Throwback Thursday: Cashmere Cat - With Me

After feeling largely uninspired today, I played through a bunch of oldies, remembered some good times and tossed around a bunch of ideas for Throwback Thursday posts, but for the most part couldn't shake the malaise that shrouded my psyche. So instead of a longer, more detailed write-up I've opted to get right to the point with this incredible Cashmere Cat track. "With Me," the first track I ever heard from the Norwegian wunderkind, is an all-time epic. It showcases the breathtaking beauty so often found at the heart of his tracks, as well as the inspired play with both the tremendous tension and potent percussion. The finale is perhaps one of the most powerful, edifying and uplifting releases I've ever encountered. It is ridiculously resonant no matter whether on ear buds or a proper system, and it is with the latter that I recall saying "there's nowhere I'd rather be than in the arms of Cashmere Cat's music," as it poured out of the speakers at The Hoxton. Enjoy below and be sure to check out Wedding Bells and Mirror Maru.FOLLOW CASHMERE CAT: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for April 6

IT'S THE WEEKEND! As if that weren't enough to get you excited, how about an onslaught of amazing new music to fill it? Back with another edition of Enlightened Listening comes EPs from Peggy Gou and AC Slater; singles from Attlas and Chromeo; albums from Booka Shade and Daniel Avery; and remixes from MK and Akira Akira & Hikeii. As is seemingly always the case, house is represented in all shapes and sizes, with a fair amount of funk, plus a killer club cut to round it out. Stream all the new music via Spotify below, and read brief descriptions after the jump. As always, enjoy!

Peggy Gou - Hundres Times
Finally the EP is complete. As free and fun and its partners, this one pulsates with a classic club sound.

Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons ft. Chela - Five Moons (Jamie Jones Igazu Remix)
The strength of subtly is on full display. Brilliant bass and prodigious percussion weave wonderfully around Chela's vaporous vocals. Check Jamie's Liquid Dub for an even darker delivery.

Tom Misch - Disco Yes (ft. Poppy Ajudha)
My favourite from his groovy album Geography. It could succeed as an instrumental, but the interplay between vocals and strings is simply sublime. Check "South Of The River" for more magic.

Chromeo - Must've Been (ft. DRAM & Jesse Johnson)
More fantastically funky fun from Chromeo. Another salacious singalong that has me melting at the thought of hundreds joining in when they bring their tour to The Danforth Music Hall, July 3rd and 4th.

Daniel Avery - Song For Alpha
The kind of quality that we've come to expect from Phantasy Sound and Daniel Avery. Almost orchestral in its arc, running from techno and house to chill and ambient. Adding to the all around epic brilliance, it has its own full length visuals, which you can lose yourself to here.

Attlas - Treehouse
I'm always astounded by the colour and quality of Attlas' productions, particularly the more techno tilted tracks like this. This one tickles, teases and downright pleases. It's hard not to lose yourself.

Armand Van Helden vs. Butter Rush - I Need A Painkiller (MK Extended Mix)
Another big time floor filler from the master. Downright gorgeous groove that I could listen to for days.

AC Slater - I Wanna Show You
The title track will win you over by bringing the piano back to bass house. "Amen Tribe" may lead to the floor spontaneously combusting as shufflers set it alight. The little extra effects and punctuations only further the fantastic groove of "Can't Come Down." This Young Lyxx track may be the best of the bunch.

Booka Shade - Cut The Strings
The thought of a new Booka Shade album is appetizing in itself, and having already covered "Night Surfing" here, saying I was excited for its release would be an understatement. I absolutely love "EMS Love" and "Confessions," and the deeper we get in the album the more impressed I get. The run from "And You?" through "Tyrell" makes this one of the early front runners for album of the year.

Ross From Friends - Aphelion
Beautiful and chill chords of all kinds mixed around masterful drum work. I hadn't been big on Ross From Friends, but the live stuff from Maida Vale last week had be hooked. Find it here.

SG Lewis - Dusk
Downright delightful depiction of the most beautiful time of day. So fantastically full of groove that despite the sun going down you'll be energized to dance all night long. My personal favourite: "Aura."

Cashmere Cat & Major Lazer ft. Tory Lanez - Miss You (Akira Akira & Hikeii Remix)
The club recasting this track desperately needed. Delicious drumline and brilliant bounce.

