R.O.S.H. - Perhaps I Would

Twin Turbo remains one of the world's most reliable labels and the ceaseless cheekiness in their press releases never disappoints. While they propose R.O.S.H. is "probably British and also an alien," they were at least half right as R.O.S.H.'s own Soundcloud and linked RA page identify him as UK-based Roshan Chauhan, who further describes himself as making "techno your mum would like." This also seems to be a valid statement as while his tracks thump with the power associated with techno, there is an undeniable emotional, human heart at its core. As I dig through R.O.S.H.'s catalog, that theme of warmth and comfort contrasts the oft cold and emotionless face of techno. And as we return to the lead track from his Start New Life EP, due out June 28th, "Perhaps I Would" plays out like the dawn of life. It bubbles like primordial soup and with each burst of gas a new element is added to the colourful alien environment. This ever evolving production is bold, beautiful, and truly captivating, and I'm incredibly excited to see how R.O.S.H. completes the rest of this soundtrack-esque EP. Stream now below.FOLLOW R.O.S.H.: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Dean Grenier & Pilo - Portra 400

This past Friday the Turbo Recordings Soundcloud account posted two tracks from Dean Genier and Pilo's upcoming collaborative EP Take Form. Offering up the 2nd and 4th tracks of the fivesome due out April 19th on the Twin Turbo imprint, it was the latter "Portra 400" that most caught my ear. As though following the life cycle of a freshly planted flower, the track grows slowly stronger, bigger and more beautiful. The time lapse shows it wavering, almost shivering in the wind, bending this way and that as the anything but organic sounds breath life into the most earthly of lifeforms. As mesmerizing and entrancing this growth is, it's not until the flower petals burst forth from the bud (shortly after the 3 minute mark) that we become fully aware of the power and beauty of "Portra 400." That said, there is no big wow moment or singular sensational section, but rather the entire five minute production is a gently growing, life-giving, bed of tactile techno. Stream now below and pre-order Take Form here.FOLLOW DEAN GRENIER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Circle Sky - Ghost In The Machine (ABSOLUTE. Remix)

Already one of my favourite artists of the year, London's ABSOLUTE. just unleashed another awesome techno thumper in his remix of Circle Sky "Ghost In The Machine." Following his formidable Malfunction EP on Turbo, we're once again wowed by his killer craftsmanship and superb storytelling. A brilliant blend of house, techno and acid, "Ghost In The Machine" emerges from your speakers like the first living organisms breaking out of the primordial goo. Taking shape through throbbing bass and constant, subtle progression it is like your eyes finally focusing on the monster in the distance. And while all the percussive interplay, chord combinations and acid additions are sure to dazzle, there is no more important element in "Ghost In The Machine" than the sensational, stripped down, seismic drops. The downward power of ABSOLUTE.'s jack-hammering bass will have your mouth agape as you and the rest of the revelers pulsate across the dance-floor. Do not miss out on this massive production, download/stream the whole "Ghost In The Machine" package including the original, here.FOLLOW ABSOLUTE.: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Tiga & The Martinez Brothers - Blessed (Dirty Mix)

Tiga continues to use 2018 as his year of collaboration, working with the likes of Clarian, Kölsch and now longtime friends The Martinez Brothers. From the first of multiple EPs, today we were welcomed with the lead single and title track "Blessed" from forthcoming Blessed (Part 1), which is due out November 16th on Turbo Recordings. Says Tiga, the track "really sounds like Tiga and The Martinez Brothers, which makes a lot of sense if you think about it. They believe in God. I believe I can fly. As it turns out, we're both right." This kind of cheekiness is on full display in the production as well with Tiga's trademark acerbic wit appearing in the lines "I woke up blessed" and "It's not me, it's you." The track is not only hip, but hypnotic with a Svengali-like web spun through the thumping bass, rattling drums and killer club atmosphere. Be careful consuming this one, it might just be running around your head all day.FOLLOW TIGA: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Gesaffelstein - Viol (Brodinski Remix)

With Brodinski taking over CODA Saturday (RSVP/Tickets), I knew I had to find something to fit into this week's episode of Bump In The Hump. Then of course I realized his remix of Gesaffelstein's "Viol" came to us through Tiga's Turbo Recordings. So set your speakers to stun and press play below.Not only is Brodinski set to bring the beats to CODA, he'll be joined by RYME whose label BADLQQK has a new release slated for Friday, and you'll get your first listen on Bump In The Hump tonight. They'll be joined by the likes of new Rezz, Keys N Krates, Zeds Dead among several other big names. There's truly a mix of everything from disco and funk through to future bass, trap, DnB, techno and dub. Don't miss a minute, live from 7-9 PM EDT via Radio Humber or after the fact via Mixcloud here.

