Last week, Ed Banger boss Busy P spun a DJ set as part of Brut.club's ongoing series that recently featured Vladimir Cauchemar, Jean Tonique and others. Sharing some exclusives from friends Myd, Metronomy, and SebastiAn, Pedro Winter's hour-long set is chock full of gems. While SebastiAn's take on Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer's classic "I Feel Love" is indeed ear candy, the sonic craving I came out of this set with comes from Gaspard Augé. Recently appearing alongside Victor Le Masne for a remix of Myd and Mac DeMarco's "Moving Men," Augé is spreading the gospel of Justice, even without Xavier de Rosnay. "Force Majeure," the track in question here, could easily be passed off as a Justice production as it reeks of their fabulous and forceful electroclash/space-disco sound. Exceptional and exultant, its energy radiates triumphantly throughout, filling its listeners with an unfounded fearlessness. Like a sonic forcefield, its electro intensity instantly makes you invincible. I'm even hearing that French chemists are working on a way to synthesize it into their COVID-19 vaccine. Obviously, I'm joking with the last bit, but "Force Majeure" is no farce but rather a force to be reckoned with. Check it out below (as ripped from the set and edited by Kwaak) or catch it in the full set here.
The frenetic world of electronic music is full of distractions and diversions, hindering the ability to find transcendent music. Let Oggie James be your guru and lead down the path to musical Enlightenment. Album, song and event reviews, mixtapes, and radio shows, light the way to Enlightenment, conveyed by Oggie James.
Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Justice. Show all posts
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Wednesday, November 04, 2020
Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Justice - Stress (Glass Petals Remix)
After posting a clip of their remix of "Stress" from Justice's all-time great album Cross at the beginning of September, Glass Petals finally made good and released the banging bootleg last week. An obvious fit for spooky season, the killer club cut sets the mood early on in tonight's all-new episode of Bump In The Hump. As mentioned last week, this week's episode will mirror the Halloween haunt as we clean up its lecherous leftovers and showcase more of the malevolent music our great Canadians have crafted. Made available for free download, the duo of Felix Cartal and Johnny Jover have kept the two main samples of "Stress" intact while giving it their hype-inducing club re-rub. The off-kilter genius of Devo's "Jocko Homo" and the tension soaked strings of David Shire's "Night On Disco Mountain" loom as large as ever, at once reminding us of Cross' can't miss quality and Glass Petals' status as rising stars. Get "Stress" for free via Hypeddit here and catch in on Bump In The Hump, which premieres exclusively via Mixcloud tonight at 7 PM EST and then on Radio Humber Saturday from 9-11 PM EST.
FOLLOW GLASS PETALS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Labels:
Bump In The Hump,
Cross,
David Shire,
Devo,
Felix Cartal,
Free Download,
Glass Petals,
Johnny Jover,
Justice,
Radio Humber,
Sneak Peek,
Stress
Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Magician - Magic Tape 97
Finally, the first new edition of the vaunted Magic Tape mix series since COVID-19 captured the world's attention in early March. The Magician is back with an hour made up almost exclusively of new and forthcoming material.
Opening up this new set is the simply sensational Chemical Brothers cut "Catch Me I'm Falling" from No Geography. It is followed by a beautiful, yet unidentified scintillating synth number which has an undeniably familiar feel, yet I can't quite put my finger on who either the vocalist or producer is. As the mix continues to pick up steam we get brand new and forthcoming releases from Mohawk & The Kid and Myd (respectively) before The Magician's "You And Me" appears to receive a sublime, striding remix from another yet unidentified source.
This same formula of new followed by forthcoming tunes is replicated as Boys Noize's Defected affair "Mvinline" is followed by a trio of yet unreleased offerings from Theo Kottis and Mozambo, with the former absolutely rocking resplendent. In terms of overall trajectory this is where the mix really peaks as both Tchami's "Buenos Aires" and Alex Preston & Rion S' "Love Somebody" deliver incredibly infectious energy. Finally, The Magician crafts a killer come-down with Moullinex's remix of Poolside "Sunrise Strategies" and Justice's remix of Frank Ocean "Dear April." Find the 'full' tracklist as identified by the prolific Zinderlong at 1001tracklists here and enjoy the mix in its entirety below.
FOLLOW THE MAGICIAN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Opening up this new set is the simply sensational Chemical Brothers cut "Catch Me I'm Falling" from No Geography. It is followed by a beautiful, yet unidentified scintillating synth number which has an undeniably familiar feel, yet I can't quite put my finger on who either the vocalist or producer is. As the mix continues to pick up steam we get brand new and forthcoming releases from Mohawk & The Kid and Myd (respectively) before The Magician's "You And Me" appears to receive a sublime, striding remix from another yet unidentified source.
This same formula of new followed by forthcoming tunes is replicated as Boys Noize's Defected affair "Mvinline" is followed by a trio of yet unreleased offerings from Theo Kottis and Mozambo, with the former absolutely rocking resplendent. In terms of overall trajectory this is where the mix really peaks as both Tchami's "Buenos Aires" and Alex Preston & Rion S' "Love Somebody" deliver incredibly infectious energy. Finally, The Magician crafts a killer come-down with Moullinex's remix of Poolside "Sunrise Strategies" and Justice's remix of Frank Ocean "Dear April." Find the 'full' tracklist as identified by the prolific Zinderlong at 1001tracklists here and enjoy the mix in its entirety below.
