La.Ga.Sta. offered its services to many weary travellers once more this year. By “following rivers” they drove “through the green” and found themselves in “English Riviera” only to come back again to our station for another refill.
Taking a Friday drive down this year’s memory lane, we think back on our numerous stops including among others:

Our after-hours, absolutely wicked dj set in the VIP room of Melt! Festival. We might have missed Cut Copy’s performance but we certainly had a blast. Shout out to T.E.E.D., Azari & III, Metronomy, Siriusmo, and Planningtorock for their stunning gigs.

The 15-track La.Ga.Sta. Summer Compilation 2011 with lots of exclusives released in August and downloaded by more than 15.000 vroomers in less than a month. Thank you guys!

The La.Ga.Sta mixtapes by the amazing Drop Out Orchestra, CFCF, Das Moth, Pharao Black Magic, Marius, and Mickey. Much appreciated.

Dancing ‘till we dropped with the Can You Relate? team at their super cool parties in Thessaloniki together with The Magician, Shit Robot, Villa, Moullinex, In Flagranti, Acid Washed, and Stopmakingme.

A huge thanks coming out to all of you who filled up our inbox with tons of tunes and mixes, wish we could post them all. Keep them coming.

It’s always such a great pleasure sharing sounds, words and feelings with all the people we love. We don’t really like making lists since we always forget to include everything we loved through the year. But, by popular demand, our pit stop crew tried to bring the Best of 2011 lists (albums, tracks, remixes, EP’s, video) based on what we played most on our car stereo. It was certainly an amazing year with great releases that gave this station the “gas” it needed to carry on driving. Check out our lists below in no particular order. We don’t have winners or losers in this race only drivers that finally make it to the finish line.

This is the 2011 sound of La.Ga.Sta. Vroooommm!

La.Ga.Sta.’s Top 20 Albums of 2011

Metronomy – The English Riviera [Because Music]
Tiger & Woods – Through The Green [Running Back]
Washed Out – Within And Without [Sub Pop]
Azari & III – Azari & III [Loose Lips]
Girls – Father, Son, Holy Ghost [True Panther/Matador]
The Rapture – In the Grace Of Your Love [DFA Records]
Siriusmo – Mosaik [Monkeytown]
Discodeine – Discodeine [Dirty]
Cut Copy – Zonoscope [Modular]
Rimer London – Rimer London [Magnetron]
Holy Ghost! – Holy Ghost! [DFA Records]
Yuksek – Living On The Edge Of Time [Polydor]
Korallreven – An Album by Korallreven [Acéphale]
Cults – Cults [Columbia]
Canyons – Keep Your Dreams [Modular]
Com Truise – Galactic Melt [Ghostly International]
6th Borough Project – One Night In The Borough [Delusions Of Grandeur]
Beni – House Of Beni [Modular]
In Flagranti – Worse For Wear [Codek]
Blood Orange – Coastal Grooves [Domino Records]

La.Ga.Sta.’s Top 20 Tracks of 2011

Metronomy – The Look
The Rapture – How Deep Is Your Love?
Benoit & Sergio – Everybody
Todd Terje – Snooze 4 Love
Paradis – Parfait Tirage
Poolside – Do You Believe?
Jamie xx – Far Nearer
M83 – Midnight City
Try To Find Me – Needs Ending
Joe Goddard – Gabriel (feat. Valentina)
Joakim – Forever Young
Kamp! – Cairo
Glass Candy – Warm In The Winter
Jonas Rathsman – Tobago
Flight Facilities – Foreign Language
Oliver – Memories Of The Future
Citizens! – True Romance
SBTRKT – Pharaohs (feat. Roses Gabor)
Keep Shelly In Athens – Hauntin’ Me
PillowTalk – The Come Back

