DirtyFun - Pretty Boi

If his Soundcloud is any indication, Las Vegas based DirtyFun has had one hell of a year with his earliest release, a remix of Malaa's "Cash Money," dropping October 8th 2018. In the 13+ months since, he's released tracks on noir sur blanc, Do Not Duplicate, IN / ROTATION and has found a home on Botnek's World Famous Headquarters. Recently trending towards tech house, DirtyFun has combined the raucous punch of a prominent bass drop with continuous club churning grooves. Yesterday he demonstrated that brilliantly banging blend in self-released single "Pretty Boi." Playing around a vocal sample, the five and a half minute arc shows incredible narrative movement primarily through the pneumatic power of the warped and ratcheted bass delivery. If the dance-floor were a pool, "Pretty Boi" would be a wave-machine capable of creating a tsunami. Crank your subwoofer, then have a seat on or in-front of it for full effect. Grab free download via The Artist Union for repeated rattling.FOLLOW DIRTYFUN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

SWARM - The Nothing

Almost exactly a year after his earliest upload (a Malaa bootleg), Florida producer and midtempo terror SWARM unleashed "The Nothing." Arising out of an algorithm this track came to me unexpectedly, hunting me down like a creep in the night. It is outright dark, demonic and depraved, sewn into its artwork and the singular vocal "nothing you can be is more terrible than I am." It's part X-Files abnormality; part Saw sick, psychological warfare. The five and a half minutes reek of wickedness, through all its cinematic arcs: the hollow breathing, stabbing strings, and hell choir; each arriving directly from the dark. The minute and half piano finale, while beautiful, still leaves the spine tingling, wondering if the iniquity of "The Nothing" has really ended. Enjoy the lossless version free here.FOLLOW SWARM: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

My Mixtape featuring KVIII

DOWNLOAD MY MIXTAPE FEATURING KVIII

Tracklist

1. Zeds Dead x Illenium - Where The Wild Things Are (Chuurch Remix)
2. Point Point - Hands (ft. Denai Moore)
3. Tennyson - Cry Bird
4. Point Point - A Piece Of Sun
5. Rezz x K?D - Fourth Impact
6. Eminence - 0202
7. Felix Cartal - Get What You Give
8. KVIII - The Escape
9. Felix Cartal - Hold Tight
10. KVIII - Lane (Instrumental Demo)
11. KVIII - ID
12. KVIII - Silence
13. TNAN & KVIII - One Dance
14. Jack Ü ft. Kai - Mind (Malaa Remix)
15. Tinlicker - As We Wake
16. Ephixa - Skyforth
17. Deadmau5 - Saved

Faux Chaux - Eyes On

British bass and house duo, Faux Chaux are about to have more ears and "Eyes On" them than ever before after their release on Fatstep Records. They've combined some bleepy future vibes with an ever growing bass throb that flips off in a furious groove. The G vocals add an ominous and sinister spin to the already threatening track. For me it feels as though it could fit into any of the bass house bosses (Malaa, AC Slater, etc) playlists, and would no doubt destroy a dance floor while welcoming a wave of screw faces. Don't sleep on this deep and dark duo, download their tracks free, and "Eyes On," here.FOLLOW FAUX CHAUX: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Koos - Bolt

There's just something about how the French do house music. Whether it's legends like Daft Punk or more recent upstarts like Malaa, Tchami or even Dombresky, their understanding of and ability to create club worthy house tracks is uncanny. The latest example comes from Koos, whose track "Bolt" rumbles so relentlessly that you may not be able to scrape yourself off the dancefloor. It reminds me a lot of what CastNowski is doing, utilizing a variety of sound effects, while playing with the incredibly potent bass. I'm not sure you even have to voluntarily move, the subwoofer should take care of that. From the percussion, the synths, the bass, the vocal samples and overall atmosphere, Koos hits on all cylinders. "Bolt" is available 100% free, here.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Sevla - Bandits

It's been about half a year between releases for Toronto's Sevla, but the man is back with a bonafide banger. "Bandits" sees Sevla transition from the "TRVP GOD" description on his soundcloud to a house head. But this isn't your typical house track, its bass driven along the lines Malaa or even fellow Canadians: CastNowski, CYMN and Audiation; the latter two are also represented on this episode. After last week's more laidback summer themed edition of Bump In The Hump, the Radio Humber airwaves are set to feel the pure technological terror of an hour of power. If "Bandits" is any indication, Selva seems set to spark fires all summer long. Download/Stream via MMXVAC.