FOLLOW THE MAGICIAN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Lane 8 - Halloween 2019 Mixtape
This Never Happened head, Lane 8 is at it again. Known for his quarterly, season-based mixtapes, he has just broken the mold by following his "Fall 2019 Mixtape" with a haunting Halloween edition. Stretching well over two hours, this mix strays a bit from the standard fare of seductive deep and provocative progressive house to allow for more spine-tingling techno and blood-curdling bass.
As always Lane 8's track selection reigns supreme. There's the usual onslaught of IDs, mixed in with some classic cuts from Justice, Gesffelstein and even The Bloody Beetroots' smash "Warp 1.9." And while those old cuts still hold power, it's the new and unknown tracks that do the most damage as you have no idea what evil awaits. Prior to "Let There Be Light," we're welcomed by a creepy choir of sorts. Later we're embroiled in a shadowy chase scene as wolves and all manner of malevolent monsters howl and yelp in the distance. Even deeper into the mix, the astral imagery becomes increasing alien, beaming us aboard a spaceship helmed by freakishly, grotesque creatures.
The whole of the mix is a heart-palpitating journey through sound, endlessly filling you with helplessness as you attempt to navigate the vile vision of Lane 8's crafting. Especially thanks to the largely voiceless nature of the mix, it is nearly impossible to rein in your imagination. So sit back, turn off your lights and up your bass, and let the evil genius of Daniel Goldstein lead you astray.FOLLOW LANE 8: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
As always Lane 8's track selection reigns supreme. There's the usual onslaught of IDs, mixed in with some classic cuts from Justice, Gesffelstein and even The Bloody Beetroots' smash "Warp 1.9." And while those old cuts still hold power, it's the new and unknown tracks that do the most damage as you have no idea what evil awaits. Prior to "Let There Be Light," we're welcomed by a creepy choir of sorts. Later we're embroiled in a shadowy chase scene as wolves and all manner of malevolent monsters howl and yelp in the distance. Even deeper into the mix, the astral imagery becomes increasing alien, beaming us aboard a spaceship helmed by freakishly, grotesque creatures.
The whole of the mix is a heart-palpitating journey through sound, endlessly filling you with helplessness as you attempt to navigate the vile vision of Lane 8's crafting. Especially thanks to the largely voiceless nature of the mix, it is nearly impossible to rein in your imagination. So sit back, turn off your lights and up your bass, and let the evil genius of Daniel Goldstein lead you astray.FOLLOW LANE 8: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Sunday, February 10, 2019
2019 Grammy Predictions
*** Update: Results noted with ✓ or x ***
BEST DANCE RECORDING
Above & Beyond - Northern Soul (ft. Richard Bedford)
Disclosure - Ultimatum (ft. Fatoumata Diawara)
Fisher - Losing It
Silk City - Electricity (ft. Dua Lipa)
Virtual Self - Ghost Voices
Who Will Win: Silk City ✓
Who Should Win: Silk City ✓
Reasoning: I feel like the Academy is equally likely to go with any of Disclosure, Silk City and Fisher as they are seemingly the most widely-popular productions in the list. My bet is that they will make the 'right' choice with Silk City as they love both Diplo and Mark Ronson, and it is indeed the most accessible and perhaps most successful production of the bunch. That said, I would not be surprised if "Losing It" got the nod, as love it or hate it, it was without a doubt the club track of the year.
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Jon Hopkins - Singularity
Justice - Woman Worldwide
Sofi Tukker - Treehouse
SOPHIE - Oil Of Every Pearl's Un-Insides
TOKiMONSTA - Lune Rouge
Who Will Win: Justice ✓
Who Should Win: TOKiMONSTA
Reasoning: This was a tough one. Obviously any of these could take the trophy, but I feel like they'll be too scared to go with SOPHIE, who might be the obvious choice in many eyes. The other nom that set itself apart from the group in terms of hype was Singularity, and I think it's got a solid chance. However, due to last year's seemingly unfair Kraftwerk catalog/best of winning, I see them doing the same with Woman Worldwide this year. That said, I've got Lune Rouge as the most enjoyable album through and through.
BEST REMIXED RECORDING
LSD - Audio (CID Remix)
Charlie Puth - How Long (EDX's Dubai Skyline Remix)
Gabriel & Dresden ft. Sub Teal - Only Road (Cosmic Gate Remix)
Kygo ft. Justin Jesso - Stargazing (Kaskade Remix)
HAIM - Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix)
Who Will Win: EDX
Who Should Win: Mura Masa ✓
Reasoning: This marks the 5th time Kaskade has been nominated in this category since 2008, and his 4th time in 5 years. Surely this is his year right? But sadly for him, I think not. I put CID and EDX in a near dead heat, with the advantage going to EDX in the kind of dance delivery that seems to get recognized most at The Grammys. My choice is obvious though, as I love both HAIM and Mura Masa, and see "Walking Away" as by far the most adventurous and progressive production in the list.
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams
Who Will Win: Kanye West
Who Should Win: Pharrell Williams ✓
Reasoning: I see the Academy going for drama with this pick, and while he's likely deserving after an incredible year, there's no doubt Kanye will have people talking. That said, I believe Pharrell's output is more wide-ranging and because of his contributions to Timberlake and Grande's albums, he ought to become just the 4th person to win this category 3+ times.
