Monday Grab Bag

Mondays are most often the driest day of the week when it comes to 'discovering' new music. That said, today was totally different as I kept coming across wicked releases everywhere I turned. So, with that in mind, I've compiled six of said releases here. Unfortunately, they're spread across streaming services, but rest assured, each release can be enjoyed in its entirety below.

Discovered via Soundcloud's The Upload algorithm, Cortese's Emma Cannon-led "Girls Like You" is ridiculously cool and ever so catchy with that spellbinding swing. Another one from The Upload, "1984" doesn't have anything to do with Orwell, but rather the Martha And The Muffins' single from that same year, "Black Stations/White Stations." Seamless sampling and a more hefty backing make it a wicked dancefloor weapon. Finally, the 8Kays' Eleatics EP rounds out the Soundcloud section of this Monday mix, and what an excellent EP it is. I keep going back and forth on whether I like the originals or the remixes better, but you really can't go wrong. Both versions of "Respect Me" are incredible in their mix of restraint and rippling techno power, just as both mixes of "Young Souls" manage to infect you with their otherworldly grooves and alien effects. 

Effin's debut on the mighty Monstercat further cements his status as an arsonist as "Unlucky" is a breathtaking blaze. Like the 8Kays originals above, the most incredible thing about this track is the contrasting clean, minimal sections against the mayhem of percussion and bass in the drops. And then there's the infernal horn section. If you're not already, be sure to keep it locked on Effin. 

More of the aforementioned minimal stuff thrives here with Dunk's deep and dark DnB EP, Signal Loss. Moody, cold and callous futurescapes give this release the feeling of a neo-noir game of interstellar espionage. In fact, the more I listen to it, I feel like its high-stakes tension would work well against the scenes of Gene Hackman tailing his prey in The French Connection.

Finally, we round out this collection with two killer remixes from Champa B and Tim Reaper. Both highly-charged rollercoaster rides, "Serenity" is somehow more fire than "Meridian," with its relentless percussive charges and bass booms, while the latter leans more cool and contemplative, especially through the pristine piano.

Monstercat - 9 Year Anniversary

Wednesday marks the ninth anniversary of Monstercat's creation and the celebrations have already begun with today's release of a six-pack of classic 90s covers. Leading the way is Pixel Terror who punch up a complextro version of Darude's "Sandstorm." As wild as the original is, this new version turns things up to 11: twisting the tempo up and down, adding extra headbanging heaviness and setting our expectations on fire with a throbbing psychedelic undertone. Turning the calendar back 90 months, the next 90s classic is Snap! "Rhythm Is A Dancer." Here Pegboard Nerds tap Tia Simone to recreate the iconic vocals as they make like Pixel Terror and electrify the original with bombastic bass kicks and thumping synths that thrust the Eurodance classic into a Mortal Kombat-esque fight club.

Showing that this EP is not just a collection of amped up covers, Grant's guitar guides Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone" to a bouncy and feels laden future bass place. While that still slaps, Half An Orange's Saxsquatch-led cover of "Around The World" takes the cake as the most chill track of the EP. Perfect for a sunset, the playfulness of this cover fills it with hope and an incredible ease of enjoyment. Picking the energy back up, in spite of the original's creation as a comedown track, Rameses B brings an extra sparkle and a jolt of DnB to Robert Miles' captivating 1995 affair "Children." In a way this is both the closest to and furthest from the original as the melody and progression remains almost entirely intact, while the new ripping DnB direction casts it in a different light. And I think it is because of this counter-intuitive fact, that I find it to be my favourite of the EP.

Finally, the anniversary release is wrapped with perhaps the least well known track of the bunch Signum's "Coming On Strong." Stonebank and EMEL thrust the 1999 trance cut into hardcore territory, absolutely pulverizing it with ravey synths and thumping bass while keeping just enough of its buoyant trance energy underneath. While I haven't been much for hardcore in years, I can say that this will leave you fist pumping your way back to the beginning of the EP for another round of nostalgia-laced fun. Stream the Monstercat 9 Year Anniversary below and get it from your favourite online retailer here.FOLLOW MONSTERCAT: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Throwback Thursday: Infected Mushroom - Classical Mushroom

There aren't many artists that can boast the longevity that Israeli psytrance duo Infected Mushroom have. Making waves for more than two decades, Erez Eisen and Amit Duvdevani just released their 12th studio album More Than Just A Name on Monstercat in March, but today we're turning the calendars back more than 240 months to January 2000 and the timeless brilliance of Classical Mushroom. Their sophomore sensation stretches well over the hour mark with a mere nine tracks, each epic in their own right. Always eager to expand their boundaries, the duo's addition of more typical, organic instrumentation and so called classical sounds, is precisely what made this album such a stunning success.

