Showing posts with label J Majik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J Majik. Show all posts

Monday, August 09, 2021

Monday Grab Bag

Mondays are most often the driest day of the week when it comes to 'discovering' new music. That said, today was totally different as I kept coming across wicked releases everywhere I turned. So, with that in mind, I've compiled six of said releases here. Unfortunately, they're spread across streaming services, but rest assured, each release can be enjoyed in its entirety below.
Discovered via Soundcloud's The Upload algorithm, Cortese's Emma Cannon-led "Girls Like You" is ridiculously cool and ever so catchy with that spellbinding swing. Another one from The Upload, "1984" doesn't have anything to do with Orwell, but rather the Martha And The Muffins' single from that same year, "Black Stations/White Stations." Seamless sampling and a more hefty backing make it a wicked dancefloor weapon. Finally, the 8Kays' Eleatics EP rounds out the Soundcloud section of this Monday mix, and what an excellent EP it is. I keep going back and forth on whether I like the originals or the remixes better, but you really can't go wrong. Both versions of "Respect Me" are incredible in their mix of restraint and rippling techno power, just as both mixes of "Young Souls" manage to infect you with their otherworldly grooves and alien effects. 
Effin's debut on the mighty Monstercat further cements his status as an arsonist as "Unlucky" is a breathtaking blaze. Like the 8Kays originals above, the most incredible thing about this track is the contrasting clean, minimal sections against the mayhem of percussion and bass in the drops. And then there's the infernal horn section. If you're not already, be sure to keep it locked on Effin
More of the aforementioned minimal stuff thrives here with Dunk's deep and dark DnB EP, Signal Loss. Moody, cold and callous futurescapes give this release the feeling of a neo-noir game of interstellar espionage. In fact, the more I listen to it, I feel like its high-stakes tension would work well against the scenes of Gene Hackman tailing his prey in The French Connection.
Finally, we round out this collection with two killer remixes from Champa B and Tim Reaper. Both highly-charged rollercoaster rides, "Serenity" is somehow more fire than "Meridian," with its relentless percussive charges and bass booms, while the latter leans more cool and contemplative, especially through the pristine piano.

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Jack Beats - Vinyl DnB Set

Yesterday we were blessed with a rare treat as Jack Beats laid down an all vinyl DnB set on live on Drum&BassArena's YouTube. The hour long mix can be found below and is jam-packed with classics. And what a time to dust off the old gold from arguably the hottest genre of the moment!

Once a member of the Mixologists, Geffin's DJ skills keep the set cruising at a high rate, powering through record after record. The standard is set high early on with the massive Marcus Intalex & ST Files remix of "Midnight" ahead of the instant jolt of energy that is M.I.S.T. and High Contrast's stunner "3am." With a second from High Contrast after the first of two from Calibre, we get another all time classic in the J Majik and Hatiras connection "Spaced Invader." Shortly thereafter Jack Beats fans will recognize John B's brilliance in "Up All Night," a track the then duo sampled in 2011. Sick sampling continues as the next track sees Ed Rush and Optical's powerful "Pacman." Before long we reach the end of the set as Geffin lays down back to back stunners in Adam F's "Metropolis" and Photek's "Rings Around Saturn." Enjoy the whole set below and find full tracklist posted in the comments here.
FOLLOW JACK BEATS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Friday, February 28, 2020

Enlightened Listening for February 28

I'm not certain but this is likely the largest edition of Enlightened Listening ever. Stretching across nearly 80 tracks and over six hours, it features five albums and has its fair share of groovers and bangers.

The first two albums, Daktyl's UNREALITY and Caribou's Suddenly, have had me waiting with bated breath and show off both artists' incredible and thoughtful craftsmanship. The same can be said for the third album in the playlist, Tycho's Simulcast, although I can't say I was aware of its immanence. As to be expected with Tycho, it is utterly gorgeous and warm, preparing us for the long summer days that lie ahead. Turning more electronic and jacking up the funky groove meter, Wajatta's (the combination of Reggie Watts & John Tejada) sophomore album is sensational and sure to inspire more than a smile or two. Equally uplifting and groovy, Yuksek's feature-laden NOSSO RITMO will be undeniable at beach parties everywhere.

Speaking of outdoor events, I hope Sébastien Léger is one of the artists TBA at the All Day I Dream event in Toronto July 18th (here). His third EP for them is another amazing one, as mystical and moving as ever. Picking up with a more driving beat, Colyn comes through Rose Avenue Records with two powerful cinematic numbers. Even more driving, HUNTER reconnects with Roshin for fat joint "Floating." The enigmatic genius of Prins Thomas follows that up with a gritty growler in "Graut" which also receives a wicked and warped remix from Fango. Bridging the gap from the techno to the DnB that's still to come are two unreal originals from HomeSick in "Ampgain" and "Closer."

Immediately capturing my attention, J Majik lives up to his name with a godly remix of Joris Voorn's "Messiah." Flames erupt as Brookes Brothers and Kove follow that with the irresistible Kathy Brown led "Burn." Things really get lit with the return of 13 who is followed by a record I cannot say enough about, SBK.'s "One Man." I know we're still just in the second month of the year but I'm positive it will be in my best of the year list. Another man who is sure to find himself in year end lists is Apashe who delivers another ridiculous single ahead of Renaissance. Turning towards house, BROHUG brings us to the final true banger of this playlist, unhinged heater "Party Out."

Making the transition from house to disco both in the playlist itself and in a single track, CastNowski's "Deep Down" is fabulously funky fun. Next up in that same vein is Mercer who drops a dope bass-line on Bob Sinclar's "I Feel For You." Moving more organic, Duck Sauce's "Get To Steppin" leads us right into our finale, The Shapeshifters' follow up to "Life Is A Dancefloor," the sublime "Second Chance."


Daktyl - UNREALITY

Caribou - Suddenly

Tycho - Simulcast

Wajatta - Don't Let You Get Down

Yuksek - NOSSO RITMO

Sébastien Léger - Secrets

Colyn - Concepts Of Love

HUNTER - Floating (ft. Roshin)

Prins Thomas - Graut

HomeSick - Closer

Joris Voorn ft. HÆLOS - Messiah (J Majik Remix)

Brookes Brothers & Kove - Burn (ft. Kathy Brown)

13 - Atomic

SBK. - One Man

Apashe - Work (ft. Young Buck)

BROHUG - Party Out

CastNowski - Deep Down

Bob Sinclar - I Feel For You (Mercer Remix)

Duck Sauce - Get To Steppin

The Shapeshifters - Second Chance (ft. Kimberly Davis)