***OTHER, MORE UNINFORMED PICKS***
Best Music Video: Childish Gambino - This Is America ✓
Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media: Black Panther ✓
Best Spoken Word Album: Jimmy Carter ✓
Best Americana Album: Brandi Carlile ✓
Best American Roots Song: The Joke ✓
Best American Roots Performance: The Joke ✓
Best Rap Album: Mac Miller x
Best Rap Song: Sicko Mode x
Best Rap/Sung Performance: This Is America ✓
Best Rap Performance: Sicko Mode x
Best Alternative Music Album: Björk x
Song Of The Year: The Joke x
Album Of The Year: Janelle Monae x
Record Of The Year: All The Stars x
Labels:
Above + Beyond,
CID,
Cosmic Gate,
Disclosure,
EDX,
FISHER,
Gabriel + Dresden,
Grammys,
HAIM,
Jon Hopkins,
Justice,
Kaskade,
Kygo,
Mura Masa,
Silk City,
Sofi Tukker,
SOPHIE,
TOKiMONSTA,
Virtual Self
Friday, July 06, 2018
Enlightened Listening for July 6
Wavedash & Quest - Adagio (Mat Zo Remix)
The kind of mastery you can only get from Mat Zo. Subtle and beautiful beginnings eventually get twisted with wicked movement and spectacular sound design.
Folamour - Club Degli Esploratori
Quickly becoming one of my favourite, most trusted providers of disco grooves, Folamour's four track EP is top notch. As usual he offers up smooth flowing fun. Watch out for "Girl With Attitude."
Xinobi - Skateboarding (Kraak & Smaak Remix)
Light and bright take from Kraak & Smaak with some sensational soaring synths and bleepy grooves.
SG Lewis x Clairo - Better
Always tugging on the heartstrings with tremendous sound design, SG Lewis lays down a wonderfully warm groove against which Clairo's cute crooning comes as a beautiful breeze.
CastNowski - The Factory
CastNowski stays hot with his second EP in as many months. It too hits hard with deep, dirty and grinding house numbers that will leave even the most sure footed dancer feeling weak in the knees.
Ron Hall & The Mothafunkaz - The Way You Love Me (ft. Marc Evans)
Two absolute epic remixes from Dimitri From Paris and Tom Moulton. All I can say: "I'm Lovin' It."
Daniel Avery - Quick Eternity (Four Tet Remix)
Another absolute stunner. Ringing resplendence and undeniable excellence. But how about that turn in the second half? There really is nothing like a Four Tet remix. Sheer and utter brilliance.
Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons - Fly Away
Clean, cool and deep, Damian Lazarus does it all with ease. The vocals suck you in and the instrumental does the rest. Musical majesty especially with those sublime strings.
Wax Motif & Hunter Siegel - Wassup
I'm just mad it took so long for these two to work together again after "All Night Man." Already a certifiable club killer after hearing it at the recent No Neons, expect this to go off all summer long.
Proxy - Shake It
Proxy with the hot hot heat. Fantastic rapid fire wobs and potent progression make for one hell of a win.
Bjorn Torske - Byen
A wondrous, expansive, electronic soundscape that is absolutely perfect for summer - whether cruising, laying by the beach, or having a backyard bash. It is inventive, playful and beautifully put together.
Justice - Randy (WWW)
My favourite Justice track (which I've never seen performed live), gets a remix for their forthcoming 'live' studio album, Woman Worldwide. Pure electro prevails before the intoxicating vocals arrive in the second half and things get twisted like the old days of Cross and Audio, Video, Disco.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
A-Trak - Sunday Afternoon Mix for The Do-Over
Of the strings that ties the mix together perhaps Purple Disco Machine is the most prominent. It was his mix of "Juice" in the opening, his original production "Move Or Not" (which samples "Rappers Delight") shortly after, and then his collab with Aeroplane, "Sambal" about a third of the way in.
But my favourite part? That's a tough question. The triple shot from Justice's "Pleasure" to Oliver and Thee Mike B's remix of Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" and Parliament's "Flash Light" is bloody brilliant. The fact that it's followed by an unidentified track which may be new Chromeo, is just a little too much to take. Then again I'm a sucker for The Pointer Sister's "Automatic," and the move to Anderson .Paak's "Am I Wrong" is wild. Oh and how about the section from Marcus Marr, Tiger & Woods, Talking Heads, Luke & Jimmy to Steely Dan? You quite simply cannot go wrong with this mix. Find the tracklist here.
FOLLOW A-TRAK: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Thursday, August 03, 2017
The Wonderland That Was WayHome 2017 (Recap)
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| Credit: Karis Malszecki (Instagram) |
This being both my first WayHome, and my first overnight camping festival, I went in with very few expectations or even ideas about what I was getting myself into. I was also flying solo for the most part (bouncing between groups of friends, as I'm apt to do), which allowed for full freedom and discovery. I had a strong schedule of who I wanted to see, but that was more of guideline rather than a strict itinerary. And this is part of what I love about being a blogger/reviewer as opposed to a photographer/videographer/etc, it allows me to experience the festival as a whole, while still focusing on the music. From the camping, food, staff, fellow WayHomies and everything in between, WayHome was pure perfection. If you're reading for the music only, jump ahead to the break below.
------------------------------------------------------------------
WeatherMother nature set the mood for the weekend right off the bat, clearing out the clouds, turning up the temperature and letting the sun shine full blast from Friday morning through Sunday evening. Even the grass was green, which I'm told was not the case in previous years. Check out the Friday night sunset.
