Coyu - The Nu-Nu Sound EP

Ok, so when I see Nu Nu, this is all I can think of

But that's not what Ivan Ramos Salinas, aka Coyu, was talking about. Coyu had given away this track for free for reaching a fan milestone, but now it is getting the remix treatment from Oxia, Santos and Danny Serrano.

 Side note: has anyone else noticed the Suara label head's obsession with cats. The artwork is his face merged with a cat...some freaky stuff haha!

Henrik B - Leave A Light On

I always thought Sweden's Henrik B was an Axwell protege, but he is a great producer in his own right. I guess I thought that because of his collaboration with Axwell to remix Adrian Lux's Teenage Crime (and the whole Swedish connection haha).

   

He is back collaborating with Axwell, this time releasing on Axwell's label Axtone. His track "Leave A Light On" features the vocals of Australian Rudy Sandapa.

 

On the official remix is NO_ID. I assumed they were Swedish, but they are from Amsterdam. See, you should never assume things about people! Haha! Their track "How Are You Feeling Right Now" caught the attention of Michael Woods and his edit became a frequent spin of the big room DJs. They remixed David Guetta & Nicky Romero's track featuring Sia "Wild Ones Two" giving them more exposure. And here is their remix of Henrik B's latest:

 

Flux Pavilion - Daydreamer (Jack Beats Remix)

I've already expressed how I like Jack Beats. Here is their remix of Daydreamer by renowned dubstep producers Flux Pavilion. The track features the vocals of Example (Eliot Gleave). Flux Pavilion gained a lot of notoriety when their track "I Can't Stop" was sampled on Jay-Z and Kanye West's endeavour "Watch the Throne" track "Who Gon Stop Me."

Punks Jump Up feat. Dave 1 - Mr Overtime

More and more I blog, more and more I'm mentioning acts that are duos. Punks Jump Up are London based Joe Attard (born a Brit) and David Andersson (born a Swede), and together they have remixed a number of big records. And while Mr Overtime is not their first effort in production, it will probably be their biggest to date as it is being released on Moda, which is owned by Andy George and Jaymo (another duo!). These young BBC Radio 1 DJs have a way of promoting the best of the best on their show, and so I do not expect different when promoting their own label's releases.
Ok, I don't mean for such a majority of my posts to have a Montreal tie. What can I say, this city breeds talented musical artists! The track features the vocals of Dave 1 of Chromeo (another duo!). David Macklovitch is of course the older brother of A-Trak, Alain Macklovitch. I was lucky enough to meet them both in June '11 when they hosted a DJ set by Dave 1 at A-Trak's Fool's Gold store in Brooklyn. Ah, there I go again with my side stories...


The track has been remixed by Mickey, Gigamesh, and my favorite remix comes from Oliver. Here is the video for the track, directed by Maxime Bruneel:

Superstar DJs, here we go: Calvin Harris

I realize that most of my posts describe when I first heard about the artist. I guess its just my way of letting whoever is nice enough to still be reading my blog the mental journey I had when first listening to the artist, and what brought me to their most recent production.
I believe it was on Ministry of Sound's radio station that I first heard "Acceptable in the 80s." I liked how it sounded, and then once I saw the video, I was hooked. Being a product of the early 80s, I grew up with all the pop madness that defined the decade, including the misuse of animals for testing. I love how the video captured that.

So 2007 was when I discovered Scottish producer Adam Wiles, aka Calvin Harris. I had already quit working at the record store, so I had to special order his album "I Created Disco" as it was only available as an import, and I paid a ridiculous amount of money for it. But I really liked it, and when I heard "Dance Wiv Me," Harris' collaborative effort with my favorite Grime producer Dizzee Rascal the following year, I had solidified my opinion of Calvin Harris.

He then came out with his sophomore album "Ready for the Weekend" and was still relatively unknown internationally. Tracks like "Flashback" and "I'm Not Alone" are very comparable to his current mainstream hit "Feels So Close" but most people are none the wiser.
Side note: the videoclip for "Ready For the Weekend" featured Funda Onal who appeared in the first season of British reality show "Made in Chelsea" and Lauren Pope, who is currently on ITV's hit show "The Only Way is Essex."

Calvin Harris used to joke on Twitter back in 2009 about wanting to be like David Guetta. I sincerely could not tell if he was being serious or mocking Guetta. But in the Fall of 2011, his career skyrocketed to Guetta proportions when his production was given international radio play with Rihanna's "We Found Love." Accompanied by a video that seemed autobiographical to Rihanna's real life drama, the song with its catchy hooks and electro synths gained massive appeal from people inside and outside the electronic world. Now that he has collaborated with the likes of Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Cheryl Cole, Scissor Sisters to name but a few of the pop stars demanding his production services, there's no way Calvin Harris cannot but respect what Guetta has done. Also, Calvin Harris is a friend of SHM, having opened for them at their Masquerade Motel events, among others as a supporting act. His latest release is "Let Go" featuring Ne-Yo, and upcoming for Harris is the release of Rihanna's Where Have You Been, another dance anthem, Cheryl Cole's much anticipated "Call My Name."
What prompted me to write this was actually not Calvin Harris, but one of my favorite producers Brodinski. I heard a preview of his remix of the Scissor Sister's latest "Only The Horses." Upon further investigation, I found out that the track was produced by Calvin Harris!  Jake Shears has been canoodling with a number of electronic producers as of late, so I cannot say I'm surprised by the track's producer or remixer.

