We've all heard the Ladyhawke album. Some liked it, some didn't and some liked only the singles. There is no point in saying, for example, that she is like a new version of The Pretenders, because, yes, she is so 2008 and she reached out to her people already. But hey, she has a new video out that looks like a cheap Disney movie with pirates, space themes and white horses for the song 'Magic' and you might be doing nothing at the moment... I personally think both song and video are a bit "meh" (watch it below) but it has a good remix in the packet that won me over.

That's because it's Classixx, and, as usual, beautifully produced. They kept the 80's vibe of the original, but instead of the guitars they used a sea of different synths. This remix isn't supposed to be played in clubs, but it delivers a nice new version of the song to be played at home. And you know what? The same can be said about The Swiss remix, except it's actually better than the Classixx one...

Ladyhawke by Sarah Larnach

Well, at least for an incredibly limited edition run of 30 t-shirts that she designed for her month in CTRL for Topman.

Super Limited Edition Ladyhawke for TOPMAN

And of these 30, how many are left in the WHOLE WORLD after most of her posse/entourage went through them?

TWO. 

And you know who has them?

WE DO.

But you know what? We wanna give them away to you guys.

Stalk us on twitter, hit follow and reply back @imyouare what you would do to get your hands on one of these tshirts. Competition will close at 10pm LONDON TIME on WEDNESDAY the 20th of MAY, and we'll pick a winner at random from the FOLLOWERS who hit reply.

So go forth and twit that shit!

UPDATE: We have our winners! PARABÉNS to PEDROSOTERO from Brasilia, Brazil, and congratulations EllaBM from London, United Kingdom! Thanks everyone for all the @imyouare replies - we had a lot of fun reading what you'd do for one of these tees. Never fear, we'll be back with some more goodies for you soon! XOXO

Pip Brown

Ladyhawke is re-releasing 'Back of the Van' on Modular/Island records on Monday the 18^th. On trawling my iTunes for the track, I discovered I already had it four times from four other releases. Anyway, here's the supremely 80s influenced video below in case you've been living in a cave, directed by much sought after director Kinga Burza.

Wawa has done a remix of the track for this release. It's thumping, with nothing at all groundbreaking, or even particularly memorable about it, but it's a nice 'n' dancey/housey affair. Then again perhaps it's the original song itself that just isn't that memorable. When I first saw Ladyhawke almost exactly a year ago on May 14^th 2008, she was being heavily supported by BFF Peaches (as in the teaches of). And witnessing Pip live I commented:

"Most of the Kiwis lining the stage could sing all the words to her songs. And soon enough, so could I - there were hooks my friends, hooks galore. But, none of them got me line and sinker."

Thing is about Ladyhawke, since the beginning, I've had this feeling that I just don't quite believe her. There's some element of a lack of conviction about Ladyhawke. She's just too...averagely alright.

Below is the remix Van She did of 'Back of the Van' too just for you. It's super; farrrrr more rockin', with it's dirty guitars and stabby synths and the balls that Ladyhawke's music unfortunately just doesn't have. 

Canyons

DJ/producer duo Leo Holiday and Ryan Seamist, together known as Canyons, threw their lot in with the Modular crew and signed to the record label last week, joining ranks with the Presets, Cutters and Tame Impala (also originally from Perth, who Canyons have released a split 12" with). And besides this, they already had their own record label, Hole in the Sky, to release whatever kind of shit they want to, as well as a 12" being released via DFA called 'Fire Eyes' due out on the 21^st of July. Impressive.

Canyons is an intriguing project - though I actually pretty much ignored them when they first cropped up last year - having remixed Ladyhawke's 'Dusk til Dawn'. As the title of their take suggested ('Canyons Garage Disco Remix'), with distorted guitar - solos included, muzzy bass, and oddly enough some disco handclaps thrown into the mix next to a 70s rock vibe, it's more of a raw and messy affair than the original.

Besides Ladyhawke, they've remixed tracks from others on the Aussie scene, including a couple of Tame Impala tracks, Lost Valentinos' 'Bismarck' and the (international) remix village bicycle that has been Empire of the Sun's 'We Are the People' (cop 'em all below).

Canyons stuff isn't necessarily intended to be dancefloor shaking, and frankly, they're not - though they are definitely groove-worthy. Canyons strip away a sample or song to its bones before re-fitting it with completely different flesh; comprised of their dirty, lazily cruising, twisted, garage-infused-hippie disco. I suspect that this may or may not have something to do with coming from Perth. They're like a cup of weird herbal tea - not automatically the kinda brew I'd go back to drink time and time again, but most definitely an interesting variation to my regular cuppa. I'll be watching to see where these kids go.

It's Ladyhawke, innit.

Photograph by Matt Irwin 

Topman has been giving emerging fashion designers a leg up in the industry via MAN, the only menswear show on schedule at London Fashion Week. Each season a panel of important industry types choose a line up of designers to showcase their collections alongside Topman Design. Topman has turned it's attention to music and CTRL is their platform.

Last month it was Metronomy, and this month Ladyhawke is curating Topman's CTRL series, having chosen Marina and the Diamonds, Dan Black and Fan Death for her gig. Here's the lady herself telling us a bit about it all, exclusively for IM//UR.

The gig is on the 30th of April at Manchester's Deaf Institute. In the meantime, speaking of Fan Death, here's the sexily dark remix they did of Ladyhawke's 'My Delirium':