MofoHifi Records

‘Ready For The Fight’ feat Count Bass D Out Now (inc. Gramophonedzie Remix)

satu — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:38:00 +0000

A triumphant collaboration, the track blends the group’s London electronica with the vocal talents of Memphis-based, indie hip-hop don Count Bass D.
Despite radically different musical and cultural backgrounds both artists have developed a great respect for each other’s work and come together to create a unique and moving track. Seamlessly combining the best of post Daft Punk, European dance production with big room hip-hop vibes, in a moving tale of resolve and determination in the face of great adversity.
Fans of boxing, either real or simulated, may find the track familiar already, thanks to it being the entry song of choice for IBF Middleweight World Champion boxer Arthur Abraham, featured in the USA on ESPN’s ‘Fight Night’ programme and a prominent feature on EA Games’ Fight Night Round 4. Now demand has led to its choice as the next release to further showcase The Young Punx ability to cross musical boundaries, gathering the best bits along the way and creating their own unique sound.
The Young Punx are already in demand as remixers, producers, DJs and a band, even with Hal Ritson finding time to act as Musical Director and accompany Dizzee Rascal on his recent Electric Proms success. They draw on dance, rock, hip-hop, electro and even pop to create their un-genrefiable sound. A sound that has already seen them release one album to critical acclaim, gaining praise from music blogs, magazines and many of the worlds top DJs and producers.
With their second longplayer ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’ also due for release in February, The Young Punx are now making moves up the ladder and are sure to be coming to a radio station, dancefloor or live venue near you soon…

The Young Punx Skis from Kneissl – available now!

hal — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:33:11 +0000

The Young Punx are delighted to announce the availability of The Young Punx branded skis from esteemed Austrian Ski manufacturer Kneissl. Featuring custom artwork specially designed by cult Dutch illustrator Han Hoogerbrugge these unique limited edition skis are sure to set you apart on the slopes:

Description

[Deutsche] This is the combination of Kneissl’s top GS and top SL ski with a slightly broader waist for an extra boost in powder conditions. The perfect ski for a big variety of conditions, it is fast, it is smooth, it holds a perfect line and makes you feel safe while going on high speed down the track – the perfect all-around ski for skiing enthusiasts.

Race / Sport: 20% / 80%
On / Off Piste: 75% / 25%

Technical Information

- Sandwich-sidewall-technology
- Full woodcore ash/poplar
- Titanal/triaxial fiber glass belts
- ABS sidewalls
- Nano graphit racing base
- Racing-edge

Available length [cm]:	radius [m]	sidecut (front / mid / tail)
158 cm	14	113 / 68 / 96
168 cm	16	113 / 68 / 96

The Skis are available direct from:

Kneissl Sport Shop
Ladestrasse 2-10
6330 Kufstein
Austria

To purchase online email: theyoungpunx@kneissl.com

Tel: +43 (0) 5372 6990 240

The Skis cost € 699, without bindings.

For further information visit www.kneissl.com

Phonat – “Love Hits The Fan” music video

hal — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:58:08 +0000

Phonat – “Set Me Free” (Remixes Part 2)

hal — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:13:26 +0000

Phonat’s breakthough uplifting house meets whatever anthem “Set Me Free” get a fresh set of awesome remix makeovers to suit every dancefloor.

Hal Ritson of The Young Punx / MofoHifi opens MIDEM 2010

hal — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:53:08 +0000

On Saturday 23rd January, the world’s leading music industry conference, MIDEM, was kicked off by a panel discussion with MofoHifi co-founder, Hal Ritson of The Young Punx and Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls discussing the artist’s perspective on new models for the promotion of music in the digital economy. Other speakers following included Pharrell, Ed O’Brian of Radiohead and Fallout Boy.

There has been a lot of press coverage of the event, but here are a couple of examples :

MIDEM(net) Blog

Hal Ritson and Amanda Palmer at MIDEM 2010

Artists are getting in early with their views on digital music innovation this MidemNet – the opening panel on day one features Amanda Palmer (centre, of Dresden Dolls and now solo fame) and Hal Ritson from The Young Punx (left)… It also made history as the first ever MidemNet session to kick off with a ukulele cover of Radiohead’s Creep (Palmer), interpretive dance (Ritson) and a sock puppet (representing Paul Van Dyk).

Ritson talked about his own online activities, saying an artist has to do three things nowadays: first, get people to listen to the music; second, get some emotional contact with them; and third, find a revenue stream from somewhere.

“We’ve totally embraced the point that writers of music blogs are totally taking over as the new tastemakers of music,” he said. So Ritson looks at blogs giving away free music not as a threat, but as the modern equivalent of radio promo. “You’re getting people to hear your music,” he said.