SOPHIE - Just Like We Never Said Goodbye (Qim Flip)

Casual fans will know SOPHIE for the equally massive tracks "Msmsmsm" and "Lemonade" from the hyper-kinetic album Product.  Bigger fans will know her widespread songwriting and production credits for the likes of Madonna, Charli XCX, and Vince Staples. To say that 2017 was a big year for her would be a vast understatement. She was on two of the biggest tracks of the year with Cashmere Cat and Lunice, as well as her own stunning breakout "It's Okay To Cry." And while we look forward to her album Whole New World, I can't help but share a remix of what was my favourite track from Product.

Qim's first release comes in the form a future bass remix of SOPHIE's "Just Like We Never Said Goodbye." The allure of the original is clear, while in stark contrast to the aforementioned cuts from Product. It is more of a standard song, subverting the psychotic stabs and fearsome flourishes that most have come to know SOPHIE for. It is at once bright and beautiful, yet also dark and haunting. While the unhinged club quality of SOPHIE is undeniable, this track has harnessed that energy, directing it into an incredible piece of art, which in my mind sets the stage for "It's Okay To Cry."

As I often say with remixes of this nature, you must tread lightly, in effort to both maintain the original's artistry and not debase its allure. Qim has done that quite well. The raw nature of his future bass flip works perfectly with SOPHIE's original. The new upbeat and optimistic drop is a more overt example of the heights achieved in the original, and yet it still plays perfectly with the careening chords and sub-bass that kept it grounded and sneakily sad. I find I'm still partial to a lot of future bass and the potential it holds, and it is generally the drums fills that seal the quality, to which Qim has delivered. The lead into the drops just always seems to hit my heart in the right place, making this a surefire second and third listen candidate. You'll have to get those on Soundcloud though as no download is currently available.FOLLOW QIM: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW SOPHIE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Top 100 Tracks of 2017: 100-76

Starting today, through Friday, I'll be revealing my list of the "Top 100 Tracks of 2017." The following is my disclaimer, as I feel it important to preface this kind of list with some insight into its creation and the reasoning behind it. While I spent a lot of time seriously pouring through this year of music, this is not really a serious endeavour. It is merely my fun way of further sharing the tracks and artists that made my year better. The rankings may not be scientific or even fair, rather they are simply a reflection on how strongly I felt these tracks and how much praise I felt they deserved.

As with last years list (starting here), you'll see that I included multiple tracks from my favourite artists. You'll also notice that the thread of disco/funk runs strongly throughout, as it is without question where I found myself going most this year. I did however try to touch on a variety of genres, while of course sticking to what I really like and felt warranted inclusion in such a list. Again mirroring last year, you'll find a relatively low amount of 'club' music, certainly in comparison to the amount of time I spent within them. But that's just me, I tend to listen to and enjoy so called 'headphone' music as much as big, banging, sub-woofer throbbing, beats. That being said plenty of this list would pulverize a club and I'd love to hear any of these tracks on a big system.

Finally, I will once again say that this is by no means an exhaustive list; there are without a doubt exceptional tunes that somehow failed to make the cut. However, onward and, in this case, downward, from tracks 100 to 76 we go. See the soundcloud playlist here and at the bottom of the page.

Shortlist For Album Of The Year

It's that time of year. Time to look back at some of our favourite moments. While I'm working on crafting my top 100 tracks countdown, I've decided to come through with a 'shortlist' of my favourite albums of the year. I've gone with 17 to tie in with the year itself and will cut down to a select few to tackle on a more in depth basis. For now I'll just share the list in alphabetical order, while saving the review and my reasoning for those that make the cut in the coming weeks. Of course this is by no means a scientific undertaking, just the simple act of sharing the music I most enjoyed this year (electronic or not). Enjoy!

• Bicep - Bicep
• Cashmere Cat - 9
• Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
• HAIM - Something To Tell You
• Hal Incandenza - Calor
• Jacques Greene - Feel Infinite
• Joe Goddard - Electric Lines
• Kölsch - 1989
• Krafty Kuts x Dynamite MC - All 4 Corners
• LCD Soundsystem - american dream
• London Grammar - Truth Is A Beautiful Thing
• Mura Masa - Mura Masa
• Oliver - Full Circle
• Pete Tong with Jules Buckley & The Heritage Orchestra - Ibiza Classics
• Sasha - re-Fracted: Live At The Barbican
• Sinjin Hawke - First Opus
• TroyBoi - Left Is Right

Electronic Music Awards (Predictions)

Two weeks ago I dug into the inaugural Electronic Music Awards, their new categories and the subsequent nominations. Read that article here. Today I'll be making my predictions, see noms below.