The seemingly endless rows of camping played host to hundreds of little parties. It was absolutely mind-blowing walking from one corner to another, passing thousands of people all here for the same thing. Saturday morning I met up with 404, and we literally went back and forth between a half dozen different groups of people getting ready another full day of fun. This was tiring walking so far, but inspiring in that it brought so many people together. However the highlight of my camping came when I met Kyle (left) and his group from Barrie. Just take a look at this character (RIP those sunglasses, which fell into a porta-potty minutes after this picture).
Food
No matter your dietary restrictions or desires there was something for you. Poutines aplenty placated, staples like Pizza Pizza and Beaver Tails satisfied, while dozens of other delicacies tickled your taste buds. I had a wicked good (but ultimately bad choice due to time spent in the porta-potties afterwards) spicy chorizo burrito. However the most talked about foodstuff was The Colossal Onion, but beware it's not for the faint of heart, I barely made a dent in mine even though it was sinfully scrumptious.
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Thursday, July 27, 2017
My WayHome Plan Of Attack
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Bump In The Hump: July 26 (Season 6, Episode 13)
Tracklist
- Frank Ocean - White Ferrari (Jacques Greene Remix)
- Charlotte Cardin - Faufile (CRi Remix)
- Porter Robinson - Fellow Feeling (Chet Porter Flip)
- Mitski - Francis Forever (Ryan Hemsworth Remix)
- JAHKOY ft. Schoolboy Q - California Heaven (Medasin Remix)
- Falcons & Ekali - I Won't Lie (ft. Vanessa Elisha)
- Mura Masa - Love$ick (Dom Dias Remix)
- Flume - Wall Fuck (Gramatik & Ramzoid Remix)
- Phantogram - You Don't Get Me High Anymore (A-Trak Remix ft. Joey Purp)
- Chromeo - Lost On The Way Home (ft. Solange)
- Muneshine - Full Throttle (ft. Darcys)
- Pat Lok - Mar Vista
- MSTRKRFT - Runaway (RYME Remix)
- Justice - Phantom Pt. II (Mathematic Remix)
Labels:
A-Trak,
Bump In The Hump,
Chet Porter,
Chromeo,
CRi,
Dom Dias,
Ekali,
Flume,
Free Download,
Jacques Greene,
JAHKOY,
Justice,
Mathematic,
MSTRKRFT,
Muneshine,
Mura Masa,
Pat Lok,
Ramzoid,
Ryan Hemsworth,
RYME
Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: WayHome Special
As I mentioned last week, I'm going to WayHome and have decided to celebrate that on this episode of Bump In The Hump. I've selected tracks from 15 artists set to perform at Burl's Creek this weekend. Of course we're all Canadian on Radio Humber, so those artists not from the motherland are either feature or are remixed by a Canuck. Not only has this special episode given me the opportunity to revisit some of my favourite tracks from the past, but some that I may have missed and/or that didn't fit the only new music ethos of Bump In The Hump. Aside from the obvious (those at WayHome), some of the other artists represented include Jacques Greene, CRi, Chromeo and Mathematic, whose remix of Justice (as premiered on Bump In The Hump) is now lost in the ether. Enjoy the following 3 tracks, yet to air.While this episode of Bump In The Hump is intended to excite for WayHome, by no means am I claiming that any of these tracks actually get played there. That's what the fun of a festival and a live performance entails: you have to be there to truly experience it. Tickets are still available all over the place, I see them at the official site, the Facebook event page, and Toronto Rave Community. Join me and Bump In The Hump tonight for the Canadian electronic take on WayHome, live on Radio Humber from 6-7 PM EDT.
Labels:
Bump In The Hump,
Charlotte Cardin,
Chromeo,
CRi,
Jacques Greene,
JAHKOY,
Justice,
Mathematic,
Medasin,
Pat Lok,
Radio Humber,
Schoolboy Q,
Sneak Peek,
Wayhome
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
5 Reasons Why I Can't Wait For WayHome
With the rest of this post, I'll highlight a number of the acts I'm most excited to see and why. But first a little refresher of the lineup, which just got bolstered today through the announcement of the Perrier Greenhouse lineup. Expect it to be the go-to chill out spot with selections from several of the country's best DJs. WayHome has also made the weekend easier to plan out with their custom schedule, here.
![]() |
| Main Lineup |
It's been just over a year since French electro duo Justice released their first track from Woman, "Safe And Sound." Now that the studio portion of the album has been delivered, their focus has shifted to touring with their live set. The promise of seeing these icons live and in person ought to be enough to entice whether you're a die hard fan of their old stuff or a new, casual fan. Finding out what they're going to play is half the fun, but there's no doubt they'll bring the energy and have the crowd immediately in hand. My only hope is that we get to hear "Randy," but they can do no wrong with any of their catalog.
If somehow you are unfamiliar with Justice, get to know them with the playlist below.
#2: Pat Lok
I've written about and played out Pat Lok several times here and on Radio Humber. Fresh off his debut album Hold On Let Go, I'm incredibly excited to spend my Friday afternoon dancing to the disco vibes of Pat Lok. It's artists like Pat that make WayHome so special. For some reason I've never had the opportunity to see him spin, maybe because he doesn't fit into the pop EDM sphere, but WayHome's eclectic, art first approach, allows for more indie acts. Get a taste of what to expect with his album.