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Stephen Walking - Glide

The one and only Stephen Walking is back with a brand new production, his first solo original release in over a year. "Glide" sees a return to his enigmatic, spacefunk/dadrock sound best noted in the 364 day run from "Dads In Space" through to "It Came From Planet Earth." That said "Glide" blasts into the abyss in a slightly different fashion, this time his trademark metric ton of toms and other drums are led by the sexiest of saxophones. The life, movement and seemingly infinite amount of instrumentation he sews together is more than enough to leave your head spinning yet soars supremely smoothly. It's been too long since I've been able to sing the praises of Stephen Walking, so you can only imagine my excitement in being able to bring this new beauty to Bump In The Hump tonight. Stream below.After last week's deep dive into DnB, we turn our head to the strength of the Canadian wave scene, with the likes of Memphis and MRKRYL, among others. There's the usual hearty helping of house, including a couple weapons from our favourite labels BADLQQK and Turbo. We also look ahead to the weekend with several events showcased, alongside a forthcoming Hanz Ford production. Finally we feature tracks from brand new albums by Felix Cartal and Venetian Snares & Daniel Lanois. Catch Bump In The Hump live from 7-9 PM EDT via Radio Humber, or after the fact with Mixcloud.

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ABSOLUTE. - Harmony

Going back to the first week of the year, and Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong, it was clear Turbo had some serious power up its sleeves. Alongside the bump and grind genius of BETON's "Directions" there was further fire forthcoming on Turbo. I'm talking here about ABSOLUTE., and the two tracks we heard in the above-mentioned mix. This Friday marks the release of "Harmony" and "Not Tonight" along with a remix of the latter, from veteran Vakkuum. Pre-order the EP here and stream below.The lead track "Harmony" is pure power and pomp. Its breaky percussion sets up the sensational, spiraling and spacious synth perfectly. The consummate coordination makes it ever so magically satisfying, especially as it ushers in and out elements and layers. It is as though ABSOLUTE. has harnessed the heft of heaven to build this brilliant banger.

"Not Tonight" takes a more slowed left-field approach, although imbued with the same warmth, power and propulsive percussion. As its name suggests it's also darker, and more menacing than its predecessor. But then comes Vakkuum, who takes the tempo back up a notch, and flips the switch back to bright and bouncy. His recast chords are cool and compelling.  Whereas the original offers a desolate landscape, Vakkuum eviscerates that and energizes the floor.

All in all this EP exemplifies not only Turbo's terrific taste, but also their strength in mixing techno and house together. Be sure to follow ABSOLUTE. for more magic and grab the EP Friday, here.

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Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: CFCF - Cell Site In Somerset

A couple weeks back we had the title track of CFCF's Self Service EP, and with its full release this past weekend I'm excited to open Bump In The Hump with its epic A-side "Cell Site In Somerset." Once again we're treated to CFCF's enigmatic and exceptional production style, one that earned him a Grammy nomination for his remix of "Berlin By Overnight." In this EP, and track more specifically, we get a taste of his delightfully diverse sounds ranging from stringed orchestral elements to stinging acid whips. And while you may think these two couldn't be more polar opposites, it is CFCF's genius that seamlessly sews them together. Its grandeur reminds me of Pete Tong and Jules Buckley's Ibiza Classics/Classic House albums which too curry the cachet of an orchestra with the unvarnished vivacity of electronic dance music. Stream "Cell Site In Somerset" and purchase the EP via Bandcamp below.After this epic opening number, Bump In The Hump continues with more of the best in new Canadian dance and electronic including funky cuts from Robotaki and Verzache, as well as the seemingly weekly dose of disco delights from Spacedisco Records. Another Canadian label also comes up big with BETON's "Directions" on Turbo Recordings, which kicks off the decidedly darker second hour of the show. There's some banging bass house and more DnB, including man of the moment Rene LaVice. Finally the fire finale sees the likes of Feed Me's "Blood Red" getting a reboot before Black Tiger Sex Machine tears the place down. All this and more live from 7-9 PM EST on Radio Humber or via Mixcloud after the fact.

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Four Fire Mixes

While I tend to spend most of my time digging through individual tracks, this past weekend afforded me the time enjoy some more mountainous mixes. So I've decided to share four of my favourites, two downright banger for banger blitzkriegs and two more tempered groove and dance oriented odysseys. Find them below in order of length from shortest to longest, with brief description attached.