When I make predictions like this I usually make multiple picks: who I think will win, who I think should win, and make my own write-in winner. I'll be doing the same today, with a brief explanation as to why I believe my picks hold merit. I'll also be making them in reverse order, just for fun. Enjoy!

DJ Sinclair - Bells (RPG Mix)

As soon as I heard the first line of DJ Sinclair's RPG Mix of "Bells" I knew it was something I could jive with. It's poppy enough to feel fun and go over easy, but it's also complex enough to keep it from getting stale too quickly. I'm reminded of MssingNo's style with the massive bass sweeps and steady manipulation of the lead line (ironically, his remix of Cashmere Cat leads the mix that follows "Bells" in the related track section). While obviously the sound design and progression is on point, the little bird chirp punctuations and atmospheric crowd vocal samples are what make this more than just a brilliant beat, and a true touch of genius. Slithering like a snake into your ear holes, there's no avoiding the sonic brilliance that DJ Sinclair has crafted. Stream below or buy it via Different Circles, here. FOLLOW DJ SINCLAIR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Sinjin Hawke - Onset

We've finally got our first taste of Sinjin Hawke's highly anticipated album First Opus. Posted today on Fractal Fantasy's Souncloud, "Onset" sits in the 11th spot on the 14 piece tracklist. For those familiar with Hawke's catalog, it's a welcome return to his trademark epic sound design, and for those only finding the Jersey born producer now, there may be no better introduction.

I first came across Sinjin Hawke in his production "Yea Hoe" alongside Gangsta Boo, which may be the only better indication of his colossal creative ability. That awesome artistry lead Kanye to tap him as a producer on "Wolves," which after hearing "Onset" or "Yea Hoe" oozes with the inimitable Hawke at it's heart. But now we've got Sinjin doing Sinjin for Sinjin, which is exactly why people are so excited for First Opus, his first original release since "Prom Nite" on Pelican Fly back in 2013.

"Onset" heralds the return of his eminence, not just because it's our first taste of First Opus, but quite literally through the revelry of the horns in the intro. They are tuned as well or better than any trap horns I've heard, instantly cementing "Onset" as a force to be reckoned with. But the way Hawke builds around those utterly epic blasts with tuned toms, sub-bass resonance and a smattering of vocal clips makes this one of the most intricate masterpieces of production the world of electronic music has seen in years. It is on par with the most original and ear catching tunes I've ever come across, TNGHT's "Acrylics," RL Grime's "Core," and fellow Kanye collaborator, Cashmere Cat's "With Me."

I'm not sure I've got anything left in my vocabulary that can properly quantify just how massive a production "Onset" is, so I'll just leave you to hit the play button over and over. I would however suggest pre-ordering First Opus now, because you'll get "Onset" immediately, with the rest due out May 10th. FOLLOW SINJIN HAWKE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Grandtheft on Diplo & Friends (Jan 29, 2017)

At the end of January Grandtheft graced Diplo and Friends for another guest mix, just over a year since he made his last appearance on, arguably one of the best mixshows in the world (a set I also covered here). A lot has happened since last year, but we can still count on Grandtheft to deliver a dope mix with a bunch of new and forthcoming records as well as his trademark edits.Just in the first 10 minutes we're treated to a slew of genres and styles, all mixed together not just in a fluid manner, but almost so as to tell a story. From the rap intro of "Pull Up Hop Out" and "Gang With Me" to house with "Prophecy," "Rude Boy," and "Devotion" mixed with the vocals of "House Work," Grandtheft shows off his mixing chops beautifully. But for me the way he goes from his collab with Sleepy Tom to the instant singalong of Mr. Fuzz's "Bel Air" is what really gets me. And that's only the first 10 minutes.

Things then get more clubbed out as he hits up Jersey, before heading back to the 6ix with "Fake Love" followed by his "Heroes x Feel It" edit and Shaun Frank flip of "Easy Go." And while this is a really nice touchy feely section. it quickly devolves into too turnt trap with back to back Slumberjack, followed by Ekali and KRANE then his gritty "Waiting x Keep It 100" smash edit.