#3: Mura Masa
Whether its "Lotus Eater," "Firefly," or "What If I Go?" there's no way you've missed Mura Masa. In the last year he's absolutely exploded, and he's just about to do it again with the release of his debut album, this Friday. We've already heard his collabs with Charli XCX and Desiigner "1 Night" and "All Around The World," respectively, but there's been one track that's been front and centre for me since he debuted it at Coachella. "Helpline" with Tom Tripp is the ultimate energizing party track, every time I hear it I can't help but get up and shake my tail-feather. The studio version just got released this past weekend, and although it's unquestionable quality, the energy of the live version is untouchable, making Mura Masa's Saturday night set can't miss. It and my other favourites are compiled below.
#4: Rag'n'Bone Man
This blog deals almost exclusively with electronic music, but of course that's not all I like, take for example Rag'n'Bone Man. Ever since I stumbled upon his song "Bitter End" a couple years ago, I've been waiting for the right opportunity to get to see him in person, and now it seems to have arrived. He's got a great soulful approach, oozing with emotion, which has led him to be remixed several times, but there's no taking away from the quality of his originals. I have a feeling his Sunday afternoon set will feel a lot like church, and that's probably something we'll need after the first two days.
#5: The Perrier Greenhouse
Looking at this lineup makes me think I'll be spending the majority of my time at WayHome inside the cool confines of the Perrier Greenhouse. Of course my love for both RYME and Ryan Hemsworth is well documented, but I've also written about Tommy Kruise and Falcons here before. Then there's local legends 4Korners, Jayemkayem, and Derek Wise. Not only are these names enough to allure, the extended length of the sets is sure to satisfy. Why retreat to your campsite to seek shade or catch your breath when you can stay in amongst the action, complete with air conditioning?
Of course I didn't address all of the acts at WayHome, or even any of the other amenities, otherwise I'd be writing all the way up to its start July 28th. But if you want to know more before you break out the cash to come along, the WayHome website has just about everything you need to know. There's also an app you can download, or if all else fails, I've seen them very diligently answer questions on twitter.
FOLLOW WAYHOME: FACEBOOK HOMEPAGE TWITTER
Labels:
4Korners,
Danny Brown,
Derek Wise,
Falcons,
Flume,
Frank Ocean,
Jayemkayem,
Justice,
Mura Masa,
Pat Lok,
Rag'n'Bone Man,
Ryan Hemsworth,
RYME,
Show Preview,
Tommy Kruise,
Wayhome
Friday, May 12, 2017
Knightfall - Speed Machine
New Australian duo Knightfall just released an electrifying debut original. "Speed Machine" hearkens back to the days when Boys Noize and Justice ruled over all electro. The driving groove Knightfall deliver is the perfect combination of pure purring horsepower and a gigantic growling feline. The movement is sleek, showing off incredibly smooth production ability, in spite of the gritty nature of their sound design. While you could easily enjoy an instrumental version of "Speed Machine," the 80s-esque vocals and Knightfall's masterful, yet minute, manipulation of them adds an undeniable allure. On a day in which Boys Noize remixed Justice, this is my favourite electro production. I'm astounded by this debut and cannot wait to see what Knightfall have up their sleeves next. Enjoy the stream below.
FOLLOW KNIGHTFALL: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Monday, March 27, 2017
5 Must Have Sets from Ultra Miami 2017
Every year the world of electronic music gathers in Miami to celebrate and showcase the latest and greatest. This year was no different seeing massive performances from countless DJs, producers, hype men and everything in between. There were multiple curated stages from the tech driven Resistance Spider stage to ASOT, and of course the uber eclectic mainstage dubbed "Worldwide." And while there were several standout sets, I've decided to focus on a few I feel deserve the most praise. So here we go with my favourites, in no particular order. Also note some are just audio while others have video too.
DJ Snake
Why not start at the end with DJ Snake's closing set. The "Bird Machine" man has quickly become one of the most powerful players on the scene bringing France firmly back into the forefront. His genre bending and taste-making are on full display with guests Lil Jon, Future & G4SHI joining him on stage. Download the mix here, and get tracklist here.
Stephan Bodzin
My favourite set for many reasons: 1) the Spider stage setup 2) the way Bodzin builds the tracks with his unique live setup 3) the almost 100% Bodzin tracklist (apart from 2 IDs everything is his own). It's really had to quantify not just how good it sounds, but how cool the whole thing is. Incredible.
Justice
Fresh off their album Woman and ready to tour Justice, too, closed out Miami like their French brother, DJ Snake. But these two sets couldn't be any more different. Of course Justice is live, but their music too hits a more retro feeling whereas Snake is about being new and cool. Justice just are, and whether you're a fan of their gritty electro stuff or their more vocal driven, new work you'll enjoy their set.
Arty as Alpha 9
Back with trance and where else better to do it but Armin's A State of Trance stage. Another rebirth of sorts, which seems to be a bit of trend lately. It's been 10 years since "EDM" arguably broke through and with that veterans of the scene have had the chance to alter their career arc more than once. Lots of people remarked that they were happy to see Arty back with ASOT, and you can tell why with a set like this. Download it here, and get tracklist here.
OWSLA All-Stars (Jauz, Ghastly, Cesqeaux & Mija)
One of the world most popular labels, and some of their fastest rising stars came together for 40 minutes of rapid fire bass, trap, dubstep and everything in between. As I said above the main/worldwide stage was eclectic and there's no better indication of this than the tracklist these 4 put together, from 4B to Ginuwine to Kayzo and RIOT to Future in the first 4 minutes. It's hard to argue that genre-denying sets like this aren't the way of the future. More and more I'm hearing DJs do whatever they want, not worrying about smooth transitions, but blowing people's minds with track selection. Download the mix here, and get tracklist here.
