The Magician - Magic Tape 102

The Magician launched us into June with another lush episode of his marvellous Magic Tape mix series. Like all previous editions, this new hour features a variety of funky disco house joints with a focus on new and forthcoming music. Also, just like its predecessor Magic Tape 101, the first twenty minutes are pure bliss. No matter my mood, I cannot bring myself to skip these sublime starts. In fact, these two most recent mixes have supplied some of my favourite tunes in the last month or two (see: the Perel remix of "See You Again," Dorothys Fortress' fabulous "Lucha Libre," and Krystal Klear's intoxicating "Piano Banana.") But, back to Magic Tape 102. The opening track, the only ID left, has a really familiar feeling. And here's where I get to the fun speculation as I have a sneaking suspicion (more likely just misguided hope) that this is new music from Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell, aka The 2 Bears. Musically, lyrically and thematically, it screams The 2 Bears, and I couldn't be happier if that is the case. However, and serendipitously punny, it could also be a new warner case production. Again, this would be a fit in his oeuvre, and we know he's been part of Magic Tapes and The Magician's Potion Records in the past. That said, there is no proper evidence either way as to whether this is The 2 Bears, warner case, or someone else entirely. Regardless, it's a fun, funky start to another exceptional edition of the Magic Tape series. Get down to it below and check out the largely complete (and correct) tracklist here.

UPDATE: The opening track has been released on Potion Records. It's Carl Chaste, "Change."

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warner case - upsidown

Perhaps you recall late September of last year when I came across a beautiful, bright and bouncy track from jay xero, "doyouwannabemine?" In case you don't, listen and read here. Today the artist behind that brilliance has changed his name, while offering up another equally alluring track in "upsidown." It treats us to a more truthful and telling lyrical representation, in stark opposition to the cheeky yet clever preceding single. And this is likely no coincidence as the press release states the new name, warner case, marks a more authentic turn; explaining "it feels right...it's in my family...it's in my blood." Certainly the house grooves lay at the heart of his productions and seem not just innate, but also utterly infectious. Just like I said about "doyouwannabemine?," I'm warmed to the comparison of The 2 Bears, and see this as a time when these kind of delightful, deep, dancey tracks are as in demand as ever. Not only does "upsidown" deliver vocals that invite inclusion, but musically it offers a bed built for bouncing. The shuffling drums, bent bass synths, and smooth swinging progression all play perfectly together. Again, I'm awestruck with warner's output and will certainly turn to this track when I need a pick me up. Pick it up for yourself via iTunes here.

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Joe Goddard: On Repeat

Being Thanksgiving in Canada, I'm spending most of my weekend doing family things, but I still wanted to write a post and figured I could tie it into the holiday by showcasing one of the artists I'm most thankful for: Joe Goddard. I've written about him several times here, so you should be well aware of my love for him. But in short, it's his funky disco house vibes and incredible craftsmanship that always invoke the most heartwarming of reactions to his tunes. Whether his originals (see his incredible album Electric Lines) or his extensive remixing library, or further his work with Hot Chip or The 2 Bears (neither of which I've included in this post), I'm always in absolutely awe of his majesty. So as a celebration of his sound, I've made a Spotify playlist and supplemented it a couple unmissable productions that were unavailable. Find them all below and use them to dance off that Thanksgiving feast.

 

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Jay xero - Doyouwannabemine?

The world could use a little more love in these trying times, and it seems to me that music is one of, if not, the best methods of delivery. It has the ability to inspire, uplift and bring people together. And that's exactly what I felt when I first pressed play on Jay xero's "Doyouwannabemine?" Sure love and inspiration are powerful ideas, and ones not to be taken lightly, but that's the brilliance of what Jay xero's done with this track. Opposing the deep dance groove are lighthearted lyrics that playfully propose, literally putting their love on the line. It even includes an allusion to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" after which Jay laughingly apologizes saying "it was worth it," and I tend to agree. There's just something so smooth and sublime about the easy going groove and bounce of this track, that I cannot help but feel some warmth in my heart. And just now as I make my way through my 7th or 8th listen, I'm reminded of The 2 Bears, particularly the breezy flow of their album Be Strong. Whatever the case, "Doyouwannabemine?" is a delightful distraction from our daily doldrums. Stream/purchase.FOLLOW JAY XERO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Thool w/ Marieke - Je Sors (Cover of Joe Jackson's Steppin' Out)