As if that weren't enough, we get a glimpse of his remix of "Let You Get Away" (hopefully forthcoming) returning the favour for Shaun Frank. Then it's more of the dudes Keys N Krates and their KRANE collab, followed by two more fire edits. Like really, who doesn't love the vocals to "In For The Kill." But still we're not even close to being done.

One of the things that makes Grandtheft so great is his ear for new talent and willingness to support it. His last Diplo & Friends mix introduced me to Dom Dias, who has become one of the most played artists on Bump In The Hump and made one of the most musically sound sets for My Mixtape. This time I notice Grandtheft has gone to the west coast to feature Juelz and while he's not new to me, I still feel he's incredibly underrated. His "Whine & Kotch" is fire and works perfectly with Grandtheft's set, but it's only one of many dope releases under his belt.

Of course the way the mix is rounded up further shows off Grantheft's expertise. He goes back to back with two of my favourite tracks of 2016 Jackal's "Ice" and San Holo's "Light" before letting us down gently with Francis and The Lights "Friends." Of course having Kanye doesn't hurt, but it is the combination of Benny Blanco and Cashmere Cat that really seals it for me. This kind is the kind of quality I've come to expect from Grandtheft, and truly I've never been let down. Both live and pre-recorded the man is something to behold. Enjoy the stream above and check out the tracklist here.

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NtrlTaste - Clarity

Russian duo NtrlTaste (Natural Taste), just dropped a free track on PIL's (Play It Louder) internet imprint. "Clarity" is a sneaky, subtle future bass and trap amalgam. I always like to picture electronic tracks as elaborate Rube Goldberg machines, and the construction of this one amazes me. The number of elements from plucked strings, xylophones, shimmering synths to odd vocal chops, make this one of the most sophisticated productions I can think of. It's got bits that remind me of Cashmere Cat or Ryan Hemsworth, with others that feel like Flume. It is delicate yet not soft in the middle; it still maintains enough thump in its kicks to demand a get-down across the dance-floor. The diamond sharp sound design of "Clarity" tickles my fancy, and can be downloaded free, from ToneDen, here. FOLLOW NTRLTASTE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Sliink Drops Jersey Club Remixes of Kanye West and Ariana Grande

Jersey Club king Sliink has finally dropped his Kanye West "Wolves" remix. Entitled "Love You" and featuring Gutta, the track was first heard last March in a guest mix he did for Thump (here). It's a classic Jersey Club cut with relentless bouncing, clapping percussion and old school rave vibes. His treatment of the vocals is as strong as ever, not only maintaining much of the integrity of the original, but commanding enough to have the dance floor in a full on frenzy. Like the lyrics the mix is "too wild," and you can pick it up completely free "right now" with a direct download here. Eleven minutes after sharing the Kanye flip, he uploaded his mix of the Cashmere Cat aided Ariana Grande track "Be My Baby." This too has been around for a while (here), although we're finally gifted with the full version. This one is crazy beautiful. From the get go, we're treated to an awesome display of vocal and percussion interplay. It really shows why Sliink is perhaps the premiere Jersey Club producer out there. From the bed squeaks to the drum fills and the vocal chops, everything is on point, proving impossible to avoid Sliink's pulsating power. "MY BAE" is also available for free download, here.With Trippy Turtle making a comeback earlier this week, remixing 50 Cent and Nate Dogg, it seems Jersey Club is back in the forefront. Stream "21" here.

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Top 100 Tracks of 2016: 66 - 34

Continuation of the list started yesterday: From 100 - 67, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. Soundcloud playlist can be found at the bottom.

#66: Meroshi - Summer Friends
It's hard to believe we made it this far into the list without some drum and bass, but here we are. Meroshi's genius is on full display here. His sound design impeccable, crafting instruments that feel so real, imbuing them with life and passion. The subtle effects and progression he works throughout, give the track an incredible energy. It's horny, groovy and those vocal samples get me every time.

#65: Stephen Walking - It Came From Planet Earth
2015 was the year I discovered and fell in love with Stephen Walking. This year marked a change in his productions, leaving behind the bass of "One Man Moon Band" and "The Difference Between Us And The Aliens," in which he explored different BPMs and styles. However, sticking to his interstellar, future disco/funk disposition, "It Came From Planet Earth" exudes awesomeness.