Here is the Brodinski remix

Flash Mob - Need In Me

Forthcoming on Defected Records, Milan duo Danny Minchella and Alessandro Magani have a self proclaimed mission to keep the underground sound away from commercial exploitation. While I still think they can co-exist in harmony, I definitely think "Need In Me" taps into that underground house sound complete with diva vocals. Here is a rip from Pete Tong's radio show, pegging the track as an Essential contender. With good reason:

Tom Trago - Use Me Again (Carl Craig Remix)

Tom Trago first caught my ear with his track Steppin' Out. The reason it did is because it featured the vocals of Romanthony, who was featured on Daft Punk's "Too Long" and "One More Time," as well as Kraak & Smaak's "Let's Go Back" among others.

The Dutchman Trago is no newcomer, having released many of his productions on Dutch label Rush Hour Recordings. His latest offering is Use Me Again. First released in 2010, the legendary Detroit techno pioneer Carl Craig has put his touch on the record, making it one of the grooviest tracks I've heard this year.

Pan-Pot - Gravity EP

Thanks to Mixmag, I was introduced to Safeword's Outer Sunset Mix of Pan-Pot's Gravity. Pan-Pot are Berlin's Tassilo Ippenberger and Thomas Benedix.  Together, the duo belong to Anja Schneider and Raif Kollman's label mobilee records.

The EP contains Gravity, 2 remixes of the track and "No One Knows" featuring the vocals of longtime electronic vocalist Cari Golden, who most recently made waves with Fur Coat's "You and I" where she sings about how "you and I are like cocaine & ketamine." Kids and their drugs...sigh.

Groove Armada - No Knock EP

Groove Armada need no introduction. They have been making great music for over a decade. UK duo Tom Findlay and Andy Cato released their first album together in 1998. I first heard of them by way of their second album, Vertigo, which produced the mega hit "I See You Baby." Fatboy Slim did a remix of the track which extended its popularity to the masses.

Their lastest release is on Hyperculour. This label is gaining momentum with each release. My favorite cut is "There Was Rhythm" but all 4 tracks are worth checking out.

Drake, do you really want to go there?

Why do so many people not like each other? Sometimes I wonder if the whole Mayan prophesy is true. People are increasingly unable to live side by side. This has always been the case, but I feel disdain for others is escalating at a disproportionate rate these days. Hip Hop star Drake recently gave an interview to NME stating the following:

"For me, the David Guetta stuff just doesn't work. I don't really wanna go there. There's other artists, that's their sound. They feel in order to thrive internationally that they gotta do straightforward, four to the floor, David Guetta, Pitbull music."
"For me, I'd rather go to somebody like Jamie xx and tell him, 'Look, I really wanna turn the club upside down, but I wanna do it with integrity, with soul."
Source: http://www.mixmag.net/words/news/drake-has-no-interest-in-making-dance-music

Well, good for you Drake. You are so "above" the cut of the rest of em. Bleh
His YMCMB mates Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne have both worked with Guetta, along with frequent collaborator Rihanna. Does this mean if you take a dig at Guetta, you take a dig at them?
It is perfectly acceptable that Drake does not feel Guetta's productions do not fit his style or preferences, but to call it "without integrity or soul" seems like an unwarranted attack.
I laugh at how Drake is trying to portray himself as "cool" by mentioning Jamie xx. Do people know just how cheesy Degrassi: The Next Generation was? I mean, he was freaking Jimmy! In a wheelchair! You are not that special Drake from the tackiest city of Canada (Toronto). Get off your high horse Aubrey Graham, u ain't that fancy, huh!
Ok, I know, you insult someone who is insulting another, you become just like them. I'm a fan of Drake's music. I'm just trying to understand where humility and normal social conduct went. Now you see why I'm scared of the Mayan prophesy! Haha

Interestingly enough, the day after I heard about Drake's slander, I found this article in the Guardian about David Guetta. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/22/david-guetta-dance-music-dj 

Nothing about the article was new to me. It basically described Guetta as the person at the forefront of bringing electronic music to America. Described him as a man who is always upbeat and excited about the music. I especially liked how the article addressed that in the UK, electronica had reached its peak long before the recent phenomenon in the US, and makes Guetta therefore a polarizing figure. Guetta addresses his critics, and in response to being able to being able to retain credibility while being successful, he said this:

"In a way, this is what killed dance music for so many years," argues Guetta. "That spirit of wanting to keep this only for ourselves, and anything that's successful is bad. That culture that goes in a cycle where everybody loves someone and they're all talking about him, and then in one second, because he's successful, 'Ah, fuck him, he's bullshit!' What? But you were saying the same guy was a genius last year, now he's the worst person?"

