korg MS-20.

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Easy Love" (January 31, 2006)
  • "Work on You" (July 6, 2006)
  • "Street Justice" (January 18, 2007)
  • "Bounce/Vuvuvu" (April 1, 2008) #17 Hot Dance Club Play, #75 Australian ARIA Singles Chart[8]
  • "Heartbreaker" (featuring John Legend) (July 26, 2009) #50 UK Singles Chart, #5 UK Dance Chart, #63 Australian ARIA Singles Chart
  • "Towel Swinger" TBA
  • "Bee Hive" TBA
  • "Baby Techno" TBA

Remixes

Songs that MSTRKRFT have remixed include:

See also

References

  1. ^ Derdeyn, Stuart. "Austin's just one brief stop on Mstrkrft's musical voyage", The Gazette, 2007-03-15, p. D3.
  2. ^ Rayner, Ben. "On Death and dying: Death from Above 1979: Keeler and Grainger fold band, leaving an indie rock legacy", Toronto Star, 2006-12-31, p. C5.
  3. ^ Alderson, Glenn. "They're Krfty: Who needs vowels when you've got vocoders", Calgary Herald, 2006-07-21, p. SW8.
  4. ^ http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1579/exclusive_i_miscellany_i_interview_with_mstrkrft
  5. ^ Dancing With Daggers (Media notes). Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Paper Bag Records. 2006. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Unknown parameter |bandname= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |mbid= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)
  6. ^ Devlin, Mike. "Masters of keyboards 'move with the times'", Times-Colonist, 2006-07-29, p. B3.
  7. ^ Rayner, Ben. "Seriously, they do dance music: MSTRKRFT: DJ union mines shared passion for electronica", Toronto Star, 2006-07-06, p. G4.
  8. ^ http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20090520-0000/issue1003.pdf
  9. ^ Cohen, Jonathan. MSTKRFT Salutes Influences On Second Album, Billboard, 2008-07-07. Retrieved on 2008-10-20.
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