#64: Cashmere Cat - Trust Nobody (ft. Selena Gomez & Tory Lanez)
The rise of Cashmere Cat over the past two years is a testament to his nearly unrivaled ability, not only to produce around vocalists, but to craft truly divine sounds. While his recent work skews further from the kind of beautiful bangers of Mirror Maru or Wedding Bells, "Trust Nobody" shows off his smooth touch and delightful decorum. This further establishes Cashmere Cat as an paralleled producer.

#63: Jadu Heart - Late Night
Fittingly, I first heard this on a late night coming home from the club. That first flourish hit me like a magic spell, utterly alluring and beautifully breathtaking. And while it worked so magically in that hazy atmosphere, I now use it whenever I need a pick-me-up. It holds a special power in its easy flowing sound, so organic and raw as though it were recorded in one take. Heart rending harmonies through truly insightful and emotionally evocative lyrics, it's always on my mind.

#62: Jameston Thieves - Hypnotic
This certainly doesn't sound like a banger for the first 45 seconds, that is until it dives into a deep house beat. Torquing up the tension Jameston Thieves quickly turn "Hypnotic" in to an all out thrasher, banging the bass with massive strobing throbs, that contrasts so brilliantly with the brighter leads. The sound design of the bass in the drop may be the key to the track's quality, but it truly excels and finds itself in this list because of the drums fills leading into the drop as well as the supporting production.

#61: Justin Jay & Friends - Karma (JJ's Late Nite Dub)
Hearing Justin Jay play this at The Hoxton was one of the highlights of the year; I feel too many DJs are scared to play something out of the ordinary, something that doesn't bang, something not designed for the club. This is the kind of uplifting, yet downtempo, track that I could listen to any time of the day. It's built upon a beautiful premise ("You get what you give") and simple yet sublime instrumentation.

#60: Machinedrum - Angel Speak (ft. MeLo-X)
While I've called Machinedrum's Human Energy my album of the year (in my Grammys post), I decided to include only one track from it in this is (though many are deserving). The problem is the album stands as a cohesive collection, so separating tracks seemed wrong. The exception, and stand out track from it is this, "Angel Speak." For me it encompasses all that makes the album so magical. It it full of life, bringing humanity to the the synthesized sounds, begging listeners to move their feet. Like the album itself it also bounces around from different rhythms, instruments and grooves, truly coming alive.

#59: Torro Torro & Aylen - Designed 4 U
(As featured on EFYE) 2016 blessed us with one of the best collabs the bass community has ever seen. Torro Torro and Aylen are perfect for each other, as clearly evidenced in this track. Everything screams sheer brilliance as the synths never stop moving or progressing, and those vocal riffs, while leading the track they also support and play perfectly into the utterly insane and diverse drops. There really is nothing better than drop by drop progression, and these three take that to the next level, making the first, already awesome drop, pale in comparison to the callous second coming.

MssingNo - M1 Personal Trainer [Mixtape]

Enigmatic DJ and producer, MssingNo just dropped a brand new 23+ minute mixtape, filled with tracks all coloured in his dark, atmospheric and orchestral club idiom. Think of this as a mix of Cashmere Cat and Hudson Mohawke, if they were playing a dimly lit stage in an almost empty club, while people just went about their business, chatting about their days, relaxing and enjoying some libations. Now picture this all in a digitized anime landscape, and you've got "M1 Personal Trainer." The movement and atmosphere MssingNo creates is simply sublime. The contrasting waves of bright and dark sounds, through post-club remixes of Zara Larsson, Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, firmly situate MssingNo in a shortlist of producers, pulling back the curtain, showing us what the future of music sounds like. This is the kind of mixtape I could easily listen to dozens of times, in part due to the smooth, cyclical repetition MssingNo has so brilliantly brought forth, as the mix begins and ends with versions of Daft Punk's "Technologic." Immediately enamouring, each of the tracks play an essential role in this expertly crafted virtual reality ride into the future of music. Usually I'd say do not sleep on MssingNo, but I think it's highly likely that his music will weave its way into your dreams, even if you are in fact sleeping. This truly is the material dreams are made of. "M1 Personal Trainer" is available entirely free, via mediafire.

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Cashmere Cat and SOPHIE at The Hoxton Tonight!