The world of music is an endless, magical escape; it often leads me down rabbit holes from one track to another, via one artist, label or mix. In my previous post, I mentioned Boy 8-Bit's Beatport chart, which included an artist I was unfamiliar with, Bullion and his track "Blue Pedro." I've since been unable to escape the clutches of "Blue Pedro" and figured I better check out more of Bullion's back catalog. That's what lead me to his label DEEK Recordings, and their latest release, a compilation of covers entitled Covered In Gloria. And while it was already premiered over on Stamp The Wax, I couldn't help but shine further light on Thool and Marieke's cover of Joe Jackson's "Steppin' Out."

The original 1982 version remains one of my favourite tracks, with its stunningly simple yet strong piano hooks, and unrelenting rhythm. There's a majesty in its metropolitan atmosphere, and an incredible pride in the bounding strides of the groove accented by bright, sparkling bells and an almost twinkling piano presence. It holds within it both the elements of Night And Day, there's something very personal and down to earth about "Steppin' Out," while there's no questioning the message's universal appeal and instrumental's ascending, uplifting aura. And that's where I begin with this cover.

Thool and Marieke's version starts in the stars with alien atmosphere coming out the wazoo. While the new synths wobbles may not be as immediately gripping as the original, they lay the foundation for a more restrained, yet equally revealing, expression of the emotions inherent in "Steppin' Out." Even Marieke's vocals, while never more than subtle, seem to ooze over the whole song, covering it with an ethereal sheen. The whole delivery seems better suited to a jazz club than before, showcasing smooth musicianship and smart production sense. While the bones of Joe Jackson's original remain intact, the surrounding tissue has been remodeled, but still in the same depiction of the human form. Find "Je Sors" as part of Covered In Gloria, and if that turns your crank I'll make one more suggestion: Raf Rundell (half of The 2 Bears) and his take on Sade's "By Your Side" via Extraordinary Renditions.

Nils Bech - Glimpse Of Hope (Joe Goddard Remix)

As we move into December and the overwhelming dark and cold it brings, there is no better time for a little extra sunshine and positivity, and that's exactly what Joe Goddard's remix of Nils Bech's "Glimpse Of Hope" inspires. The versatile producer is not only a member of Hot Chip, and one half of The 2 Bears, he's also a bonafide solo artist, with tracks such as "Gabriel" and "Lose Your Love" under his belt. This mix of Norwegian, Nils Bech, combines both the styles of Hot Chip and The 2 Bears, with synth driven, house beats and the warmth of frolicking island rhythms. This pairing of sounds and styles work so beautifully together, in spite of the seemingly disparate instrumentation. There's no way the digital synths should sound so organic, especially when paired with the tangible and lively chimes. Goddard's deft ability to produce around vocals, truly are the cherry on top of this delicious tropical delicacy. He's able to weave each indelible layer together with such fervent gusto; truly a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It does not suffer from excess nor have any weak spots. "Glimpse Of Hope" offers a view of musical perfection, leaving listeners forever illuminated, imbuing their heart with a new, higher sense of purpose. Bask its glorious aura and stream it below. FOLLOW JOE GODDARD: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Throwback Thursday: Benga - Acid Lie

For this week's installment of my Throwback Thursday series, it is my pleasure to re-introduce the world to one of the most twisted, raucous, raunchy, ratchet-before-ratchet, heavy stomping bass, acid overloaded tracks I've ever come across. Benga's "Acid Lie" the B side from his 2011 Faithless EP.