I wanted to include Above & Beyond's set but it's been removed across the internet so I had to do without. If you find it please share and enjoy. Otherwise, enjoy the sets above and keep your ears/eyes open for more to be posted in the next week or so. EDIT (March 28): they've uploaded it to their youtube, so here it is in full 4K for your listening and viewing pleasure.
DJ Snake
Why not start at the end with DJ Snake's closing set. The "Bird Machine" man has quickly become one of the most powerful players on the scene bringing France firmly back into the forefront. His genre bending and taste-making are on full display with guests Lil Jon, Future & G4SHI joining him on stage. Download the mix here, and get tracklist here.
Stephan Bodzin
My favourite set for many reasons: 1) the Spider stage setup 2) the way Bodzin builds the tracks with his unique live setup 3) the almost 100% Bodzin tracklist (apart from 2 IDs everything is his own). It's really had to quantify not just how good it sounds, but how cool the whole thing is. Incredible.
Justice
Fresh off their album Woman and ready to tour Justice, too, closed out Miami like their French brother, DJ Snake. But these two sets couldn't be any more different. Of course Justice is live, but their music too hits a more retro feeling whereas Snake is about being new and cool. Justice just are, and whether you're a fan of their gritty electro stuff or their more vocal driven, new work you'll enjoy their set.
Arty as Alpha 9
Back with trance and where else better to do it but Armin's A State of Trance stage. Another rebirth of sorts, which seems to be a bit of trend lately. It's been 10 years since "EDM" arguably broke through and with that veterans of the scene have had the chance to alter their career arc more than once. Lots of people remarked that they were happy to see Arty back with ASOT, and you can tell why with a set like this. Download it here, and get tracklist here.
OWSLA All-Stars (Jauz, Ghastly, Cesqeaux & Mija)
One of the world most popular labels, and some of their fastest rising stars came together for 40 minutes of rapid fire bass, trap, dubstep and everything in between. As I said above the main/worldwide stage was eclectic and there's no better indication of this than the tracklist these 4 put together, from 4B to Ginuwine to Kayzo and RIOT to Future in the first 4 minutes. It's hard to argue that genre-denying sets like this aren't the way of the future. More and more I'm hearing DJs do whatever they want, not worrying about smooth transitions, but blowing people's minds with track selection. Download the mix here, and get tracklist here.
I wanted to include Above & Beyond's set but it's been removed across the internet so I had to do without. If you find it please share and enjoy. Otherwise, enjoy the sets above and keep your ears/eyes open for more to be posted in the next week or so. EDIT (March 28): they've uploaded it to their youtube, so here it is in full 4K for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Labels:
A State Of Trance,
Above + Beyond,
Alpha 9,
Arty,
Cesqeaux,
DJ Snake,
Free Download,
Ghastly,
Jauz,
Justice,
Mija,
Mixtape,
OWSLA,
Stephan Bodzin,
Ultra Music Festival
Friday, December 23, 2016
Top 100 Tracks of 2016: 33 - 1
Continuation of the list started Wednesday: From 100 - 67, which also includes my disclaimer/preamble. The middle third of the list can be found here: From 66 - 34.
Soundcloud playlist can be found at the bottom.
#33: Maduk - Got Me Thinking ft. Veela
(As featured on EFYE) From those first strides of warm synths, and the accompanying bass grooves, the track picks up and continually gets steamier. It almost feels like a real band could play this, although they'd have to be operating at an incredibly high rate of speed. And boy would I love to see it played live. From Veela's strong yet ethereal vocals, through the endless groove, fabulous drum fills and playful progression, this track has everything. It gets me going and makes me hella happy.
#32: LDRU ft. Paige IV - Keeping Score (Cut Snake Remix)
(As featured on EFYE) When I wrote about the remixes of "Keeping Score," I called Oski's my favourite, since then I've changed my mind. Cut Snake have absolutely crushed and perfected the original (which too is brilliant). The foundation laid out by LDRU and Paige IV is beautiful, but the additional piano and fluid movement Cut Snake have injected is simply sublime. It's become the kind of all night party track that takes listeners through the gamut of emotions. It's smart, groovy and enchanting.
#31: A.G. Cook - Superstar
This track is built for lists like this, it literally has everything: beautiful vocals and lyrics, brilliant production, all wrapped together in an epic 5 minute journey of emotions. It's no secret how I feel about PC Music and their aesthetic, so clearly I'm a fan of the sounds their leader A.G. has used in this track, despite not being your typical PC Music track. Leaning more heavily on piano, live instrumentation, and Cook's voice, this track is an ode to true musicianship, that often seems absent in electronic music. Its beauty will have you reaching for the sky, hoping to grab a ride into the cosmos.
#30: Courts - Feel My Love
Right from the groovy pickup, Courts have crafted an absolutely captivating track. While it's a true electronic dance track, it (like many of the others on this list) features a ton of live instrumentation. That live element is so incredibly powerful, it's infectious from the fingers to the toes, and the head to the heart. It's one of the most fun tracks in this list, it has me grabbing for my air guitar and hairbrush microphone just to be a part of the band. It's impossible not to feel the love Courts are sharing.
#29: Stormzy - Scary (Slumberjack Edit)
(As featured on EFYE) This Slumberjack production is light years away from their other track on this list. Where "Open Fire" is kind and insightful, "Scary" is merciless and blunt. It absolutely hammers away at your senses, in the best way possible. It takes Stormzy's grime original and turns it into one of the most fire bangers of the year. It's diabolic is its delivery, leaving you stunned, stupefied and floored.