Could not agree more. Its like when I got comments saying I did not understand house music because I was supporting SHM in SneakGate. I knew who Sneak was, I've been listening to house for a long time. I saw acts like Guetta and SHM grow over time, and yes, their styles may have changed, but I for one celebrate how far they have come. We definitely do not need people like Drake saying what has soul and integrity in a genre he truly knows little about. Jamie xx cites Murk as one of his influences. Jimmy, look em up!

Louis La Roche - Modernize

I've been waiting for the right moment to talk about Louis La Roche. Despite being from Norwich UK, 21 year old Brett Ewels moniker Louis La Roche knows how to bring the classic french house sound to his productions. Citing one of his biggest inspirations as Daft Punk, his LLR persona brings tracks that are disco flavoured and have a huge french classic house influence to them.

"Louis La Roche" is really the moniker reserved for his "french" productions. He also has a side project called EWE (play on his last name) which covers a different electronic sound.

He made this 5 track remix set available for download, and it is very much worth getting every single track!

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Argh! That was my immediate feeling when I saw a post by Holland's Spinnin' Records asking if people remember the original of this track. The track in question is Hithouse - Jack to the Sound of the Underground.

I heard this track at a very young age, and it stuck with me. Its an Acid House classic. What is most interesting about this track is how it contains samples from a lot of other tracks. If you're ever feeling stumped trying to figure out a sample, www.whosampled.com can sometimes give you the answer. Hithouse's Peter Slaghuis died tragically in a car accident at 30. I can only imagine what kind of great music he would have put out had he still been alive today. "Jack to the Sound of the Underground" is a great example of how sampling can work. I'm all for sampling, but I'm not for blatant ruining of a classic!
This "updated" version just sounds unnecessary. Yes, that's right, a sound can be unnecessary!

Some of the greatest tracks have stemmed from a sample. But when an update just sounds like a lazy attempt to bank off of a former hit, I don't understand how people buy into it. There is definitely a generational gap that comes into question too. Most young "EDMers" probably never heard the original, so they would be hearing the update as an original to their ears. It is with great hope that these kids go searching for the original, and make a choice. The argument here is not about not being able to embrace a new sound, its more about tampering with old classics. Its like when Benny Benassi tried to give an updated version of Marshall Jefferson's Move Your Body. At first, I thought, well Benny Benassi appeals to a lot of the younger generation, maybe he will introduce them to the whole Chicago House scene of the 90s. But I'm sure the majority of people who know Benny Benassi, especially after his name blew up to young EDMers because of Skrillex's Cinema Remix, they probably will not look up Marshall Jefferson.

If you've read other posts of mine, then you will probably decipher that I'm not a huge fan of Skrillex's sound. So when I heard there was a track by Skrillex & Kaskade's track called "Lick It," I was scared to hear it. But when I did, I was pleasantly surprised.

Yuck I dislike the video! But I do like the track. But then it was brought to my attention the track relies heavily on a sample. The major difference is Skrillex probably adding his wobbles. Still, I think its a good, updated version.

If you check the Beatport Top 100, you will find some cringeworthy sampling of tracks. I've also started to hear blatant rip offs of melodies that give no credit to the original producers. Listeners, beware!

Oy vey people, get a grip!

So in the continuation of the latest DJ battle saga, Avicii's promoter/manager Ash Pournouri spoke out against both Funkagenda and Feed Me. Funkagenda didn't respond, but Feed Me did. Boys will be boys...

Very mature, from both ends. Afrojack spoke up to defend Avicii also, and a fan that disagreed with his approach:

I think its interesting that Afrojack thought it was important to bring attention to the fact that the critics were "underground." It just reiterates how "mainstream" and "underground" won't ever get along. This isn't something new. It would be weird for an Arcade Fire fan to like Nickelback (can you tell I'm Canadian?!)...or so social norms would like to dictate. Screw that, like what you like!

I would hardly classify Feed Me as an underground act. It is really bizarre that along with Dillon Francis and Zedd, who also voiced their dismay with Avicii, they all have common circles. Once again, wouldn't you rather deal with these things privately, so you don't end up looking like the douche? And since you never know when you will need the help of a colleague, wouldn't it be better to keep it civil? I guess I'm not being realistic, or I'm being too idealistic.

I couldn't help but check out Sneak's page to see where that drama has ended up. For SHM, I haven't really seen anything about it. I'm going to assume they are over it. Sneak is still retweeting messages that degrade SHM, and he has a website where he now sells "I'm a House Gangster" merchandise. Hmmmm. I actually have one of the stickers (I won't tell how I got it)...I kind of want to stick it on my SHM Until One CD...it would be funny! I swear if DJ Mag was smart they would put Steve Angello and DJ Sneak on their cover with the headline "Mafia vs Gangsters." Well, that was under the assumption DJ Mag was smart, so...

