Hey everyone - welcome back at the discotheque!
For today's addition to the Artist Lowdown series - I thought I'd shine a light on Californian filter house / nu disco duo LBCK - also known as the Long Beach City Kids. One of my favourite duos who initially rose to prominence in the blog-era disco explosion - across their seven years active as a production outfit (and nine years as DJs) - LBCK created some of the most memorable, funky tracks that have defined my listening across the last year.
Let's get started!
WHO ARE THEY?
The Long Beach City Kids - known to many as LBCK - were a duo comprised of Alex Noble (known as Oh Lorde) and Luigi III (who some of you may know as La Zebra!) - they formed as a duo sometime in 2009, put out their last material together in the beginning of 2016 and played their final gigs as a duo sometime in summer 2018. Inspired by the wider French touch scene, hip hop, nu disco, electro house and funk - the Californian guys produced a welcome mix of thumping French touch, fully original nu disco and glitzy funk built for destroying clubs and playing at raucous parties and on those hot summer days.
They debuted in September 2009 with the punchy French electro banger Giallo - co produced by Semi Auto - released on Bass Theft Auto Volume II through legendary underground net label Fame and Filth - before releasing a slew of disco house singles throughout early 2010. At the same time, they began to gain rapid exposure after signing to On The Fruit and releasing their iconic single Start - which was later remixed by The Phantom's Revenge, Moonchild and Bit Funk, amongst several others. To add, La Zebra began playing shows around the US with legends such as Treasure Fingers and Steve Aoki - and by the end of the year, they released their first EP and went on a European tour.
2011 was an even crazier year for them - alongside releasing a healthy amount of dope singles - they signed to legendary Italian label La Valigetta for their next EP, went on a South American mini-tour and began to gain global exposure after being found by (at the time) underground French producer, now superstar Madeon. Remixes soon followed for labels such as Mozzarella and Umalu - and their tour dates began to stack up. In July 2011 - they released their second EP Instant Party - which boasted remixes from The Phantom's Revenge, Strip Steve and Hijack - and later in the year, they began collaborating with legendary underground rapper Chuuwee - ending out 2011 with more gigs and their second outing for La Valigetta - the awesome hip house single Real Caviar.
Throughout 2012 and early 2013, the duo kept producing for La Valigetta, switching their attention to nu disco - and doing sets for various independent stations such as Scrunch. Finally, in the summer of 2013 - they signed with independent label HOF and released their debut album The Goods - a solid soul / funk release packed with grooves and fun - and continued doing regular gigs and singles for La Valigetta throughout 2014.
.webp)
As they entered their final years as a duo - they gained an even wider fan base when they won a remix contest headed by Galantis - providing a gorgeous nu-disco flip of Runaway - which was later officially released and signed to Big Beat / Atlantic Records, and after producing various remixes and the odd single, in early 2016, they ended out their discography with a thumping remix of Mr. Rogers' I'll Take U - which was also signed to Atlantic Records. They continued playing gigs until sometime in 2018, and after then, they completely stopped any kind of activity - hinting at their disbandment.
Even though they left the music world around seven years ago - their impact has been huge - and to this day, they still have a strong fan base online - with their work appearing in numerous Creux La Nuit sets, in mixes for FIBRE's label Montaime and being supported by modern legends such as Kouek.
Right - now you know who they are - let's get to the music!
THE MUSIC:
Those that are fans of the Californian duo will know that they're as funky as it gets (I totally didn't steal that from their MySpace... but it's true!) - and across the years, their style changed, matured, but remained undeniably brilliant. Here are some of my favourite cuts from one of the most underrated duos to grace the game.
Disco Thrills - (Self released, 2010)
This had to go first on the list. Released on SoundCloud in June 2010 - Disco Thrills is one of my favourite house tracks ever made. Flipping Tyrone Bronson's post disco / electro classic The Smurf brilliantly - the guys add a whole lot more funk, finesse and fun - and if I had to pick five disco-influenced songs to stay with me on a desert island - this would be an obvious pick. It's extremely energetic, so much fun to play in DJ sets and it's bound to be a pick me up for those upcoming winter days (man, I hate January...)