It's quite simply ridiculous how many nights in November I've been waiting for with baited breath. First, Ryan Hemsworth, then the Hyperhouse Tour, Lemaitre and Chet Porter, the Shelter Live Tour, Lido and now this, Cashmere Cat and SOPHIE's stop at The Hoxton. Add to that Lane 8 Saturday, then Drezo and Booka Shade next week and this November may be the best month of music ever. It really proves that while festival season may be nice, the fall club scene cannot be topped. I've had my tickets for tonight since the presale, as I never miss a chance to catch Cashmere Cat. Add to that the enigmatic SOPHIE and tonight is the kind of night dreams are made of. While I beat all of my friends to the punch with Cashmere Cat, I was still rather slow on the uptake. It took a facebook post from AlunaGeorge directing me to his "With Me" (from his second EP, Wedding Bells) for me to finally come across the genius that is Magnus August Høiberg. After playing "With Me" on repeat for an hour, I decided I better check out more of this Cashmere Cat character, and I was not disappointed. Both of his EPs were absolutely gold through and through. Hear for yourself below or via Spotify here.I've truly yet to come across any artist that compares to Cashmere Cat and his production style. Yes, there are similarities with the likes of Ryan Hemsworth, Hudson Mohawke and Lido, but there's something about Cashmere's sound design and impeccable atmosphere that makes his tracks so alluring. It should also be noted that Cashmere Cat is not just a producer par excellence, but his DJing skills saw him represent Norway in the DMC World DJ Championships 4 years in a row. With that in mind, I'm hoping he throws in some of his newer releases too, and perhaps some stuff from his forthcoming album, that we've been patiently waiting for. To put a cap on Cashmere Cat, I'll leave you with an example of his incredible mixing style, and his new music video for "Trust Nobody."

Joining Cashmere Cat at The Hoxton tonight is the enigmatic SOPHIE. His (yes SOPHIE is male) most notable production "MSMSMSM" grabbed the electronic music scene by the family jewels. It is so aggressive and turnt, yet somehow beautiful and emotive, there's no way to quantify just how crazy people go when it comes through the club speakers. SOPHIE is shrouded in mystery, not having released an original production since 2015. In fact his most recent production credit comes from Charli XCX's Vroom Vroom EP, with whom he has toured, working closely to premiere several new productions. SOPHIE's cultivation of his enigmatic image is truly is a work of art. You'll be hard-pressed to find many live videos, or sets of his online, and the one you'll most likely be directed to, a Boiler Room set from 2014, features a hired performer behind the decks, miming the prerecorded set SOPHIE had already laid down. He does however appear in this video dressed as a security guard.

Tonight is sure to be one to remember. At the time of writing this, tickets are 90% sold out (online) but as per usual, there are sellers on the facebook event page, and there will likely be tickets at the door.

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FOLLOW SOPHIE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Lido - Dye

One week before we get Lido's Everything, comes another look inside the 11 track album. He's added a youtube clip with the audio and art for the follow up track to "Murder," and the third in the album, "Dye." While previous 'unofficial' iterations of "Dye" had Cashmere Cat as a featured artist, this version does not, nor does the tracklist that he posted to his twitter. One youtube commenter hypothesized that it might be because Cashmere Cat has his own track out today, "Trust Nobody" with Selena Gomez and Tory Lanez. Whatever the case we've now got further insight into Everything's emotional arc. 

I'm excited to see and hear how Lido puts the whole album together in a live setup, and can assure you his performance is an awesome experience. Find tickets for yourself at his tour website, and catch the man himself bringing the below tracklist to life.

Roger Wilco - Runner

Nashville native, Roger Wilco and his latest track "Runner" are proof that more than just country music comes from the capital of Tennessee. Released for free via the Rauthentic collective, "Runner" is a combination of both trap and bass beats, but also late 80s/early 90s ethereal soundtrack synths. It's almost as though Cashmere Cat and The X-Files theme were mixed up in a big pot of bubbling acid, much like the creation of Batman supervillain, Two-Face. "Runner" has some sneaky beauty, that lulls listeners into a false sense of security, only to have it all wiped out in an instant, with a remarkably ratchet and ruinous, descending drop. The allure of Roger Wilco's production is absolutely awesome, and although it may be an odd choice I think I'm going to try out "Runner" as my new alarm. What could be better to wake up to than that ominous opening and descent into darkness as you awake from the darkness of your dreams. Grab the free download of "Runner" and try it for yourself, here. FOLLOW ROGER WILCO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Moldavite - Majesty