DJ Mag keeps stirring up the drama! Now its time for everyone to pick on Avicii!

In the latest of dance music battles, DJ Mag has obtained an interview with prolific trance DJ/producer Armin Van Buuren. An interesting factoid about him is that he obtained a law degree prior to becoming one of the world's greatest DJs.
In the interview, which you can read here http://www.djmag.ca/2012/04/11/one-on-one-with-armin-van-buuren-invasion-london-ont/ he is asked about the rise of "EDM" and whether it is a good or bad thing.

"The bad side I think is the commercialization, there are a lot of people who want to make a quick buck and don’t care about the ground work that’s been done by quite a few people who are really into this music because they’re passionate about it." 

I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. There is such a huge, disproportionate amount of people who now want to get into production, especially because with technology, it has become more simplified. But the driving force is seeing all these established DJs (and newcomers alike) receiving huge payouts, and living the life in Vegas and Ibiza.
The question specifically asked was

"Do you think it’s changing the sound of electronic music? Like in the way that we are seeing a bigger drive towards the big room synths, like Avicii for example."
"I think it’s a temporary thing to be honest. I mean, a lot of people tell me like “Hey man, that’s just trance.” I’m like “No, it isn’t.” I think it’s really important for me to state that I’m not necessarily in this industry to be successful with commercial radio. ... I’m not all of a sudden going to make Avicii-like records just because I can do it. It’s a trick, I mean he’s very good at it, I don’t know if I could ‘beat’ him so I’m not even going to try. I’m going to stick to my sound. I want to make what I want to make, and I want to make the sound that I believe in, and I want to bring that across."

People started to label that as an attack on Avicii. http://www.inthemix.com.au/news/intl/52694/Armin_Im_not_going_to_make_Aviciilike_records_just_because_I_can But I think people are missing the point. Van Buuren knows that he is a trance DJ, and that Avicii comes more from House roots. So yeah, calling it something it truly isn't is just stating a fact.   Also, its not like Van Buuren doesn't make millions like the rest of them. He has been around for a very long time, built up his name and brand (Armada) and now enjoys success which involves getting monetarily compensated very well.
Avicii did an official remix for Armin's track "Drowning" with Laura V.  Why would he let him do that if he didn't like him? C'mon people!
Van Buuren goes on to state that even his colleagues have become more mainstream-driven. He never names anyone, which is smart. Why add fuel to the fire? He describes his technique of building up the crowd, and how the mainstream doesn't achieve that. Well, I suppose to each their own, right? Armin Van Buuren is an educated individual, and in everything I've ever read about him, being pompous, self-absorbed, and ego was NEVER associated with him. He's actually one of the most lovable characters in the biz. So DJ Mag, stop reporting on the drama and start reporting on the music.

Bristol's Waifs & Strays took to Twitter and asked "Can someone explain Avicii to me? I don't understand"

I get it, they're part of the "underground." But why? I just want to know what Avicii did to them. Is it because they are sick of hearing "Le7els"? Turn it off then!

During the day, I read some tweets and facebook statements that made no sense. Dave Rene is an A&R at Interscope, and huge proponent of EDM acts like SHM, Zedd and others. He was the one that linked Ryan Tedder to Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso for the vocal version of "Calling." He is also hilarious on twitter which is why I follow him.

Then Nero posted on Facebook that they were upset because their set was moved up to an earlier time, rendering their lightshow somewhat useless in the daylight. I think their frustration is valid, who wants to have lights in the day, it won't show! They didn't say anything about Avicii, just about their frustration with Coachella.
But then Feed Me tweeted this:

I remember when that whole Sneak vs SHM thing happened, someone had tweeted "shots fired." I thought it was hilarious! And that's what resonated through my head when Avicii started defending himself towards Feed Me and Funkagenda.

So while everyone thought Avicii had asked not to compete with the Dr Dre/Snoop/holo Tupac show, therefore asking for his set time to be changed, Avicii stated it was not the case.
Whats more laughable about the situation is how Funkagenda always tries to weigh in, get involved in the drama. His tweets are nothing short of ridiculous. He tries to pass off his insults as his opinion which he is entitled to, but honestly he just spews so much venom its sad.

and then went on to "retract" his comments. Not really. He tried weighing in on the SHM/Sneak drama too. Enough about him though. Bleh

