LIZ - Pandemonium

There are very few 'pop' artists I enjoy more than LIZ. Over the years she's tapped some talented producers to bring to life her incredible artistic vision. Favourites include: Djemba Djemba for "Underdogs" with RiFF RAFF, Lido for "Y2K," SOPHIE for "When I Rule The World," Henrik The Artist for "Wild Target," and Wave Racer for "Queen Of Me." Yesterday she did it again as she linked up with Grammy nominated Finnish producer, Nico Stadi whose credits include Justin Bieber, Lindsey Stirling and Goldroom, to name just a few.

"Pandemonium" does a great job of living up to its complex and crazy namesake with its wild sound design and onslaught of effects. That said Stadi does a masterful job of keep it all taught, in its short pop delivery. LIZ's lyrics mirror the groove and get down of the bouncy bed, bringing her trademark throwback fun and goofiness, never more apparent than in the line "I make it pop like a VHS." And while there's always room for experimentation and progression in an artistic ouvre, consistency in the world your art creates is the best reward for your fans. That's exactly what we get with the look for "Pandemonium" which arises at the end of the music video from her previous single, "Super Duper Nova." Stream via Soundcloud below, and purchase from your favourite outlet here.FOLLOW LIZ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Bells And Robes - Jackal And The Moon

Electronic music will always have an alien appeal, as we cannot see the strings, skins or reeds vibrating. There is some kind of disconnect, almost fantastic or magical. And for me that is why I'll be drawn to it. It's personal in how your brain receives it and where it takes you. That said, the best compositions tend to lead listeners to the same place, perfecting their storytelling. And that is the case with the latest from Bells And Robes, "Jackal And The Moon" as 'narrated' by Kaisune.

Following on the heels of their exquisite and out of this world Pleasures Of The Mind EP, "Jackal And The Moon" again eases into ears with wondrous, warm instrumentation and shimmering synth work. Comparable to Daktyl, Lido and Flying Lotus the mixture of sounds and styles makes for not only an unmistakably moonlit atmosphere but a chilling one at that. The room left for each element to play its part, and Kaisune's killer vocals to come out on top, is yet another example of Bells And Robes' brilliance. But for my money, the reason this track is such a stunning success is its ability to so seamlessly sew life and humanity into the combination of electronic and organic sounds. Find it free via Bandcamp and Zen Fresh Records, and be sure to check out more of their captivating catalog here.
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My 5 Favourite Justin Timberlake Remixes

With JT set to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show tonight I figured I'd share my five favourite remixes of his prolific catalog. Unfortunately not all of the mixes are on Soundcloud so I can't make a playlist there, however I've made sure each track is linked properly. Also you'll note that my personal preferences trend more towards the future bass, trap, and jersey type tracks, but maybe that's more about Justin's proclivity to produce tracks that fit those kinds of feels. Either way enjoy, and grab the free downloads wherever possible (noted by asterisk). Finally, these are not sorted in any specific order just the way they occur in my iTunes.

Suit & Tie (Dillon Francis Remix)*

Maybe the most obvious inclusion. Two multi-talented artists at their best. A banger that grooves.

My Love (Playground Mob Remix)There aren't many remixes that nail the allure of Jersey Club than this. So much frivolous fun.

What Goes Around (eSenTRIK Remix)Of all of eSenTRIK's remixes this may be my favourite; retooling and building on, my favourite JT cut.

TKO (Lido Remix)

From the now lost Lido remix package of 2014, I see this as almost the perfect mixture of the two remixes above, with the added and undeniable genius of Lido's orchestration. The dopest drum fills.

Rock Your Body (Party Favor Remix)*The most elusive mix on the list. Short but sweet, funky and fun. Classic Benzi/Get Right Radio.

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.

Falcons - Diplo And Friends Mix

Let's cut right to the chase, I fuck with Falcons heavy. His style is strong, yet diverse, and his latest mix for EM Award winning radio show Diplo and Friends is the perfect example of the breadth of his beats and mixing mastery. There's tons of trap, big bass bangers, and some touchy feely groove grinders. And, being a man of so many talents and by no means a newcomer, he's got his hands on a multitude of mashups and onslaught of edits from his friends. Mr. Carmack makes multiple appearances, as well as Juelz and Graves, plus he's pushed the tempo with well over 30 tracks in the hour long mix.

