It’s March, it’s Monday, so let’s get to the music! A couple of UK releases, dopeness from Monstercat, and a blast from the past awaits!
It’s been a pleasure to keep tabs on Tristram for the last three years. One of the first post-EDM producers I discovered, his work is always top notch, guaranteeing he got picked up by Monstercat in short order. After a brief hiatus, he’s back and we’re all better for it. This deep indietronica cut reminds me of Innerpartysystem & a number of fusion acts I’ve seen over the last couple of years. Superb composition and sharp execution as always.
Millions is a gorgeous, understated tune that builds into an exceptionally minimal crescendo. It’s a 6min experiment in what can be done with almost nothing. A couple of piano chords, a dope house beat, and a driving tempo.Kim Brown making it happen, thanks to Stamp The Wax for making sure I didn’t miss it.
Boombox Cartel came out of nowhere with this one. Stalking Gia & Boombox Cartel need to collaborate way more often if this is the product. Front & center is the Stalking Gia vocals, showcased & tuned perfectly. The Future Bass vibe that follows is a great one. Massive, optimistic & just a touch of a west coast to compliment the bass. It’s way too synthetic to be Indietronica, but seems too anthem-y for Future Bass. Either way you slice it, great tune & great work by Boombox Cartel.
When some think of garage, they think of Zed Bias. This footwork-y/garage-y tune features hypnotic vocals by Zoe Violet, and gives the footwork fan a lot to work with here. Issued by dBridge’s label Exit Records, the fast/slow melody pulls you along, as the chord work & soothing undertones help you drift off. Great work, definitely something to pick up if you’re a vinyl or dBridge enthusiast.
Rounding out the group is something wonderful for all you classic Trance fans out there. Mauro Picotto was essentially a household name in the 2000s (if your household had the entire In Search of Sunrise compilation set by Tiesto and remember when Sensation had a White & a Black). I don’t know if he’s come out of retirement or if he just never went away, but this is vintage as all get out. Passion has a classic piano vibe and there’s even an extended classics mix on the EP. Turn it on, and let the nostalgia wash over you. If you try really hard, you can almost hear the Y2K fear mongering.
Tag Archives: Monstercat
Midweek Music: Viticz, Milwin, Varien, Mr FijiWiji, BLNDSGHT, Dan Thompson & Ron Alperin!
Production from artists all over the world today! Lots of great stuff coming in, so let’s get right to it!
Viticz did something special with this tune. While Electro as a genre has been pretty stagnant over the last couple of years with the Big Room genre wilting, the producer from Singapore has pushed it in a totally needed direction. It’s got a touch of future, a touch of garage, a dash of chip and two scoops of anthem. This is a great effort by Viticz I’d never heard of but will definitely be keeping tabs on in the future.
Jumping from Singapore to Uddevalla, Sweden, Milwin pulls us into that Future House territory with a soothing tune. I have a pretty low tolerance for most Future House, but this one silences the usually annoying throbbass while featuring Blest Jones. This focus on a soulful, blues-oriented vocal line gives the track a more of a melancholic, autumn feel. Surprising, but great work from Sweden & Milwin as always!
Varien & Mr FijiWiji are two of the best knights in the court of Monstercat Castle. They’re production geniuses in their own rights and this collab could not have come at a better time. They can learn a lot from each other as the melodic bass shows. A truly future tune, they’re able to make even a rift of sexy sax work in the context of this chilled out, starry-eyed 4min. Silky, progressive, with just a dollop of euphoric above and bass under it. Really great work gentlemen, can’t wait for the next one & the Monstercat tour.
And now for something completely different.
BLNDSGHT is some wavy shit. Well produced, with some eccentric choices that the Cali producer has ensured almost have no choice but to work together. It’s got this groovy, spacey feel to it. Can’t say it’s dancey, but it manages to be downtempo without being too minimalist or droning. The low end is surprising and it would fit nicely into a side room or fucked up afterparty set.