So why is everyone rallying up to target Avicii, whose real name is Tim Bergling? Yeah, Le7els might be overplayed, but Avicii is not a radio station manager. So many people I know who don't like "House" loved that song (Yes, I know I spend too much time on social networks)!. Its not like he just came onto the scene with that track. My Feelings for You, Fade Into Darkness, (Seek) Bromance were all hits before Le7els.
The Swedes are not having a good month. Actually, they are, except for these personal attacks. Once again, just gets chalked up to looking jealous on the attackers part. He has risen to fame in a very, very short time. He's still young. I don't know him personally, maybe he has become cocky. Seems logical for a 22 year old who is making millions. I suppose getting endorsed by David Guetta and having the Queen of Pop Madonna introduce you at Ultra can't hurt either. Oh, and a deal with Ralph Lauren to be  a spokesperson. There is definitely a lot to be jealous about.
His manager, Ash Pournouri, with whom Avicii works very closely with, put together a foundation called House for Hunger, where they raised money from Avicii's tour for hunger relief in the US. But hey, who cares about this, he's a cocky, demanding artist, right? (sarcasm!)
Twitter is supposed to be fun, a place to network, a place to connect with fans, a place to promote your music. If you're angry, send a DM, or call each other. I might be perpetuating this nonsense by writing about it, but only because it makes no sense. After fighting so long to become known and recognized as a genre of music, everyone within it is fighting. Silly! You all should just be grateful for being at Coachella. That festival used to be an indie haven for unknown bands and now they are booking electronic artists. Play nice!
I joked with Mr. V on twitter about the whole SHM & Sneak thing that it was just boys and their egos. I was definitely joking but I'm starting to believe there is some truth to that. Gotta get some girls in the game. Haha, yeah right! I can see the hair pulling now! MEOW!

How could I not post a music link? I leave you with...Le7els! Ooooh sometimes, I get a good feeling...

You Need to Know: Actress

Late to the party once again, today I discovered Actress. London-based Darren Cunningham was recently featured in The Guardian, and the article was titled "Actress, more cerebral than your average techno artist." Ouch to all the other techno artists! LOL!
Having worked with Adult Swim and Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz), Actress created his own label Werk Discs in 2008 and released his first album. 2010 was his sophomore release, and his latest album is called R.I.P. is the follow up.
What I find funny is that I know I am not "cerebral" when it comes to the music I like. I appreciate what I do for its sound, beat, maybe melody...I never pay attention to lyrics, or try to find a deeper meaning to a song. So even reading this Guardian article was a task for me! Here is the link if you need more meat to your music reads: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/apr/14/actress-darren-cunningham-rip?mobile-redirect=false
I'll admit its a little more "weird" than what I tend to go for. Definitely reminds me of Burial. Anyway, you decide. This clip is not from the latest album, but its one I liked:

Nari & Milani - Atom

I felt I needed to blog this track despite it being out for awhile now. Well, rips from Swedish House Mafia's Madison Square Garden performance and Tiesto's Club Life show were floating around for months, but it was only released last week.
I first heard the track at SHM's internet-streamed MSG performance, and what a stand out track it was. I searched high and low for it, but could only find blogs that ripped the performance, and then subsequently ripped the track, with cheering in the background.

The house purists say that "house is a feeling" and "you need to be able to feel the music." Well, I definitely feel this one. A massive track with a hard hitting sound, if anything it makes me feel like a 18 year old boy from St-Leonard (for any Montreal readers, you know what I'm talking about) fist pumping while driving a souped up Honda civic...haha! Well, Maurizio Nari and Ronnie Milani are from Italy, so it makes sense! But no matter how "bro" this track might be, the high octane drums and thumping bass make it one of the hottest tracks of 2012. Apparently it was one of the biggest tracks of WMC 2012.
This isn't Nari & Milani's first rodeo, they've been around for awhile. They made this classic track in 1996 under their alias Nerio, featuring the vocals of Darryl Pandy, who is best known for "Love Can't Turn Around."

Steve Angello was smart enough to realize that recognition for them was due, and released their track Kendo on SIZE. Securing that tie with them was a good idea, cause ATOM is a BOMB (I'm sorry for the puns, I can't help myself!)

Lee Foss - Masta Blasta

Hot Creations is one of the HOTtest (pun very much intended) labels right now, with almost every remix Jamie Jones puts out turning to fire (more pun action). His remix of Azari & III's Hungry For the Power, 11:11's Tourist Trap, Storm Queen's Look Right Through, Cajmere's Perculator...the list goes on and on. And co-label head Lee Foss is no shrinking violet. Born in the city that house was built (Chicago, just in case you didn't know), he is a great producer and DJ in his own right.

I spent a large part of the day (not really) racking my brain trying to figure out the sample used on this track. I'm not referring to this public rant of a random man walking by skateboarders (see 2:00-2:10 for relevant sample), a viral video I definitely missed out on.

but rather it was a sample from Raze - Break 4 Love that I was trying to find. What a random video! But I do love seeing old NYC!

Check out Lee Foss' new track Masta Blasta out on Mexa Records. That artwork creeps me out. Its like Lee Foss' face meets The Joker...heebie jeebies I tells ya...

