For everyone who spent the day marching, or arguing on the internet about the tenor of MLK’s message. For everyone grinding or who had to work on one of the days when the markets are closed. This is a track I must’ve missed last year, because it’s straight fire. Alex Clare provides some of the best vocal work he’s done since Not Giving In For Rudimental. The liquid feels are impressive with this one, and this smooths along for the entirety of the track, without letting up. This is some of the smoothest d&b out there, so of course it’s from the young master himself Etherwood. Let this tune soothe your tired body peaceful warriors. Even if the only thing you fight for is a better tomorrow for yourself.
Category Archives: Midnight Music
Midnight Music: Myrone – Kinda Epic ft. Azeem [80’s Electro/Anthem Synth]
Sweet Jam Alert! This slapping bass track is here just in time for self-tying shoes, hoverboards & the ridiculousness that was 80’s futurism. Azeem pushes out some amazing vocal work, with some retro synth guitar coming up behind like a soundtrack interlude in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure or Beverly Hills Cop. The high energy sound that seems to split the difference between electro & 80’s synth rock is fantastic, and I’ve gotta give it up to Myrone for it. It’s a great little interlude that will get your week off to an amazing start. (via FreshNewTracks)
Midnight Music: Grimecraft – Missing U [ChipBass]
New Grimecraft! For your Thursday night, I’m bringing you some retro future bass by the one and only. This tune has deep feels and a swaying bassline that deserves its own mix. This kind of lazy, but exceptionally produced bass rocks back and forth in a hammock under the VGM-inspired melody. It’s got the odd Pikachu sample, and I think I detected a “Hey, Listen!” in there somewhere, which, would be infuriating, if they weren’t used perfectly. It’s not in a hurry, and doesn’t pretend to be anything it isn’t. Kudos to Maltine Records for picking him up, and check out the rest of his EP here.
Midnight Music: Faded (Zac Waters & Tommie Sunshine Remix)
Oh man, Faded. If you have ears, you’ve heard the mysterious ZHU’s masterpiece, Faded, essentially everywhere. I heard a deep house remix at a party in Brooklyn, the same day I heard a more dance-friendly remix on the radio (KTU occasionally knows the score. Not often, but occasionally). However, I’ve gotta say, I like this one a lot. The depth of the electro stabs, combined with the ethereal synth work insulating the vocals works well. There’s a retro stabby electro bass thing going on which I’m all about, and you gotta wait for like 4/5 of the track to go by to get to the real meat. Because Tommie Sunshine makes you fucking work for it. Something I can respect. It’s a great Free DL and Zac Waters puts out a great offering here, with the help of one of the best in the business, Tommie Sunshine. A gem, and a zero dollar gem at that. Get at it, and bomp it before you go to PACHA. Or may be you listen to it before you go rock out to minimal techno at Resolute, whatever man, it’s cool.
Midnight Music: Azealia Banks – Chasing Time (Apocalypto & Mr. Fluff Remix) [Progressive]
This is the kind of pad work I love to hear in my prog-lectro. The piano chords echo throughout the playful remix of Azealia Banks, giving her soaring vocals wings made of euphoric major chord energy. This two-drop track is going to be a summer standard, especially if it gets picked up for Ultra like I’m expecting. The breaks, especially the one at 3:40, bring some powerful low-end without overpowering your senses or getting too bro’y. While the era of big room is over, the world of big melodic, or the return of progressive, heralded by many, is seemingly upon us. Kudos to Apocalypto & Mr. Fluff for doing some great work on this remix and can’t wait to hear what they’ve got up their sleeves for when the winter thaw finally comes.
Midnight Music: The Prodigy – Nasty [Violent Big Beat]
It’s here! The first single on the new Prodigy album is here! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay! They’re the best at what they do and they’re back. This punchy sound is exactly where it needs to be, while also upending some social order goodness lampooning the annual fox hunt thing the gentry in the UK have every year. This is them reminding the world they’re here, this is how to sound like that, and they can do it without truckloads of hardware. While some people have expressed being underwhelmed, this is is how they play. Any fan of The Prodigy know that their first release off of an album is usually a poppier, less aggressive choice. After Smack My Bitch Up became a nation-wide controversy, I’d imagine they may want to generate some furor, without being called terrorists. It’s a fine line when it comes to generating outrage vs. starting to be clamped down on, and The Prodigy have walked that line better than anyone. I can’t wait to hear the rest of this stuff, and if you grab the pre-order, you get the single tomorrow.
Steve James Returns To Indie. Rejoice & Be Glad.
So, the progressive wonder Steve James has once again decided to go the Indie route and we are all the better for it. Pulling down a fun little tune called Karaoke by Smallpools, he puts his signature, yet evolving style on it. The infectious beat combines with some excellent re-working of the vocals to make this just as anthemic as we need right now in gray January. Apparently this tune was started in my city, so you know it’s got a bright future. I’m gonna keep saying it. This is what you’d expect to hear halfway between the indie & dance stages at Governor’s Ball. Like, if you stood in the exact right spot. The break at 3:40 is everything that post-big-room can be. Can’t wait for people to complain of how tired they are of this sound. (via the always on point Michelle Chu of EDMTunes)
Midnight Music: Photographer – Airport Shivers (Armin van Buuren Mashup) [Stupendous Trance]
Just in case the January gray has been getting to you, Armin van Buuren drops a potent mashup of two driving, powerful trance tracks for your listening pleasure. I’m not sure when this was done, but it’s definitely a standout reason why Photographer has been showing up in mix after mix. The trance really needs no explanation or introduction. The anthem vox nestles right into the 138 hard trance vibe and doesn’t let up. If you can’t get enough of this punchy, energetic trance feel, but want some more scintillating trance chords with your lady vocals, get at his most recent remix, taking a Dash Berlin tune and giving it some more of that delightful euphoric, driving beat that us trance heads can’t live without. Don’t worry, you got this. Rest up, the week’s coming for you.
Midnight Music: Danny Stubbs ft. Issa – Voices In The Dark (Remix By Scott Bond)
I had to break up the Drum & Bass streak when I found this in my inbox. Scott Bond continues his hotstreak, pushing out a hard remix of Voices In The Dark, off of the REBOOTED label. This is my kind of trance, with Armin agreeing, dropping it on ASOT690.
The remix pack is delightful, with some quality work being done by Magnus. This smoother re-working of Danny Stubb’s fantastic original work got some love the next week on ASOT. This dreamier, softer, but still intense remix has a gorgeous build around 1:40, and it’s those types of chords I really think need to come back into trance. It’s a sound that flirts with psy, and will keep everyone on their feet.
The package, with the original & 4 remixes drops on Jan 19th, so rock it when it shows up on Beatport eh? It’s going to be a big one in trance sets for 2015, so don’t sleep on it. Especially these two remixes.
Midnight Music: Urbandawn – Words To Say [Drum & Bass]
To keep the week of amazing soulful drum & bass going, Urbandawn pushed out this relaxed, piano-driven tune all the way back in March 2014, but since it’s new to me, you get it now. This is definitely a track I want to hear on positional sound systems. This producer out of Sao Paulo is going to be huge, just you wait and see. He was signed to Hospitality and has put out tracks for Med School before, but this one is really a stand-out. I think this kind of sound should be played in public spaces or in areas where people travel through. I think the use of this kind of chilled vibe for the benefit of all could like, decrease travel stress and aggressive behavior. I know it’s crazy sounding, but tell me you’re not breathing just a touch more slowly after that track. Weird right? 😀
Terry Gotham 