"Bust A Move" is as exceptional an opening track as you'll ever encounter. With the rolling piano opposing the rollicking psy-warp sensory overload, it's likely to leave your jaw on the floor as you dance around it in some kind of arcane ritual. Maintaining that mystical allure, "None Of This Is Real" is guided by godly guitar shredding which emanates from the vast obsidian infinity that each psy-trance track exists within. Burrowing into your brain, Infected Mushroom successfully blurs the line between our workaday, humdrum reality and this new vivid exciting soundscape, especially as the next track, a really gorgeous groover, "Sailing In The Sea Of Mushroom" takes hold. Firmly entrenched in this ultra-amplified irreality, "The Shen" doubles down on the dopamine making each orchestral sweep that much more moving as each additional flurry (organic or electronic) forces the listener further down the rabbit-hole that is Classical Mushroom.

Splashing down in the mesmerizing middle, "Disco Mushroom" employs the same brilliant blend of bright, beautiful top-notes with the dirty, driving psychedelic swells and masterful movement that gives the track so many lives and magical moments. It is at once scorched earth while also cool and calmly crafted cinematic, musical wizardry. This theatrical touch once again plays in "Dracul," not just through the clip from Bram Stoker's Dracula, but in the chilling, chase-scene quality of its unwavering, undead energy. The unholy nature of Classical Mushroom hits its peak in "Nothing Comes Easy," but it and "Mush Mushi" strike me as the only misses in the album. I don't mean to say that they are bad, but they don't capture the same creativity and genius as their counterparts. I will say "Nothing Comes Easy" is cool in its guttural vocals, but the rest of the track strikes me as unremarkable - an indistinct album cut. This largely describes my feelings towards "Mush Mushi," whose greatest facet comes in its fluidity and seamless progression. Both are powerful pieces, but pale in comparison to the incredible tracks that surround it, especially the ingenious finale "The Missed Symphony."

The depth, breadth and vast scope of this closing number is simply stunning. There's mountains of movement, making room for essentially everything that's come before it in Classical Mushroom, turning the track into an almost 'best-of' epic. It is cohesive, cruising through its 10+ minute runtime with ease, making it another undeniable highlight in an album overflowing with them. While there are many points in the album in which Infected Mushroom really catch their stride, it's those points in "The Missed Symphony" that are the most rewarding for me. There's multiple moments of relief/jubilation when the pressure of the tension pops and the track roars forward in fantastic synchronous harmony, but none better than the finale of finales, starting just before the eight minute mark and running through to the final notes.

I'm grateful to the friend that introduced me to Infected Mushroom (by way of "Bombat") so many years ago, and for lighting the fire of exploration that still burns within me today, without that I wouldn't where I am now, nor would I have encountered this foundational and truly inspired album. Enjoy Classical Mushroom below and if you dig it I highly recommend exploring more of Infected Mushoom's catalog, especially their brilliant 2007 album The Doors Remixed. More of my Throwback Thursday posts here.FOLLOW INFECTED MUSHROOM: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Backstage with Elazion and Odesho

Thursday night marked two firsts for me as I joined Elazion on his podcast. It was both my first podcast and my first time as the guest in an interview. In the nearly hour and a half conversation we touched on several subjects, mostly around my role as a radio host and blogger, but of course we dive deeper into a wider swath. There's a fair amount of insight into my process and history, as well as a ton of recommendations which I'll detail below. Get the episode on iTunes, Stitcher, Castbox & others here.
Recommendations, in the order they arise in the episode...

DJ Flipout/Skratch Bastid/Red Bull 3Style: DJ/MC associated with both Virgin Radio Vancouver and the Red Bull 3Style DJ competition. DJ/Global Ambassador for the Red Bull 3Style DJ competition. Both great Twitter follows.

Repost-Toggle for Soundcloud: An Chrome extension I use to streamline my feed.

Nero - Symphony 2808: My first encounter with electronic music re-imagined in an orchestral/symphonic format.

Pete Tong, Jules Buckley & The Heritage Orchestra - Ibiza Prom: The start of Pete Tong's venture into the orchestral realm, with a studio album of this concert (here) and two more after (below).