Prok & Fitch - Symphony

I believe the first time I heard of Prok & Fitch was on Swedish House Mafia's "Until One" compilation, where their track Walk With Me remixed by Axwell vs Daddy's Groove was featured. I may have heard of Ben Prok & James Fitch before unknowingly, as they have been producing together for more than five years.

I was drawn to them once again when they were featured on the Toolroom Knight's release of their remix of legendary Todd Terry's Bounce to the Beat. This made me have them on my radar a little more closely.

One of their most recent releases is "Symphony" out on Roger Sanchez's label, Stealth Records. There is something about that vocal, that bassline...well, I've realized I'm quite awful at describing music. Just check it out here, I think you'll like it!

Burnski & M A N I K - You Know What Its Like

Not gonna lie, I thought Burnski was a nickname someone had given to producer Burns (of "Heartbeats" fame)...who know, like broski (one of Max Vangeli's fav words!) but for Burns...anyways, that was not it! Burnski is a UK based producer who joined forces with fellow air londoner M A N I K of the US (NYC baby!) to create "You Know What Its Like."

Guy Gerber - The Mirror Game

Israeli DJ Guy Gerber's latest, "The Mirror Game," was released along with a Snake Pit Dub of the track and "One Day in May." I think I heard One Day in May first, and didn't care much for it, but after listening to The Mirror Game a couple of times, I felt it was blog-worthy. It sounds like something off of Sasha's Airdrawndagger. I deem Sasha infallible, so...
Out now on Visionquest

Sorry for the short clip. I don't like to post unauthorized links cause they often get taken down.

I am female AND I like House music

So there have been countless times where I have tweeted to a DJ to express to them how I enjoyed their music, and I've received replies like "thanks man, bruh, dude, bro." As of late I took my actual picture down as my avatar, but it even happened when I had my picture up. I like to think I resemble a female. Also, my name is on my page. So what I am guessing is that they don't look at my pic, or name, but blindly reply, and also assume that I am male. And its not just the "electro-house" guys who fist pump and call each other broski, its even the "older" generation of house producers/DJs. What is with this discrimination? I've never been a feminist, but it does get annoying when people just assume you are male.

DJs like Sister Bliss, Annie Nightingale, Annie Mac, Gina Turner, Maya Jane Coles, MaryAnn Hobbs, Nicole Moudaber, Deniz Kurtel, Nervo, Anna Lunoe, Laura Jones, B Traits, Sam Divine, Blond:ish, Nina Kraviz and more are trailblazing the way for more females to enter the DJ ring. And it is not just DJing, it is also in the production realm. (I don't put Sydney Blu in that category because she tried to pass off a mash-up of Sidney Samson's Riverside and The Goodmen's Give It Up as her own production and I can't stand thieves. Bleh).

Maya Jane Coles has been winning fans over for the past year and a half. Gracing the cover of Mixmag and being dubbed as one of the Queens of the Underground is a pretty impressive feat.

One of my favorite tracks from her is a remix she did of Tricky's Time to Dance.

Annie Mac's Radio 1 show has gained immense popularity over the years. Sister Bliss has a show on Ministry of Sound radio, and they call her the #1 female DJ in the world. But still there is no female as big as Guetta, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, etc etc. Is it because there are not enough female producers? Maybe...

Labels like Ultra, MoS, Azuli, Kontor are notorious for putting out videos that "objectify" women. I understand, it is because the main belief is that the majority of listeners are male, so they make videos that appeal to men. I saw clips from Ultra Festival in Miami where almost all the DJs were accompanied by female performers wearing bikini style outfits and very little else.  I've ignored this aspect of the industry for the most part, concentrating on the music, but it does project a negative stereotype of who is 1) making the music 2) listening to the music 3) industry people behind the scenes. Now that a segment of electronic music has become mainstream, there are many more female fans. It will be interesting to see if things continue to progress this way.

This is a picture from Annie Mac's profile. I don't know if this was her intention but the way I understand the picture is to be a mockery of exactly what I am talking about. What on earth can Annie Mac do with a pair of female dancers? Its funny...This is a fine example of why Annie Mac is so loved!

Here is the latest cut from newly minted BBC Radio 1 DJ B Traits (a fellow Canuck!). She belongs to the Digital Soundboy collective, a label founded by D&B impressario Shy FX. This track teeters on the line of House and Garage. The vocals of Elisabeth Troy make it into an anthem. I look forward to hearing more production from female artists, if it means we get quality tracks like these!

