The summer is almost over, but the beat doesn’t stop! This week, there’s a bunch of different stuff for you to enjoy, orbiting the Stoney Roads universe, but from all over the dance music spectrum. If you’ve got a favorite, feel free to blow up the comments. And if you absolutely hate one of them, blow up the comments as well!
Off of Stoney Roads Records, this mellow, warm deep house tune is exactly what the bright shining day needs. Piecey delivers a smooth, round, delicious vibe is an exceptional offering from down under. The build is almost imperceptible, with the drop pulling you back into that effortless groove. Great job as always Stoney Roads.
Porter Robinson! Madeon! Together! That’s really the only thing you need to know about this track. For everyone still reading that hasn’t jammed on the play button, it’s a soulful, sonic journey. The kind you wish was associated with a SNES RPG and/or a summer from High School. Gorgeous, rippling indie progressive, washing over you, as only Porter & Madeon can provide. Are they touring back to back yet? Cause that needs to happen.
There’s a lot of generic party jam stuff out there, but I find The Partysquad (yup, that’s their name) actually stuck the landing on this one. While lots of tracks in this tier are gimmicky, this one never fails to innovate and actually makes for an enjoyable grind of a track. It’s sweaty, bass-heavy, pulling into some surprisingly competent syncopated bass. Great pick up off Rebel Yard for anyone still hitting up big festivals for the year.
Delamare really hits it out of the park with this LissA remix. The hopeful, indie bass shines forth as LissA‘s original vocals are celebrated, never drowned out. It’s given a jolly, lilting feel that seems at home with the Piecey from earlier. The bouncey, syrupy bass that slaloms through the piece is a welcome distraction from the “Future House” rumble strip that’s streaked across the dance music community. This Zimt remix rolls along, delivering without overwhelming. Great work.
Kllo rounds out this week, keeping the indie bass train going. This blossoming, gorgeous tune drifts along, bobbing chords and shimmering back beats mixing so effectively. There’s a lot of good stuff going on in this track, and it really rewards obsessive listening. This group most certainly deserve more of your attention, as it’s earned quite a bit of mine.
Tag Archives: Stoney Roads
Monday Music: Kenneth Bager, Jesse Futureman, Peter $un, Edwin Raphael & Brutalist
Now that we’re in the thick of the “stuck to your chair” heat here in NYC, I decided to take a break from the throbbing electronic sounds of festivals, and serve up a dose of more analog vibes. Classic guitar, hip hop, indie, lighter drum & bass, and even a tune from a singer-songwriter. Cool off, slow down, and enjoy! Big ups to Stamp The Wax for providing 2 of the 5 tunes this week. They’re definitely one of my crucial daily reads.
Kenneth Bager’s Music For Dreams label has served up some exceptional Balearic, a vibe that some of my younger readers might not be familiar with. Essentially, the lighter, Mediterranean, ebb & flow feel that keeps you moving, but never presses you to dance or make a big show of it. Sunset over Hobro brings together guitar, accordion and soft, sunrise bass pad work for a relaxed intensity that pulled me in immediately. If it intrigued you as well, hit up the album on iTunes & Spotify.
Jesse Futerman, out of Toronto, slid this tune into my reality thanks to Stamp The Wax, and we’re all better for it. The lush, leisurely, morning jam deserves your coffee break or PokeStroll. The squelchy synths never get too aggressive, with a funky melody melting all over the beat. The muted trumpet & bass guitar give the track a vintage feel that I cannot get enough of these days.
Switching gears entirely, but staying at the same tempo, is this cut off of Peter $un‘s new mixtape, Paradise Is A Day Away. It’s been a minute since I repped rhymes, but this was too good to ignore. The heavy bass & ethereal feel seem to match the not-aggressive, but still wicked flow. It’s almost got a tinge of blues which is rare these days. Get at it.
Edwin Raphael does exceptional work here. The guitar soothes, the voice soars, and that’s all you need. No extra wacky synth work, no house beats, no autotune. Just a boy & his guitar, singing his heart out. Enjoy it with someone you love.
Rounding out the list is Brutalist, a group that wins for best new act name of the week, but also really nails it here on Strep. I expected the tune to be way more aggressive & brutal, but it’s a relaxed stroll through piano chord synths, stuttering bass & gorgeous chopped up vocals. Dig in and thanks to Stoney Roads for making sure I didn’t miss it.
Monday Music: Mickey Kojak, Mochipet, OLWIK, Jerome Blaze & Houses in Motion!
New year, new tunes! For this first Monday Music of 2016, I added a Bonus EP from a cool indie label from Melbourne. Lots of good stuff this week, and if you’re hungry for more, don’t forget to check out my 2015 Gems playlist on Soundcloud for my favorite sleeper tracks of the last year.