Highlights for me include the always alluring Jesse Slayter mix of Hoodboi and Lido's "Palm Reader" which is magically mixed into Falcons' own "Want Your Body" before bodying us with Jarreau Vandal's "Redbone" flip. The fire hits "Fulltime" courtesy Juelz, ahead of "Aerosol Can" as refixed by Carmack, before becoming Falcons' "All Over Again" (presumably a forthcoming track). The Tony Quattro/Tropkillaz combination is quite the treat too. And then there's the always enjoyable Lazerpiff "Lose My Breath," paired with Carmack's King Kendrick "DNA" flip which then leads into TWO, Graves IDs. The whole thing will leave you saying "Woo" as he ends with his own remix of Rihanna and Travis Scott. Choose your streaming option below or download free here, and follow Falcons for more fire.
UPDATE: Falcons has posted the official tracklist here, indeed showing off several unreleased tracks.

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2017's Inaugural Electronic Music Awards (Preview)

I've written about the Grammys and Junos before, focusing on their electronic categories, but always lament the lack of coverage they get, as both opt to announce those winners on their side shows. I've since wondered whether we should care about these award shows at all, since they so often leave a bad taste in our mouths (fans and artists alike). Everyone one knows about the DJ Mag Top 100 lists and the controversies they entail, particularly the so called "DJ" list that in the end is a popularity contest among producers, not DJs. Perhaps as a protest, two new award shows have arisen: The Goldie Awards (backed by A-Trak and THUMP, focusing on DJ and Beat Battles) and The Electronic Music Awards (backed by Paul Oakenfold and TV4, showcasing all that is electronic music). For the purposes of this post, I'll focus on the latter as the anticipation grows in the 3 weeks prior to the event.

Originally announced in January of 2016, as the Electronic Music Awards and Foundation Show, and set for broadcast on FOX, this seemed as large and legitimate as anyone could possibly hope. However in the following months the event was postponed for more than a year, renamed and relegated to a Twitter broadcast. The previously 7 categories have grown to 11, and the winners will be announced live September 21st starting at 7:47 PM PDT. So now let's take a look at those categories and their nominees. Note that I won't be making predictions today, but merely digging into the categories and nominations themselves. See the image below or find the direct link to the noms here.

As you can plainly see, the list of names here is absolutely packed with powerhouse producers, deserving DJs, and awesome artists. The organizers have done a good job of separating categories from Producer of the Year to DJ of the Year, and Live Act of the Year. However I wonder about the New Artist of the Year category, as arguably every act has been big since early 2016, if not before then. But since this is the first edition, I'll give them a little leeway in what new means.

Looking through this list it's clear that the same people who would argue that award shows are mainstream, could easily make that argument again here. There are no names that I'm unfamiliar with. It's absolutely jam packed with big names, but at least to their credit those big names come from all over the place. It's not just top 40 radio wannabes or techno titans. There's deep house, hip hop, electro and of course, what continues to be the style of the moment, future bass.

As always I wonder about how these names were chosen, and further how the winners will be decided. The official statement is that "nominees and winners are voted on by sixty-seven members who were selected to represent all aspects of the electronic music community, in a two-round voting process." But who selected these members? And how well are they balanced? Now, I don't mean to claim that there's collusion or foul play, I just always advocate for more transparency. And no matter what people will bitch and moan about this or that. The positive (and value of any award show) is to showcase worthy talent. Sure you can claim that some of these artists need no more showcasing, but their impact is undeniable, and ought to be recognized as such. Now back to those categories.

Trippy Turtle Drops 2 Tracks and Announces Tour

Trippy Turtle (the Jersey Club moniker of choice for Lido) has made quite the splash in the last week, dropping original "Animal" last Wednesday, and a collab called "Lettuce" with Soulja Boy, yesterday. Adding to that he's just announced that he'll be heading on what he's calling the "Lettuce Turnip Tour." Starting August 1st in his homeland, he'll head through the UK, Germany, all across the states and end up in Toronto and Montreal, the first weekend of November. Expect the tour to be an explosion of energy, naughty bed-squeaks and fire FoFoFadi tracks. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, so don't sleep! FOLLOW TRIPPY TURTLE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Alison Wonderland x M-Phazes - Messiah (Far & Few x LOKI Remix)