An obvious contrast to Benzi's Girl Trapz series. All bangers all the time, plus the usual onslaught of edits and exclusives. Reworked from the original Diplo & Friends broadcast for even more fire. Free download and full tracklist provided.

Another epic mix of electro bangers, this time courtesy dope dudes 8-Bit Tits. Includes forthcoming fire from themselves and an electrifying list of the best belters from the last year plus. Also up for free download, with tracklist available upon request.

Turbo's top man Tiga takes us for a ride with his first set of the year. Live from Melbourne's Piknic Electronik, this two hour extravaganza runs through some of his classic like "Bugatti" and "Mind Dimension" as well as a handful of new cuts, including the forthcoming Tiga/Kölsch collab.

Almost at throwback level, considering it looks back at 2017's "choice edits and reworks," many of which take on disco classics. This is the sixth year in a row Greg Wilson had made such a list and I don't think I'm wrong to say that, with disco seemingly on the upswing, it's the best 20 yet. Also includes a blog post from the man himself delving further into the year that was.

BETON - Keep Breathin (ft. DJ Deeon)

I'm not much for hype, and I have a hard time keeping it up, but in the case of BETON's track "Directions" I've been coming back to Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong for weeks now. Not only is "Directions" a crazy cool track, the mix itself exemplifies the genius of Tiga's tastemaking abilities. Now as we wait (impatiently on my part) for the 16th of February to roll around, we get a taste of the b-side of BETON's Twin Turbo debut.

"Keep Breathin" featuring DJ Deeon again offers a driving techno tune that feels like a race car revving up. As each layer is added the energy and speed of the vehicle jumps another gear. Further, the vocal sample reminds us to "Keep Breathin" as the acceleration and anticipation of the track becomes more than we can bear. As I've said before with techno tracks, that's the key; you've got to come as close to redlining or overdosing before pulling back, and this track does that perfectly. Even the way the synths are designed exudes a propellant energy, further combining with the bass bonks and percussive clanks to illustrate a roaring drive.

The flawless movements or gear shifts, if you will, allow "Keep Breathin" and BETON to cruise competently through our rear-view mirrors and right off into the horizon. This EP certainly confirms BETON as one to watch in 2018. Stream below and pre-order from your preferred outlet here.FOLLOW BETON: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Tiga's New Names Mix for Pete Tong

With any new year comes a renewed sense of purpose and optimism for the future. Many outlets present lists of who to watch; even the mighty BBC and Pete Tong have joined the onslaught of augury by welcoming in well known names to provide their own picks of potential. One of those trusted sources tapped was Tiga who provided a mix of the likes of Avalon Emerson, Justin Cudmore, and Dimitri Veimar, among others. This list of "New Names" speaks to Tiga's desire for edgier, more dangerous and risk-taking productions, as opposed to the conservative tilt he's noticed over the last few years.

While even Tiga admits Avalon Emerson is not necessarily new, she does provide much of what he's looking for in the progression of trance music. The break elements may not be overwhelming in her track "One More Fluorescent Rush," but they certainly are present and continue to run through the mix, as perhaps the single common thread. Following Dimitri Veimar's title track from the most recent Turbo Recordings release, comes Tiga's "favourite track," Beton "Directions," which can only be found in this mix and will be sure to have you coming back for more. It really is one of those special tracks whose strange, uniqueness is instantly captivating, taking me back to Tiga's own productions "Bugatti," "Mind Dimension" and Erol Alkan's "Move My Body."

As the mix moves on we get another "favourite track" in the "techno breaks" of Lo Shea's "Tundish." Not only is this a supremely cool and groovy track, but it's mixed with new Justin Cudmore, and man is it magical. Even in a mix meant to show off tracks, Tiga can't resist but show off his brilliance behind the decks. The theme of breaks only seems to get stronger in this final third of the mix, bringing in ABSOLUTE. and undeniable upstart Billy Turner whose not only released with Turbo, but alongside Skream. Wrapping things up Tiga announced his own name as one to watch, with particular attention to be paid to an upcoming collaboration with Kölsch. I'm salivating at the mere thought of such a matching of minds and cannot wait. If this mix was meant to whet our appetites for 2018, it was a rousing success. Stream the mix below via BBC's iPlayer until February the 4th and find the full show via Mixcloud here.

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Dimitri Veimar - A8

Titans of techno, Turbo Recordings have just teased us with their 189th release. From Russian Dimitri Veimar, comes the 5 track Less Talk EP, which we can only assume is going to be awesome, as "A8," the second B-side, is like ecstasy applied directly to your ear canals.

