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.
Tag Archives: Midnight Music
Midnight Music: Hostage – Bully [Vintage House]
This is a wonderful surprise. Nite Records got in touch with me about this dope little joint. Hostage busts into my universe with a soulful, almost 90’s house vibe that got my attention immediately. The feel is one you’d expect at a trendy but tiny bar downtown near Ludlow or Delancey. 100 seconds in, you’ve got this seriously classic piano riff that house DJs need to study. The pacing is exactly where it needs to be, so this can & should go into any self-respecting uptempo house DJ’s USB stick ASAP. Seems to be a good transition & one when fashionably dressed people start sauntering across your dance floor. It’s part of their history and is infused in so much of a house dancer’s muscle memory. At least, if you were an East Coast house head that is. Can’t generalize too much. But it’s a great part of this two-piece from Nite Records, so get at both Hostage & the label.
Midnight Music: Flite – Dive [Liquid Drum & Bass]
Liquid so good you’ll slap yo mama. When Strife II said Flite was one of his heroes, this is why. This kind of stuff would probably reduce aggravated assault rates if we played it on public transportation. If you’ve got a dope bass system engaged while listening to this, you’d appreciate that it’s as gentle of a stone massage as you can get from the genre. This isn’t done by accident, so appreciate how perfect his choices are. And don’t forget to give it up to Liquicity for giving Flite the stage he deserves.
Midnight Music: Tielman Brothers – Rollin Rock [Indonesian Rockabilly]
For #tbt, we’re going way back. I present to you the classic rockabilly sound of the Tielman Brothers. This is performance like you don’t see anyone on stage really attempt anymore. Granted, they had way fewer sounds to make back then, and you had to make them all sequentially without messing up. Like at 2:55, when the frontman plays his guitar behind his back, while standing on the bass…that is being played at the same time. Drum solos, bass solo while lying down, a whole lot of talent here. These guys are legends, trust me, go ask your parents. So put the oldest of school into your face, then get annoyed when a bunch of low-effort DJs can’t even get into their sets this weekend.
Midnight Music: M83 – Midnight City (SAINT WKND Remix)
M83 is one of the most important groups in recent memory way too many EDM fans have never heard of. SAINT WKND comes through with a future bass remix of M83’s triumph Midnight City. It’s a synthetic masterpiece. The track positions SAINT WKND in a realm that only a few artists, such as MitiS, Just A Gent, & a few others have gotten to when it comes to this kind of position. This means you need to check out his mix here and start keeping your ear out for when this one starts getting booked. Because with remix chops like this, it’s just a matter of time for this German upstart.
Midnight Music: Mr. Big – To Be With You (Mark Chill Remix) [Retro Tropical]
Mark Chill is just in time for the Northern Hemisphere Spring. Is Tropical Trap a genre yet, because that ridiculous bed squeak sample shows up for a minute. There’s a lot of great parts to this track, and I could honestly use quite a bit more of that sing-along retro style of the remix. This kind of 80’s/90’s vibe is due in for a lot of festival moments especially with it being essentially vintage at this point. While tropical may have its clock ticking, this is something that may ride the wave out nicely down under. Let the Aussie summer never end! (via Stoney Roads)
Midnight Music: Saje – Take Care Of You [French Chill]
If Tropical morphs into this I really couldn’t be more happy. My girl ravelrie tipped me off to this exceptionally chill track by Saje, a French artist of impressive skill. This is textbook lush. The guitar lines, shimmering chords & soulful vocals come together in a “sunset in the summer” kind of way. You remember summer right? That thing our parents talked about, where everything wasn’t covered in ice. Sorry, got distracted, back to the delightful Frech Chill. Not only is it fantastic, but he has original album art with his releases, which showcase dreamy work from Jacqueline Maldonado. So, total package. Get into it and enjoy!
(Bonus: ANOTHER DOPE TRACK! This one a remix of a Chris Malinchak stunner.)
Midnight Music: Vance Joy – Riptide (Kasbo Remix)
Kasbo has been on my radar for a minute now. His almost sensual understanding of trap beats is on full effect here. This Riptide remix is one of the best out there . This seeming fusion between shimmering electro, chill trap & almost chiptunes give the remix an unmistakable edge. This is Kasbo at his best. Instead of trap being used to get girls to grind, or bros to fist bump, this takes us a journey that I frankly couldn’t have taken with the original. And it’s a Free Download, so we have nothing to complain about. This is great work from an artist you’re going to be hearing a lot more of in the future. But, you know that, because, why else would I be talking about them of course? Show him some love and bomp the rest of his ish too. The Sir Rock remix is dope as well. (via This Song Is Sick, great pick up by Mr. Guarino.)
Midnight Music: Adventure Club – Wonder (Giordani Remix)
I remember when I got hooked on Adventure Club after I heard some of their earlier remixes and couldn’t get enough of their sound. It seems the circle is now complete, as I’m now finding the cream of the crop by seeing who has the chops to remix Adventure Club singles. 1:25 into this track, Giordani gets your attention and never lets it go. This half trap, half footwork, all chill re-envisioning of Wonder by the dynamic duo deserves all of the praise Fresh New Tracks & whoever else besides me found it and posted it out. There’s a serious return to un-grimey bass, while keeping the vibe and the big room feel of the original intact. Sit up & pay attention, this Canadian is gonna be on your radar by the end of festival season, you heard it here first. (via Fresh New Tracks)
Midnight Music: Unlike Pluto & KickRaux – Palace
This is the 1,000th post on this blog & I am so proud to use the opportunity to talk about Unlike Pluto. ATL-raised, he’s been training on the mean streets of the LA dance music scene, and has it ever paid off. This track is one of a kind, and Mad Decent knows it. He & KickRaux pushed the boundary of what dance music can sound like, way into territory I’m loving. The major chord progression respect, squelchy vocal samples & stunningly good production value on the trap beat is second to none. This is bordering on psychedelic, which, considering it’s a Mad Decent label tune, is astonishing. This has dharma punk written all over it. The pull back into the beat at 2:42 is everything I want to hear out of Mad Decent right now. Whoever convinced diplo to pick this tune up, I’m buying them a bottle of champagne, and none of that plastic top shit neither. Peep the track and show Unlike Pluto & KickRaux some love for this.
Terry Gotham 