This Mickey Kojak came out of nowhere but hit me like a ton of bricks. The uptempo, nu house vibe hits the ground running and doesn’t stop. The drop at 1:10 is a wobbly delight that I didn’t anticipate. It’s got an electric disco groove that is super danceable and the vocals keep the energy from barreling out of control. Lots to like from this upstart from Sydney native.
Mochipet has done some great work, so I gave this mashup time to breathe before passing judgment. You should do so as well. It’s a murky, almost sullen reworking, bringing the best elements of both Tool & Kendrick Lamar to prominence. Inventive and well executed, it’s a breath of fresh air considering how chock full of pop and house mash ups tend to be. Free as well, so what’s not to like?
I’ve talked about OLWIK before, and you better get used to it, because you’re going to be hearing a lot more from him. His progressive wings continue to grow, and this track soars because of it. He’s walking a very fine line between progressive and pop, which is a huge step forward. This kind of sound is going to continue to be crucial to the integration between the EDM & pop/commercial markets, even with the final collapse of Big Room in 2015. The light, airy & bubbly sound that OWLIK absolutely nails with this is where it’s going, and he’ll be at the front of the pack.
Jerome Blazé is a name I’m hoping gets a lot of attention in 2016. The track and some of his earlier work have a very Porter Robinson feel to them, and that’s as a huge fan. It’s high praise, but I think if Jerome stays the course, in a year or so, he’ll be making waves at festivals way above what he’s doing now. The build up is well-executed, and the crescendo into major chords awash in synthy keyboard work is excellent. It’s a positive tune that should get signed to a label as soon as possible.
Stoney Roads made sure I didn’t miss the “For The Heat” EP, the second issuance from the Houses in Motion label. This fam is super under the radar at the moment, but the EP is a DJ delight. The first tune is a slow simmer, meditative track that would find itself at home in a CityFox or Robot Heart set in a second. The 2nd track is a remix by Sweetland, another Melbourne producer, and as almost a high fashion vibe, blending a quick tempo with some vintage house elements. It’s a clean, clubby tune that deserves some love on this side of the Pacific.
Midweek Music: Sorsari, ZHU, Lido, Campuskit, Enschway
I am so glad I this track exists. It’s a superb remix of a melody that is near & dear to my heart. This theme from Chrono Trigger (from the Realm of Magic I believe) was an ethereal, lofty, tease that so many of us loved growing up. This chilled trap rework adds an atmospheric quality that could never have exist on the SNES. The source material is used honorably, going places I only dreamed about after playing the damn game for 8hrs at a time. Great for a Sunday morning or the last tune of the night.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony hung out with ZHU. I’m a little late on this tip but if you haven’t heard this, it’s crossover with the boys from Cleveland. They pull in Trombone Shorty for a surprisingly uptempo jazzy tune for the Bone Thugs. It works well and I’m happy to hear them out of retirement. If ZHU is bringing rappers back from the dead I think he needs to hang out with Biggie & Tupac’s holograms next.
Lido & Santell may have created the Mambo #5 of the 10’s. For anyone who doesn’t know who Louie Vega is and/or didn’t listen to pop radio in the late 90’s, this tune oozes sexy. To the point where it may make you or other people listening uncomfortable. Or possibly accelerate Netflix & Chill. Your mileage may vary. Use with caution.
Another release from the always excellent Stoney Roads Soundcloud, Campuskit is a fresh sound from down under. The synth powers are strong with this one, and he definitely earned my attention with this remix. It’s got a shimmering, almost chippy future bass tune. Great work, and it’s novel artists like this that keep me loving what I do.
Enschway takes it away on this last remix. Another gem from Stoney Roads, this Future Trap anthem bursts with emotion and doesn’t let up. It’s got a Madeon, or dare I say even a Porter Robinson feel to it. The composition & production seems effortless and the soulful work put into the vocals makes the track pop in your ears. It’s a real feast for the senses and makes me excited for everything this kid from Sydney has in store for us. Honestly, this is so good, I’ve gotta share a bonus track. It’s a bit more recent, so put it and the previous one into your face!
Midweek Music: Seven Lions, Kasbo, REZZ, Wax Motif & Louis Futon
August is almost done! Have you done all the brunch into day drinking & Sunday night partying you needed to get done before September arrives? Never try and put Seven Lions in a box again. After many blogs have tried to pigeonhole him as a dubstep or hard edged DJ, he pushes out shimmering sunshine melodic house for your patio drinking pleasure. Off Casablanca Records, this tune must have Vitamin C in it, with Lights lending her stellar vocal stylings to the track. Great little gem for your midweek slump.