Ritson’s organisation has someone whose job is to monitor the music blogs, and maintain a relationship with the key sites. “We try to manage the release of material to the blogs pro-actively, so that on the same day, five of the key blogs might get our new track,” he said.
The Young Punx did a deal with a German beer company, for example, with the brand putting on music events, and the band integrating the brand into its podcasts. “So they were giving away our music, they were paying us to be associated with their brand – the revenue was coming from them, and everyone was happy.”

Through the course of last year, Germany became the third most important market for The Young Punx, as measured by Facebook fans. “That came from us not selling many records, but many many people hearing our music – and we got paid!… You don’t measure success by sales any more. How many people are enjoying what you have to offer, and then you have to ask whether my business is profitable.”

Ritson also gave what may prove to be the key tip for how to ‘use’ social media to connect with fans – “you have to do it passionately and personally. People are interested in the artists, not in somebody from the marketing department”.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON THE MIDEM NET BLOG >>>>

also…

Music Ally

Hal Ritson from the Young Punx gave a punchy assessment of how artists should be using social media to connect with their fans at MidemNet today. The key lesson: they have to truly embrace it.

“You have to do it passionately and personally,” he said. “People are interested in the artists, not in somebody from the marketing department.”

For Young Punx, this includes podcasts that regularly get 10,000 listeners, and which have become one of the key ways the band’s music gets discovered around the world.

READ FULL ARTICLE ON MUSIC ALLY WEB SITE

The Young Punx – “Ready For The Fight (feat. Count Bass D) music video

hal — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:27:40 +0000

Watch Han Hoogerbrugge’s video for The Young Punx and Count Bass D’s epic collaboration.

The Young Punx – Remixed Volume 1 E.P

simon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:08:51 +0000

The Young Punx, a collective of musical miscreants, led by maverick multi-instrumentalist Hal Ritson, have been steadily building a name for themselves over the past couple of years. With remixes for the likes of Autocrats and Mighty Dubcats under their belt, 2010 will see the release of their new album ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’, but ahead of that they’ve pulled together a tasty little Remix EP to whet the appetite…

Heading the EP is Black Noise’s electro crack house take on ‘Ready For The Fight’, which sees the south coast trio throw a heap of Mr Oizo-esque sub bass and beats at the already heavy Count Bass D collaboration. Scene veteran Shinichi Osawa steps up to the plate next turning the guitar driven ‘Rockstar (Understand)’ into a bleep-laden vehicle, destined for the dancefloor.

House man of the moment Riva Starr gives ‘Juice & Gin’ a techy makeover in his own inimitable style, plundering the best synths to create another messy dancefloor affair. Rounding things up is a double hitter of re-workings of ‘MashitUp’ the single released earlier this year to DJ and dancefloor acclaim. Kam Denny takes the electro-pop of the original, adds a tougher edge and builds to a climax which will leave you in no doubt as to how he’s cemented his position as one of Australia’s finest producers and remixers. Fellow Ozzie and young upstart Junior Black completes the set with a vocal-introed mash-up (for want of a better word) punctuated with synths and beeps in all the right places.

With their second longplayer due for imminent release and a double a-side single package coming soon, The Young Punx are now making moves up the ladder and are sure to be coming to a radio station, dancefloor or live venue near you soon…

The Young Punx – Simple Pleasures/Like Dat

simon — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:30:17 +0000

The Young Punx are a busy bunch. Remixing, producing and performing have kept them almost constantly busy over the past two years, but somehow they’ve found the time to get back in the studio and finish their own album. ‘Mashpop & Punkstep’ is due for release early next year, but in the meantime the collective drop a double a-side single to whet the appetite…

First up is ‘Simple Pleasures’, featuring vocals from Laura Kidd and Yolanda Quartey, this is a rolling trip of a track, opening with 1970’s influenced punk vocals and ending in d&b toastings. Proof if ever it was needed that a hooky riff, strong bassline and love-based lyrics are a timeless blend.
Meanwhile ‘Like Dat’ is a murkier affair, combining Memphis rap, old school hip hop grooves, rock guitars and a uniquely filthy London bassline, ably ridden by Count Bass D’s commanding flow. An almost improvised gem, the Count’s vocals were the first continuous take, recorded immediately after they had been penned and guitar legend Guthrie Govan’s solo was again a first take, this time with him playing having never heard the track before.


The Young Punx themselves are a fluid collective, in demand as remixers, producers, DJs and a band, they draw on breaks, rock, hip hop, electro and even pop to create their own unique and un-genrefiable sound.  A sound that has already seen them release one album to critical acclaim, gaining praise from the likes of Pete Tong, Annie Nightingale and Clash magazine along the way.