Tonight's episode features remixes from Rezz, WHIPPED CREAM, and the sixth edition of CRaymak's First of the Month series. As well as a remix of Sinjin Hawke, there's incredible originals from AGNO3, Ramzoid, and Shifting Black. Finally we look ahead to My Mixtape with a 10 minutes of my conversation with Tom and Gary of Honey Beard who are set to host Friday night at 11. Don't miss tonight's all new hour of Canadian electronic music live from 6-7 PM EDT.

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FKA twigs - Two Weeks (Tombz Remix)

Last weekend, Milwaukee duo Tombz took on FKA twigs' "Two Weeks," transforming it into a dance-floor dominator. How I missed it I'm not sure, but I've finally found it, and boy am I ready to rock the house with its booming bass. There's no denying the hit that the original is, in large part due to FKA's vocal delivery, but the production quality is on point too. That incredible quality has only been bolstered Tombz, who have truly taken "Two Weeks" to the next level. The new house delivery is like raving in a cave; the sound design is utterly epic. It's cavernous, shaking the walls and your soul alike, as the drop seems to come out of nowhere. It hits with the hardest house tracks of the moment, and could easily be mistaken as a Malaa or Mercer production. When that drop hits there's nothing you can do but dance, and while that may be your favourite bit there's so much more to love. Tombz have reworked the vocals ingeniously, at times used as punctuation, others a full callback to the original. They've tuned twigs to perfection, recasting the original in a way that I truly cannot get enough of. Be sure to pick up the awesomeness for free via ToneDen here, and start your weekend with a thud. FOLLOW TOMBZ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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12 Best Releases of February 14, 2017

Each day I scan through my soundcloud feed looking for a specific kind of track. One that I like, one that has a generally low number of plays, and preferably one that hasn't been covered by other blogs yet. Today however I seemed to find more than normal, actually an even dozen. So instead of writing a longer piece about one track, I've opted to showcase all of them with a brief sentence or two, detailing why I like them so much. Check them out below and grab the free downloads where applicable.
Hero - Dirty Work
Calgary's Hero has been on a role lately, producing a number of breathtaking tracks, including his VHS Pop EP. This one excels with a Daft Punk vibe alongside some truly touching lyrics and a godly groove.

Realmind - Malta (Billboard Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]
This is some Montreal on Montreal mixing here. It's got a ton of guts and some wild future bass mentality. The sound design of each element is extraordinary, and the progression is perfect.

Malaa - Bylina (Lick Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]
The latest Malaa production is already making waves around the world, and while I appreciate its vocals and much of the design, Lick's remix speaks to me even more. I prefer a fuller drop than what the original offers and this one has just that, there's no boring bits or points in which I desire more.

Kream - Love You More (Nate Lowpass Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]
As he notes in the track description, the vocals have an immediate allure, and Nate Lowpass's mix suits them brilliantly. The bass plays perfectly and drives along with the tuned drum fills.

SL.Y - F.U.N. ft Hesk
Toronto's Bedroomer collective have themselves a new club focused compilation called Mainroomer. Along with tracks from Kare and a collab between Internet Daughter and Eytan Tobin, this one shows sensational synth work and awesome vocal chops. Its furious pace is as exciting as it is enjoyable.

LigOne - Choose The Flow
This one sparkles right off the bat, and only gets brighter and bouncier as it goes along. It shows off LigOne's incredible ability to bring together so many elements and have them work in sync superbly.

Anna Lunoe - Radioactive (Masayoshi Iimori Remix) [FREE DOWNLOAD]
After dropping off six official remixes Friday, Anna's added another five including this from Masayoshi, as well as G-Buck and Vices. This mix once again proves that there's no one that can truly match Masayoshi's production style. His almost schizophrenic treatment makes this a psycho club killer.

