Sacha Sacket
Lovers & Leaders
www.SachaSacket.com
Pimping sweet, somber, soulful and spiritual tunes for new generations of seductiveness - Sacha Sacket must be the love child of Tori Amos and Michael Stipe. With enchanting piano-driven songs and a sensually evocative voice his understated essence of delivering potent ideas simply floats lyrics through the ether to wrap around the listener like a comfort blankie protecting from a cold snap. With post-production layers of technolove Sacha journeys us through a tour of the human spirits with stops overlooking the chasms of despair and mountains of promise. Another hauntingly beautiful chapter in the Sacha Sacket songbook. My picks: “Hail,” “Judy (For Shame),” “Stay,” “Brandon Boyd,” “Jove,” “Hallowed (Show Me How)” and “Time To Go.”

Cinematic:
Classic Film Music Remixed
www.SixDegreesRecords.com
Take one part classic film scores from the 60s and 70s and add a liberal mix of world renowned remix artists and you’re sure to strike a delicious reworking of classic heartfelt touchstones re-imagined for a generation hooked on the almighty remix. In this case the sultry and dramatic get a dose of hipster grooves, delightful retinkerings from exotic cultures and layerings of enchantment breathing a second and third act for timeless classics. My picks: King Britt’s “They Call Me Mr. Tibbs Main Title (King Britt reinterpretation instrumental),” Shriff’s “Goodbye Coloniel (From For a Few Dollars More)(Shrift mix),” Bombay Dub Orchestra’s “Love Theme From Ben Hur” featuring Sophie Solomon, The Real Tuesday Weld’s “Paris Blues (The Real Tuesday Weld Remix),” Mark de Clive’s “Hour Of the Gun Main Title (Mark de Clive Lowe Remix)” featuring replife, King Britt’s “They Call Me Mr. Tibbs Main Title (King Britt vocal reinterpretation) featuring Mr. Lif, MNO’s “Some Like It Hot (MNO Some Like It Hotter Remix), Bombay Dub Orchestra’s “Love Theme From Ben Hur (Bombay Dub Orchestra Orchestra Mix) and Tom Middleton’s “Inherit the Wind Main Title (Tom Middleton’s AMBA Remix).”

The Pinker Tones
More Colours: The Million Colour Revolution
www.ThePinkertones.com
Quirky Barcelona, Spain electronica pioneering duo The Pinker Tones blend an infectious mix of bossabeat, pop, swing, lounge, funky spills, psychedelic rock and soul into a party palette sure to bring a smile to even the most jaded of souls. The duo expands for live shows with a DJ and have been very productive churning out remixes and film scores as well as their own work showcasing joy and range of chill blissers to funky danceable classics with flavors of classic funk, jazz, reggae, and hip-hop churned into chewable pop classics. On More Colours: The Million Colour Revolution, they enlist co-conspirators from a spectrum of dance fiends for truly inspired reshuffling of their already complex work into new and groovalicious treats. My picks: “Welcome To TMCR (Alex Acosta Remix),” “Beyond Nostalgia (Kassin (The +2’s) Remix),” “L’Heros (Torpedo Boys Remix),” “Sonido Total (Pinker Tones and DJ Nino Remix),” “Pink Freud (Dyko Remix),” “Gone Go On (Zeta Bosio & Andy Body Remix)” and “Sonido Total (Concorde Music Club Remix).”

Paul Van Dyk
In Between
www.PaulVanDyk.com
Berlin-based DJ, remixer and producer Paul Van Dyk is one of the world’s top DJs and probably the leading trance DJ with well over a dozen albums and oodles of remixes plus a Grammy nomination as well. His constant touring and radio shows keep him as a regular favorite at major venues around the world and he’s a top tier DJ whenever you’re looking at events where several stages or venues are bumping away simultaneously. On his newest album, In Between, his trance style becomes even more stylized and romantic as slurpy beats and seductive vocals from some of his high-profile collaborators seep through the misty layers of electonica-kissed beats. My top picks: “Complicated” featuring Ashley Tomberlin, “Get Back” featuring Ashley Tomberlin, “Another Sunday,” “Stormy Skies” featuring Wayne Jackson, “New York City featuring Ashley Tomberlin and “Let Go” featuring Rea. Gig alert! Paul Van Dyk undulates and percolates Sept 28 @ San Francisco’s 1015.

Samantha James
Rise
www.Om-Records.com
San Francisco’s own Om Records brings forth another inspired soul shaking beauty with a velvety voice and simmering style to entrance and win over anyone who doubts the magic of an aspiring singer-songwriter empowered and equipped to produce empassioned performances with an international flair and cosmopolitan wink. Think those classy soulful singers with a hip electronica band trapped in a 30-something body and with a dawning horizon of promising warmth and cool as night merely a dance away. My picks: “Enchanted Life,” “Breathe You In” “Angel Love,” “Come Through,” “I Found You” featuring Celso Fonseca” and “Rain.” Gig alert! Samantha James slithers, sways and seduces Sept 20 @ San Francisco’s Harlot.

Biffy Clyro
Puzzle
www.BiffyClyro.com
Scottish trio (twin brothers Ben and James Johnston and their high school friend Simon Neil) - Biffy Clyro aka Biffy launch their fourth album Puzzle, which has all the pieces of an overall epic modern rock album. Heavy melodic guitars and all three members wailing and intertwining vocal while complex orchestrations turn mid-track like roaches caught in the kitchen light and sent on their way with marching beats in a new direction. Interwoven melodies, cryptic and insightful lyrics and a yearning to understand the human condition are propelling rock stardom toward the cute-as-buttons power-popsters disguised in power chords and crushing rock armor. My picks: “Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies,” “Saturday Superhouse,” “Who’s Got a Match?,” “Conversation Is...,” “Now I’m Everyone,” “Love Has a Diameter,” “9/15ths” and “Machines.” Gig alert! Biffy Clyro peices the big chunks together Sept 20 @ San Francisco’s The Fillmore.

Guards of Metropolis
Alligator
www.GuardsofMetropolis.com
“ABBA meets AC/DC” aptly describes the kick-ass rocking quartet from Oslo, Norway. With punked hair and pierced attitudes their strait ahead and melodic growlings snap to attention and the soothing dominatrix vocals from lead Kristin Blix will have you doing whatever she wants. With two California bandmates their international blend materializes into radio-friendly approachability but the grime and torture still lingers with each crack of the guitar whip and turn of the rock screws. Don’t forget to rub in the love! My picks: “Exhole,” “The Way You Are,” “Postcards From Heaven,” “Fadeaway,” “Already Gone,” “Why” and “Alligator.” Gig alert! Guards of Metropolis rock out Sept 19 @ San Jose’s Blank Club.q