La.Ga.Sta.’s Top 20 Remixes of 2011

Lykke Li – I Follow Rivers [The Magician Remix]
Connan Mockasin – Forever Dolphin Love [Erol Alkan's Extended Rework]
Jeremy Glenn – New Life [Perseus 'Summer of 83' Remix]
Runaway – Chapter IV [Tensnake Remix]
Dj Nibc – The Doorman [Casino Times Remix]
Teengirl Fantasy – Cheaters [John Talabot’s Classic Vocal Refix]
Is Tropical – The Greeks [Moonlight Matters Remix]
Tensnake – Need Your lovin [Tiger & Woods Remix]
Locussolus – I Want It [Lindstrom & Prins Thomas Remix]
Tyson – Die On The Dancefloor [Mickey Remix]
Cosmic Kids – Reginald’s Groove [Classixx Remix]
Yacht – I Walked Alone [Jacques Renault Remix]
The KDMS: “Tonight [Morgan Geist Remix]
Beni – It’s A Bubble [The Magician Remix]
Mark E – The Day [Prins Thomas Remix]
Paul Weller – Starlite [Black Van Remix]
Lazydisco – More Tigers [Mirror People]
Wolfram Feat. Haddaway – Thing Called Love [Legowelt Remix]
Midnight Savari – Pinisi [The C90s Remix]
Munk – Rue de Rome [Cécile Remix]

La.Ga.Sta.’s Top 20 EP’s of 2011

Todd Terje – Ragysh [Running Back]
Julio Bashmore – Everyone Needs A Theme Tune [PMR Records]
Peter & The Magician – Twist [Kitsuné]
Chad Valley – Equatorial Ultravox [Cascine]
Tornado Wallace – Rainbow Road [Instruments Of Rapture]
John Talabot – Families [Young Turks]
Toro Y Moi – Freaking Out [Carpark]
Suzanne Kraft – Green Flash [Running Back]
Matias Aguayo – I Don’t Smoke [Kompakt]
Moullinex – Chocolat [Gomma]
Montevideo – Tribal Dance [Relish Recordings]
Mario & Vidis – Changed [Future Classic]
The 2 Bears – Bear Hug [Southern Fried Records]
Runaway – Stories [On The Prowl]
Zimmer – Horizontal Disco [Discotexas]
Flume – Sleepless [Future Classic]
Rocco Raimundo – Between The Sheets [Bedmo Disco Records]
Para One & Tacteel – Fair Enough [Fool's Gold]
Chris Malinchak – Villette [French Express]
Beth Ditto – EP [Deconstruction Records]

La.Ga.Sta.’s Best Video of 2011

Directed by MEGAFORCE

La.Ga.Sta.’s Best Mix of 2011
Four Tet – Fabriclive 59

La.Ga.Sta.’s Best Compilation of 2011
If This Is House I Want My Money Back Zwei [Permanent Vacation]

La.Ga.Sta.’s Best Cover of 2011
Paradis – La Ballade de Jim [Alain Souchon Cover]

La.Ga.Sta.’s Best Mixtape of 2011
Poolside – Day & Night

Directed by Marcus Söderlund.

Port-Bagages:
mp3: Korallreven: “As Young As Yesterday” (feat. Victoria Bergsman)
mp3: Korallreven: “Sa Sa Samoa” (feat. Julianna Barwick)

Here’s the dreamy third single from Swedish duo Korallreven, aka Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder (of The Radio Dept). “Sa Sa Samoa”, which features the atmospheric guest vocals of Brooklyn-based Julianna Barwick, is taken from their forthcoming debut album “An Album By Korallreven”, due on November 15th via Acéphale. Dive in.

Download it here.

Port-Bagages:
mp3: Korallreven: “As Young As Yesterday” (feat. Victoria Bergsman)

Korallreven: “As Young As Yesterday” (feat. Victoria Bergsman) [mp3]

Here it is. The new brilliant single from Swedish duo Korallreven. “As Young As Yesterday”, featuring vocals from Taken By Trees’ Victoria Bergsman, is taken from their forthcoming debut album “An Album By Korallreven”, due on November 15th via Acéphale. We expect nothing less from Korallreven. Pre-order the limited 12″ single here.