Tennyson x Mr. Carmack - Tuesday
Easily the most laid-back track in this list, the seemingly opposing styles of this collab actually work wonderfully. It's got the jazzy feel of Tennyson guiding the movement, while Carmack's club qualities shine through. Stay tuned for Wednesday and Thursday forthcoming via Red Bull Sound Select.

Shawn Wasabi - Spicy Boyfriend
The cuteness of Shawn Wasabi's productions cannot be overstated, nor can the quality of his sound design in this track. Its youthful play makes me overflow with an unbridled feeling of freedom. I highly recommend checking out the video of him performing it live from his bed, here.

The Kount - You Glow
This is some kind of Kaytranada, Anderson .Paak stuff, and boy am I glad to have found it. The groove and feels it exudes are extraordinary. It meshes live performance and electronic production seamlessly.

Coolights & Element - Show U (ft. NKOLO) [FREE DOWNLOAD]
How a track can simultaneously be so banging yet so beautiful and full of feels I'll never know. It reminds me of two of my favourite tracks at the moment, Rytmeklubben's "Like That" and Indiginis' "Get Ur Frk On." I fully expect this to be one of my go to early morning tracks that gives me life.

Terror Jr - Come First (Kid Froopy Remix)
Can you sense a theme here? This too is what I like to refer to as a beautiful banger. It's emotional with its combination of chords and vocals, but what Kid Froopy has done with the drop is sure to have your heart skip a beat. I'm truly speechless. I don't want to do anything but listen to this again and again.

ValyMo & Broady - Get Funky

As part of Gold Digger's We Are Bass House year end compilation, ValyMo and Broady have teamed up to drop French bass track "Get Funky." As part of the explosion of both bass house and French artists (Malaa, Slowbody, Dombresky, LH4L, etc), we've seen a surplus of copycat producers trying to live up to the likes of those mentioned above. But there's really no questioning the quality of ValyMo or Broady; ValyMo can boast productions for OWSLA, UKF and Ultra, while Broady cannot match that list, he's released numerous quality tracks ranging from "Hunnid For The Quarter," "Go The Farthest," "Kush World," and "Never Say Never." Considering his account is only 8 months old, Broady is a fast rising talent, and this collab with ValyMo will only hasten that. "Get Funky" stands out from the aforementioned surplus of bass house tracks, with well thought out layers of production working together brilliantly. From the vocal samples, through the ratcheted bass synth and throbbing subs, the overall design of "Get Funky" leaves little to be desired. The fills are fire, its atmosphere intoxicating and the continuous progression ensures it never gets stale. If this track turns your crank, you'll likely enjoy the other 14 tracks in the compilation, but first, get "Get Funky" for yourself free, here. FOLLOW BROADY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Holly x BeazyTymes x Masayoshi Iimori - Pump It Up

As fresh as it gets, the threesome collab of Holly, BeazyTymes and Masayoshi Iimori "Pump It Up" has been online for only 23 minutes as I write this sentence. Hosted on the Portuguese producer's soundcloud, Holly is quickly becoming known for blistering bootlegs and countless quality collabs with the likes of Ian Munro, Woolymammoth and Whipped Cream to name just a few. Masayoshi Iimori continues to crop up just about anywhere fire new tracks are heard; I've already written about his penchant for genre and mind bending tracks (see his track for Filet Mignon Vol 4 and his Malaa "Fade" bootleg). Add BeazyTymes into the mix and you've got yourself a three continent collab of epic proportions. From North America, to Europe and Asia, "Pump It Up" has it all, not just musically but production-wise, as these are three of the fastest rising stars of the trap/bass scene. These three are not messing around, they've created an enigmatic, ear-shattering and explosive track that will surely be blasting it's enormous bass in club sets and car stereos worldwide, in absolutely no time at all.Be sure to get it while it's hot, so you can see the screw faces on your friends, as they hear it for the first time. "Pump It Up" is available for free download now!