Pete Tong Ibiza Classics: A second orchestral album of re-imagined Ibiza classics.

Pete Tong - Chilled Classics: A third orchestral album with a mix of original productions and classic re-imaginings.

Ed Banger 15: Orchestral versions of classic Ed Banger releases celebrating their 15th anniversary. See live concert here.

Yanni: An incredible composer/producer/etc. Countless fantastic tracks and albums, but his live The Concert Event album was the one that hooked me, even better enjoyed if you watch the live videos.

Skratch Bastid & Afiara Quartet - Spin Cycle: A brilliant experiment combining scratching and strings. Also best enjoyed with accompanying video. See full concert at Koerner Hall here.

Skratch Bastid - Kenny Rodgers Tributes: Pretty self explanatory. Turntable tributes to The Gambler. First video here and a followup here.

Porter Robinson Monstercat Showcase: My peak Porter enjoyment. One of my favourite mixes of all-time.

Knife Party Essential Mix: One of the most incredible debut sets/Essential Mixes. Peak Knife Party.

Score: A Film Music Documentary: A fantastic doc on some of the major players in "the world's most widely known music genre" with interviews from John Williams, Danny Elfman, Hans Zimmer, etc.

Queen Of The South: One of my favourite TV shows, scored by Giorgio Moroder.

Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul: Incredible music direction. Particularly in the montage scenes. Two stand out in particular, at least in recent memory, both from Better Call Saul. BADBADNOTGOOD - Can't Leave The Night and Todd Terje - Alfonso Muskedunder.

The Wire: Every time I think back to the month or two it took me to binge it, I'm filled with nostalgia and the desire to relive what is widely considered to be the best TV show ever.

Explained - Music: Incredible, informative and logic-based mini doc on music. Narrated by Carly Rae Jepsen and featuring TOKiMONSTA.

The Nature Of Things - Sonic Magic: The Wonder and Science of Sound: Another incredible documentary, detailing the magic behind music and its multi-sensory qualities.

It's All Gone Pete Tong: The 'true story' of a DJ who goes deaf, but continues to produce through vibrations.

Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell, & Stevie Wonder: Perhaps my favourite ever Grammy performance.

The Night: A Nero 'side-project' between Alana Watson and Dan Stephens. Meanwhile Joseph Ray is doing solo work under his own name.

Protostar - Overdrive (ft. Emma McGann)

Back with his fourth single in as many months, Dunstable DnB producer Protostar has a hit on his hands with "Overdrive." With two versions, including an instrumental and a vocal cut featuring "Where I Belong" collaborator Emma McGann, "Overdrive" takes me back to one of my favourite times and sound periods: the early 2010s, particularly Nero's Welcome Reality. More than just the powerful female vocals of McGann and Alana Watson, I'm reminded of this era's brilliance through the futuristic soundscape, similarly punchy percussion and buoyant, striding synths. Of course Nero are more widely associated with dubstep, but it's nearly impossible to separate it from DnB and the two are often paired perfectly. Here with "Overdrive," the imagery Protostar creates is both bright and dark in the same sound, like a mix of neo-noir and sci-fi films (think Blade Runner 2049 and Tron: Legacy). It is punchy and propulsive, yet is not at all overwrought or over-the-top. A good headbanger, easily enjoyed with or without its expertly treated vocals, "Overdrive" is a welcome addition to 2020, a year in which DnB continues its assault on the collective consciousness. Add it to your catalog via Monstercat, here.FOLLOW PROTOSTAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW EMMA MCGANN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Enlightened Listening for July 5

A quick turnaround from the last Enlightened Listening and a quick turn into the weekend leads to this brief look at a still fantastic and varied group of tracks. ASHE opens things up with a thoughtful EP that leans further into his acoustic techno. Next up a trance turn as Edu Imbernon delivers a dope Anjunadeep cut. Gorgon City stay hot with a tribute to Chicago house in "Elizabeth Street." After that is Annie Mac's hottest record, a genius growing groove from Theo Kottis. Building even bigger still, KiNK captures our attention with a brilliant recasting of Krystal Klear's exceptional "Euphoric Dreams." MK then delivers the first remix after the release of Mark Ronson's Late Night Feelings and as usual hits it out of the park. One of the most teased and highly sought after tracks of the year follows as David Penn sends us into ecstasy with his heart-melting remix. Gears change as the playlist begins to close with Flux Pavilion showing a new side that has me hearing classic Nero. Finally I get even more nostalgic with Infected Mushroom, one of my earliest loves, and their Monstercat killer "Kababies." Stream everything via Spotify below and get individual links at the bottom. Enjoy your weekend!