Cool Californian producer Moldavite, previously known as Passage, fresh off the release of his 14 track album, The Realest on August 3rd, just dropped another new chill trap production, "Majesty." The sub-genre known as chill trap is a bit of an odd one, almost an oxymoron, as true trap is anything but chill. That being said, chill trap seems to have taken off in the past few years after artists like Cashmere Cat, Daktyl and Mr. Carmack among others, set the bar. Moldavite really seems to have figured out the key to crafting a quality chill trap track as he's got a number of them under his belt, including the marvelously cool "Majesty." It's ambiance fills the room immediately lifting spirits, while the radiant wind-chimes stand atop the massive booming bass.

The key for me however, is the tuning of the percussion, specifically wooden blocks (at 1:08 and again at 2:29). The combination of the percussion, oh so beautiful synths and silvery vocals, and their progression throughout, make "Majesty" a track not just for playing once, but one that can and should be enjoyed countless times. Its serene, composed qualities have an amazing and inescapable allure, one that I imagine will have you grateful for this free download from Moldavite.

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Kanye West ft Frank Ocean & Caroline Shaw - Wolves (Jesse Slayter Remix)

Early this morning, a soundcloud account called 'mi305tL' posted its first track, an alleged Jesse Slayter remix of the Cashmere Cat produced Kanye West track with Frank Ocean and Caroline Shaw, "Wolves."

Evidence does point to it being a Jesse Slayter production, as he's reposted it on his official soundcloud and it's currently pinned on his twitter. This is what the world of soundcloud has become, when artists create entirely new accounts to release bootleg remixes, for fear of having their official account (followers, plays and tracks) deleted. I wonder when soundcloud will grow wise to this and strike back accordingly. It's obvious when artists like Lido, publicly decry soundcloud's policies, then create another account, clearly under the same name 'lidogotclouds' or explicitly calling them bootleg accounts, that they are subverting the system. Don't get me wrong I'm glad these accounts exist, it's important that music has a place to be shared, but it seems to have reached epidemic proportions. The number of people creating new accounts just so they can download fan-gated tracks without reposting to their official account is insane, which brings us full circle to Jesse Slayter's "Wolves."

Commendably, Jesse's given away this remix truly, 100% free. He's not fan-gating, you don't have to share, follow or comment, just grab the download from mediafire. The sad part, is that we've made it this far and haven't even talked about the quality of Slayter's music, but if you're here in the first place, it's likely because you're already well aware of Slayter's production prowess. He's flipped Kanye's original, into a jam session of sorts; a funky get down, that while utilizing much of the original, transforms it into a stalking predatory production. Must say it's an impressive undertaking from Slayter, who continually dazzles with his wide array of skills and next level artistry.

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nightcore obsessions

there's something special about these tracks

San Holo - Can't Forget You (ft. The Nicholas)

The Norwegian music scene has gained tremendous worldwide attention in the past year thanks in large part to the rise of Kygo, Rytmeklubben, Cashmere Cat, Lido and San Holo, who first broke into public consciousness with his "Don't Touch The Classics" remixes, especially when his "Next Episode" remix was featured in TWRK's fifth installment. Holo's inimitable style and sound have catapulted him and his continually growing library into countless mixes and a worldwide tour. SH has his own label, bitbird, but he's also released tonnes of free music, a 3 track EP on Monstercat, an OWSLA single, big names remix credits for Tchami and Porter Robinson, and now he's picked up his very own Spinnin' release: His last release, a collab with Father Dude, was also on Spinnin', and as you might expect with Spinnin', it has marked a move to a slightly more poppy, easily consumable sound and feel for the heavenly, chiptune inspired producer. Both "IMISSU" and "Can't Forget You" lean on sparkling vocals and less on heavily tuned drops or glitchy builds, and what I feel is almost a stripped down, rather confined version of the San Holo I've come to know and love. My only hope is that, because of Spinnin's huge reach, more and more people get into San Holo and he floods us with new music; nothing wrong with that.

SCORE
Composition 2/3
Dynamics 2/2
Improvisation/Progression 2/3
Melody/Harmony 2/3
Originality 1/2
Sonic Quality 2/2
Lyrics 2/3
Vocals 2/2
TOTAL 15/20

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