I am delighted to bring you a fantastic local trance sensation Monoverse for this week’s mix. The driving after-hours trance set is definitely a standout after the night of epic sets that Pacha hosted last weekend. With tracks from arty, Bart Claessen, Ummet Ozcan, John O’Callaghan, Sander Van Doorn and Above & Beyond, this was a set that rewarded everyone who managed to hang around after Cosmic Gate blew the roof off of the mainstage. If you missed it, or you where somewhere else, here’s your chance to get back into it. Show Monoverse some love here & here as well, in thanks for the dope set. I’m a trancehead at heart, and when NYC locals are able to get that perfect sound, it’s a special treat.
Monthly Archives: November 2014
ENFERNO’s Live Mix Of 3005 Needs Gambino’s Attention
ENFERNO, master of the live mix, dropped a gorgeous rework of 3005, one of the ill joints from Childish Gambino. This guy has been making “press play” DJs look awful for years now, and he’s no stranger to hip hop. The future bass edition of 3005 needs to be featured in a live show as soon as possible. The live edition shows just how much it takes to really make some of the music we’ve come to expect, but right in front of your face. You can score a free download of the track over at Audiomack, so there’s even that going for it. Really, what’s not to like? Hat tip to Vman from Fresh New Tracks for this tip, as always.
EP Of The Weekend: Invention – Hallucinature EP [Chill Future Bliss]
From Future Bass Fridays, officially the best thing coming out of White Raver Rafting these days, this new EP by Invention. I’m such a huge fan of the Future Bass sound, especially as the massive anthem era of 2011-2014 dies a hilariously painful death. Bluffs brings in some chilled beats through that remind you of walking around in the rain while trying to find your way in the world. Tight, lush sounds that wash over you this EP needs your after-party or lounging attention. Equip & Moon Life keep the serene vibe going, each, moving in their own delightfully downtempo way. This is hammock music, or snuggling someone you like in a blanket after getting home from a ridiculous weekend. Sumac rounds out the little joint with some jazzy cyberlounge, if that’s even a thing yet. The track reminds strongly of Ninja Tune, which is saying something, as my friends out there that know their downtempo can attest.
Ten Questions With Terry Gotham: Tommie Sunshine
1. How is 2014 ending out for you? Any crazy summer stories or projects started early on that are coming along nicely? I don’t even know where I could possibly begin. There’s so much going on right now, I have so much music about to come out. I have a television show in development with Red Bull, a lot of things.
2. Do you have a favorite sized crowd that you like to play to? Hotel room sized? Ampitheater? Somewhere in between? I mean, to me, it doesn’t matter how big the crowd is. It never has. I’m just as comfortable playing to 10,000 people as I am to 10. The way I see it, if somebody is going to go the distance, of driving from somewhere far away, like proper ravers do. Then, they deserve the complete show. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a club and it’s not particularly packed, or if it’s a particularly crazy night. I think I deliver the same intensity in every situation.
Someone At Starbucks Loves Notorious.
Mo Money, Mo Lattes. Wait, that’s not how it goes…
Midnight Music: Omar LinX – Dosey Doe (prod. by Pro Logic & Zeds Dead) [Hip Hop Bass]
We’re getting closer. This Song Is Sick tipped me off to the next level of hip hop & bass fusion. We’ve been making baby steps towards fusing the two exceptionally different genres since the late 90’s. While some of the attempts have been awful (I’m looking at you Tiesto & Three Six Mafia, don’t think we’ve forgotten), this is one of the better offerings I’ve heard this year. Omar Linx isn’t too fast, smart, and Pro Logic & Zeds Dead producing this allows for a powerful Future Hip Hop sound. The lyrical work keeps pace with the bass without ever getting too hard, too gangsta or crazy for the beat, and a good time is had by all.
5 UK Drum & Bass Tracks That Need To Be In Your Life.
I got bored and decided to piece together a little pack of Drum & Bass tunes that you may not have heard before. If you haven’t, you’re definitely in for a treat, because these liquid, melodic & deep dnb anthems are exactly what you need to get you through the week.