Back in January last year I discovered (and covered) both, Texas duo Far & Few and Atlanta's LOKI when they remixed Alison Wonderland's "Already Gone." Well they're back with volume two, reuniting to flip Wonderland once more, this time with her latest smash, "Messiah." Obviously these three work well together, bringing the future bass bounce and dramatic drums to the forefront, just as they did last time. The biggest difference in their delivery this time is the sheen they buffed into the already angelic original. The subtle bells, clicks and chimes, and the engulfing resonance of their synths give "Messiah" an even more epic attack angle. We've already heard many remixes of "Messiah" including an ingenious take from Lido, but this may be the best suited for killing in the club. Free download via Hive.FOLLOW FAR & FEW: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Top 13 for Friday March 10th

Artwork for Juke Ellington - Sexual Healing by Uncle Reezy

Fridays explode with great new music and today is no different. So in the interest of showing off as much of that new stuff as possible, in the most compact way, I put together a playlist of the best tracks that came across my soundcloud feed. No genre barriers just good music. Many free downloads too.

Note: I didn't include any of the BADLQQK RQQKIES release because I've already covered it on Discobelle, nor did I include Grandtheft and Sam Spiegel's remix of The Weeknd, because it's not available for stream, but my pal Colin covered it over on FUXWITHIT if you want to check it out there. Jilbare x Future Magic - Fire (ft. Izzy Salinel)*
Third release from Future Magic in a week and a half. Another sensational production, playing beautifully with vocals, getting all emotional with wicked future bass synths, and those drum fills. Wow.

Gumball - Color Coded*
My kind of adventurous blend of future bass with other seemingly conflicting subgenres. Big triumphant arcs, perfectly placed effects and sublime vocal work. Super smart production.

Kehlani - Gangsta (Parker Remix)
Beautiful bed for Kehlani's vocals that's at once heartening while also ominous in its delivery. Doesn't seem to be any slowing this one down. Good strong G vibes working with the lyrics brilliantly.

AC Slater & Taiki Nulight - Super Doopah Legend
Another stellar, shot-in-the-arm kind of track from Night Bass boss AC Slater. There's no knowing what this track is doing or where its going. Twisty-turny and full of surprises.

Stooki Sound ft. Latroit & Lliam Taylor - Echos (R3LL Remix)
Gotta have me some jersey club for my weekend, and not many do it as well as R3LL. Full of feels but also bouncy as all hell. Plenty of pump up in this one.

Alison Wonderland & Lido - Messiah (Havok Roth & Kayoh Remix)*
First I need to say that Lido's mix is another instant classic, and early choice for remix of the year. That being said this remix is stupid good. Like five minutes of soaring fire. GOLD!

JayKode - Roll Out
Even though you can feel the bass coming right from the get go, there's no being prepared for the waves of tweaking electro that lies ahead. Add a little ivory tickling & you've got one bad-ass banger.

LigOne x Holly - Lazy Social*
Somehow this one snuck into the my feed despite being 4 months old. But it's LigOne and Holly so it's damn good. Oozes with originality as expected. A little laidback, but groovy as all hell.

Dex - Images (edit)*
Ridiculously wicked and wild Tchami-like sound design. Haven't heard house done like this in a while, and its got everything I want. Groove, piano, vocals and a menacing bassline. Love it.

Juke Ellington - Sexual Healing*
Vocals, drums and energy all so on point. Even with the onslaught of future bass at the moment, this one still sounds fresh as anything. A beautiful banger, no doubt.

Jetique - Love On My Mind (ft. Terri B!)
Lead by beautiful vocals, this is deep house at its best. Instantly commands your attention, delivering a divine groove, demanding you dance. Transforms all listening spaces into the coolest of clubs.

Anamanaguchi ft. Hatsune Miku - Miku (Carpainter Remix)*
Pure pleasure pop. Couldn't be any more bubbly or brilliant. Feels like you're floating in an 8-bit version of outer space, soaring above all cares and worries. Unapologetic easy listening.

Childish Gambino - Do Ya Like (Mark Melgo Remix)*
Warm weather is right around the corner and I'm looking forward to listening to more music like this, rounding out all day dance sessions, spinning in the summer breeze. Good vibes all around.

