MSTRKRFT Overview

MSTRKRFT (pronounced "Master-craft") is an electronic music group from Toronto (The Beaches), Ontario, Canada who are signed to Last Gang Records. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler formerly of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P (Alex Puodziukas)... [more]

MSTRKRFT (pronounced "Master-craft") is an electronic music group from Toronto (The Beaches), Ontario, Canada who are signed to Last Gang Records. The group was started in 2005 by Jesse F. Keeler formerly of Death from Above 1979 and Al-P (Alex Puodziukas) formerly of the Mississauga electropop group Girlsareshort.[1][2][3] Al-P was also the producer for Death from Above 1979s album You're a Woman, I'm a Machine as well as several of (Jesse's former band) Black Cat #13's records. The duo has been close friends, as well as work partners, for a long time.[4] MSTRKRFT also produced Die Mannequin's first EP, How to Kill, and Magneta Lane's second LP, Dancing With Daggers.[5] MSTRKRFT have been commissioned to remix songs by such artists as Justice, Bloc Party, Metric, Wolfmother,[6] Annie and The Kills.[7] Their first single was "Easy Love", released in 2006. They released their second single, "Work On You", on July 6. In contrast to the "Easy Love" music video, "Work On You" featured animated robots similar to those found in classic cartoons (see: Voltron, Transformers ). Although The Looks is MSTRKRFT's first album featuring original content, the band has created remixes from a variety of other artists ranging from Buck 65 to The Kills to Jesse F. Keeler's own band, Death from Above 1979. MSTRKRFT released their first LP, The Looks, on July 18, 2006 in the United States and February 2, 2007 in Britain. Keeler and Al-P told Eye Weekly weeks before the release of The Looks, that as the album was being finished, the planning stages for a follow-up record had already begun. Describing the upcoming album's new direction, Al-P said that the album would be "darker, underground disco and house with elements of American rock music." The "2007" version of their song "Street Justice" was also released as a single. On the band's website message board, Keeler mentioned they were also working on a compilation album composed of their remixed tracks. Street Justice was also featured on the THQ action game, Saints Row 2. Neon Knights was also featured on Need For Speed: Pro Street, and their remix for Justices' D.A.N.C.E. was featured on the movie "Meet The Spartans". Their song "Paris" was featured in a 2006 commercial for the online music store URGE. In 2007 MSTRKRFT appeared at the WEMF World Electronic Music Festival. In September 2007 MSTRKRFT performed at an Australian spring music festival "Parklife" in Brisbane. They performed their remix of the song "Woman" from Modular label mates Wolfmother. Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother appeared on stage and sang live while MSTRKRFT performed the remix. In 2008 through Obeygiant.com released a mix cd with Z-Trip. In conjunction with this CD, Obey offered the Art work print, entitled Soundclash of the Titans. On May 24, 2008 MSTRKRFT were featured on the famous BBC Radio 1 show, The Essential Mix. MSTRKRFT later performed at the 2008 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, which included a diverse group of artists ranging from Metallica to Jack Johnson. On March 17, 2009, MSTRKRFT released their second LP, Fist of God. All songs were written by Jesse F. Keeler and Al-P. Initial critical response has been average at best, with major periodicals Spin, Rolling Stone, and Blender giving the album less-than-stellar reviews. The album features guest appearances by John Legend, E-40, N.O.R.E., and Lil' Mo, among others. [show less]