This takes the cake for most inventive Pixies remix ever. This chillwave/melodic remix of the track is almost not there. If you ever needed a Sunday morning comedown or hangover track, it’s right here. The airyness & ethereal backing is so perfect I feel like I might just be imagining half of it. The pianos feel like they’re being strained through a chemical fog, but still strongly evoke the best parts of the original Pixies track. This is a masterful reworking by Berlin native John Laudani. I hope The Pixies hear this. Possibly when they’re in the spa or something. Because this is everything a remix should be. Totally different, but still worthy of the original.
Mixes Of The Week: D:[JR] & Teddy Roosevelt
For this week, I wanted to spotlight two mixes friends I don’t get to see very often released in the last couple of days. These two are interesting ghost talents in their respective cities, and I couldn’t choose between them, so you’re getting them both. Don’t ever say I don’t give you things. First up is Existential Frequencies by D:[JR]. He’s one of the most technically skilled & thoughtful DJs I’ve ever encountered. The first time I saw him spin live, it was the kind of night that involved watching very fucked up people attempt to fix a gas leak. All things were ok, and he spun a set I’ll never forget. This one is ridiculously well mixed, with seamless transitions & track choices that make me go and spend many dollary doos on things from his track list. It’s soothing, if not a bit dark. I’ve always thought that this guy was just as competent of a selectro as most of the talent working in NYC. He’s got a dope day job and living the life, so I can’t blame him for not showing up on more billings. This is another understated talent here that keeps me grooving as much as I would in the lounges & bars I orbit. The mix is uptempo but takes its time getting there. It’s almost as if he’s not trying to impress anyone, and just building for the listener who is in it for the long hall. An admiral goal, and one that he pulls off. It’s the slow builds that do it for me in this kind of house, and he doesn’t disappoint. It stays techy, but has spasms of soul & funk that are most welcome. Great work by the former president.
Midnight Music: Nosaj Thing – Cold Stares ft. Chance The Rapper
This is future y’all. Chance The Rapper hooked up with Nosaj Thing to make something moody gorgeous. Is Proto Blues a genre? Chance leads the lilting & blues-infused bass work through with his usual flair for the excellent yet understated. “Smeagol to Gollum” is my favorite line for 2015. This kind of rhyming seems so much more free, almost like the way it sounded like a while ago. This taste of Nosaj’s (or is it Mr. Thing?) new album, dropping May 5, 2015 gives me a lot of hope for the stuff coming out this year. Hopefully he’ll come back to Web Hall & make a crazy night of it. (off Innovative Leisure / Timetable Records)
Hometown Fire: Wavewhore – Breaks Wizard
Wavewhore put this in my face, and I really couldn’t be happier he did. This is exactly what I needed my breaks to sound like. While people think the genre can’t keep up, I know Vitamin B proves that incorrectly multiple times a year. Wavewhore’s set at VitB proved that this guy knew what he was doing, so when I got this EP in my inbox, I couldn’t be more pleased. The EP is out as of yesterday, and is a duo of dope breaks tracks. You Got It is super well produced, yet quietly all about what makes the genre classically great. Powerful uses a supremely powerful sample and never oversteps its boundaries. Wavewhore makes for a nice little build and break keeping the energy up the entire way through. Get it on Beatport here if you need this for your sets.
If you need him in a little longer format, here’s a mix he did for Birmingham Mountain Radio. Besides that being one of the best names for a radio station I’ve ever heard, the mix is exactly what you need in your life. Here’s to hoping once people get bored of tropical, breaks gets its time in the sun.
He’s got one more surprise for us, a free DL that dropped last week. A heavy rework of Feel That Ammunition by Farace, so now, you’ve got a new EP, a free DL & a mix to keep you satisfied. If you want more, you’ll have to show his social medias some love. Them’s the breaks!