Wax Motif has been making waves slowly, burbling up from the depths of Soundcloud & YouTube music channels. This is his debut release on Mad Decent, so you know that it’s going to be a massive banger. The R&B infused beats fuse with the Mad Decent party vibe really well on this, so I hope someone takes notice and starts booking this cinematic trap sound out into more festivals. I think it could do quite well with a greater audience, so let me know if you agree in the comments of course. (via This Song Is Sick)
KASBO is a name you should know by now, as I’ve mentioned him more than once around these parts. The urgent progressive vibe combined with the future style we’ve grown to love from him works perfectly here. Out on Monstercat, the track shines & deserves your actual cash. (Via Stoney Roads) REZZ is back! The heir apparent to Gesaffelstein, there are very few doing techno the way she is, and I couldn’t be more proud of her earning a Nest HQ release. Getting a single on Skrillex’s label is big, and she should be very proud of herself. We certainly are! This techno is not your friend. Though REZZ might be, if you ask nicely.
I freaking love Louis Futon. I think he’s got the perfect vibe for this era. Like, his soothing, but anthemic future sound probably couldn’t have worked in 2010, or even 2013. But right now, it’s exactly what I need in my remix work. He’s killing it out there these days, and his skills are in full effect 3min in. This is my midweek jam right here, and it’ll be yours by the time the track is over.
Midnight Music: Disclosure – White Noise (Baiji Refix) [DeepTrap]
Well this one came out of left field. Props to Stoney Roads for the tip on this, the artist has under 25 twitter followers & isn’t even on Facebook at the time of writing. This has been on repeat all day, forcing me to track this new artist down. White Noise was a hauntingly good track by Disclosure & MNEK if you don’t remember, but this refix by Baiji is unheard of. The molasses pace, the deep, soulful honoring of the original vocals, and a general turn down to chill vibe is exactly what’s needed as festival season heats up here and the tracks get bigger and bigger. This alternative, relaxed attitude has definitely got him on my radar. And apparently, if you actually go through & adopt a dolphin, Baiji will buy you Chipotle. So, put this into your face as you finish out your 420.
Shlohmo’s Music Video For “Beams” Is Everything About Being Young In NYC
I am so happy Shlomo has gone down the Daft Punk “no fucks given” track of artistic pursuit & accomplishment. We are all better for it. In keeping with the internet, I got wind of this music video from an Australian blog, though it looks to have been entirely filmed in places I travel weekly. This is the true majesty of the city, especially when you are young, irresponsible, invincible, and for a brief moment some nights, free. The track is a stupendous blend of drum beats, indie synth chords and a great twangy vibe. The track may seem brash & organic, but any fan of Shlohmo knows how exact he can be. Each sound in the song, just like each image in the video is there specifically. This kind of youthful exuberance & brash risk taking has been associated with creativity & rose-colored memories for so many for so long. Shlohmo is able to give us one of the most sophisticated looks at what that’s like, in a raw, dangerous form, in under 4 minutes. Take that Ken Burns. (via Stoney Roads)
Midnight Music: Crooked Colours – Capricious (PACES Remix) [Tropical Trap]
Is this what happens when tropical, trap & indie dance hang out? If so, I’m a fan. This track from Aussie artist Paces, is both bouncey & massive at the same time. The crooning coming in from Crooked Colours create a wistful, but energetic vibe. It’s effervescent enough that you’d be forgiven if you didn’t listen to the lyrics and missed out on the sadface topics entirely. The drop reminds us that trap can be massive without being abrasive. The steel drum remains throughout, anchoring the track in sunshine, even while the lyrics aren’t exactly positive. Great effort by PACES & can’t wait to see where they go next with this sound. (via Stoney Roads)
Midnight Music: Fairchild – Stay Young (Midnight Mix)
I feel like tunes that sound like this wouldn’t have happened if music/band development didn’t happen exactly the way it did. This alt band from down under makes the best of so many influences. Rock, indie, lo-fi, EDM and a bunch of jam feels come together in a cinematic way. This really does make me hope there’s a One Tree Hill or Daria inspired network show that can pick up this mix to use at least a couple of times a season. The “triumph” vibe from it is strong, with the composition & synth chops to match. This is great work, with a great remix, Midnight, layering on top of it even more competence. (via Stoney Roads)
Midnight Music: Hundred’s New Music Video Of An ALLE FARBEN Tune Is Amazing.
This video seems to be one of the first true heirs to the triumph that was The Chemical Brothers music video for Star Guitar (linked below). I think this is on a train in China, but for the life of me I couldn’t tell you with any certainty (10 points to anyone who can comment ID’ing the area). The twee, indie vocals are put on top of a fun ambient midtempo melody. This helps frame the insane visuals that were captured by whoever has an insanely cool daily commute. This is a fun tune I wouldn’t have checked out otherwise so make sure to hit the video & their Soundcloud. (via Stoney Roads)
Terry Gotham 