I first came across this brooding brilliance from Benga while listening to Annie Mac Presents August 12th. In fact it remains one of my go to radio shows, as it's packed with so much great music, much of it released following the BBC's live shows from Ibiza. Whether it's Skream's "Anticipate," Jack Beats remix of Aloe Blacc's "Green Lights," David Guetta's "Glasgow," the first play of Fake Blood's "Deep Red," The 2 Bears "Take A Look Around" or the debut of Knife Party's minimix, Annie Mac brings out all the stops. I've added the full two hour show to my dropbox for your listening and downloading pleasure, here. You'll find Benga and his "Acid Lie" shortly after the 23 minute mark.

Benga strikes an incredible atmosphere right off the get go - bassline ringing, immediately infecting your pulse with inescapable intensity. The anticipation of the action to come, reaches a fever pitch with Benga's finely crafted and well thought out foundation of sound, swirling and climbing ever higher. The acid level rises, swallowing its listeners, melting their flesh like Jesse Pinkman and Walter White's hydrofluoric concoction in the first season of Breaking Bad. The fluid nature and continual movement Benga injects into "Acid Lie" propels the track forward, leaving no sound unchanged or unaltered. It's his boredom with repetition of the same old, same old, that really makes Benga's "Acid Lie" such a powerful, progressive and inescapable masterpiece. It embodies the Terminator endlessly chasing you down, forever haunting your dreams like Freddy Krueger.

Benga has stormed back onto the scene in the last month dropping "Make Moves," an uncompromising auditory attack, and just today he's uploaded "Power" another track from his upcoming Future Funk EP, due to be released February 26. Something tells me Benga has big things in store for 2016, so keep your ears and eyes peeled on his movements.

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Saturday's Shuffle Finds

One of my favourite things about music is reminiscing about, and rediscovering tracks that randomly appear on a large shuffled playlists. Today, during a 3 hour chili cooking session, my phone's shuffle played me these great tracks:
Flux Pavilion - Pogo People
The 2 Bears - Take A Look Around Mssingno - XE2 Sable - Surf Madeaux - Chakra feat. Fifi Rong Shaun Frank - Time The Glitch Mob - Beauty Of The Unhidden Heart (Chrome Sparks Remix) Jennifer Lopez - First Love (Syn Cole Remix) Charli XCX - 13reak The Rules (Sava&Razz Remix) A$AP Ferg - Fergsomnia ft. Twista alt-j - Left Hand Free (Lido Remix) Mitski - Francis Forever (Ryan Hemsworth Remix) Fairmont - Gazebo (Sebastien Leger Remix)

EFYE - Oct. 19, 2012

Tracklist for show original air date: Oct. 19, 2012 from 18:00 to 19:00.

• Peaches - Burst! (BNR)
• Burst! (Bart B More Remix) cc
• Proxy - Shut Up! (Dim Mak)
• Shut Up! (John Roman Remix) cc
• Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf (Big Beat)
• Big Bad Wolf cc
• The 2 Bears - Be Strong (DFA)
• Work
• Jacques Greene - Night Slugs Allstars Vol. 1(Night Slugs)
• (Baby I Don't Know) What You Want cc
• ZZT - Vulkan Alarm! (Turbo)
• Vulkan Alarm! cc
• Donovans - Rise & Fall (Turbo)
• Rise & Fall
• Nom De Strip, Hatiras - Saucy (Hatrax)
• Saucy cc
• Congorock - Babylon (Fool's Gold)
• Babylon
• Wolfgang Gartner - Space Junk (Ultra)
• Space Junk
• Chew Lips - Karen (Family)
• Karen (Netsky Remix)
• Baauer - Jeffree's Vol. 3 (Mad Decent)
• Harlem Shake
• South Rakkas Crew - Mad Again f New Kidz (Mad Decent)
• Mad Again (Fake Blood Remix)
• Flosstradamus - X1 (Independent)
• Drak Knight
• The Loose Cannons - Girls In Hats (Fat Fox)
• Girls In Hats (Boy 8-Bit's Linndrum Workout)

Next show air date: Oct. 26, 2012 6-7 PM

EFYE - June 29, 2012

Tracklist for show original air date: June 29, 2012 from 18:00 to 19:00.