Port-Bagages:
mp3: Korallreven: “Honey Mine” (feat. Victoria Bergsman)

Swedish duo Korallreven, Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder, will finally release their debut full-length, “An Album By Korallreven”, on November 15th via Acephale. The duo are celebrating the album’s release with a mixtape entitled “A Dream Within A Dream”, featuring tracks by Britney Spears, Ciara, and more. Check out the tracklisting and download the mixtape for free below.

Tracklist:
01. As Young As Yesterday
02. Sa Sa Samoa
03. The Truest Faith
04. Keep Your Eyes Shut
05. Loved-Up
06. Comin’ Closer
07. Pago Pago
08. Honey Mine
09. A Surf On Endorphins
10. Comin’ Down

Stream Korallreven’s “A Dream Within A Dream” mixtape below and grab it here.

Korallreven’s A Dream Within A Dream Mix

Pre-order the album here.

This Is Head: “0007″ [A remix by Korallreven] [mp3]

Here’s the new Korallreven remix of This Is Head’s track “0007″. It will be featured on the upcoming 12” vinyl release called “De Trop”, due out on May 10 via Adrian Recordings. “De Trop” is the first new track to be released from This Is Head after their debut album “0001″.

Originally from Montreal but now living in Paris, the 22-year-old Mike Silver, aka CFCF, is one of our favorite producers. Before coming to Greece for two shows in Thessaloniki (18/3, Can You Relate?) and Athens (19/3, Kormoranos), La.Ga.Sta. spoke with CFCF about music, movies and influences:

La.Ga.Sta.: What made you decide to turn to music in the first place?
CFCF: It just happened naturally from messing around, trying to emulate DJ Shadow and stuff. Gradually I started to concentrate on it more and more and learn more and more.

What’s the story behind your name?
It’s taken from a local TV station in Montreal.

Five words to describe CFCF…
Atmospheric, beat-driven electronic music.

What has influenced you most in the past years?
A lot of different things, I think. I’d say Popol Vuh, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and current trends in UK dance music.

You often draw inspiration from movies. If your debut album “Continent” was a movie which one would it be?
That’s a tough one. The album is pretty varied in style, so I think it would have to be something kind of colorful, eclectic. I’m thinking of a mix between Michael Mann’s “Heat” and Wong Kar-Wai’s “2046″.

Tell us 3 of your favorite movies…
I couldn’t even begin to choose 3 favorites… But some that always come up are Terrence Malick’s “Badlands”, Les Blank’s “Burden of Dreams”, and Michael Mann’s “Manhunter”. But there are so many others. “Barry Lyndon” is another one that I totally adore.

What makes you feel bored?
Sitting around my house, restless and waiting for something to happen. Like waiting for a phone call, or waiting for my album to be finished. I am impatient sometimes.

What turns you on?
Fantastic music which I’ve never heard before, that’s strange and interesting.

Which is your favorite destination?
I’m living in Paris now which I love. I have to admit though when travelling after a while my absolute favorite place to go is home to Montreal. It kind of refills my energy.

What three things do you always travel with?
My laptop obviously, because I work on the go quite a lot. My iPod, for obvious reasons. And when I came to Paris the only instrument I brought with me: a panflute!

What’s your plans for 2011?
I have a few different releases to come, in different styles. To do more shows in Europe, and to come back to North America and do some shows in the US and finish my LP and just enjoy myself.

How can we expect your next album will sound like?
I think it will be a natural progression but a step up from the things I’ve already released. There will be a lot of vocals. It’s going to be kind of like Peter Gabriel.

What is your “Big Love”?
Big question! I guess just the process of seeking out inspiration. Looking for it everywhere and trying to feel inspired, whether by music, film, art, nature, people, whatever. That’s the best thing.

Download two new CFCF tracks below:

Canton No. 2 by CFCF

Download it here.

