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?

Midnight Music: Fred V & Grafix – Major Happy (Frederic Robinson Remix)

Fred V & Grafix - Major Happy (Frederic Robinson Remix)This delightful re-imagining of Fred V & Grafix’s Major Happy from 2012 could be a master class on how to construct a remix. The rambling beat collects a number of the elements from the original song, and adds them all back in new ways, such that the track can hardly even be called drum & bass anymore. As it shifts into the realm of almost IDM or glitch, there’s a classical or symphonic feel that sticks with you as the violin strings pluck away under the gurgling beat. Just as quickly as it appears, it’s gone, and it leaves me wondering when I get more from this Mr. Robinson kid. Time to start keeping tabs on this one.

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.

CityFox SunsetThe 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.

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Midnight Music: Royalston – Kronos [Massive Drum & Bass]

Royalston - KronosI don’t know how I missed this. London Elektricity turned me onto this track on his XmasCast so, I’m going to bring you the best bits over the coming week. This one is on the heavier end of D&B, but there’s a smoothness to the vibe while still being an exquisite & driving production. The build into the punchy, vintage sound works flawlessly, and you find yourself solidly in the realm of the camouflage pants & hoodie wearing bassheads. With a dreamy interlude and an even more impressive build, we only get a taste of the 2nd drop before the tune taps out. This is definitely one of the best D&B tunes of 2014 and Royalston, from down under, is not be watched. All they need is a dope remix or a slot at a Hospital Records show, and you’ll be hearing about them. I guarantee it. This Hospital/Med School Records group is going to get in your face soon.

I Feel Sin City. A Night Of Taut, Deep & Sexy NSFW House.

 

After a month off, my companion & I hugged the door lady, a delightful lightworker & old friend of mine. The bass leaked through the space as we exchanged coats for drinks, taking it all in. I FEEL has come into its own, as my previous notes on them reflect, and it was nice to see the space/community & execution becoming mature so much that it’s commonplace and the people running the show are smiling, enjoying themselves and mingling with their attendees. Everyone knew what they were there for and they were getting it in spades. Sexy, sexy spades.

This was the month where the I FEEL community really cut loose. The theme ensured a dance floor filled with leather, lace, masks, tight pants, tighter corsets & an entire wardrobe of inappropriate clothing. This would’ve made for a delightful event in and of itself, but then the music. Oh my stars, the wonderful music. After consuming our drinks, making the rounds and being only slightly disappointed the X-frame & the St. Andrew’s Cross weren’t getting active use (hey, those parties are out there, don’t judge), we nestled into the dance floor with our people. The musicvibe swirled around as Holosound‘s set crescendo’d. Holosound had been building the energy ever so subtly since we arrived and the dance floor was so excited to see where the night headed. Especially the last half of his set seemed to be one huge song, and 55min in, the serotonin was hard to refuse, as we all lifted with him.

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Midnight Music: Netsky vs Metrik – Can’t Speak ft Stealth [Drum & Bass]

Netsky vs Metrik - Can't Speak ft. StealthI do love when dope producers collaborate. In true grand fashion, two of my favorite Drum & Bass producers from 2014, Netsky & Metrik join up with vocalist Stealth to re-work one of his tracks in an excellent, chilled out kind of way. It’s still fast & furious, but there’s a relaxed vibe that makes me wonder when Netsky or Hospital Records is going to work with Example. This might be seen as a little softer and more commercially friendly than some of Netsky’s earlier work, but there’s a lot to like about it and I think it’s important to give people something soothing. Relax with this tonight, only a couple of days left in the year.

Midnight Music: Savant – 1997 [Trance] (Free Download!)

Savant - 1997Savant is exactly that. A musical font, issuing forth dozens of tracks over a relatively short period, we last visited his amazingness almost 1 year ago, when he killed the opening set for Astrix & Infected Mushroom. This track that I think he did as a joke, but it’s freaking incredible. Like, this is classic trance almost to a point. The 9min track has an ominous sample and a proper multi-minute build. With stabby synths that pluck at all the right heart strings, it seems as if he just stumbled upon a hit. To be frank, it’s one of the best vintage non-anthem trance tracks I’ve heard in years, and I don’t think he meant for it to be as dope as it as. Cause it is. Super dope. This needs as much exposure as possible, if for no reason other than hearing a Savant track on ASOT 😀 Tell your friends, and get down to the crazy hypnotic beat.

Mix Of The Week: Bixel Boys – F/W Mixtape [Heartache Bass]

BIXEL BOYSThis week, I’m bringing out this melancholy gorgeousness issued forth by BIXEL BOYS. These guys have been all over the place in 2014, and for this mix they brought things down a little bit. This mix has a lot of chillstep, garage, downtempo, moody breaks and interludes of people sucking at love, which matches the feel completely. There is no track list, so the tunes will remain largely a secret, but I’m hoping I start hearing them elsewhere. I love misty, cold rain mixes like this. In so much EDM there’s this saccharine exposition of love, unity, hope and positivity. That’s not really the case for a lot of people in the scene, and these kinds of vibes, like what Ta-ku does as well, really need some more support. Sometimes we’re in a place where something like this is needed. The hashtag of #Feels is totally on point, and this free download is definitely something that you should grab. This is going on my phone and may not leave. Not all of us get good news during the holidays, so for anyone out there who is hard up this week, this is here for you.

Midnight Music: Usher – Yeah (Pat Lok Rework) [Future House]

Usher - Yeah (Pat Lok ReworkTwo min 30 sec in really speaks for itself. This kind of deep push and potent vibe that Pat Lok is making sure happens, really can’t be replaced, and I think that needs to be noted. This remix is amazing, in ways that neither Usher or anyone associated with the original could have predicted. This reworking has the elements that you need in a 2015 mix, that you don’t know you need until they’re not here. Pat Lok puts all the correct pieces into the puzzle the right way. The vocals are brought back in exactly the way they need to while the breakdown at three minutes in can still remain the dope break it is. (via FreshNewTracks)

Midnight Music: Blackmill & Mt. Eden – Now [Dream Bass]

Blackmill & Mt Eden - NowI have been waiting literally years for this. Blackmill has created some of the most gorgeous, symphonic & ambient music in the last 5 years. Then one day, Blackmill went dark, so the people waited. And waited. And now, thanks to Mt. Eden (who deserve a medal for making this happen), there’s new snowy goodness just in time for the holiday season. This is on the lighter side for Mt. Eden, which speaks volumes to the respect they have to Blackmill’s vision. The chilled ambient is exceptional, and will give you a moment to come into the present moment. Don’t worry about the future, just be here in the Now. For as long as the song lasts anyway. Merry Christmas, to all who celebrate it.