Hey look, people are still making stuff! So, my boy Brockelbank is killing it over at EDMTunes, especially when he’s posting tracks like this. Frankly, I don’t know where this came from but I’m not entirely sure I care. Non-tropical deep, but light house. I know that was a bunch of adjectives, but it’s kind of exactly that. It’s a driving but muted beat that seems to pull from both tropical and minimal at the same time. It’s sunny, up-beat, but there are no steel drums, no random parrot sounds and it’s still got some oomph that I can hear working on a main-stage. This is definitely going to be a sleeper track used by DJs who are on festival billings in tiny fonts. While the headliners might not be into this kind of sound, if you’re playing for a couple of hundred people, or early in the day, there’s going to be some support from the crowd I wager, and to Kelvin & Lash’s credit. These two need to start working together more often, if just because Kelvin & Lash sounds like a cool cop drama with DJs.
Tag Archives: house
Midnight Music: Flunk – Lost Causes (Rashid Ajami Remix)
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.
Midnight Music: Funkerman ft. J.W. – The Masterplan [Deep House]
In case the snow has got you down, Funkerman has you covered. This original that dropped last week is groovy & sophisticated enough that you’re kind of concerned about buying her a drink. But while she has her own money & doesn’t need you to tell her she looks good, if you can dance, you will definitely get her attention. The throbbing bass & no-nonsense chords keep you moving, but you may need to come back with a better outfit next time. In all seriousness, this is a dope little track that makes me think of the last cool party I hit up off the L train. Funkerman‘s coming up in 2015. I done told you.
Attend: Disorient presents: BIOLUMINESCENCE – Lux Aeterna
It’s finally returned, bigger, longer & with better views of the city! The not-quite-annual, yet much-anticipated BiOLUMiNESCENCE winter boat party is back! This time the boat has been severely upgraded, from the Queen of Hearts (old & busted), to the Hornblower Infinity (new hotness). While the name of the party is best known for being the title of the theme to Requiem For A Dream (yes, that one), it also refers to the Latin idea of “eternal light,” that, especially by late February, we’re all gonna need reminders of. The last time I was on this boat, I was reviewing a DJ Chuckie/Dirty Dutch party. I can safely say that the party will be qualitatively different, on every discernible level. The costumes, the deco, the people, the music, will all be totally different. Hooo boy will the music be different. Continue reading
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.
Midnight Music: Funkerman – Coming Home [Funky House]
This continues the good feelings for Midnight Music this week, with the V-man himself reminding me that funky house is far from dead. This track by Funkerman is already ancient in EDM blog time, but I wanted to make sure it got some love here, as he’s been blowing up quickly. And deservedly so, with the talent & foresight required to bring this track into the world. The funky house starts up and doesn’t quit, as the classic sample echoes through the track. It’s a glorious return to a sound I haven’t heard in too long. If 2015 brings back the world of funky deep house, I’d be a very happy man indeed. Check it out and don’t forget to give FNT some love for the pick up a month ago.
Unearthed Carl Cox Mix At Twilo. For Serious.
Something like this doesn’t come back very often. My boy Agent Orange found this & it’s crazy good. This was recorded at one of the dopest places to exist in NYC. Twilo will never come again, and with the current legal infrastructure in NYC, there is very little any of us can do to change that. However, we can enjoy two hours of some of the best music spun on the island of Manhattan, ever. This mix spans easily a dozen subgenres, with some great gems that will bring you back. If you’re a geezer like me, this mix is going to bring you back to a simpler time. And if you’re a youngling, this is what music sounded like when people could still acquire MDMA in pill form. It was still cut with stuff, but that stuff was like, Stacker 2 & Dexatrim, not Methylone & Face Eating Salts.
via Agent Orange
Steve James Returns To Indie. Rejoice & Be Glad.
So, the progressive wonder Steve James has once again decided to go the Indie route and we are all the better for it. Pulling down a fun little tune called Karaoke by Smallpools, he puts his signature, yet evolving style on it. The infectious beat combines with some excellent re-working of the vocals to make this just as anthemic as we need right now in gray January. Apparently this tune was started in my city, so you know it’s got a bright future. I’m gonna keep saying it. This is what you’d expect to hear halfway between the indie & dance stages at Governor’s Ball. Like, if you stood in the exact right spot. The break at 3:40 is everything that post-big-room can be. Can’t wait for people to complain of how tired they are of this sound. (via the always on point Michelle Chu of EDMTunes)
Two Daft Punk Remixes Worthy Of The Name.
It’s rare that I find a Daft Punk remix that stands. Daft Punk really does amazing work, so it’s really hard to remix their tracks and come up with anything better than the original. In addition to that, their rabid fan-base will obliterate any sub-par or disrespectful attempts. However, I have been lucky enough to stumble across a couple of remixes that even I cannot deny are legit. Interestingly, they’re both remixes of Voyager, one of the most underrated tracks not only on Discovery but of their entire library of work (in my opinion /hipster).
The first, a remix by someone only known as Revolte, starts out like you think it will disappoint you, but then adds enough crunchy electro, confident organic synth work & massively Daft-sounding auto-tuning to earn the full listen. I have no idea where to find anything else by this artist, so all I can do is enjoy the interludes and hope they yell at me through the internet.
Thankfully, I was able to track down the artist behind the second remix. Domenico Torti’s Wild Style edit features the best beat-remixing work I’ve heard from anyone who has attempted to use Daft Punk source material. Period. This is incredible, and borders on DMC championship level turntablism. The remix lets you breathe, pulling you back into familiar territory, then plays with you for the rest of the time. It’s a hip, upbeat, sophisticated remix that I expect to see attractive people drinking & wearing expensive things dancing to. In that “this is too well tailored, I really not trying to move” way. Dope vibe, so kudos, to both of our remixers, and will the first one please show themselves so I can thank you for being dope?
What Lies Beneath: The CityFox Experience Rings In 2015 Like No Other.
I had been hearing murmurings about The CityFox Experience, an event series from a team based out of NYC & Zurich, for months now. After stories about their now infamous temporary club concept events over the last year have been murmured across the Gotham Underground, I decided it was time to see what these cats were up to. Boy, was I impressed.
The CityFox Experience seems to be an experiment in generating high quality events in places you wouldn’t expect them. This harkens back to the pop-up party concept of years long past, especially in the era of bottle-service, mega clubs and festivals making the one-off “night of dope shit” almost impossible to come by these days. So, my companion & I decided to take a chance and found ourselves on the water outside of an enormous building with surprisingly ample parking & good traffic management. Just one of the details attended to with finesse.
Terry Gotham 