Gamelan 1 by CFCF

Download it here.

Port-Bagages:
mp3: Korallreven: “The Truest Faith” [CFCF Remix]
mp3: Taken By Trees: “Anna” [CFCF Remix]
mp3: Fabio Lendrum: “Trouble” [CFCF Remix]

Balearic Swedish duo Korallreven just dropped the digital EP of their latest single, ‘Honey Mine’, featuring vocals by Taken By Trees’ Victoria Bergsman. The EP also includes a beautiful rework of ‘Honey Mine’ by Korallreven themselves. Shine on!

Korallreven: ‘Shine On’ [mp3]

Korallreven’s ‘Honey Mine’ EP, backed with remixes from Dan Lissvik, Memoryhouse and Nacho Lovers is out now on Acéphale. Buy your copy here.

Port-Bagages:
mp3: Korallreven: ‘Honey Mine’ [Lissvik Remix].
mp3: Korallreven: ‘Honey Mine’ [feat. Victoria Bergsman].

Yes, all we want for New Year is Classixx’s long-awaited debut album. After the release of their debut hit single, ‘I’ll Get You’, in mid-2009 and their stunning 80-esque disco remixes for Phoenix, Holy Ghost!, Groove Armada, Mayer Hawthorne, Drop The Lime and Beni, amongst others, the Los Angeles-duo of Tyler Blake and Micheal David are preparing their first LP for release in early 2011. We bet that 2011 will be all about Classixx! Prepare yourselves.

Classixx feat. Jeppe: ‘I’ll Get You’ [mp3]

AZARI & III – TBA

The future is now. We’ve said it all about the Toronto house outfit Azari & III. Nothing can stop them. After releasing the synth ‘n’ vocals anthems ‘Hungry (For Your Love)’, ‘Reckless (With Your Love)’ and their latest EP’s ‘Indigo’ and ‘Into The Night’, Azari & III are now ready to drop their debut album for Tiga’s Turbo Recordings in early 2011. Yes, we are hungry for more!

Azari & III: ‘Into The Night’ [mp3]

DISCODEINE – ‘DISCODEINE’

We are big fans of Discodeine, the French duo of Pilooski and Pentile, and it shows. Their 2010 singles ‘Singular’ with Matias Aguayo on vocals and the amazing ‘Synchronize’ that even got Jarvis Cocker in synch with them have got us in the disco-mood for more. Can’t wait for their self-titled debut on February 25th, 2011 via Dirty/Pschent.

Discodeine feat. Matias Aguayo: ‘Singular’ [mp3]

SIRIUSMO – “MOSAIK”

There’s no doubt that Siriusmo, aka Moritz Friedrich, is one of the hottest producers right now. His ‘Mosaik’ of sounds left us staring at the wall for days. And yes, his debut album will finally be released as a 17-track cd and an 18-track 2xLP on February 25 via Monkeytown. Siriusmo’s album pre-single, ‘Feromonikon/Signal’ is coming out on January 14th. You can preview all tracks here and make yourselves a part of Siriusmo’s ‘Mosaik’!

Siriusmo: ‘Mosaik’ [mp3]

JAMES BLAKE – “JAMES BLAKE”

It’s true that the 21-year-old rising UK singer/songwriter James Blake is literally everywhere with his self-titled debut album, which has already leaked. However, it still is one of the most anticipated debut albums of 2011. It is set for release on February 7th on his own Atlas Records. The tracks were composed while Blake was at Goldsmiths University and we can’t wait to fill them up!

