Technology Club Watt’s Dancefloor Generates Power

Of all the environmentally-friendly activities out there, hitting the club seems pretty low on the list. But not at Club Watt, a Netherlands establishment that recently installed a pressure-sensitive dancefloor that generates energy when partygoers move. The result was a 30% cut back in energy consumption.

Stef van Dongen, the founder of the Dutch company Enviu, was responsible for creating what he calls the Sustainable Dance Club. Reducing Watt’s carbon footprint through LED lights (also embedded in the dancefloor) was just part of it'the water in the toilets came from rain too. Check out van Dongen’s interview about Watt and an advertisement below.

Music Ratatat’s Lo-Fi Electro Returns On “Shiller”

Americans normally have piss-poor taste in electronic music. On a mainstream level, fans have always insisted on keeping their guitar-based rock completely separated from synth and sample-driven dance music. Still, the underground has no shortage of innovative acts, notably Brooklyn-based instrumentalist duo Ratatat (made up of Mike Stroud and Evan Mast), who have been winning since 2003 with a unique mix of gritty guitars and lo-fi electronics.

The duo has dropped two studio albums, plus full remixes of each with vocals from folks like Young Jeezy, Jay-Z and Bun B. With their third album LP3 set for release on XL Recordings this July, their newest single “Shiller” shows their more melancholy side. Listen to the full song below.

Events Bun B Welcomes L-R-G and Courvoisier To Texas

You don’t have to be a UGK fan to know that Bun B is the man. Take the recent Complex party with L-R-G and Courvoisier for instance. The underground king hosted the Houston leg of L-R-G spring tour at End Zone Fashions, where he and guests like super-producer Manny Fresh greeted some of H-Town’s finest eye candy. Oh, L-R-G and Courvoisier’s cool line of products from their recent collab were on display too. See what you missed after the jump.

Music Bun B’s Release Party Recap

This week started out legendary. On Tuesday, Bun B and Microsoft Zune previewed his new album “II Trill” at New York’s Spotlight Live. As tracks from UGK’s latest double-disc banger, “Underground Kingz” set the mood for a highly anticipated night, free food and open bar aside, Houston’s finest made his grandiose entrance followed by a chain of girls “that could have won the horse awards.” Bun happily greeted every guest, shook every hand, and took every picture'a gentleman by nature. Country cousin, Talib Kweli was amongst the guests treated to the album’s host of A-listers, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco, and well, the unlisted, Mya. Bun’s follow-up to 2005’s “Trill” kicked off with the Clinton Sparks produced, “Ill Trill,” while Junior Reid and the multi-talented Sean Kingston defined “gangsta” on “If It Was Up II Me,” and prayers for Bun’s lost brother Pimp C stuck in our minds on “Angel In The Sky.” Check out our exclusive interview with Bun right here. Still trill.
“II Trill” is in stores April 29th on Rap-A-Lot Records.

-Jaeki Cho