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Bestival Recap

Via Bestival Toronto Facebook Page

My body is worse for wear, but my mind has never been so satisfied. This year's edition of Bestival exceeded even my grandest expectations. From Maddmon's opening set under the Big Top Saturday, to The Cure closing down the Main Stage Sunday, and all of the surprises in between, the ethos of Bestival Increase The Peace rang true throughout. I've never been to any festival that can rival Bestival's family-friendly inclusiveness, genius curation and undeniably loving atmosphere.

I was disappointed to leave the island venue, in spite of the frustrating ferry service, but Woodbine Park actually ended up being as good, if not better than last year. The stages were significantly closer than last year, with a little bit of sound bleeding from the Big Top to the Main Stage; enough to cause Robert Smith to have his headphones at maximum volume, so he could stay on beat. The Bollywood stage was a brilliant reprieve, removed from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the venue. Even further removed, in a quiet, wooded corner of Woodbine Park, the Sunday Best Balearic Beach Bar was the ultimate chill zone for people to relax, lie under the shade of the trees and refresh your soul with therapeutic, ecstasy inducing vibes. Rounding out the Bestival atmosphere were a Dr. Suess-esque bicycle with dozens of drums and noise makers for people to play, the infamous Inflatable Church and Cosmic Commune, which hosted plays and other intimate performances. Standing on the hill that held the I<3BESTIVAL sign, you could take in all three stages with Toronto's skyline in the distance.

Via Bestival Toronto Facebook Page

The sound system under the Big Top was quite simply bonkers, and although there were less 'bass acts' and less room under the tent (than the previous year), the lineup utilized it to the fullest with standout sets from locals Maddmon, Thugli, Shaun Frank, HRMXNY, and Pusher, legendary live performances from Porter Robinson and Madeon, banging bass from Smalltown DJs, 4B, Malaa, Unlike Pluto and Tchami, welcome changes of pace from Giraffage, Skylar Spence, Classixx and Thomas Jack.  But the standout performance from the Big Top came from Reeps One, who absolutely blew me away with his unfathomably awesome beat-boxing skills.

The Bollywood Stage's visual marvel was only surpassed by its monstrous musical magnitude. Throughout the weekend I found myself going back to Bollywood more often than I had planned; its open air allure was led by an anything goes, never-ending dance-off. On my first journey around, exploring the festival grounds, I caught the end of Jonathan Rosa's set and the beginning of Rob Da Bank's which, apart from Lee Foss dropping MK's "Reverse Skydiving" remix, was my Bollywood highlight. Welcoming the early crowd, the Bestival founder led off with Prince's "I Wanna Be Your Lover," in perhaps the most fitting set starter possible.

What sets Bestival apart from other festivals, is its unwavering commitment to fostering rising and local talents, and showcasing acts that otherwise would not play Toronto festivals, especially alongside electronic acts. The Main Stage saw alternative, rock, new-wave and cross over acts from Tame Impala, Odesza, Jamie XX, Grimes and The Cure. It would be nearly impossible to put together a lineup that so perfectly bridges the gap between the sounds of the Bollywood and Big Top stages, while maintaining a slightly more rock focus. I don't know that the real EDM heads would venture from their bubble, but I can say that those five acts mentioned above strike me as the perfect stepping stones, to a wider appreciation for music and art as a whole. For in the end that is what Bestival does best, showcasing the infinite possibilities of art in all its forms, and expanding your mind.

I went to Bestival to see The Cure, among a number of electronic acts, but came away having rekindled friendships, met dozens of like-minded music lovers, and sharing in the experiences of a lifetime. I cannot wait for next year's edition of Bestival; if there were such a thing, I'd buy a lifetime membership.