Stream:> James Blake: ‘I Mind’

THE AIKIU – TBA

Some things simply blend in perfectly together, like The Aikiu’s voice, performance and style. The Aikiu’s debut single, ‘Just Can’t Sleep’, one of our favourite of 2010, it was only the beginning. Now the French singer Alex Aikiu is ready to release his second catchy pop single, ‘The Red Kiss’, (already The Magician delivered a great remix) in January. His debut album is due out early 2011. Bring it on before we lose our sleep…

The Red Kiss by The Aikiu

NICOLAS JAAR – ‘SPACE IS ONLY NOISE’

In our space we most certainly like his noise because the 20-year-old New Yorker producer Nicolas Jaar makes us wonder about things, such as “How can you talk about a landscape without showing the sky and the earth?”. His long-awaited first album, ‘Space Is Only Noise’, is coming out on February 14th via Circus Company and from what we read it “features the same romantic panache that has characterized much of Jaar’s music to date, with off-kilter, melancholy grooves and lyrics delivered in French”.

Nicolas Jaar – Time for Us (Wolf + Lamb 2010)

Download it here.

KORALLREVEN – TBA

In 2010, Sweden’s duo Korallreven , made up of Marcus Joons and Daniel Tjäder of The Radio Dept. released two blissful singles, ‘The Truest Faith’ and ‘Honey Mine’, featuring Victoria Bergsman on vocals. It was enough to makes us anticipate for their debut album, which is expected to be released in Spring 2011. Let it flow…

Korallreven: ‘Honey Mine’ [feat. Victoria Bergsman] [mp3]

BENI – TBA

Following on his previous singles ‘My Love Sees You’ and ‘Maximus’ on Kitsuné, Beni has recently signed with Modular Recordings for his soon-to-be-released debut album. His LP was written and recorded in various studios, bedrooms, airports, hotels, flights, trains from New York to Hiroshima and back. Sounds very lagasta to us! Keep your eyes peeled for the first single from Beni’s debut album, ‘It’s A Bubble’, which comes with The Magician’s stellar remix!

Beni feat. Sam Sparro: ‘Maximus’ [mp3]

‘PENGUIN PRISON – TBA’

The wait is almost over. Newly signed to Wall Of Sound, Chris Glover, aka Penguin Prison, is gearing up to the release of his debut album early in 2011. We have already hopped on his golden train on a crazy ride hoping to be “multi-millionaire”-s. Yes, you got it right, this is his next single, out in early 2011. Excellent way to start the year…

Penguin Prison: ‘The Worse It Gets’ [mp3]

CLOCK OPERA – TBA

London-based four piece Clock Opera are currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album, which at long last will be released in early 2011. After listening to their brilliant remixes and singles we certainly believe that 2011 will be all around the clock.

Clock Opera: ‘A Piece of String’ [Radio edit] [mp3]

Also, looking forward to the debut albums of Clare Maguire, Jamie Woon, Monarchy, The Sound Of Arrows, Holy Ghost!, Wolf Gang, Ted & Francis…

Another dreamy mixtape by Korallreven. Play…

Tracklist:
01. Julianna Barwick: ‘Cloudbank’
02. Korallreven ft. Victoria Bergsman: ‘Shine On’
03. Estasy: ‘Wonder’ / Cocteau Twins: ‘Cherry-Coloured Funk (Seefeel Remix)’
04. Slim Thug ft. Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Lil Keke, Z-Ro, Trae: ‘Welcome 2 Houston’
05. Cocteau Twins: ‘Cherry-Coloured Funk (Seefeel Remix)’
06. Zomby: ‘Natalia’s Song’
07. Kreayshawn: ‘Bumper (Stalker Remix)’
08. SALEM: ‘Sick’
09. Julianna Barwick: ‘Cloudbank’ / After School Sports: ‘Heartbroken’
10. Gucci Mane ft. Soulja Boy Tell ’Em & Waka Flocka Flame: ‘Bingo’
11. Korallreven: ‘The Truest Faith (Some Remix)’
12. The Radio Dept.: ‘The One’
13. DJ Elmoe: ‘Whea Yo Ghost At, Whea Yo Dead…’
14. Cola Boy: ‘Do You Dream In Cola’ / Estasy: ‘Wonder’
15. Memoryhouse: ‘Heirloom’
16. Julianna Barwick: ‘Cloudbank’

Download it here.