This one took me surprise, during a friend’s live set. This scintillating remix of BT’s Somnambulist is quite good. BT’s a tough artist to remix as he’s one of the best composers in the industry, hands down. When someone can pull this kind of feeling into a BT tune, I couldn’t be more happy about it. This kind of build isn’t something we hear at trance shows anymore. Any trance track that makes you wait 4min 30sec to give you what you want is my kind of trance. It’s a dope build, a better break, and it’s getting harder and harder to find this kind of stuff. As the track is from 2011, it’s retro enough. Here’s to hoping this kind of sound comes back shortly, as I know that many of us have been waiting for quite some time.
Ferry Drops Euphoric Trance & We Love Him For It!
This is the kind of music that I feel like we really should be listening to all the time. If you’ve seen a Bill & Ted movie, this is my Wyld Stallions vibe. This is the music that brings peace to the world, if we’d only just all listen to it. Specifically the 2:30 & on build. This kind of extended euphoric, driving, yet modern trance sound is exactly what I think 2015 needs. I can’t wait to hear what the rest of this EP sounds like, and I am terribly sorry for sleeping on this one. This is weeks old, and I really should’ve been on top of it. This track is everything right with dance music at the moment. Sink your teeth in and show some love to Ferry. He is one of the best. Bomp this track loud and you’ll see why I think so.
Earworm Of The Month: Jayceeoh & B-Sides – Still In This B#tch 2015 (B.o.B. Flip)
Bruh. This is the anthem for 2015. Granted, it’s some anthem trap so I know not everyone may get down to this entire track. However, the build, the anthem break and the auto-tune game is on point. It’s weird to think of auto-tune as something that can be right, but when you hear “Bitch, we Still in this” you’ll know what I mean. I’m kind of amazed “& the B-Sides” hasn’t ever been used before, as it’s a fantastic way to end a band name. The track is massive, and is the closest thing to a diss track I’ve heard in EDM. I would love to hear some more big room “We’re gonna kill it” faux-motivational tracks. Could be great for working out, and this one definitely helps me rip it up at the gym. This needs a rambling crazy trance remix ASAP.
Midnight Music: Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime (Gigamesh Remix) [Indie House]
For Throwback Thursday, I’ve got a treat for you. I never really understood the Talking Heads when I was younger. They hit the mainstream before I was old enough to know what music was, essentially. So I never got into it, however, this remix hit me at just the right moment, and now I kinda get it. This is a tremendous re-working and “How did I get here?” makes a whole lot more sense now that I’ve got some miles under these tires. Where is that large automobile indeed. I think there’s a lot of wisdom in some of the older music that will hopefully start getting remixed now that it’s officially “vintage.” Weird thinking of the 80’s being vintage, but when you’re 30 years out (yup!), the meanings will evolve, and we’ll all be better for it. The dance house vibe on this is strong, so put it into your face as the days go by. Gilgamesh does some great work here, so give em some love.
Keeno Goes Full Time! Dope Track On Hospital 2015 As Well!
This is news that brings a tear to my eye. Keeno, in a heartfelt post on Facebook page, declared that he’s going to leave school to pursue music creation full time. In his own words:
Devoting my life to writing and performing music is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. I feel immensely fortunate to be able to make it my job as well as my passion and I have all of you to thank in helping that become a reality.
This is what it’s about ladies & gentlemen. This kid has a tremendous career ahead of him, I’m so glad he’s been embraced by Hospital Records & Med School. They’ve provided him with a great foundation and I think more artists (outside the USA, because here, it’s a fucking nightmare just trying to survive) should give this a try. He’s got a gorgeous debut album & 3 EPs out, so I wanted to take this time to feature some of my favorite tracks from his burgeoning discography. First, from his debut album:First up, off the Life Cycle LP, Nocturne & Innocence. These two tracks are great examples of what can be done in the modern drum & bass soundscape, by someone clever with the right resources. The smoothness of the beats, vocals, harmonies, every second of both tracks could not be done better. If you’re into this sound, take Keeno & study him. The silence, the gaps, the shimmering chords, all of it.Just in case you thought he was a dope original composer, these remixes prove he can hang in that game as well. These two show a gigantic range, especially when you remember that both London Grammar & James Bond are UK media forces that couldn’t be more different. The London Grammar remix, much like the ANDY C one, shows that the more melancholy end of the D&B spectrum can still power you through. And the Skyfall remix is a personal favorite, just because I feel that theme needed a serious amount of bass added to it. And finally, his most recent single, released less than 48hrs ago, for the Hospital 2015 compilation. This track, done with one of his favorite partners in crime, Whiney, continues the lofty, signature sound that I adore. This classical approach to the D&B bpm is amazing & I hope more artists copy it after Keeno gets his just desserts for it. His 2015 is going to be so incredible, I’m already jealous of people who live in the UK and can see him live with the rest of the Hospital/Med School crews. I am so glad to be able to bring this to you, my readers. People do follow their dreams, and sometimes, we’re all better for it. Congratulations Keeno, can’t wait to hear what comes next.