ASHE - Letters To Myself

Edu Imbernon - S.Y.L.

Gorgon City - Elizabeth Street

Theo Kottis - Turning Around

Krystal Klear - Euphoric Dreams (KiNK Remix)

Mark Ronson ft. Camila Cabello - Find U Again (MK Remix)

Pete Heller's Big Love - Big Love (David Penn Remix)

Flux Pavilion - Somebody Else (ft. GLNNA)

Infected Mushroom - Kababies

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: FWLR - Numb (ft. Che'Nelle)

Last week New Brunswick's FWLR made his debut on Canadian mainstay Monstercat, with the decidedly dope "Numb." Featuring vocals from Che'Nelle, this track is both bright and soaring, while somehow dark and earthbound. The keys kick up dust in your eye and, enter the bass, leaves you spinning, reaching for any firm foundation. It is a brilliant blend; a masterclass in modern electronic dance music. Stream it below, purchase here and hear it in the mix on Bump In The Hump tonight.
Also on this week's episode, we've got five artists (including FWLR) making their Radio Humber debuts. The two hour electronic music extravaganza includes all kinds of house, techno, future bass, funk, wave, dubstep, and trap. We look ahead to shows from Attlas, Swing Ting, Sébastien Léger, Dustin Nantais and Zoi (click names to see said events). There's also a chance to win a pair of tickets to Deadbeats' show next Friday, July 20th. Listen live from 7-9 PM EDT here and find the stream available after the fact via Mixcloud here.

FOLLOW FWLR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Kamome Sano - Internet City (WRLD Remix)

Dutch Dance Don, WRLD continues to wow me at every turn.. He's back today with an animated remix of Kamome Sano, who is, as he says "one of my favourite Japanese producers." What entices me to "Internet City" is exactly what I enjoy so much about WRLD's catalog. It's packed with punchy synths that pulsate your hips and propel your feet. WRLD is warm, even when he's not. There's a magnitude to his overall craftsmanship that's commanding, but never in an obnoxious, negative way.
"Internet City" pairs the most righteous retro synth with cool vocal play. If you turn it up in the right room, there's no way you don't feel some kind of way. It's a without a doubt, 5 star, perpetually playlisted track. As of two hours after posting, there is no download available, check back for that, I'll retweet (follow me here), but in the meantime I recommend his Monstercat DnB track "Everything."

FOLLOW WRLD: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW KAMOME SANO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Orbiter - Want You

My love for Stephen Walking has been well documented on Bump In The Hump, but it's been a while since we had any new music from him. That's finally changed, as he's surprised us with a new duo called Orbiter with 7 Minutes Dead. If you thought it was a long time between Stephen Walking releases, that's nothing compared to the hiatus for 7 Minutes Dead who breaks his 2 year silence with "Want You." Since both are Monstercat mainstays it's no surprise that's where we find their first release. Their partnership too seems like a obvious match, as both delve into epic stories with wild instrumentation and exceptional energy. Their almost cinematic approach comes to full effect as Orbiter, depicting a dark neo-future landscape. Still, love survives and stands strong with "Want You." Joining Orbiter tonight on Radio Humber, are new tracks from aiwake, Kill Them With Colour, and friends of the show, Loud Luxury. You'll also hear the exclusive first play of the latest from Leterna, plus a track released in honour of Sleepycatt's birthday yesterday. Catch the hour of new Canadian electronic music that is Bump In The Hump. live from 6-7 PM EDT, here.

FOLLOW ORBITER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Sinden's House Line EP

Very few producers can boast the same kind of quality and longevity as Graeme Sinden. He's been a staple of the house scene since collaborating with the likes of Hervé (as The Count and Sinden) and SBTRKT nearly a decade ago. He's once again teamed up with Hervé, among other heavy hitters Bot (previously half of Crookers), Japan's Jaxx Da Fishworks and Alaska's Astronomar. The nine track collab laden EP, out now on Insomniac Records, brings bassy house tracks that, while having killer classic feels, succeeds in pushing the undeniably important genre forward. Download the EP free via ToneDen, here.The lead track brings Sinden and Hervé together again, showing off their incredible interplay. The amount of movement and instrumentation is incredible, once again proving these two work together wonderfully. Next, pay special attention to Sinden's solo track "Baby" with its classic bonking bass sound built around a grungy atmosphere. The next three tracks, all remixes, take a decisively different approach, but still one that fits into this formidable EP.