Instant Party - (La Valigetta, 2011)
Another one of my all time favourite tracks of the blog-era disco explosion, the self titled track from LBCK's second EP is a true classic. At heart, it's a filter house workout which slams when played loudly and at gigs - but listeners will also find that it's a glitchy nu disco jam with excellent sampling techniques and above all - it's incredibly playful and upbeat - which is why it was one of the many tracks that sound tracked my summer. A track worthy to spin at the parties in your head, and in real life.
Lift You Up - (Self-released, 2011)
I surprisingly only found this one a few months ago - but ever since, it's been a massive staple in my listening. Lift You Up is almost like a precursor to Instant Party - the same glitchy, funky, sample-led vibes are there - however this track also incorporates some sweet synth work with tons of low end - borrowing heavily from the electro house movement of the time - making this one of the perfect examples of the electro-disco house fusion, which at times, was often rare. It's summery, punchy and ridiculously bad-ass - while still being joyful.
.jpg)
Sagittarius (ft. JT Roach) - (La Valigetta, 2014)
A cracking example of LBCK's later work in the mid to late 2010s - Sagittarius is a dazzling nu disco epic with some incredible instrumentation, extremely accomplished production, thumping beats and light, yet fantastic vocal work from JT Roach. Although fully original, thanks to the chopping and slightly boisterous vibes - this single, although new, feels like a fantastic and bright tribute to their earlier work, with lots of glittery 80s influences sprinkled in there for good measure. One of my favourite joints ever!
Start - (On The Fruit, 2010)
Ah, the most iconic of their original tracks.
Initially released as a single in early 2010 - and later as part of their first EP - Start is hands down one of the most recognizable tracks of the bloghouse era - it feels like a wild mix of The Phantom's Revenge and Justice - with its frantic, jumpy chopping and punchy drum work (with some ridiculous hi-hat action!) - this single is a perfect representation of everything great about disco-led house music at this time.
Magna - Are You Ready (LBCK Remix) - (Self released, 2010)
Released in August 2010 as a bonus track on Magna's third EP - LBCK's epic remix of Are You Ready is a sweet, thumping banger that feels extremely reminiscent of The Phantom's Revenge's original work - just like Instant Party, it's a glitchy, disco infused weapon that's sure to get a crowd going. DJs - go and rip this to MP3 and watch everyone go nuts. You can thank me later!
.jpg)
Kamei - Sugarland (LBCK Mellodisco Remix) - (Mozzarella, 2011)
In terms of remixing - I don't think you can get more epic than this.
Released on Italian label Mozzarella in March 2011 - LBCK's edit of Sugarland by Brazilian producer Kamei is nothing short of brilliant. It's a heavy, club ready slice of disco house which is extremely flamboyant, fun yet tough - and to add, there's some rap influences stuffed in there with a whole lot of style. This one's also a massive staple in my DJ sets, and I've played it tens of times. A true blog-era classic!
Galantis - Runaway (LBCK Remix) - (Big Beat, 2015)
One of my favourite remixes of all time - the Californians do an incredible job of turning the original Runaway - one of the most recognizable big room house tracks - into a gorgeous nu-disco track that has lots of funky, warm instrumentation, buckets of added groove and overall - while the original is heavy, slightly harsh and extremely empowering - this remix is much softer, lighter and incredibly joyful. Best listened to on a beach while sipping cocktails at sundown.
Mr. Rogers - I'll Take U (LBCK Remix) - (Atlantic / Big Beat, 2016)
Released as the final thing from LBCK - their remix of I'll Take U by Mr. Rogers is another nu disco influenced classic - although, unlike the Galantis remix featured above - this remix has a much more club ready, slightly mainstream sound - however, it does feature a lot of the stylistic influences that fans have come to expect - thumping, punchy beats, tight production and warm, slightly jittery 80s instrumentation - making this a fantastic track, and an extremely high note to end on!
There you have it, everyone!
You can find LBCK on all great streaming / music platforms - however, I'm going to link their SoundCloud, and also their YouTube page, which contains several tour videos - you can find the majority of their older work on YouTube or Soulseek.
Thank you for reading - and as always, keep enjoying your stay at the discotheque.
Comments
Post a Comment