Midnight Music: The Prodigy – Wild Frontier (Wilkinson Remix)
The remix game is just heating up when it comes to The Prodigy’s new album. The Day Is My Enemy is going to spawn a gigantic wave of bomb-ass remixes and this first volley is no exception. Wilkinson bursts out of the gate with this massive release on RAM Records. This is one of those tunes that you just kind of want to flip your hood up and get down with your bad self. It brings out some of the heart inside the amazing Wild Frontier track and adds a fresh dollop of big bass d&b on top of it. Get it now that it’s live on Beatport as well. If you’re into spinning D&B, this track is going to be a must-have this summer. Once The Prodigy starts to get into full swing, these kinds of reworkings are going to be worth their weight in gold. He who remixes best, will win. Now if we could only get The Prodigy to play somewhere on this side of the pond in 2015.
Earworm Of The Month: Si Genaro – When The Last Bird Flies – CLSM Remix [Massive Drum & Bass]
This has been on repeat since I found it at the beginning of March. I’m not entirely sure I’ve ever heard a drum & bass track with this kind of lead time & warning-less drop before. CLSM has been in the scene for a minute now, but I couldn’t recognize the original track or the vocalist. This Si Genaro remix is exquisite and deserves to be nominated for the “Best Amen Break Usage” award. Hey Drum & Bass Awards, if that’s not one yet, get on the stick. It doesn’t seem like it’ll be worth giving it the time that it needs to get where it’s going, but trust me on this one. If there’s any song you need to get to the halfway point on, it’s this one. Especially if you got a flat tire, found out your girl is cheating, or your boss asked you to come in this weekend. Drum & Bass Rising.
Attend: Delta Heavy, Loadstar & Optical @ Slake ft. Armanni Reign
We had Hospitality, we’re getting Crissy Criss & now, to round out #marchdnbmadness, Slake is closing it out with RAM Records. That’s right, Delta Heavy, Loadstar & Optical are showing up. I am so pleased that attention is being paid to Drum & Bass and I’m hoping this shows producers here in NYC that these shows can sell. Crowds show up ensure that these artsts get booked again & that the old stereotypes of the d&b crowd being a rough night on the bar go out with the night’s profits. Slake will get rowdy so get tickets here for this D&B extravaganza. Continue reading
Midnight Music: Anneliese – Singed Spots [Soulful Indie]
This is a wonderful surprise. Anneliese was sent to me by one of my contacts in VA. I’m really happy he did. Her EP is a great offering from some fresh talent down south & this track is a highlight off the EP. The choices when it comes to the pacing, synth work & a no-nonsense attitude work perfectly. The German native that’s landed in VA seems to have picked up exactly what she needs to. The lyrical work is sophisticated ,but she still has chops where she needs them. Anneliese is already punching above her weight class. Show her some love and tell her Terry sent you.
The First Album Cover. Ever.
This is the first album cover, invented by Alex Steinweiss in 1938. That’s right, the album cover, or even the idea of cover art for physical media for music is less than 100 years old. Just something to think about. More info on album covers at the link, big write up by Echoes, an independent artist blog. Go to it.
EP Of The Week: Tennyson – Tennysongs <3
Canadian stunner & wunderkind Tennyson has put together a stellar little EP for us all. Trust that this kid, can produce beyond his years. This kind of stuff has bedroom phenom written all over it. The flowing bass work lilts along with a soothing melodic sunrise synths. You’re Cute starts quietly, but pulls into some fun breakbeat & originally composed rambling bass. This shuffle & whine works and got me interested for where the rest of the EP was going. For You has a little bit of that indietronica vibe to it, but with an almost West Coast feel layered on top. The dreamscape breaks through and the tune saunters along with some clutch & well recorded vocals while Tennyson does work on the keys.
No Answer is a future funk chip extravavangza. Moody bass & keys work is unmatched by people 2 & 3x his age. Smoother reminds of some Homework era Daft Punk meshed with some Air, two of my favorite French artists by the way. And yes, I don’t make the comparison lightly. Aphasia Rewinding gets into a bit more of the experimental realm with the synth work and walks a fine line between funky & IDM. Violet Alturas finshes out the EP with some rounded sunny beats. They make me think I’ve just beaten a game for the Sega Genesis and am walking away on the beach at sunset as the credits roll. The tonality & the attitude is powerful, but he’s got so much damn potential. This is textbook potent composition, and what this kid needs is production assistance, and good mentorship. Does Monstercat give scholarships yet?
Terry Gotham 