R3LL's remix relies on a piano lick and pulsating jersey club loops, definitely the most intense and energetic of the bunch. Bot brings back the bouncing bass with "Follow Me." The bed he's crafted for Aly Us' vocals makes it absolutely alluring and almost hypnotizing. It's easy to imagine several shufflers dancing all night to this one.

Next up is LO'99, who I've been a fan of ever since I heard Porter Robinson play Go Freek's remix of "My Mind" in his Monstercat Showcase set two summers ago. He's been on fire as of late (dropping remixes of Angelz and Stormzy), and continues that trend with his 420 Blog It take on "Mega." Obviously the throwback feels are strong, but the deep bass wobbles and alien atmosphere make it a worthy remix of such a classic track.

Following those remixes come three new collaborations. First "Cold Ass Flute" with Astronomar. It's eerie as can be, sending chills down your back, again with an extraterrestrial vibe and an all too evil laugh. Next is Hotfire and "Twiddle," which winds up slowly before the tension becomes too much and it turns into an all out stomper, suggesting that listeners just get stupid. The final collab comes with Marc Spence, whose "Nasty" has been mentioned many a time on this blog. "WTF" is mechanized madness. It's almost as though the two have built an Iron Giant type figure deep in the woods, and its coming to life can be heard through the panicked chirping of birds and earth shaking bass.

Sinden's House Line then wraps up with a new Jaxx Da Fishworks production, "Don't Wait Up." It may be the best track to encapsulate the EP as a whole. It's got a great classic feel and construction to it, while still feeling fresh. The frenzied drop is like a steely stare down, daring you to dance. From Sinden and Hervé's "Body & Soul" to this fire finale, this EP is an excellent example of Sinden's impact on house music. If you've got the time, I highly suggest taking a scroll through his soundcloud page, it's absolutely littered with awesome tracks.

FOLLOW SINDEN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Robotaki - Automaton

Recently, Robotaki has been pumping out tracks at a ridiculous rate. But not just cookie cutter, same old same old, kind of productions. He's experimented with a variety of sounds, styles, intensities and vocalists. His latest, "Automaton" released on Monstercat Friday, is his hardest yet, and like his track output, this too is tremendously diverse in its arc. The title says a lot about it, giving instant imagery of an iron clad colossus, clicking and whirring to life. This magical machine is imbued with an electric energy that is built around Robotaki's production style. It's not entirely analog or digital, it includes a mixture of almost organic life. It is a musical reflection of our essential interaction with the digital world around us; at times easy going and pleasurable, others incredibly frustrating when the electronics err. I'll be leading off tonight's episode of Bump In The Hump with Robotaki's "Automaton," which you can catch live from 6-7 PM EST on Radio Humber, here. Also on tonight's episode you'll hear tracks from Bedroomer's Mainroomer release, another cut from Deadbeats Compilation 1, an unexpected remix of Avril Lavigne's "Complicated," and more simple majesty from Attlas. Finally, we'll end the episode with a snippet of my interview with Dom Dias, ahead of his hour set for My Mixtape, airing Friday at 11.

Madeon & Porter Robinson at Danforth Music Hall Tonight

Tonight's the night that the youthful genius of Madeon and Porter Robinson finally bring their highly touted Shelter Live Tour to the 6ix. They'll be performing at the Danforth Music Hall, alongside openers Robotaki and Danger. Of course the tour is named after their collaborative track "Shelter," but there's much more you can expect from this dynamic duo, and their live performance. If you don't mind spoilers, there's a full video of their set from their stop in Atlanta, two months ago.

If you'd rather not watch the concert twice in one day, but still want to get hyped for tonight, my recommendation would be to check out the brilliant anime Porter put together for their collab.

