A-Trak & Armand Van Helden need to be purchased Chinese food for the rest of our lives. Every time these two hang out, the catchiest, funkiest shit in the universe comes out. Duck Sauce originally broke with the MRSA-level infectious “Barbra Streisand” and seems they’ve struck gold again. Honestly, this casual, mini-offering is groovy, stupendously well produced, sourced like a fine wine. Both of these guys get better with age and I can’t wait to see them hang out in NYC.
Because Duck Sauce:
Strife II is one of my absolute favorite liquid Drum & Bass producers in the UK and the world over actually. There’s a quiet beauty to his symphonic, intensely well produced tracks. I can’t wait for someone at Hospital Records to stumble upon this sound and shove him into a room with Etherwood, Camo & Krooked and High Contrast. The drum & bass world will thank you Tony, make it happen.
Tonight, I wanted to celebrate a rather delicious track that I totally forgot existed. In 2010, Tiesto hung out with Kaskade long enough for the two of them to create one of the better, but under-received hits of that year. Kaskade’s smooth atmospheric house came together with Tiesto’s ever progressing signature sound. It was trance-y, but not too far out away from the euphoria the masses crave. It’s a great listen, and definitely a pick me up when you need one. Welcome to tomorrow!
Just in case you thought they were gone for good, The Crystal Method pulled a Beyonce on us two weeks ago. I’d not gotten around to listening to it yet, but on the advice of a number of trusted friends with ears, I gave it a spin. Boy was I glad I did. I don’t know what happened, but boy are they back! There’s a hard, metal-esque, dubby punch to these beats and a pile of featured artists that do some great work. It does have the signature, edgy sound of The Crystal Method, but remixed in a totally new way. (via This Song Is Sick) Check it out here: http://hypem.com/premiere-embed/the+crystal+method & Pre-Order here!
Tonight, I’m giving up a mellow, vibe-y tune that the ethereal & fey Jacoo dropped over the weekend. “Watching You Breathe” uses one of my favorite vocal samples of all time, taken from one of Alan Watts’ famous series of lectures on the mind, life and the ideas of death and rebirth. It’s some far out stuff man, if you pick up what I’m laying down. Smooth ambient vibes, excellent sampling & some amazing modifications to the sound. Get at it, and check out some of the rest of Jacoo’s stuff. Talent rises, and it’s totally what’s needed to round out the weekend, if you’re still fighting the eventual Monday.
I’m not sure if I’ve posted this before, but even if I have, for Throwback Thursday, I give you the irrepressible Flux Pavilion. His remix of Jamiroquai’s classic “Blue Skies” is massive, melancholic and triumphant in its sorrows. Just what you need for mid-January.
MitiS has been blogged about here repeatedly, and I hope continues to maintain the level of quality that earns me geeking out over him as hard as I do. The melodic, lush, chill, but still driving Drum & Bass that we all crave. I’d say more, but it’s a free download & MitiS, so put it into your face if you’re awake 😀
Tonight, I’m bringing you some wobbly, cushy bass, put out by Origami Sound, one of my favorite independent labels. The Bulb remix of “Not Of This Reality” is a smartly arranged & well executed track that adds some spunky beats to some glitchy bass & ethereal vocals. Get at it & Origami Sound for some quality choonage.
I was getting concerned the blog was drifting in what I was covering, moving away from music, so I’m going to bring it squarely back to why you’re here. Quality bits for your earholes. Every night at midnight, a track will fire off into the darkness, that you might like. You might not, but I bet you will, and if you listen, and you don’t, feel free to post in the comments why you don’t 🙂 I may listen, I may not. Ya spinz the wheel ya take yer chances.
This track was sent to me by a dear friend, reminding me of how many people out there are hurting right now. The vocal work by Daughter balances with the superb beat choices and synth production of An-Ten-Nae to create a melancholy beauty that can be felt a thousand different ways. The content of the lyrics push it through the roof when it comes to evoking all the feels, reminding us of that one special person who could just be if they only stopped using.
Terry Gotham 