Slumberjack - Open Fire (ft. Daniel Johns)

Freshly added to Spotify, the single from Australian duo Slumberjack "Open Fire" with vocals from fellow Aussie, Daniel Johns, is ready for streaming, ahead of it's official release next Friday, the 29th. Perhaps best known for their incredibly powerful 're-fix' of What So Not's "Touched," the duo's original releases "Enigma" with GRRL PAL, "The Others" with KLP and "Horus," showcase their wide range of production skills and musical sensibilities. "Open Fire" feels like their most mature and thoughtful production to date, with its wavering guitar intro accented by Daniel Johns' vocals, through poignant piano chords and simply stunning, soaring drops that slaps your heart silly. Perhaps the most powerful piece of Slumberjack's production in "Open Fire" is their impassioned treatment of Daniel John's already emotive vocals.

Right off the bat, the first line (5 seconds in) shows their delicate touch. The skimming, modulated vocal, immediately before the drop, adds an incredible level of depth, that is only amplified with Johns' effervescent crooning that soars high above the second drop. The cherry on top that confirms "Open Fire" as one of the best all around productions of 2016, is the disconsolate lyrical value Daniel Johns adds, that ought to send a chill down any spine that's ever experienced loss. I can't think of a better example of any track to both cry your heart out but also reignite the passion to achieve such a love again. It shines a spotlight on the sore-spot that is forever wondering where it all went wrong.

The overall production adds to the petrified feeling of being stranded, immobilized and helpless; how one thing leads to another and suddenly you find yourself marooned and utterly disabled. I cannot help but think of my own losses and far too fittingly, the world's loss of Prince, yesterday. I truly cannot get enough of this track, I've had it on repeat for nearly an hour now and it continues to hit my heart in such a profound way. My only hope is that you can experience this same penetrating, heartrending feeling, as 'music makes it all better' (something I saw on Skratch Bastid's shirt during his touching tribute to Prince here).

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What So Not - Gemini EP

Perhaps the most anticipated EP of the year finally dropped, and you can pick it up for free! The five track EP, Gemini, is Flume's last hurrah with Emoh Instead as What So Not, and punctuates a truly great run of productions from the duo. They had been arguably the best and most consistent duo on the planet, until it was announced that Flume would be leaving. Oddly enough, it was around the same time Skrillex and Diplo took the world by storm with Jack U, but I digress. It's only fitting in my mind that the aussie duo that seemingly appeared all at once, and grabbed the scene by the scruff of it's neck, wrap things up with with an EP of Gemini's caliber. The free EP is a combination of tracks that their fans have been craving for more than a dozen months. Earlier this year the released the title track "Gemini" with George Maple, after having previewed it as an 'ID' as early as last summer. But it isn't the only one that's been in floating around our consciousness since last summer. You may very well remember their collab with Dillon Francis, "Dill's Mom" having been teased for an unyielding amount of time. It's also on the EP but retitled and slightly retooled as "Arrows" with Dawn Golden. 

The EP is rounded out with two more collaborations with KLP on "Death Drive" and Tunji on "Intro," as well as one final Flume & Emoh original "Oddity" which holds up to the high What So Not standard easily fitting in with "Jaguar," "Touched," and "The Quack." It's you're last chance to enjoy the collaborative efforts of Flume & Emoh, and although I expect to hear great music from them individually, I doubt we'll ever get anything that can rival their genius productions: their Major Lazer "Get Free," Parachute Youth "Awake Now," Van She "Idea of Happiness" or my favourite track of their's "Love Theme." Listen to the EP below and pick it up free for yourself. 

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