With their second longplayer due for imminent release The Young Punx are now making moves up the ladder and are sure to be coming to a radio station, dancefloor or live venue near you soon…



Phonat Debut Album – Phonat
satu — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:23:04 +0000
“It’s been described as an Acid House Bohemian Rhapsody, it takes in 25 styles during it’s course, I like it” – Rob da Bank on BBC Radio 1
“This guy F**ks with all the rules” – Norman Cook
“Learn to Recycle is six minutes of utterly unique music” – IDJ
“Phonat has frequently stunned us with his none-more-innovative productions over the last few years, coming across like a hyperactive Daft Punk on happy pills…… By the end, you’re exhausted, perplexed, flabbergasted, and left with the feeling that all other music is boring, unimaginative, repetitive trash. Wow. 10/10″ – Data Transmission
Unique, innovative, rule breaking, genre-spanning….just a few of the plaudits that have been used to describe the works of Phonat, the seven foot mop-haired Italian who’s been catching the ears and attention of the ever intangible ‘tastemaking set’ over the past few months.
Annie Mac, Annie Nightingale, Andy George, Rob da Bank and Pete Tong have all been championing the producer since last year, when singles ‘Incredible Sound’, ‘Ghetto Burning’ and ‘Learn To Recycle’ marked him as one to watch for 2009 and beyond.  Now readying the release of his eponymous debut album, Phonat has created a panoply of chopped up riffs swirled around murky basslines, a world where guitar-driven dancefloor fillers meet bleep-filled fantasies for fun, friendship and possibly more.
Originally from Florence, Italy, Phonat (aka Michele Balduzzi) was first spotted by MofoHifi Records on MySpace and they were so impressed with the 21 year old that the loving label bosses persuaded him to leave his parents’ idyllic country farm in Florence and move to a bed sit in Canning Town.  Armed only with a five-year-old computer and an electric guitar Phonat dutifully relocated to London in late 2007 and the rest, as they say, is history.
Drawing on every vein of dance music, from hip hop to house, garage to breaks Phonat’s expert use of a vocal hook is also evident, most noticeably on the Yolanda vocalled ‘Ghetto Burning’ and next single ‘Set Me Free’ – where classic 80s style rock vocals sit atop a stacatto-synthed stomper.
Phonat may have arrived on the scene late last year, but with DJ bookings and remix requests coming in from across the world and his album ready to hit the streets, 2009 is set to be an busy year for the big Italian.
‘Phonat’ by Phonat is released on MofoHifi Records on September 21st.  ‘Set Me Free EP’, featuring remixes from Avicci, Louis La Roche and High Rankin was out August 24th.
Tracklisting
   1. A Warm Welcome

   2. Get Down My Dirty Street

   3. Set Me Free

   4. Ghetto Burnin’

   5. Love Hits The Fan

   6. Ho Visto Un Quadro Verde

   7. It’s For You

   8. Learn To Recycle

   9. The Big Deal

  10. Zombie Army

  11. Bad Boy

  12. London
Available at all major sellers.











Dizzee Rascal, The Young Punx and The Heritage Orchestra at the BBC Electric Proms 2009
hal — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:42:46 +0000
(from the BBC web site)
From the teenage grime producer who pored over the pages of heavy metal weekly Kerrang and sampled Japanese chamber music, to the pop star Jeremy Paxman calls ‘Mr. Rascal’ when soliciting his views on US president Barack Obama, Dylan Mills AKA Dizzee Rascal likes confounding expectations.
In 2003, his radical debut album Boy in da Corner scooped the Mercury Prize. He’s since redefined UK urban music with a trademark style which blends raw street lyricism with radio friendly melody and draws as easily from grime as hip hop, R&B or pop music.
In the last 12 months, Dizzee hooked up with producers Calvin Harris and Armand Van Helden for an untouchable trio of electro-grime anthems – Dance Wiv Me, Bonkers and Holiday. All three UK number one singles feature on upcoming fourth album Tongue N’ Cheek – a recession-beating collection of upbeat party bangers. Enjoying his recent reinvention as a pop star, Dizzee is now in a place where he has artistic free rein; “I don’t know what people think I am now, and that’s good, because it means I can do whatever I want”.
Continuing to confound expectations, for BBC Electric Proms Dizzee Rascal delivers his first ever full length live show with a band, horns and string section. Dizzee is joined by Heritage Orchestra and backed by electronic mash-up collective The Young Punx under the musical direction of Hal Ritson. A celebration of the artist’s diverse influences, expect a party set of mash-ups, radical reinterpretations of Rascal favourites plus a few closely guarded surprises.