* indicates that track available for free download

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."

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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Hunt For The Breeze ft. Josh Jacobson - Awake (LOKI Remix)

Columbus based producer, LOKI continues his furious streak of remixes, this time taking on Hunt For The Breeze and Josh Jacobson's track "Awake." This follows up collaborative remixes with Wildfire and DAZIE, flipping the likes of Lido and Galantis, respectively. His feel for future bass has been on full display since I first found him (and Far & Few) via their remix of Alison Wonderland's "Already Gone" (my post about it from January). Where that track had twisted trap influences, this latest lends itself more readily to future bass vibes, with bright bells, flutes and delicious drum flourishes. It's easy listening while not being downtempo or mindless. LOKI takes the already alluring structure, Hunt For The Breeze laid down, and converts it into a cool, climbing and courageous coup. Its light, airy feeling invokes a Super Mario bonus level in which our hero zooms past angelic creatures, collecting coins and power-ups, confidently forging towards an unsuspecting, yet ever looming boss. LOKI has empowered his listeners with the ability to collect his remix for free, via The Artist Union.

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Lido - Everything

Today's the day. Lido's debut album Everything is finally here. Stream the whole thing on Spotify below, buy it from iTunes, watch the videos for "Murder" and "Crazy," and get tickets for his tour.
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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.

Lido - Murder [Music Video]

Premiered via Complex, here, Lido has unveiled the second track "Murder" from his forthcoming album, Everything, set to be released October 7th. Maintaining Lido's artistic arc the music video for "Murder" is yet another incredible visual experience in which the music comes to life through light in pulsating patterns. Similar to "Crazy," the first single from Everything, Lido's track becomes more than mere music, he's crafted a truly artistic and spiritual experience. I already feel as though I've heard "Murder" somewhere before, but whether or not that is the case is irrelevant. The beauty of Lido's productions is his ability to weave a story right into the core of our soul, leaving us immediately and forever affected, as if we were the protagonist in this heart-wrenching affair that is Everything.

Lido is set to embark on his Everything tour in support of his album, starting October 1st in San Diego spanning all across North America until November 18th in Chicago. Right now he's at home in Norway playing Oslo tonight, with a week's worth of shows ending in London, September 29th. He'll be at The Great Hall here in Toronto November 16th, for which you can find tickets and RSVP, here. All other tour tickets can be found here, and watch the official teaser video for Everything here.

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Pusher ft. Mothica - Clear (Shawn Wasabi Remix)

The second official remix of Pusher's track "Clear" with Mothica, dropped today, one week ahead of the full remix EP's release on Black Butter Records. First Graves upped the intensity with rattling future bass slaps, now Shawn Wasabi has added his trademark kawaii sensibilities. Like the beyond brilliant lyrics, these remixes are great combinations of "so dark but delicate" and "rough around the edges" production from the original that lends so perfectly to both Graves and Shawn Wasabi's styles. I had thought Henrik The Artist's remix of Shawn Wasabi's "Burnt Rice" was the best combination of producers, but Wasabi's remix of Pusher and Mothica might just have upped the game. Pitting artists and tracks against each other is actually the opposite of the ethos of these tracks. These artists share the same taste and often share each others tracks. Most recently I caught Pusher pressing play on Henrik The Artist's "Lose You" during his set at Bestival. In fact my dream lineup would feature those three alongside Mija, Vindata, Mura Masa, Flume, Ryan Hemsworth, Chet Porter, Lido, LH4L, Danny L Harle, Dombresky, SteLouse, and Wave Racer. If only I had to power to bring all these people together; that's the dream. Anyway, get excited for next Friday, as there's sure to be even more exciting remixes of the already incredible "Clear."

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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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Lido premieres "Crazy," first track from new album

After gracing the world with his genius revision of Kanye's The Life Of Pablo, last week, Lido's guaranteed that he stays firmly in the spotlight dropping a magical video, "Crazy," the first track from his forthcoming debut album. After having seen his live show, back in November, I can attest that this song and accompanying video perfectly encapsulate his unique and truly inimitable style, both in production and performance. While he didn't actually conduct his gospel inspired tracks, his live play and orchestration was as magical as Mickey Mouse in Fantasia.