• The 2 Bears - Be Strong (DFA)
• Ghosts & Zombies
• Chromeo - Hot Mess Remixes (Turbo)
• Hot Mess (Rex The Dog Remix) cc
• Jessie J - Nobody's Perfect (Lava)
• Nobody's Perfect (Netsky Remix)
• Rudimental - Feel The Love (Black Butter)
• Feel The Love (Gorgon City Remix)
• Nom De Strip & Bones - Shake & Bake / Yo! (Nitrus)
• Yo! cc
• Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Turbo)
• I Love To Move In Here (Proxy Remix)
• Boy 8-Bit - We Move By Night (Blood Music)
• Midtown
• Passion Pit - Little Secrets (Columbia)
• Little Secrets (Jack Beats Remix)
• Boys Noize -  Oi Oi Oi Remixed (BNR)
• Oh! (A-Trak Remix) cc
• Clouds - Numbers (Turbo)
• Numbers
• Wax Motif & Neoteric - Go Deep Remixes (Southern Fried)
• Go Deep (Torro Torro Remix) cc
• Crowdpleaser - Crowdpleaser (Turbo)
• Jewel Self Dribbling Basketball (Rynecologist Remix) cc
• Light Year - 5 Remixe5 (Bang Gang)
• 5 Girls (Harvard Bass Remix)
• The French Nobility - The Royal Standard (Independent)
• So Cynical cc
• Tommy Trash - The End EP (Downright)
• The End

Next show air date: July 6, 2012 6-7 PM

Tracklist EFYE Debut

This is the debut show in which Oggie James is able to use his own material, this will be the case from now on. Tune in TODAY from 6-7 to hear some great electronic tracks from the likes of Tiga, Azari & III, Autoerotique, Tommy Trash, Skream, The Prototypes and a special gem from the new duo of Foamo and RackNRuin; Gorgon City featuring excellent vocals by Janai. Also don't miss the amount of weight behind canadian talents Rynecologist and Felix Cartal's collaboration with the Belgian Keatch on their EP Animals. Finally I have to make note of the absolutely massive nature of, Raf Rundell and Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) as, The 2 Bears' debut album Be Strong.


Tracklist for show original air date: March 30/2012 from 18:00 to 19:00.

• Autoerotique - Bubonic (Dim Mak)
• Bubonic cc
• NT89 - Voices (Fool's Gold)
• Decoder
• Tommy Trash - Cascade (PinkStar)
• Cascade
• Gorgon City - The Crypt (Black Butter)
• The Truth (featuring Janai)
• The 2 Bears - Be Strong (DFA)
• Take A Look Around
• Skream - Anticipate (OWSLA)
• Anticipate (Netsky Remix)
• Azari & III - Azari & III (Turbo)
• Reckless (With Your Love) cc
• Friendly Fires - Blue Cassette (XL)
• Blue Cassette (Tiga Remix) cc
• Modestep - Feel Good (AEI)
• Feel Good (The Prototypes Remix)
• Crowdpleaser - Crowdpleaser (Turbo)
• Jewel Self Dribbling Basketball (Rynecologist Remix) cc
• Keatch, Felix Cartal - Animals (Dim Mak)
• Lazy Bird cc
• Fake Blood - Mars Remixes (Cheap Thrills)
• Mars (Boy 8-Bit Remix)

cc : canadian content

Next show air date: April 6/2012

EFYE Official Debut

This is the debut show in which Oggie James is able to use his own material, this will be the case from now on. Tune in TODAY from 6-7 to hear some great electronic tracks from the likes of Tiga, Azari & III, Autoerotique, Tommy Trash, Skream, The Prototypes and a special gem from the new duo of Foamo and RackNRuin; Gorgon City featuring excellent vocals by Janai. Also don't miss the amount of weight behind canadian talents Rynecologist and Felix Cartal's collaboration with the Belgian Keatch on their EP Animals. Finally I have to make note of the absolutely massive nature of, Raf Rundell and Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) as, The 2 Bears' debut album Be Strong.