Two things. Who the hell was so high that they decided to run a LIVE (like, with crowd screaming) version of In The Air Tonight through a whole bunch of wacky synths & plug-ins to make it sound like the Chipmunks? And secondly, perhaps more compellingly, who drew that crazy High School Chipmunk picture? Was there an Alvin High School show that I missed out on? Why are the Chipettes (was that even a thing?) wearing tiny skirts? Why is this a thing?!
Thank you. You may now return to your day.
The Sun kicks us off with some impressive flow and keeps the energy up. The beats underneath supports the vocals perfectly and the chorus gives us an classic funky vibe that I’m a huge fan of. NicX & 6LACK tag team excellently, which just keeps the track’s pacing where it needs to be.
Nothing Personal by Jbre & Dougie Kent ft. SaneBeats is a menacing, massive track that reminds me of Bone Thugz & Harmony, brought into the world of 2014. This is almost anthem hip hop, with a dark undercurrent that almost makes me think it’s going to bust into a Linkin Park breakdown. It stays on point and keeps pushing the bass and solid vocals into your face throughout. Don’t miss this one.
Chance the Rapper makes me so happy. This guy needs to get recognized so hard that he spawns an entire sub-genre of hip hop. Sunday Candy feels like there’s a choir behind it, with a broken beat swimming through Chance’s jaw-dropping flow. If you’ve never heard Chance The Rapper before, I’m legitimately jealous that you get to discover him for the first time. Premiered on This Song Is Sick, if this is any indication of what the album is going to sound like, I’m a happy, happy man. He just shows up on this track by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, and he’s still my favorite part.
Rounding out the quartet is some thoughtful lyrical work by King Terry. This pulls powerfully into spoken word hip hop, and the stream of consciousness story is real and brutal. This kind of post-gangsta flow is exactly what I like to hear because it’s critical for the evolution of the genre. King Terry does great work here and has developed a massive fan base. Don’t be late to his train, or any of the artists featured here.
Hybrid Minds does wonderful, wonderful things when it comes to drum & bass. They consistently kill it in the liquid space, in a triumphant, symphonic way over and over. This track is no exception. The meditative kick drums & the bassline melt into the vocals that shine through the darkness. Summer Rain is another proof that Liquid can be bursting with feels as it were. It’s hard to describe how different this sounds comparable to what most people think of in their heads when you say “drum & bass” and I think that’s to the genre’s detriment. This is the stuff that people should be introducing the genre to their friends using, maybe saving the gas mask & camouflage hoodie music for a little later in their listening career. If you want to patronize the Hybrid Minds soundcloud instead of the Liquicity YouTube, that’s below as well. I’m all into this track, and since it’s from 2012, this officially counts as throwback thursday. Happy Turkey Day y’all, groove in your gluttony to this 😀
This is wonderful. Brian Jonestown Massacre, Superchunk, Elf Power, Quasi and so much teenage angst it may drip from you speakers. I really will just let the playlist speak for itself.
Imagine you’re a college freshman in 1999, home for Thanksgiving, and you run into a cute girl from your class while out buying smokes at the 7-11, you two talk and hang out, and you put this mix on in the car while you both bitch about how lame your parents are. You might make out, but probably won’t because you’re kind of full from gross Thanksgiving food and so not in the mood, but you’ll call her the next day and probably will make out then.
If you’re not at least 29, this playlist probably sounds horrible and you have no idea what I’m talking about, but don’t worry, it’s all good. You’ll get there one day 😀
I post this every year. I’m not sure I’ll ever stop. Happy Freaking Turkey Day y’all. OBBL OBBL OBBL!
This one seeps into your awareness, an Indian-infused Future Bass track with enough of a low-end punch to need no explanation. The composition is exquisite, and the broken beat structure melds with the global bass sound choices delightfully. It’s got this feel that makes you think it was an anthem coming out for a World Cup held in Mumbai. The tune is entirely too short, but it definitely explores the space it’s created masterfully. There’s a little Beats Antique here, a little Flashbulb and a lot of skill. SLUMBERJACK is definitely a name to watch out for, with this pair of Perth natives deserving your attention. So show some love and tell em Terry sent you.
This is really cool. There was this party in Brussels at a (wait for it) federal asylum for people seeking refuge in Belgium. For serious. Syrians, Afghanis, Palestinians, Albanians, Senegalese and more all jammed out on music from their phone. I think this is probably one of the most authentic non-Western parties I’ve ever come in contact with, and I’m delighted this mix is available for people to listen to. There’s a crazy amount of good shit on this mix, and the idea that people all over the world were playing their version of party music for the crowd, who was then understanding, respectful & danced to it, makes me feel like there’s some good in the world. I know some of us need to know that exists these days. You can thank Higgins, because without people like him, there wouldn’t be. (via P.O.E.)
The idea that I’ve yelled into the internet so much about how awesome liquid drum & bass is that it has started getting emailed to me, blows me away. This two-piece from A FREAKING SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD named Ownglow out of Bournemouth blew me away this week. The vibes are effortless, but gorgeous. It really reinforces my belief that liquid D&B is proof that the universe loves us. Gold was actually featured on Friction’s BBC Radio 1 show and the UKF YouTube channel, which, speaks to my point. This kid is banging. I didn’t even know the music existed at his age, much less make Hospitality quality tunes. Someone needs to sign this kid ASAP, because if this is what we’re seeing at this stage, the sky is the limit. If you don’t believe me, just ask Keeno or Etherwood. Grab it Sunday off Pilot Records.
Incredible & bravo to Prince Fox. This track is exactly where I want Trap to go as a genre. Vintage guitars reimagined with synths, hardcore vocals and a massive but smooth droop make me want to pregame parties listening to Mega Man. This remix solidifies my “Prince Fox is on Festival lineups 2015” hypothesis. Gotta give it to This Song Is Sick for the huge premiere on this one. This is a break out tune and trap producers need to study the hell out of this one. A fresh sound, one that moves away from gimmicky beats and dumb drops. I’m a huge fan of this developing and will actively yell into the internet as often as I can to make this thing happen. One listen and you’ll agree with me.
Jamie XX continues to blow me away. I’ve used the word lush before to describe music, but there’s a thickness, a richness to the soundscapes that Jamie XX creates. This is something I don’t think many artists in the scene approach, much less match. The samples intersperse a different UK scene in his music. This is equivalent for progressive house quoting Chicago House DJs discussing the Chicago House scene. If it was done by anyone less skilled than Jamie XX, it would be downright disrespectful. However, the massive & perfect use of bass and synthetic feels, provides this classic UK rave feel combined with these ragga drums. This jungle infused-garage is sophisticated but effortless. The massive beat seems to fill the spaces in your shuffling awareness, as the samples echo in your mind. Hardcore is a genre that seemed unstoppable, but now you’d be hard pressed to find someone old enough to remember it at a lot of NYC parties. Which, to me is bonkers, but just goes to show you. Nothing lasts forever. Carpe that diem y’all.
Terry Gotham 