This video perfectly showcases his Harry Potter-esque, the chosen-one, level of wizardry alongside bright and sparkling visuals reminiscent of iTunes intergalactic, battling stars. Furthermore "Crazy" as a track in itself, is easily Lido's most complete and mature production to date. His shrewd utilization of all of the best Lido sounds combine with just the right touch of his Trippy Turtle temperament, for the Norwegian wunderkind's most powerful production yet. The vocals and incredible lyrics propel "Crazy" into a category of its own, filling producers around the world with incredible envy. It's hard to believe that Lido can continue to top his already seemingly infinite library of prodigious productions but there seems to be no stopping his genius.

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Chet Porter & Autograf Live at The Hoxton

Last night, local Chet Porter and Chicago trio, Autograf graced The Hoxton with truly awesome and unique sets. As you likely know by now, I'm a big fan of Chet's productions, mixes and overall aesthetic, which he delivered on quite successfully. Despite Sigala's unexplained absence, which forced set time to change, I was lucky enough to have made it through the lines and have picked up my first drink at the same time Chet played his first track, the Hitmane Kokirimix of Juicy J's "Bandz A Make Her Dance." Lighting candles to amplify the atmosphere and mood, Chet's set cruised along, garnering several  cheers from the captivated crowd. Perhaps the most well received section of his set came relatively early on when he combined his euphoric "Over U" remix with the vocals of Blink 182's "Feelin' This" before mixing into San Holo's "Victory." I caught the video here:
I was able to compile a list of 17 tracks he played during his approximately hour long set, but was left scratching my head more than a couple times wondering what bootleg/exclusive/edit he dropped. If I can figure any of them out, I'll be sure to update this post but for now you'll just have to enjoy this playlist:  There was of course a break between the two sets to transition between the DJ decks and Autograf's three person live set, which included an electronic xylophone of sorts, surrounded by three electronic symbols, several drum pads and high-hat, kick combination. In the middle was a mixer and sampler, presumably for changing the tuning for each of the many tracks the played. And on the opposite side, was the synth. Having seen several different live set ups, from Duke Dumont, Keys N Krates and Lido, Autograf's was the most unique and seemingly complex. This only magnified the truly amazing artistry and interplay between the three performers. Throughout their set I was truly in awe of the unity and interplay between the three. There really is nothing like music being made live and the playful performance. That really is the key to the allure of live music the playful nature and showmanship of performance, making it that much easier to connect with the audience. Good music performed live beats great studio music everytime. The way Autograf brought their originals, covers and remixes to life was absolutely amazing, and although I was able to compile a large playlist of what the trio played it cannot do justice to the live versions they played.
Apparently DJ Mag Canada had a live stream of their set, I can only hope that it becomes available so that we can relive their truly futuristic performance. Highlights for me included their remix of Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," and their covers of the Soulwax remix of  Tame Impala's "Let It Happen," Coyote Kisses' "Ferrari" and Swedish House Mafia's "One." The trio showed incredible endurance playing for well over an hour, and playing a 4 or 5 track encore. I will definitely be attending their next show and cannot wait to relive the awesomeness of Autograf.

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Riggadale - Cuddle Season 5

Toronto's own Riggadale, graced us with the fifth installment of his Cuddle Season mix series. This one is delivered in perfect timing for the immanent snowstorm, for which hunkering down, wrapping yourself in a blanket and cuddling with your significant other has become a necessity.

Riggadale's half hour of down-tempo vibes are sure to warm the soul. Incredibly smooth mixing and smart track selection make this Cuddle Season installment a mesmerizing masterpiece. With the necessary nod to the 6ix god, Drake, in his "Change Locations," and inescapably awesome remixes from Snakehips and Shlohmo of Flight Facilities "Heart Attack" and Lianne La Havas "Forget," respectively, Riggadale delivers a mix deserving of comparison to Ta-ku's now infamous "Drive Slow, Homie"mix series. Whether it was a conscious nod to Ta-ku or not, the inclusion of Stwo's "Haunted" with the line "Drive slow" is simple perfection. Whether it's the delightful Darius track "Helios," Lido's touching take on Alessia Cara's "Here" or the ingenious inclusion of "How Deep Is Your Love" a cappella, Riggadale has crafted a magical mix, worthy of countless repetitions.

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