Infinity Ink - Infinity

Its times like these that I wish I had more friends that liked House music. I am so excited about this one I want to scream! and just tell everyone about it! Sometimes when I post more underground house tracks on my personal Facebook page, I actually wonder if people are going to un-friend me because they find it annoying! Just to tell you how few friends who listen to this style of music I have.
The first time I heard about Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels label was when they started following me on Twitter. I had no idea why a music label was following me, but I was excited! I'm going to theorize that it was because I was following a bunch of DJs, maybe they thought I was one too? I've noticed that happens a lot, and once they get wind that I'm not, they unfollow me :( haha!
Crosstown Rebels prominence emerged around the same time as Jamie Jones and Lee Foss' label, Hot Creations, as well as Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, Lee Curtiss and Shaun Reeve's Visionquest. So a lot of times, the artists featured on their labels overlap. I will admit to getting confused between all of them, because that same melodic, underground, "indie" (bleh, I hate that word, especially applying it to dance music) house sound is nutured and promoted.
Ali Love is one of my favorite electronica vocalists. His work on the Chemical Brother's "Do It Again" and his single "Secret Sunday Lover" both in 2007 were my first exposures to his voice. In 2011, he was heard on Justice's Civilization, and Hot Natured's Forward Motion (Hot Natured being Lee Foss and Jamie Jones. Now you can see why I get confused!).
Teaming up with Luca C to form Infinity Ink, the made waves with their release "Games" on the Hot Creations label. This is their follow-up:

I've been listening to a lot of 90s Eurodance lately, cause revisiting that time makes me happy! The rap portion on Infinity reminds me of how there would often be a rap segment in a lot of those tracks old dance tracks (2 Unlimited's tracks come to mind). The legendary Todd Edwards is on the remix, bringing a summer vibe to the track. I'm sure more remixes will emerge. Very exciting for the summer playlist.
Update 04/03/2013: Here is the ultra bizarre accompanying videoclip. Like, really bizarre!

Adam Port - Sally

Berlin-based Adam Port has been generating a lot of buzz as of late. His release on home label Keinemusik entitled Someone to Love samples Mary J Blige's vocals from Someone to Love Me (Naked), displaying Port's longstanding love for hip hop.

His follow up is a 2 track EP called Sally, released on Jesse Rose's Play it Down label. "Some people don't like the way Sally walk" is a sample originally from Dyke & The Blazers - "Let a Woman be a Woman- Let a Man be a Man." A funky house track that deserves all the recognition its getting:

Aeroplane - We Can't Fly (Cassius Remix)

Aeroplane started as a Belgian duo consisting of Vito DeLuca and Stephen Fasano. After years working together, Fasano left the group in 2010 and went solo as The Magician. DeLuca continued with the outfit Aeroplane as a solo act.
Two years after "We Can't Fly" was released comes this tasty remix from French duo Cassius. The original mix can be likened to a gospel anthem. Cassius' treatment gives it new life with a sleek bevy of disco beats.

Most people are raving about the Joakim remix of Caramellas but the Cassius remix is my fav. You can check it out here:

The Green Velvet remix of My Enemy is also quite nice, but hearing "this is a preview" is exceptionally annoying.

Black Tiger Sex Machine - Rhythm Mode EP

As I previously mentioned, I'm really interested in promoting local talent. I first saw Black Tiger Sex Machine when they opened for Diplo at Montreal's esteemed Igloofest. Igloofest is an outdoor festival held in the heart of winter. Temperatures can reach as low as -25C (-13F). But party revellers brave the cold, and hot beats keep them warm. Igloofest is an offshoot of Piknic Electronik, a summer series that invites international DJs to spin outdoors in a park, promoting a communal environment where people come to enjoy the talent spin.
The trio consist of Foxed Up (Patrick Barry), Wolfcall (Julien Miranda) and Marx Menace (Marc-Andre Chagnon). BTSM put on an impressive show, mixing many styles in their set. Their new EP is no different. Its a 3 original track, 4 remixes EP.

Track 1 Rhythm Mode: electro goodness
Track 2 Kill My Soul: skip. Its dubstep
Track 3 Sub Shocka: electro funkiness. I like it!
Track 4 Rhythm Mode (Milo & Otis remix): skip. Skrillex-style dubstep
Track 5 Rhythm Mode (Charlie Darker remix): dirty bass. S'aight
Track 6 Rhythm Mode (Zimo remix): more electro goodness
Track 7 Rhythm Mode (Fellow remix): moombahton country

Just because my personal preference does not like dubstep doesn't mean this EP isn't good. Its really good from a production standpoint. And these 3 guys put on a great show.
They wear cool head gear that is reminiscent of Daft Punk. Here's a pic I took from Igloofest:

Unrelated random thoughts: the description at the bottom of their SoundCloud for the preview reads as follows:

The three members of Black Tiger Sex Machine return to Earth to find it ravaged by the Kannibalen Disease. Donning protective armor to shield them from infection and armed with a new weapon called Rhythm Mode, they venture out into the blighted wasteland that has become their planet, seeking out allies to help them stop the evil Doctor Kannibalen once and for all!

I can't help but think of the intro to LMFAO's video for "Party Rock Anthem," which inevitably makes me think of the Will Smith movie "I AM Legend." Maybe I'm revealing too much of myself and my ADHD-style thinking through this blog... :/

XXXY - I Know This Can't Be Love

XXXY aka Triplexy is Manchester based Rupert Taylor. His track "I Know This Can't Be Love" simultaneously evokes sadness and elation to get on your feet to dance.