#28: Vera - Eeva (Sketch)
The beautiful tranquility of the flowing water in the opening, lays the foundation of this fresh and fully alive future bass track. It's at once like nothing I've ever heard before yet also so familiar. What would seem to be a cacophony of sounds couldn't be further from the fact. Vera is able to incorporate so much into one track, crafting unbelievable harmonies. Imagine Lido, Cashmere Cat, Ryan Hemsworth and Tennyson all worked together on a track, even then it might not match "Eeva."
Soundcloud playlist can be found at the bottom.
#33: Maduk - Got Me Thinking ft. Veela
(As featured on EFYE) From those first strides of warm synths, and the accompanying bass grooves, the track picks up and continually gets steamier. It almost feels like a real band could play this, although they'd have to be operating at an incredibly high rate of speed. And boy would I love to see it played live. From Veela's strong yet ethereal vocals, through the endless groove, fabulous drum fills and playful progression, this track has everything. It gets me going and makes me hella happy.
#32: LDRU ft. Paige IV - Keeping Score (Cut Snake Remix)
(As featured on EFYE) When I wrote about the remixes of "Keeping Score," I called Oski's my favourite, since then I've changed my mind. Cut Snake have absolutely crushed and perfected the original (which too is brilliant). The foundation laid out by LDRU and Paige IV is beautiful, but the additional piano and fluid movement Cut Snake have injected is simply sublime. It's become the kind of all night party track that takes listeners through the gamut of emotions. It's smart, groovy and enchanting.
#31: A.G. Cook - Superstar
This track is built for lists like this, it literally has everything: beautiful vocals and lyrics, brilliant production, all wrapped together in an epic 5 minute journey of emotions. It's no secret how I feel about PC Music and their aesthetic, so clearly I'm a fan of the sounds their leader A.G. has used in this track, despite not being your typical PC Music track. Leaning more heavily on piano, live instrumentation, and Cook's voice, this track is an ode to true musicianship, that often seems absent in electronic music. Its beauty will have you reaching for the sky, hoping to grab a ride into the cosmos.
#30: Courts - Feel My Love
Right from the groovy pickup, Courts have crafted an absolutely captivating track. While it's a true electronic dance track, it (like many of the others on this list) features a ton of live instrumentation. That live element is so incredibly powerful, it's infectious from the fingers to the toes, and the head to the heart. It's one of the most fun tracks in this list, it has me grabbing for my air guitar and hairbrush microphone just to be a part of the band. It's impossible not to feel the love Courts are sharing.
#29: Stormzy - Scary (Slumberjack Edit)
(As featured on EFYE) This Slumberjack production is light years away from their other track on this list. Where "Open Fire" is kind and insightful, "Scary" is merciless and blunt. It absolutely hammers away at your senses, in the best way possible. It takes Stormzy's grime original and turns it into one of the most fire bangers of the year. It's diabolic is its delivery, leaving you stunned, stupefied and floored.
#28: Vera - Eeva (Sketch)
The beautiful tranquility of the flowing water in the opening, lays the foundation of this fresh and fully alive future bass track. It's at once like nothing I've ever heard before yet also so familiar. What would seem to be a cacophony of sounds couldn't be further from the fact. Vera is able to incorporate so much into one track, crafting unbelievable harmonies. Imagine Lido, Cashmere Cat, Ryan Hemsworth and Tennyson all worked together on a track, even then it might not match "Eeva."
Labels:
Alex Metric,
Best of 2016,
Bishu,
Blu J,
Boy 8-Bit,
Chet Porter,
Dombresky,
Future Magic,
Gorgon City,
Henrik The Artist,
Joe Goddard,
Justice,
Lido,
Luca Lush,
M Machine,
MYRNE,
Pusher,
Rytmeklubben,
SteLouse
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Bastion - Opale
Powerful Parisian duo, Bastion, have just dropped the awe-inspiring fire funk of "Opale." It is a slice throwback disco/funk that harkens back to the time when Daft Punk and Justice were the hottest thing in dance music. There's just enough electro stylings that also give it a distinct Boys Noize feel. It's absolutely fire, the guitar and bass riffs rip, alongside the plethora of old school DJ effects, subtle scratching and talk-box vocals. "Opale" is extremely cool, groovy and heartening. It gives me faith that there's still music out there that, while being entirely electronically synthesized, can be recreated live, and still boasts a true human flavour. Bastion have delivered a highly dance-able, playful and progressive production. Being a fan of all the artists mentioned above, and Chromeo, who for some reason I'm only reminded of with the 6th replay, I find "Opale" and Bastion to be a perfect combination of. I'm sad that I've only found them today, but am also overjoyed that I've got a new band to check out.
"Opale" is the lead single from Sexy Brut's compilation, Vol. 1.
FOLLOW BASTION: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW BASTION: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
Saturday, November 12, 2016
Justice's Essential Mix POSTPONED, Woman out Friday
UPDATE: Justice have postponed their Essential Mix, as a result of being too "busy." Regardless, the release of Woman is still slated for release Friday, therefore the rest of the post remains true and intact.