Midnight Music: Lemaitre – All I Need (Prince Fox Remix) ft. Chuck Inglish
Prince Fox has done some amazing work, and his Webster Hall set last weekend was no exception. This kid is gonna make waves in 2015, as this remix shows. A smooth, synth-y reworking of Lemaitre’s “All I Need” is in order, to frame how dope he can be. This kind of shimmering indie bass work is exactly what your week needs. Chuck Inglish adds some buttery flow to the remix, so there’s enough here for everyone. There’s not too much to say about this anymore than “new remix” “is dope” and “get indie bass in your ear holes.” Prince Fox knows what he’s doing, and if you were there early on Saturday night, you saw how good he could be.
Kickstarter Alert: Vourteque’s Electro Swing Album – The IRON And JAZZ AGE
One of the best parts of Chicago is DJ Vourteque. This guy is one of the coolest people I know, and has been doing ridiculously dope electroswing music for about as long as I’ve been in the scene. This kind of stuff is one of those genres that is eternally underrated. I love where he goes with it, and want to make sure we get as much signal boosting on this as possible.
There’s a preview online and if you’re into this kind of sound, I highly recommend you check it out. Hot Sinner is a jump-jive-&-wail kind of track that will keep you moving with your best girl. Sean Guinan does some classic vocal work & it keeps pace perfectly with the swing. No Teeth has Joe Harbinson doing some old school guitar blues that we’ve not heard in decades. This old school vibe mixes with an almost industrial backdrop giving this some serious punch. Fire Lighter brings in some retro trumpet, so it will have my heart forever. Lyrics + vintage Jazz is a huge and this Professor Elemental needs to get me his mixtape yesterday.
The Kickstarter is doing well, so let’s push him over the edge, get this thing funded and get him out to NYC to play it live eh?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vourteque/vourteques-electro-swing-album-the-iron-and-jazz-a
Midnight Music: George Maple – Fixed (Tobiahs Remix) [Aussie Bass]
I don’t know what they’re putting in the water down under, but the Aussie Bass machine cannot be stopped. This remix by Tobiahs is officially fire. He’s been on my radar since his remix of No Time by Hayden James pushed itself into my universe back in April. This Flume-y vibe is massive, but airy. Just like Chet Faker & Flume before him, Tobiahs is bringing this velvety bounce feel to us with this Free Download. Frankly, this is a 16 year old kid who is going to blow up, so you better get in on the ground floor with this one. The 20min mix on his Soundcloud is dope as well, and totally worth your time. Tell your friends, all the best music is coming out of Melbourne in 2015. (via FreshNewTracks)
The Lower East Side In 1995. For Serious.
This is legit. This is what Ludlow used to look like, back when no one with money would be caught dead there. Before the bars and the bunch and the lines, there were artists, and fashion, and people hanging out. You know, like you’d see in a place that people could afford to live in. I think these two videos (h/t to Corey Shaff & the Gothamist for this) can really illustrate the NYC that a lot of us remember, but is now so far from possible, it’s hard to even describe. The quality of the video is a great reminder of the era, as is the fashion, the kookiness of the
Midnight Music: Archive – End Of Our Days [Indietronica]
Hat tip to The Joy of Violent Movement for becoming my go-to source for indie, alt rock, singer-songwriter, hip hop & all things that you could go hipster over. Tonight, I’ve got some dopeness from Archive, a South London group that gets it right. This group does some great work, especially balancing the organic & synthetic aspects of their production. The beats that come in halfway through the track add dimensions that I was not expecting. It’s an echoic fusion that gives me hope for the future. This is the kind of sound I keep coming back to, putting the best of both out there, for all to see. I am already terribly sad I won’t be able to catch them as they’re still only touring in the UK, but wait for them to go London Grammar on the pop world, and you’ll see what I’m talking about. (via Joy Of Violent Movement)
Terry Gotham 