Pressing play on this piece is like opening the door to a super club.The atmosphere immediately washes over you, pulling you into the dimly lit labyrinth. The low droning bass beckons you down it's deep cavernous corridors, passing a sea of faceless patrons, also wandering towards the siren song of Veimar's synths. You know you're coming close to heart of the club, as the beats become bigger, emboldening your senses. But that closeness can also be felt in the stifling heat as you approach the core. The crowd becomes ever denser, but your desire to discover the maker of this music becomes more overwhelming. Your heart feels like it's going to explode, as it flutters with incredible urgency.

What you don't realize is that the club is pumping the potent drug "A8" into the air, dosing you with its hypnotic effects. By the time you reach the center of the labyrinth, you no longer have any free will, you've become a slave to the rhythm. This is the dark beauty of techno, its epic, entrancing nature paints the most powerful of pictures, taking you back to those lost nights navigating the club looking for your friends. Dose yourself with "A8" below and download it in Less Talk, available May 5th. FOLLOW DIMITRI VEIMAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

My Mixtape featuring Oggie James Vol. 2

DOWNLOAD MY MIXTAPE FEATURING OGGIE JAMES VOL. 2

Tracklist

1. Moby - I Love To Move In Here (Proxy Remix)
2. Tiga - Bugatti (RYME Bootleg)
3. NuAlias & Trypt - Trippin'
4. Kayliox & OptionAvailable - Von Deeper (Kayliox VIP Mix)
5. A-Trak ft. GTA - Landline (Jack Beats Remix)
6. Dillon Francis ft. Will Heard - Anywhere (Sleepy Tom Remix)
7. Two Friends ft. Ktpearl - Forever (Kayliox Remix)
8. Nina Simone - Sinnerman (Loud Luxury 'Old Man' Version)
9. Hatiras & Macca - Now You Know
10. Gesaffelstein - A Lost Era
11. Renaissance Man - Stalker Humanoid
12. Azari & III - Reckless (With Your Love) [Tiga's What Iz Houze Muzik? Remix]
13. Lucky Charmes ft. Wiley - Skank (Skank Out) [Bit Funk Remix]
14. Blu J - HDLCK
15. MSTRKRFT - Runaway (RYME Remix)
16. Maddmon - Another One
17. Bob Moses - Like It Or Not (Joris Voorn Remix)
18. Grand Analog - Let Disco (Muneshine Remix)
19. Tiga - Make Me Fall In Love (Prosumer's Mysti Mix)

Throwback Thursday: Aphex Twin - Flim

This installment in my Throwback Thursday series, takes us back to October 6, 1997; December 2, 2011; and January 24, 2012. After exploding onto the scene in late 2010, Skrillex infected thousands of young minds with the notion that electronic music was all about the drop. His ravenous fans were then incredibly disappointed with on the aforementioned December evening he left the following post on Facebook declaring Aphex Twin's "Flim" his favourite song of all-time.

Much to their dismay there is no drop to freak out to, and couldn't understand how their dubstep deity could enjoy such a shallow track (just take a look at some of the comments). It didn't take long for the parodies to start rolling in. The first, an easy punch pulled, by combining Skrillex's "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" with "Flim," with the quite literal title "Flim, for Skrillex Fans." And while some (not me), may find this as an improvement on the original, a better parody/remix could easily be made, as Aphex Twin's original provides so much to utilize. A week after the above mashup was unleashed on youtube, another far better effort followed. Clouds, the Glaswegian duo of "Liquid," "Numbers" and Turbo Recordings fame, were tasked with "correcting" the glaring lack of a drop, and came up with this albeit satirical yet still palatable remix.

No, I don't think it's as good as the original, but given that it's a tongue-in-cheek remix, I actually really enjoy it and applaud Clouds for having an impeccable sense of humour, while doing a commendable job incorporating the magic of the original. Whether or not this placated Skrillex's fans, I cannot say but I'm lead to believe that as one commenter said, if the remix were created by Skrillex it would have hundreds of thousands more views. I'm hopeful that many of the dissatisfied Skrillex fans will have grown to realize good music, and even good Skrillex, does not need a drop. After all, I don't think I'd be alone in saying that "With You Friends," "All I Ask Of You," and "Summit" are some of his best productions. Just try listening to "With Your Friends" with the knowledge that he wrote it within hours of his mother's death and keep the lyrics in mind; I highly doubt you'll ever be able to feel the same way about it again. It might be one of the most touching and heartfelt pieces of music in general, let alone electronic music. After that realization it should be clear why "Flim," resonates so much with the man behind Skrillex, Sonny Moore.