This is a big week for the french duo of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, otherwise known as Justice. Tonight they'll make their triumphant return to "the world's favourite mixshow" BBC Radio One's Essential Mix, their first since 2007. That will be followed by the highly anticipated release of their third studio album, Friday the 18th. With Woman's immanent release in mind, today is the perfect time to ratchet up the hype machine, by revisiting their first Essential Mix and giving the first three tracks of the album another round of plays. Depending on your preference of streaming sources, you have your choice from youtube, soundcloud or mixcloud, the latter you can find below.— essential mix (@essentialmix) November 11, 2016We're sorry to announce that Justice have had to postpone tonight's mix as they're very busy and were unable to complete it in time. pic.twitter.com/3UafYLeyyl
I've compiled "Safe and Sound," "Randy" and "Alakazam," the first 3 tracks from Woman, in a spotify playlist below. Pre-order the Ed Banger and Because Music backed album from multiple sources here.
Labels:
Alakazam,
BBC Radio One,
Because Music,
Ed Banger,
Essential Mix,
Justice,
Mixtape,
Randy,
Safe and Sound,
Woman
Saturday, April 23, 2016
What I Hope To Hear Tonight from Justin Jay and RYME
After arriving to late to see RYME at the last No Neon, I swore I wouldn't miss their next set, and today's the day I make good on that sentiment. They'll be alongside headliner Justin Jay as part of his Fantastic Voyage tour, along with support from fellow Toronto DJ Simon Jain. Apart from my well known love of RYME, I really started to get excited for tonight's show after Justin Jay dropped his incredibly awesome and joyful Late Nite Dub mix of his already engrossing track "Karma." I've found myself lost in his magnificent mix multiple times since he dropped this past Tuesday. Although it may not be the typical headlining track, I sure hope to hear it on The Hoxton's strong speaker set up.
Lately I've been lamenting the lack of older, more classic tracks in sets I've heard recently. I understand why, people will always hunger for the next hot new ID, but there's no questioning the rush of endorphins that comes with a nostalgic track. That's why I hope to hear the first track I properly knew from Justin Jay, the ingeniously produced, club-thumper "Static."
It's crazy to think that it's been almost exactly 13 months to the day since Alison Wonderland released her debut album Run. I still listen to it quiet often but have found myself going to the remixes more often as of late. My favourite original, "Take It To Reality," just so happens to be remixed by tonight's Captain, Justin Jay. It's easy to feel lost at sea, with his tidal ebb and flowing mix, but I'll be the first to say I'd be comfortable with the Admiral at the helm.
Fresh off their BADLQQK Remixed EP, label runners RYME have bolstered their already overflowing crate of tracks with powerful productions like Slowbody's banging remix of KMRT "Flash Flash."
I'd really like to hear some Tiga tonight, and RYME always seem to feed into my insatiable hunger for the Montreal based Techno God. Perhaps it'll be their own remix of the ear-worm "Bugatti."
My passion for RYME's remix of Sia & The Weeknd's "Elastic Heart" is well known, and sadly it's no longer available (except in Electronic Impressions, here), which certainly adds to it's allure. But it's their remix of tastemaker Anna Lunoe's "Satisfaction," that I'm feeling more at the moment. Grab that free d/l.
Meech has gone so far as to insist that I arrive in time for their intro, so if it's anything like the opening of their set when I saw them last at the Night Bass party with AC Slater and fellow BADLQQKer Cosella, they ought to blow it out of the water. If I get one of the following, Fake Blood, Mr Oizo, Justice, or Boys Noize I'll be more than happy.
I'd be happy if RYME played a mix similar to their recent delivery for Euphoradio, or if Justin Jay were to play one similar to "Fantastic Voyage House Party Mix." Tonight is going to be 'lit' <- LOL
Tickets are still available here, and you can RSVP via the facebook event, here.
SUPPORT JUSTIN JAY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT RYME: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT SIMON JAIN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
It's crazy to think that it's been almost exactly 13 months to the day since Alison Wonderland released her debut album Run. I still listen to it quiet often but have found myself going to the remixes more often as of late. My favourite original, "Take It To Reality," just so happens to be remixed by tonight's Captain, Justin Jay. It's easy to feel lost at sea, with his tidal ebb and flowing mix, but I'll be the first to say I'd be comfortable with the Admiral at the helm.
Fresh off their BADLQQK Remixed EP, label runners RYME have bolstered their already overflowing crate of tracks with powerful productions like Slowbody's banging remix of KMRT "Flash Flash."
I'd really like to hear some Tiga tonight, and RYME always seem to feed into my insatiable hunger for the Montreal based Techno God. Perhaps it'll be their own remix of the ear-worm "Bugatti."
My passion for RYME's remix of Sia & The Weeknd's "Elastic Heart" is well known, and sadly it's no longer available (except in Electronic Impressions, here), which certainly adds to it's allure. But it's their remix of tastemaker Anna Lunoe's "Satisfaction," that I'm feeling more at the moment. Grab that free d/l.
Meech has gone so far as to insist that I arrive in time for their intro, so if it's anything like the opening of their set when I saw them last at the Night Bass party with AC Slater and fellow BADLQQKer Cosella, they ought to blow it out of the water. If I get one of the following, Fake Blood, Mr Oizo, Justice, or Boys Noize I'll be more than happy.
I'd be happy if RYME played a mix similar to their recent delivery for Euphoradio, or if Justin Jay were to play one similar to "Fantastic Voyage House Party Mix." Tonight is going to be 'lit' <- LOL
Tickets are still available here, and you can RSVP via the facebook event, here.
SUPPORT JUSTIN JAY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT RYME: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT SIMON JAIN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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