Spinner RPM: The Presets

Posted on Aug 7th 2008 7:00PM by Mike Spinella
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Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes -- the Australian electro-house duo better know as the Presets -- have been controlling dance floors since forming in 2003. The pair take their aggressive four on the floor sound to the stage, performing live across the Globe with the likes of Daft Punk and countless others. Their sophomore album, 'Apocalypso,' reached No. 1 in their homeland, while the band is currently out with fellow mates from Down Under, Cut Copy.Moreover, Cut Copy band brings a live show rivaled by the likes LCD Soundsystem and Hot Chip. Having created major inroads in their homeland, the act is poised to gain similar recognition Stateside and beyond, making noise with relentless touring and stellar remix work with artists ranging from Architecture in Helsinki to Lenny Kravitz.

Touring and remixes aren't the only means the duo has used to propel awareness beyond the hipster and vinyl heads. Straying away from guest vocalists, commercial syncs have proven to be lucrative. "TV ads and TV shows get our music to so many people we would never usually reach," Hamilton tells Spinner. "Sales of our old song 'Are You the One' went crazy after some dude used it on 'So You Think You Can Dance' last year."

Their synth-laden dark 'Apocalyso' is their most focused work to date, and embraces the best elements of Depeche Mode and Daft Punk but also keeps dance-floor ready pop sensibilities at the forefront. "For this record we wanted to try and write cold, stark club music, but inject them with warm, romantic pop songs," Hamilton says. "Our musical idols were Pet Shop Boys, the Eurythmics, Bronski Beat -- bands that make pop music first, but are heavily influenced by the club sound. They wrote really beautiful, catchy pop songs, yet their beats were right at home on the dance floor."

In support of 'Apocalyso' and their ongoing tour, the pair put together a mixtape of diverse tunes ranging from metal to techno exclusively for Spinner.

Download: 'This Boy's In Love' (LifeLike Remix) (MP3)

The Presets, 'Get off the Beach' Mixtape

Roy Buchanan, 'A Fly By Night'
Hanadensha, 'Acoustic Mothership'
Public Enemy, 'Black Steel In the Hour of Chaos'
Von Sudenfed, 'Dear Dead Friends'
Sparks, 'Beat the Clock'
African Suite, 'In the Pocket'
Jamie Anderson & Jesse Rose, 'Jack Your Body' (Body Jackin')
Aphex Twin, 'Windowlicker' (End Roll Version)
Toecutter, 'Terror Australis'
Sepultura, 'Roots Bloody Roots'
Raymond Scott, 'Cindy Electronium'
Ambivalent, 'R U OK'
Compuphonic & Kolombo, 'Passing Light'
Tomita, 'Snowflakes Are Dancing'
Chromatics, 'In the City'
Pantha du Prince, 'Saturn Strobe'
The Presets, 'Anywhere' (Compuphonic & Kolombo Remix)
Cornelius, 'Scum'

More Presets: