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Here's the conclusion to Hercules & Love Affair's "Don't Look Down" performance, where the sun finally sets on the rooftop dance party, but not before a rousing rendition of the epic "Hercules' Theme", a bubbling, brooding disco epic brimming over with lavish horn blasts and sensuous "yeah yeah yeaaah" vocals from Nomi Ruiz. Yesterday we had Part 1.

"Hercules' Theme"

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Is the gospel-flavored "Aeon" the best song on Antony and the Johnsons' excellent new album The Crying Light? It's definitely way the hell up there, and it sounded very good on the set of "Late Show With David Letterman" Tuesday night. 

Update: Hey, it's a busy time for Antony and the Johnsons. They were guests on today's episode of Minnesota Public Radio's "The Current", where he and the band performed "Her Eyes Are Underneath The Ground", "Epilepsy Is Dancing", and "Another World". There's also an interview with Antony by host Mark Wheat.

Stream:> Antony and the Johnsons: Live on "The Current"

"Aeon" (Live on "Late Show With David Letterman")

[original version from The Crying Light; out now in the U.S. on Secretly Canadian and in the UK and Europe on Rough Trade]

You might remember Vivian Girls' "Lake House" from last year's KEXP live session, or from any one of their countless shows since. But despite the constant touring (if they're not going for a record, they probably should be), New York's first ladies of lo-fi have taken a minute to put "Lake House" down on wax for the eighth installment of Almost Ready's The World's Lousy With Ideas compilation. Here, VG trade in their stock 1960s girl-group panache for a brief little rockabilly-nodding ditty that's got more in common with Charlie Feathers than the Ronettes. All the familiar Vivian tropes are present (that's a good thing), resulting in a clamorous saloon anthem that's as menacing as it is sun-dappled.

MP3:> Vivian Girls: "Lake House"
[from The World's Lousy With Ideas Vol. 8; forthcoming from Almost Ready]

"Moi je vais chez toi, mais toi tu viens pas chez moi. Viens chez moi, je vais chez toi, on sera tous ensembles" sings Amadou in Amadou & Mariam's "Tambara", an unreleased song recorded during the Welcome to Mali sessions that finds the couple connecting with artists far beyond the reaches of their home country. Mehdi Habad's oud adds a little something, as do the vocals of Smriti Minocha, a singer who is no stranger to music that fuses various sounds together-- she lent her soft yet strong tones to Salif Keita on his last album, M'Bemba. The lyric, in English, can be translated as "I go to your place, but you don't come to mine. Come to me; I'll go to you; we'll all be together." Indeed. Not only does this describe the song itself, but perhaps a bit of Amadou & Mariam's musical philosophy. Sure, it's not likely that many folks will be able to take a trip to Mali. But listening to a tune like this, which brings together all sorts of influences, feels like paying a visit and getting everyone together-- a great idea that can produce some great music.

[Welcome to Mali is out now on Because]

Rather fittingly, the video for Fol Chen's "Cable TV" takes place on the grounds of a roadside motel whose rooms feature some of the humble amenities-- A/C, free ice, uh... cable TV-- mentioned in the song. It may be a little on the nose, but the colorful tourist stop provides an appropriately cinematic backdrop for the Laker Girls to bust some Britney Spears moves in the empty pool, and some econo romanticism. Chris Wilcha directs.

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[from Part One: John Shade, Your Fortune's Made; out now on Asthmatic Kitty]

Liverpudlians Ladytron and Los Angelenos Great Northern have played at least a few shows together over the years, and now the radio-ready SoCal power-poppers have remixed latest Ladytron single "Tomorrow". In an age of increasingly superfluous cross-branding remixes, this cut from the forthcoming Tomorrow remixes EP may not break any new ground, but at least it has a raison d'être. Great Northern, a guitar outfit, retrofit Ladytron's electronic-oriented track from last year's Velocifero with crashing guitars, additional backing vocals, and some plangent piano toward the end. Simple concept, polished execution: from Ladytron to Ladyrock.

MP3:> Ladytron: "Tomorrow (Great Northern Remix)"
[from the Tomorrow EP and original version from Velocifero; due 03/03/09 and out now, respectively, both on Nettwerk]

If kuduro, the housey Angolan dance variant, wasn't infectious enough on it's own or when electrified further by Portugal's Buraka Som Sistema (for evidence check killer single "Yah!"), leave it to Hot Chip to toss a little more fun into the mix. "Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)" is perhaps what some are calling ghettotech these days, but the remix brings a little bit of UK rave to the party. The original from Black Diamond is an upbeat affair that's difficult not to dance to. Hot Chip's quality remix, however, brings big warm bass half way through. A fantastic addition to the tune that not only ups the danceability factor, but it's sure to put a smile on the face of anyone who gets to hear this one nice and loud.

MP3:> Buraka Som Sistema:"Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) (Hot Chip Remix)"
[original version from Black Diamond; out now on Enchufada/Sony BMG]

If you weren't able to catch Hercules & Love Affair on their all-too-brief tour last year, here's a chance to see what you were missing. Brooklyn disco revivalist Andy Butler brought his eight-person band to a New York rooftop for the latest episode of "Don't Look Down". In part one, they stretch out the elastic grooves of 2008's brilliant self-titled debut, transitioning flawlessly between standout tracks "You Belong", "True/False, Fake/Real", and "Athene", as the sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline. Stay tuned tomorrow for part two.

"You Belong"

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"True/False, Fake/Real"

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"Athene"

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The Bruce Springsteen song featured in the Darren Aronofsky film The Wrestler, which shocked fans when it failed to earn an Oscar nomination, now has an official video. We see Bruce looking grim and buff as he paces around an empty ring and sings into the camera, intercut with footage from the film. Now, I haven't seen The Wrestler yet, so I can't comment on how it was used in the movie, but I'm not quite feeling this song the way everyone else seems to. Latter-day slow acoustic Bruce is a harder sell for me, and I could name a half-dozen songs from Working on a Dream I'd rather listen to, even if the self-doubting lyrics are pretty powerful. (via Stereogum)

[from Working on a Dream; out now on Columbia]

Amon Tobin lived in Montreal for a while, and during his stay he played rhythm pen-pal with Brighton-based Joe "Doubleclick" Chapman. Together they've christened themselves Two Fingers, and this recent (and unlikely) combination with UK MC Sway is the first piece of evidence that the upcoming LP (which, in an also unlikely turn, matches the production duo with dancehall bad gyal Ce'cile and hip hop hustler Ms. Jade) will be both a little odd and potentially good. When listening to this track, it's hard not to think that Tobin was inspired by the weather of a French Canadian city that can change from icy winter to sweltering summer within a week-- its all about extremes. The tune has a crunchy, lonely, cold industrial sound paired with what might be the opposite-- honest, earnest, thoughtful lyrics. And then mixed on top of it all is a bit of English dreariness.

(from the "What You Know" single; out now; also from Two Fingers; due 04/14/09; both on Paper Bag)