If that's not enough to get your motor running, I've compiled a list of my favourite five tracks from each Madeon and Porter Robinson, including some of their own remixes and remixes of their originals. Remember this is a live set at Danforth, but there is an after party, DJ set planned for The Hoxton, if that is more your speed. And to be honest, that's what caused me to really fall in love with Porter. His set for the Monstercat Showcase at Tattoo last summer, is still one of my favourite mixes of all time.Tickets are scarce for both events, but you may be able to snag one from a seller [live show] [DJ set]

FOLLOW MADEON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW PORTER ROBINSON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

New Music For Your Weekend

Fridays are always the best day of the week, both for new music releases and for live shows. This week is no different, and is perhaps the best Friday of the year, in large part thanks to the highly anticipated debut EP, New Laces, from Pusher, and hometown heroes, Loud Luxury taking the stage at UNIUN. Below you'll find some of the releases I'm dead excited about and will be playing a ton this weekend. New Laces is a true artistic masterpiece, the first three tracks "Clear," "Tell You," and "Shake Down," are all in the conversation for my track of the year. Not only do they range in styles, but they showcase three different vocalists, for which Pusher so perfectly works around their lyrics. Add to that three more tracks with an additional three vocalists and you've got album that surely marks the official 'startup' of what promises to be a phenomenal career. Make no mistake, Pusher has been on my radar ever since I heard his remix of Ryn Weaver's "OctaHate," but New Laces will propel Pusher into the ears and hearts of music fans worldwide. I for one am anxiously awaiting his next live set, fingers crossed that he headlines a Toronto show soon, so he can really show off his awesome mixing style.  From Point Point's Record Record imprint comes, DZZ's debut EP Wishes. Bright and bleepy, the three originals and additional remix from Maxo, flow from a fluorescent factory of feels. A combination of Porter Robinson sentimentality and Cashmere Cat creativity, the shower of sparkles that is the 8-bit, lullaby-esque beauty of Wishes guarantees good feelings all around.  I think it's safe to say my favourite label is Monstercat, thanks to the consistent quality they pump out, not to mention they're the home of one of my favourite artists, Stephen Walking. Of course they also enjoy producers, Conro, Tristam and Aero Chord. The latter, Aero Chord, has Monstercat's latest release, "The 90s," which is a delicious depiction of future bass. Aero Chord offers up bounding bass and the soaring soundtrack-esque synths that make that decade so delightful.A close second in the race for my favourite label is AC Slater's Night Bass. The carefully curated content they release is always awesome, and Kry Wolf's Temper certainly fits the billing. Ballsy, big and bouncy the three track EP is everything we've come to expect from the duo. Fear not the dark of Night Bass as Kry Wolf are armed with a "Flashlight" that will have you in "Wavves" of ecstasy. Toronto's own Shaun Frank is riding some kind of high lately, having released massive records with The Chainsmokers, DVBBS and Oliver Heldens. "Let You Get Away" is however a solo production, and one without frequent collaborator, Delaney Jane. But once again, Shaun Frank fills our speakers with an undeniably awesome production. The man simply knows how to produce, especially around vocals.Another Canadian that's been on a tear lately, is Vancouver's own, Vanic. His latest, "Samurai" showcases his sharp ear for production, slicing and dicing synths around Katy Tiz's vocals, proving Vanic is not just a flash in the pan talent, but a true heavy hitter that can swing with the best. There's something about this Vera production that just captures my attention. Perfect for Pelican Fly, the cool Copenhagen producer pits big bass against raucous, rapturous wild sounds that remind me of RL Grime, Toto's "Africa" and Dem Slackers' remix of "Fifty What." I for one cannot wait to hear what else Vera has in store for us with the rest of her debut EP, scheduled to be released September 23rd. NGHTMRE is fresh off his killer collab "Need You" with Dillon Francis, yet may have just dropped an even deeper, darker and more dangerous death star of sorts. The veteran presence of Zeds Dead on "Frontlines" propels NGHTMRE into another stratosphere, likely launching this track into even more DJ sets and onto even more radio stations. Why not finish with a fire free download from Winnipeg, the city with perhaps the highest number of producers, per capita. Released on Kardoso's LUXE label, CCIV & PRZM have found a number of their tracks on Bump In The Hump, and you better believe "Mindmelt" will get a spin on Radio Humber as well. Whenever these two match up, the resulting track is pure power, and "Mindmelt" is just that. The bass is big enough to cause a concussion and make your brain bleed, but in a good way.