Finishing out with some great trance. I’m going to make a concerted effort to post at least one trance tune a week, because I think the genre still deserves ears. Some cool stuff happening in it even outside of the juggernaut of quality that is A State of Trance. Coldharbour Recordings is Markus Schulz’s label & it’s been growing on me. Classic trance vibes & deep/energetic modern tunes from artists I’m not familiar with as an American trance family member. Have I ever heard of Dan Thompson & Ron Alperin? Nope, couldn’t pick their music out of a mix if you paid me. They sure can make a good mid-set trance track though. Go swim around in it & I’ll see y’all next week!
Midnight Music: Rameses B ft. Veela – Mountains [Soaring Drum & Bass]
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.
Monstercat’s 3 Year Anniversary Video Is Amazing.
In case you needed another reason to love Monstercat, the plucky indie label I’ve grown to adore, their 3 year anniversary video will blow you away. Didrick, one of the sonic samurai employed by Monstercat, pulls us through an epic journey, mixing 78 songs into one crisp megamix that clocks in just under 3min 25sec. It’s a triumph, besides a gorgeous showcase of the Monstercat library. There’s so much to like here that it will probably trick you into buying a track or 6. Make sure to show them some love, as they’re one of those non-evil groups that is trying to do right by their artists. (via DaveEDMT)
http://www.edmtunes.com/2014/09/monstercat-celebrates-3-year-anniversary-78-song-mashup/ via
Midnight Music: Vicetone ft. Collin McLoughlin – Heartbeat (Rameses B Remix)
Any fan of this blog knows that I’m a huge fan of Rameses B. I think he’s one of the most talented producers out there. So, because I only blog because I like to nerd out about artists I like, and I REALLY LIKE Rameses B, I’m doing a whole week of posts featuring his music. That will include the fact that he crowd-funded a new level of gear and production equipment for himself, in a humble but effective campaign that was executed flawlessly. More on that later 😉
This is an older favorite that shows just how good of a remix artist Rameses B is. Vicetone picked up an amazing producer & vocalist by the name of Collin Mcloughlin and pushed out a quality original track. Rameses B breathes new, glittering life into it, adding his signature frisson (that shiver) inducing chillstep and sparklebass (is that a genre? can it be?). Someone needs to put this remix in front of Seven Lions, because now I really want to pay to see a Rameses B, Collin McLoughlin & Seven Lions show. Can this be a thing please? It would be the most euphoric dubstep show ever. There would be no serotonin anywhere else in the city. Ok, sorry, where was I. Yes, dope track, by Rameses B, because that dude is dope, and makes dope shit. See y’all Wednesday night with your next piece of Rameses B awesome!
Midnight Music: Monstercat 17 – Ascension [Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Electro, Ambient Sickness]
I have a special place in my heart for Monstercat. I’ve been watching this label grow from the ragtag crew of dedicated producers & DJs for so long now. The label, a full-fledged juggernaut in the dubstep, electro, trap and house spaces, cannot be ignored any longer. The warriors in their stable, Au5, Haywyre, Astronaut, Pegboard Nerds, Fractal, Feint, Mr.FijiWiji (THE FIJ!) and many others. Some are old hats, and others are upstarts, chomping at the bit to disrupt both the kind of music we listen to, and how we listen to it. Their digital distribution has been on point since day one, and their compilations (the newest one listed below) are an obnoxious amount of quality. The tracks are cheap, with the compilations being even cheaper. If you’re into this kinda sound, you won’t find it better than at Monstercat. I’ll start shouting out individual artists when I have time, but for now, just dive in. You’ll find something you like, and if you can’t, just play track 30 and let the illness that is Mr FijiWiji rock your world.
Tristram Stands Tall & Fights On.
Tristram is a cool new artist on Monstercat, one of the most agile & aware labels on the internet these days. Excuse the badly transcribed lyrics and look at the warrior standing tall with one hell of a sword. Stand tall my people. You got this and in case you’re not sure, check out the tune below for some inspirational bass.
Terry Gotham 