First up, Etherwood reworking a Jakwob piece. Both UK producers & maestros, the smooth, almost Eastern vibe pushes into your awareness slowly. Debuted first on Annie Mac, this silky ethereal vibe
Fred V & Grafix do stellar work out of Hospital Records, but this remix of my favorite Netsky track from 2014 is an absolute gem. Running Low ft. Beath Ditto is a crucial track for any of the distressed party people we all know, with Fred V & Grafix bringing a symphonic feel to the original that I bet even Netsky didn’t see coming.
If you’ve not heard this before, or the words “Strife II” don’t ring a bell, stop what you’re doing and listen to this. Right now. It’s got some of the most powerful composition & production I’ve ever heard from a producer. This kid needs a label to discover him and it needs to happen yesterday. This track is a frisson-inducing tear jerker that would reduce dancefloors to quivering piles of feels. I would pay good money to see this live and I hope it happens
This was on my October 2014 Soundcloud playlist and if you missed it, change that. The heaviness is powerful, but it keeps the energy up surprisingly well.
Keeno is the crown prince of Hospital Records, and with tracks like this, it’s easy to see why. The effortlessness that seeps into every aspect of his production is readily apparent in this track. It’s got the vocal pop that it needs to hopefully even get some radio play in places that actually play drum & bass on the radio. This American is going to go sulk now.
Midnight Music: Virtual Riot – We’re Not Alone (Cybin Quest Remix) [Synth Bass]
Remix contests are one of the best things that have come out of broadband & global DJ culture. Every time, some ridiculous unknown producer comes out of the invisible internet to put a previously incomprehensible spin on a tune. Virtual Riot does some amazing work, that’s hard to top, but it looks like it’s happened. I know that sometimes it’s hard to listen to a lot of more potent synthy stuff, because a lot of the time, even though the sound that was created “sounds” cool, it’s not used well, and the track is boring. This is definitively not the case with Cybin Quest. This DC native dropped a potent remix of We’re Not Alone last month that I’m just now able to give the attention it properly deserves. This is new sounds people, from an angle people were getting bored of. Everyone can drop bonkers Datsik/Exision/Baystep sounds, but very few can use them correctly. Listen, and enjoy. This kid’s got my attention, and he should probably have yours.
I Literally Can’t With Literally I Can’t, The New Lil Jon Video. Is Frat EDM A Genre Yet?
When it comes to criticism of the dance music community, a lot of it is off base, and I don’t agree with the vast majority of it. However, LMFAO alum Redfoo, Lil Jon & Enertia McFly got some DJs (Play-N-Skillz) and created a tight 4 minute explanation of everything that is wrong with EDM/Party culture. The track fuses misogynist lyrics with a butt-ton of questionable consent & substance use practices, and that’s the most politically kind way I can describe it. It’s as if someone dropped the girls from #Selfie into a Steve Aoki show outside of the VIP. Except worse, because it’s at STFU, a “frat” where people are breakdancing with beer bongs and there’s inflatable pool wrestling going on. While I understand large swaths of the country think that this is essentially the apex of party, can we not?
At what point does propagating a culture of binge drinking, combined with drug use, become complicit? I’m not saying these people are responsible for any stupid decisions, but I get really tired of watching people idolize crunk, then be confused as to why they’re so fucked up they did something stupid that has big boy consequences. Do I think this kind of party exists at colleges all across the country? Yes. Is that their right? Surely. Are there probably thousands of consent violations and bad drug experiences because of it? You know, I hope not, but I can’t be confident about that.
Midnight Music: Hundred’s New Music Video Of An ALLE FARBEN Tune Is Amazing.
This video seems to be one of the first true heirs to the triumph that was The Chemical Brothers music video for Star Guitar (linked below). I think this is on a train in China, but for the life of me I couldn’t tell you with any certainty (10 points to anyone who can comment ID’ing the area). The twee, indie vocals are put on top of a fun ambient midtempo melody. This helps frame the insane visuals that were captured by whoever has an insanely cool daily commute. This is a fun tune I wouldn’t have checked out otherwise so make sure to hit the video & their Soundcloud. (via Stoney Roads)
Terry Gotham 