Bestival: Plan Of Attack

My most anticipated weekend of the summer has finally arrived. Ever since Bestival announced their day splits, the buzz has been all about the Saturday lineup, and I plan on taking advantage of every second of it. I'm hoping I can manage to get up and arrive at Woodbine Park for the opening set, as I've been wanting to see Maddmon for some time, and his forthcoming BADLQQK track "Diagnose That" has cemented his status as a must see. Obviously I'll be spending a lot of my Saturday under the Big Top, only leaving for Joris Voorn and a touch of Bestival founder Rob Da Bank's set. Following Maddmon, one of my favourite duos Smalltown DJs have been on fire as of late, and I wouldn't dare miss them. My love for Thugli is also well established and I'm tremendously excited to see how they handle the festival atmosphere. Following a brief respite with Rob Da Bank, I'll be taking in Giraffage in hopes he'll be this years surprise act, energizing us with a second wind. Having already seen Shaun Frank, I've made the tough decision to take in Joris Voorn in his stead, in part because of latest remix of Florian Kruse & Hendrik Burkhard's "The Ground." I'll be back under the Big Top for the three-headed monster of Malaa, Madeon and Porter Robinson. I've also got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to catch one of those three at The Hoxton's after-party, specifically Porter as I hope to relive last year's Monstercat Showcase DJ set (the last track in the playlist below). Of course the Sunday can also boast a number of big names, Dubfire, Tchami and The Cure headlining their respective stages, but after the most jam-packed day of likely the whole summer, it's going to be interesting to see how early I can get back to Woodbine Park. I hope to start my day once again under the Big Top, with either HRMXNY or Pusher, two great Toronto talents that are poised to explode. After that I'll be looking to the Bollywood stage for some Catz 'N Dogz and Lee Foss. But if you've read my post when the lineup was first announced, it is The Cure, ahead of all electronic acts that I'm most excited for this weekend. Once again I leave you with a playlist, and The Cure's full set from Bestival on the Isle of Wight back in 2011.

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Frustra - Fractures EP

This week on Bump In The Hump, I've got another slew of premieres, including one from Frustra's upcoming EP Fractures, to be released this Friday the 6th via OKNF Collective, entirely free of charge.

Truly a work of art, straight from the heart of one of Toronto's most rapidly climbing talents, Frustra bares it all, showcasing his soul and maturity with two previously unreleased tracks, alongside "Mother" and "Trash Talk," both of which have already hit the Radio Humber airwaves. He's also added a slew of shows in Toronto in the next few months. Expect to hear more filthy and dark industrial bass house from the strength of Frustra, who can boast dozens of tracks to his name as well as support from the likes of Shiba San, Malaa and Claude VonStroke.

While you wait for me to decide which of "Echochrome" or "Call & Response" you'll be be able to hear before their release Friday, you can get your fix of Frustra with "Trash Talk" and, you can hear "Mother"  (about 20 mins) in the January 13th episode of Bump In The Hump.

BUMP IN THE HUMP LIVE, FRIDAY 11-MIDNIGHT EST HERE

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Malaa - Fade (Masayoshi Iimori Remix)

The world works in unbelievable ways, hours after writing about Masayoshi Iimori being ahead of the curve, crafting the most uncanny tracks, the Japanese sensation outdid himself by infecting, Malaa's already ominous and infernally deep, "Fade" with a radical cybernetic possession of a remix.
The computer virus like, glitchy trap cuts, stab to repeated perfection over the ever so sour-tinged, blazing fast rap. Insidiously utilizing the hollow vocals, Masayoshi Iimori thumps the bass as though the spectral figure behind that voice, were punching you right in the gut. There's no escaping the diabolical dark alley of this electrifying state of the art remix, that you can grab free here.

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Malaa - Fade

Who ever Malaa is, they're at it again, dropping the deathly dark and increasingly mysterious "Fade."

The still unidentified DJ/producer signed to Tchami's new Confession label, drops "Fade" as just their fourth original production. While it doesn't step away from the G-House sound we've come to associate with the masked producer, it does bring a notably more creepy feel than their previous productions. The eerie, science fiction, X-Files-esque, ringing high end reaches a bloodcurdling climax when supported with the otherworldly groaning, before the seriously sinister trademark Malaa bass drop. Aided by Kool G, Nas "Fast Life," and Future, Pusha T "Move That Dope" samples, Malaa succeeds once again in re-purposing hip-hop lyrics while propelling the house music resurgence. It doesn't seem like Malaa is about to fade away anytime soon, so grab your copy now before you miss the bandwagon.

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