Full AGNO3 Interview (Directors Cut)

After premiering a short version of my interview with AGNO3 yesterday on Bump In The Hump, I've posted the full, unedited, 'directors cut' to mixcloud. Listen to it below, as we get further into his collaborations, work with Monstercat, why Deadmau5 blocked him on twitter, and his upcoming projects.
SUPPORT AGNO3: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Interview and Premiere from AGNO3

After his set Friday night at The Hoxton, I got a chance to chat with friend of the show, AGNO3 about many topics, including but not limited to: his name, where he finds his inspiration, his rock influences, the expectations that come with a DJ set, his artistic vision, his upcoming shows, working with Monstercat, his dream collaboration, and the story behind Deadmau5 blocking him on twitter. Whet your appetite with the lead in, here (I promise, the rest of his answer and the interview itself is not lame): Furthering the Deadmau5 storyline, AGNO3 has blessed me with a copy of his remix of "I Remember," which I'll be giving it's well deserved radio premiere. Until then enjoy the stream below. For all of this and more, including another exclusive premiere, you'll want to tune into Radio Humber live from 11-midnight EST here and later on, on this very blog. Even further, I'll be uploading the director's cut of the full conversation between myself and AGNO3. Stay tuned to this page for more!

CLICK TO HEAR BUMP IN THE HUMP LIVE FROM 11-MIDNIGHT EST

SUPPORT AGNO3: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

San Holo, Haywyre and Grabbitz at The Hoxton

Last night three Monstercat artists hit the stage at The Hoxton. First up was Grabbitz who dropped his new collaboration with Pegboard Nerds "All Alone" as I first entered the club. I was late arriving and unfortunately missed the majority of his set, I did however catch his track "Better With Time" and his finale "Float Away," while he high-fived, shook hands and fist bumped his appreciative fans. You can hear each of the above tracks, in the playlist below: Crowd interaction was certainly one of the themes of the night, as following his set, San Holo joined the crowd for an impromptu meet and greet. Throughout his set, as you'll see in the videos below, many people in the crowd were trying to grab him, get his attention and make requests showing him their phone. He certainly seemed to oblige many of these ravenous fans, both with his incredible tracks selection and professional mixing. The video (below) of the beginning of his set will help to establish the atmosphere. Even better imagery of the incredible hype that San Holo's set induced, with this guy going crazy. His tracklist featured all of his most well known productions, "We Rise" and "Fly" in the videos above, as well as "BWU," "Donkey Kong," "Victory," "Hiding" and "New Sky," but the biggest ovations came when he dropped his Don't Touch The Classics remixes "Ride Wit Me" and "Ms. Jackson," which followed "The Next Episode" in the video below. He complimented his already swirl and sparkle ridden set with Flosstradamus' Jack U, Post Malone mashup, Rustie's "Big Catzz" and his forthcoming official remix of DJ Snake's "Middle." Once again I've compiled a playlist of many of the tracks he dropped last night, below. Finally it was Haywyre's turn to take the stage, and boy did he ever deliver. It was an unbelievable sensory experience, watching his fingers flying over his keyboard, and the incredible visual display behind him. Of course this is without mentioning his obvious talent and artistry. It was absolutely mesmerizing watching him move from track to track so flawlessly pouring his heart and soul into his performance. Adding a couple of covers, including Daft Punk's "Robot Rock" and Oliver Nelson's remix of "All Cried Out," he was able to bolster his massive library. He played his tracks "Do You Don't You," "Impulse," "Moment," "Memory," "Endlessly," "Back And Forth" "Crimson" and "All We Need." Once again you can attempt to relive the night with the playlist below, although it won't be able to hold up to the energy of his incredible live performance. SUPPORT GRABBITZ: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT HAYWYRE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
SUPPORT SAN HOLO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Bestival Lineup Annoucement

Screen-grab from www.bestival.ca approx. 2PM March 14

Bestival's Canadian cousin returns for a second Toronto edition with it's new Woodbine Park location, June 11th-12th. Friday they announced The Cure and Tame Impala as headliners, while the additional 33+ were named today. Once again Bestival can boast one of the most forward thinking, cohesive combination of progressive, boundary pushing artists, spanning a number of genres, while managing to cultivate an exquisite overall aesthetic. Last years engrossing aura tied everything together in it's omnipresence and is the only thing I think may suffer from this mainland edition. Crossing to the island last year was a rite of passage, inevitably invoking an unconscious suspension of disbelief as one stepped off their boat onto the island. The lineup however remains a draw for many different musical subcultures, yet again rivaling any other festival in Canada.

