Victor Jardel has created a masterpiece for a music video. Senbeï (woo copy/paste!) is a fascinating artist and this music video really brings out the best in what he’s created. Victor Jardel‘s creatures come to life and I kind of want to be able to 3D print them and put one on my desk in my office. The design is stupendously polished, with the gremlins blending effortlessly into the background in Paris. The retro-infused beat is broken delightfully, and really needs to get a lot more press. The tune straddles turntablism, electro soul, and an almost Japanesese neo-punk aesthetic at times. I know I just used aesthetic to describe a sound, but you’re also reading about something you can listen to & see, so don’t shoot the messenger 😀 It’s a tremendous effort by Senbeï and I’ve definitely put him on my radar. (via Laughing Squid)
New Kanye. Love him or hate him, Sia & Vic Mensa have been pulled on, with Cashmere Cat producing. This is a live recording, hot from fashion week right here in NYC. Get at this, and drop your favorite flavor of haterade in the comments 😀
Someone needs to tell Trent Reznor, because this is all kinds of wonderful. It throws that sour, black mood we had at one point or another in sharp relief. Ms. Swift does a brilliant job as a foil to The Perfect Drug from way back when. The punks & gen X’ers know what I’m talking about, but you’ve gotta admit, it looks kind of crazy now. We’ve come far since it was all the rage, and I wonder if Trent is mad or amused by this mashup. Someone find him and show this to him on their phone. You know you want to.
I really do have to give it up to Liquicity. They are one of the only places besides Hospital Records on the internet to get consistently dope beats of the liquid variety. I had no idea that there was a liquid DJ in Boston! This means I’m looking into booking things toute suite. This kind of track is exactly the sound that the scene needs. The cool intensity of the back beat rumbling along with the potent, but not abrasive low end is damn near perfect. The vocals put some sexy frosting on the top of the tune, and you’ve got a neat 6:41 of fun. BoxPlot you say?! I’m into it. I love the feeling when you find a new artist and have an entire new Soundcloud to go through. Is that the equivalent of binge Netflixing?
Rashid Ajami is one of these names I would never have come across without Stoney Roads. This mellow, melancholy re-work of Lost Causes by Flunk is fantastic, though it’s not exactly the most euphoric. The slow pace matches the soft, soulful vocals from Flunk, and the result is a song made of feels. This kind of stuff may not get festival main-stage play, but it’s a decidedly necessary part of the music spectrum. Especially in the world where many genres seem to have gone content-free while slapping a smiley face on stuff, Ajami is keeping it real. This is good for a gray day or a contemplative mood. Get at this London/NY based producer who is definitely coming up in 2015.
This delightful little cover by Flash Mob Jazz is exactly what we need more of these days. Someone should call Puddles and make a full compilation of vintage’d dance hits. The frontman kinda looks like Boy George, but he’s got the chops where it counts. The trumpet & sax solos are on point and the drum & bass (upright bass that is) work bring it all together. It’s Monday afternoon, you’ve made it through the hardest part of the week. (via Laughing Squid)
Rameses B is back on Monstercat and this track had me tore up. It’s kind of impressive when a tune can reduce you to a blubbering mess on a gray rainy Monday afternoon. The unbeatable formula of perfect builds, stupdendously positioned vocals, a tremendous back beat & a sample that comes out of nowhere wins again, as Rameses B bursts out of the gate for 2015. If this is any indication of the year that this guy is going to have, my ears are going to love 2015. This track is an immediate listen, even if it’s chock full of feels and may make things bubble inside you that you weren’t expecting. No, that’s not gas. You’re just being taken away to the world of liquid d&b made by one of the best. Veela doesn’t disappoint so put the track in your face and tell yo friends. This one is going places, you heard it here first.
(Super honored to bring you this chat I had with rising star DJ Alex Funk. If you were at Bonnaroo last year, you know what I mean.) 1. Headed back to Bonnaroo this year? What’s on tap for 2015? I have no idea, but if they want me, I’ll be there with bells on! At Bonnaroo 2014 – as an unlisted act – I built a crowd of 200-300 people into a crowd of 5000 two nights in a row during the my set on Friday night and my set on Saturday night on the Kalliope Stage (both recordings on my SoundCloud). Skrillex showed up on Saturday after his SuperJam, liked the party and asked if he could jump on. I was drenched in sweat and dead after two insane hours, so Skrillex and Mija (OWSLA) took over and it was the surprise – now infamous – Secret Skrillex Morning Party. (Check a clip from his stupid good Bonnaroo set below)
This winter I’m really focused on the NYC after-hours scene and production, production, production – there’s no real DJ career without original music. Definitely Burning Man 2015, where I’ll have a curatorial role besides DJing at several camps.
2. Now that you’ve performed in a number of different cities in the USA, do you have preferences? Do you think one city “gets it right?” Phoenix, AZ (period). They are totally open-minded to new sounds while giving tons of respect to the history of dance music. You can hear talented local DJs like Sean Watson, DJ Ascension, Steve Hill, etc and big touring acts like Diplo, Dillon Francis, Zedd, etc…All the pieces are there.
Most local party scenes are big on “personalities”…this is nothing worse for the music. Inevitably,when the popular kids are in the DJ booth and it just becomes selfie sticks and bad bootlegs. If you want great music, ask the music nerd, not the popular kid. Phoenix respects and elevates artistic talent over personality appeal. That’s what makes it a great scene.
This track is everything right now. This downtempo remix of Gil Scott-Heron’s masterpiece is a must listen. The source material is treated with the reverence by Babicka it deserves and adds a perfect amount of ambiance. This kind of more minimal & technical sound approaches chillwave, but definitely keeps you moving. The voice reminds us all, echoing the struggles of the past, as we seem to be fighting many of those battles all over again. The tune definitely needs wide exposure, and those who are fighting need to know that they are not alone. I’ve got to admit, it’s getting better, it’s getting better, all the time. Check out the Untzz, the label out of Adelaide, Australia this fire is coming from.
Terry Gotham 