Best of 2009 - Guest List - Lauren Flax

As a precursor to our impending year-end list, we've asked some of our favorite artists to select their five favorite releases of 2009. Worldwide DJ sensation Lauren Flax adds her two cents to our year-end "Guest List" series. Flax as DJ has spent the last few years, spinning with or alongside acts like Fischerspooner, Moby, The B-52's, and Yelle. Her picks here are sparse and abstract, not unlike say, minimalist techno? Some picks are spot on, some fantastic, but not 2009, and others are just left to interpretation.

1) Azari & III
2) Burial
3) Telepathe
4) Classic House
5) Brooklyn

Lauren Flax recently released her debut single "You've Changed", featuring Sia on vocals:



FULL YEAR-END COVERAGE HERE

THE PRESETS Wowed the Bowery Ballroom, WALTER MEEGO Showed Subtle Promise

The Presets are an act I've seen twice before, and after last night's gig at the Bowery Ballroom I can say that they just keep getting better and better every time. The crowd, which included Zero 7 ulumni Sia and Letigre's JD Samson, was absolutely into it - dancing, jumping around, and singing along. Among the highlights of the high octane set were the mesmerizing "Steamworks", the vicious anthem "Are You the One", and the encore closer "I Go Hard, I Go Home". What pleased me most though is that the newer singles "My People" and "This Boy's in Love" worked really well live. I haven't been able to get very into the new album as of yet, but after last night I'm diving in head first.


The Presets setlist:
Talk Like That/Down Down Down/Girl/?New Track?/A New Sky/Yippyo Ay/Are You The One/Together/Aeons/Girl & the Sea/Steamworks/This Boy's In Love/Kicking & Screaming/My People
(Encore) Anywhere/I Go Hard I Go Home.


Walter Meego played a lukewarm set before The Presets took the stage. Whereas they sounded flawless, they had no energy whatsoever, save for the awesome guy on the computer boards. He looked like he was sweating his ass off at a rave. The other two guys should take note. If these guys can muster up a better stage show they could evolve into something really great.



-all photos by Scot Bowman