The combination of artists fills every box you could possibly check off. Massive, time-tested, legendary headliner (The Cure), incredibly hot, uber hip, legend makers (Tame Impala), progressive live acts (Odesza, Grimes, Porter Robinson, Madeon), genre leading DJ/producers (Tchami, Dubfire, Thomas Jack, Joris Voorn, Lee Foss, Giraffage, etc), trusted taste-makers (Anna Lunoe, Rob Da Bank) and swath of the best local talents (Art Department, Shaun Frank, Thugli, Pusher, HRMXNY, etc.).

After TRC made their predictions Thursday, I was determined to buy tickets if The Cure were announced. Despite being woefully unaware of The Cure, apart from what local radio and Hollywood had pushed, (Friday, I'm In Love and of course Robert Smith's Not In Love with Crystal Castles) I found I couldn't get enough of "Halo" after hearing it in a car one fateful afternoon. "Halo" seemed to strike a chord with me and quickly became one of my favourite songs, but for some reason I didn't venture any further into The Cure's massive library, at least until South Park suggested it. 

Taking Stan's word I listened to Disintegration one night on the bus ride from St Catharines to Toronto, and despite being between waking and sleeping it instantly became familiar and spoke to me through its incredible arc. It's become my go-to, after-the-club, come-down music, as I ride the red vomit comet home. So obviously I'm dead excited to see The Cure live in person; fingers crossed they play some amount of Disintegration.

Despite not going to Digital Dreams, one of my favourite sets from last year was Porter Robinson at the Monstercat showcase at Tattoo. I was moments away from going to bed and shutting down my computer when the my final twitter check discovered a live stream from inside of Tattoo. I ended up raving to the light of my computer screen for the next hour and a half, assaulting my keyboard, punching in the endless tracklist of awesomeness Porter dropped deep into the night. And although Bestival says he's doing a live set this time (see here), you can relive last year's rainy-day respite below.

Another act that I'm excited to see for the first time is Giraffage, I've only heard great things about his sets and love what I've heard specifically "All We Need" and "Lionhearted" from fellow Bestivalers Odesza and Porter Robinson, as well as "All Hands On Deck" "Impression Of You" and "So Cute!"


Then of course are those that I've already seen but know play amazing sets, Madeon, Tchami, Anna Lunoe, Shaun Frank, Thugli, Pusher and HRMXNY. Much like last year I'm sure I'll have to make tough choices as to who I see when, and bounce between stages. If the comparison to last year holds true, I can only hope the weather is more like the second day, not the first. That being said, as long it's not cancelled in some way, it will have beat both Veld and Digital Dreams. I sense there will be more names added to the list and since the price of tickets never go down, the earlier you act, the less of a financial commitment you'll have to make. I'd be surprised if word hasn't got out about how good last year was, and if the biggest headache (the ferrying) is out of the way, tickets will likely be moving quickly.

FOLLOW BESTIVAL: FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TWITTER

WRLD - Awake

Dutch producer WRLD just delivered an incredible artistic arc, upping his game, with the three track EP, Awake, released today, on Vancouver's Monstercat label. The spectacularly sparkling nu-disco/future bass feels of the title track are contrasted with the deeper, downtrodden and blues inspired, "Drowning," which in turn leads to the triumphant, reinvigorated, comeback of the final track "Discovery." Do not sleep on this incredibly cohesive and fantastically cinematic narrative. Let WRLD Awake your senses, by picking up the EP from iTunes, Bandcamp, Google Play, or streaming it on Spotify.

Unavoidably awesome playful, pitch-bent, synth riffs attack right out of the gates, firing you out of bed as though shot from a cannon. Colordrive's vocals preach the power of a double shot of espresso to the arm, inspiring even the most sleepy night owl to start the day with a bounce in their step.

The second track "Drowning," lies in stark contrast to the invigoration of "Awake." Emoting the depression of not being able to get out of bed, after a long night out. It is the overwhelming feeling of debilitating fear and petrification of never being able to achieve the same highs (of "Awake"). Ehiorobo's perfectly portray this suffocating feeling, amidst muted chords and a deluge of despondent synths.

WRLD and his masterful finale, cast this malaise aside, ushering in a new feeling of hope and optimism. The warm synths and bright inspiring piano of "Discovery," inject listeners with energy and enthusiasm for the future. Celebratory flourishes and exalted chords imbue superpowers and the feeling that anything is possible. Lifting spirits as though straight out of an 80s movie montage, it is the triumphant culmination and capstone of the simply incredible and emotive roller coaster ride that is WRLD's Awake.

SUPPORT WRLD: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER