Basement Jaxx Bad Luck while recording their latest album 'Scars'

Basement Jaxx thought they were being smitten by God when making their last album. They told how they felt they were being given a message from above to after sessions for their album 'Scars' were struck by series of unfortunate events.

Felix described how he was initially warned after he was mugged for a second time on his way to the group's studio, and had his bike stolen by a group of children. To make matters worse, their studio was then flooded, making for uncomfortable recording conditions.

Simon added: "It was like God saying 'You Must Leave!' On three occasions water was literally pouring down the walls, so we had to move everything out the way.

http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/basement-jaxxs-godly-fear_1116598

Basement Jaxx to Party at Club Eden

Grammy-winning British electronic duo Basement Jaxx will heat up the party scene with their upcoming performance Feb. 27 at Club Eden, Ritz Carlton Hotel, southern Seoul.

The duo, composed of Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Burton, are behind some of the most popular progressive house anthems in the British club scene. Ratcliffe and Buxton met at a riverboat party in Brixton, south London in the early 1990s. Before they met, Radcliffe was into Latin funk, while Buxton was interested in Chicago house music.

Their distinct influences came together as they formed Atlantic Jaxx Records in 1994. Among their early releases was ``Da Underground'' and ``Samba Magic,'' which was distributed by Virgin Records. As they gained recognition as a top house production unit, the duo was tapped to remix songs for Pet Shop Boys and Roger Sanchez. The single ``Flylife,'' which entered the Top 20 of the U.K. charts in 1997, was one of the year's most popular club anthems around the world. Basement Jaxx also performed regularly in nightclubs, where they gained a following.

They signed with XL Recordings, and released their first album, ``Remedy'' to critical acclaim in 1999. The single ``Red Alert'' was featured in the film ``Bend It Like Beckham'' and various commercials. Other hit songs from the album included ``Jump N' Shout,'' ``Bingo Bango'' and ``Rendez Vu.''Basement Jaxx has also released ``Rooty'' (2001), ``Kish Kash'' (2003) and ``Crazy Itch Radio'' (2006). ``Kish Kash'' became the first recipient of the Best Electronic/Dance Album Award at the 47th Grammy Awards in 2005. Their single ``Where's Your Head At?'' included in the ``Tomb Raider'' soundtrack, also helped boost the duo's international profile.Last September, Basement Jaxx released a new album ``Scars,'' featuring their trademark dance tracks in collaboration with Yoko Ono, Santigold, Sam Sparro and Paloma Faith.``Zephyr,'' described as a ``soundscape'' album, was also made available as a download from Basement Jaxx's Web site in December. It shows an ``ambient, ethereal and mellow side of the Jaxx output,'' and includes collaborations with Ethiopian musician Mulatu Astatke and New York jazz vocalist Jose James.Aside from working on their own music, Basement Jaxx is also known for remix productions.

Basement Jaxx: Basement Jaxx back on the beats with tour, 'Scars'

Basement Jaxx, the British duo responsible for some of the most infectious dance floor anthems of the last decade, is following the release of its latest studio album with a series of rare North American DJ dates this fall, including tonight at the Congress Theater.
For "Scars," the group's fifth album, Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe enlisted Yoko Ono, Kelis, Santigold, blue eyed soul newcomers Sam Sparro and Eli "Paperboy" Reed, Amp Fiddler and Bellrays singer Lisa Kekaula, among others.
The album kicks off with an operatic intro before the title track's stuttering half time beats compete with the band's signature kitchen sink of noise. "Twerk" is an electro-laden floor-filler that riffs on "Maniac" from "Flashdance," anchored by a Yo Majesty rap. "She's No Good" turns Lightspeed Champion's vocal chant into a funkified call-and-response, while "Raindrops" gives Buxton's own vocals the Auto-Tune treatment. Ono lends her vocals to "Day of the Sunflowers (We March On)," while Santigold's ska-tinged track is called "Saga."
The group also recorded a second, still untitled set of "Pink Floyd-y, more ambient-y stuff," according to Buxton. "That's going to come out as probably a mini LP afterward, more for bathtime music."
Fans at tonight's show will see the band's massive, circus like show, which includes an ever evolving crew of 20 or so singers and dancers.

Basement Jaxx Embrace presents

Basement Jaxx are a critically acclaimed English house music duo comprised of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe that rose to popularity in the late 1990s. Started Basement Jaxx in Brixton, South London, UK in 1994, where they held a regular club night called Rooty, which would later become the name of their second artist album (Rooty). In addition to Rooty, their other albums include Kish Kash with the title track sung by Siouxsie, Remedy, The Singles and Crazy Itch Radio. Kish Kash won the 2004 Grammy for best dance album and was their most critically acclaimed album for its innovative sound. They also won BRIT awards in 2002 and 2004, both for Best British Dance Act. In addition to their own work, Basement Jaxx have become in demand remixers. Tracks such as 4 My People (which became a massive chart and club hit), PlayLike I Love You and PlayShe Wants to Move have all had the Basement Jaxx remix treatment.In 2005, Basement Jaxx headlined the UK’s Glastonbury festival as a replacement for Kylie Minogue. In 2006 they were support to Robbie Williamson Robbies “Close Encounters”-Tour.The production duo got their name from the location of the studio where they recorded their first EP - it was located in the basement of friends of Simon Ratcliffe. Currently the Tate Modern invited the duo to write music inspired by a piece of art featured in the gallery. Karel Appellis’s Hip Hip Hoorah! ended up being the inspiring work. There are only two places in the world you can hear it - in the gallery or its official site.

Basement Jaxx new music report

The “Christian Rock” pick in this week’s New Music Report (contributing editor Christian Hoard’s current fave) is Scars, the fifth album from British house duo Basement Jaxx. The group’s 2001 album Rooty featured the hit “Romeo,” which charted in the States thanks to its synthetic yet warm vibe, and Scars is their best album since then. All the tracks are all sung by guest vocalists including Santigold and Kelis, as well as smaller names like Paloma Faith, who takes the lead on “What’s a Girl Got to Do.” It’s a song that’s ready for an iPod commercial with its clipped disco groove, keyboard stabs and rejiggered New Orleans brass.
The beats on Scars are often stronger than the songs, but when Basement Jaxx get a hot beat and a hot tune together you get something magical: progressive pop. It is dance music that can venture into the cheesy — but it’s a good cheesy.

For Good Vibrations the Killers and Basement Jaxx

Headline to the Killers will Good Vibrations 2010 with Basement Jaxx and Armand Van Helden also joining the stellar line up.
In February is Good Vibration in Sydney, Perth, Gold Coast and Melbourne.
Also announced were Gossip, Busta Rhymes, Salt-N-Pepa, Friendly Fires, Z-Trip, Naughty By Nature, Plump DJs, Gym Class Heroes, Chas & Statud, Dave Deaman, DJ Craze, Chuckie, Art vs Science, Bass Kelph, Sam Obernik and Killaqueenz.
Dates are:
Sydney, Centennial Park - Saturday 13 FebruaryPerth, Claremont Showground - Sunday 14 FebruaryGold Coast, Parklands Showgrounds - Saturday 20 FebruaryMelbourne, The Nursery, Flemington Racecourse – Sunday 21 February

Basement Jaxx: Adam Ant Inspiration Felix Buxton reveals

Basement Jaxx returning dance giants have revealed their childhood love of Adam and the Ants.
Basement Jaxx began life as a group of DJs on London's always bustling dance scene. The turntablists quickly realised that they knew their dancefloor better than anyone and began crafting their own tracks.
Chart stardom followed before the duo decided to take a short break. This year with a new album returning, Basement Jaxx stunned fans with a series of sizzling festivals at RockNess and beyond.
Releasing 'Scars' towards the end of the summer Basement Jaxx topped a sensational comeback with more chart success. However in a new interview the band have revealed their childhood love of another chart star - Adam Ant.
"I was a massive Adam and the Ants fan until they got too silly and camp" Felix Buxton told Pitchfork. "But 'Kings of the Wild Frontier' was actually cool and tribal. He's got the great line in that song: "I feel beneath the white there is a red skin suffering from centuries of taming." I thought he was a real wild boy trapped in civilized society."
"I related to that growing up whenever I used to play cowboys and Indians I always thought the Indians were the cool ones."
The Basement Jaxx producer also revealed that he retains an admiration for The Police. "I was trying to work out which tribe I belonged to and I finally realized that I didn't belong in any of them, exactly."
"But I did like the Police because my sister's friend drew footages of them and I had these hand drawn pictures on my bedroom wall. I used to try and sing like Sting I could sound pretty much like him on a few songs because my voice hadn't broken yet. At this point, it's very uncool to like Sting because he's so pretentious. He's annoying but talented."