Tiesto & Mark Knight feat Dino Lenny - Beautiful World

Trance superstar DJ Tiesto teams up with Toolroom Knights boss Mark Knight to bring the track Beautiful World. Featuring the vocals of Dino Lenny, which you may recognize from such tracks as "Feels Like Home" and "So Strong." I first heard his vocals on "I Feel Stereo" which samples the Chaka Khan track "I Feel For You."

Beautiful World's video is meant to promote/accompany the movie "Ecstasy" which comes out in the UK in April 2012. Already released in North America, this film comes from the Irish author Irvine Welsh, who also penned "Trainspotting."The London premiere involved the folks at Ministry of Sound.

Side story: when I worked at the record store, Tiesto came in and everyone (the staff that recognized him) was going nuts. It must have been around 2005. I was not a trance fan, and never understood his God-like portrayal by his fans. I bumped into him and while so many people were clamoring around him, he came up to me and asked for a DVD (I can't remember the title).  I kindly gave him the DVD and scrammed! haha! He was pleasant (and quite tall in person!) and so I felt bad judging him for his trance-God ways :)

Laidback Luke, Michael Woods and Torqux are on the remix:


Eddie Halliwell has also thrown his hat into the remix ring with this gem:

Jessie Ware - 110%

I feel like this is a bandwagon post. But its only because there is a lot of (warranted) hype around the UK's Jessie Ware. Another Rinse FM star like Katy B, schoolmates with Jack Penate, and having already collaborated with SBTRKT, seems like it was destiny for her to have become the one to watch. Her latest endeavour is 110%, and is produced by Julio Bashmore (who made huge waves with his track "Battle for Middle You" last year).

 Disclosure helped generate the buzz around Jessie with their remix of Running:
Check out their latest, Boiling, featuring the vocals of Sinead Harnett. It is lovely :) 

Willy Moon - Yeah Yeah (Sinden Remix)

Willy Moon is a young New Zealander with slick style and a rockabilly sound.

Sinden takes on the remix, and it is a corker! I first heard of Sinden with his collaboration with The Count and Kid Sister called "Beeper."

Sinden produces tracks of all kinds of genres, and his versatility as a producer shows on his take on Yeah Yeah. Check it below:

Kris Menace feat Kiki Twins - We Are

I remember the first time I stumbled upon Toronto's Azari & III's and their debut track Hungry for the Power. What drew me to the song was the video. It took a page out of the strange and bizarre book, and I was intrigued. I'm not talking about the B&W version, but the original, NSFW version. Members Fritz Helder and Cedric Gasaida (aka Starving Yet Full) are going to town voguing, and it reminds me of 90s house, a time when my sister who is a decade older than me used to frequent raves. (This song went on to be remixed by Jamie Jones and blew up in epic proportions).

The art of voguing is less frequently seen in clubs these days. But that style and vibe still exists through music. Kris Menace brings along The Kiki Twins for his latest "We Are." What I found fascinating about the Kiki Twins is that they are not originally from NYC, which is where they now reside, but they came from small town America.
I've been playing this one on repeat for the past two weeks. I just love the electro synths, and the way the Kiki Twins strike a pose in the video. They're so cute and remind me of NYC, a city that I hold near and dear to my heart.

Dan Ghenacia & Shonky - Close To The Edge

When a guy like Shonky lists fellow Frenchman Dan Ghenacia as a musical inspiration, it must be a huge honor to work on a collaboration together. Close to the Edge is their latest effort together, and will be coming out on Apollonia, the label formed by them and Dyed Soundorom.  This track with a light disco feel should be out at the end of April 2012.

Osunlade - Envision

I keep going on and on about this song, each time because of a new remix. Osunlade is a talented producer from St. Louis, Missouri in the US. He released "Envision" in May 2011 on his label Yoruba, and the remixes have not stopped pouring into the offices of Defected Records.

The most notable remix came from Âme, duo Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann. Best known for their track, Rej, this outfit brought Envision to the forefront of the soulful house scene.

After its popularity, another slew of remixes came out. Chocolate Puma, the Dutch duo with a huge range of aliases (Rene (ter Horst) et Gaston (Steenkist), DJ Zki & Dobre, The Goodmen, Jark Prongo, Riva, Rhythmkillaz, Fresh Tunes) brought their signature Dutch bass to the track:



Greek producer Argy stated in an interview with Defected Records that he had played Envision ad nauseam, so he decided to put a twist when making his remix. And what a twist it is!
I have such a vivd memory of listening to this track back in the mid-90s, it was all the rage. Sandra Gillette from New Jersey: I mean, you can definitely hear the NJ in her lyrics! Haha! Gillette's brash personality was comical in retrospect, and the juxtaposition of the gorgeous Osunlade track with "Short Short Man" is ridiculously good!

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of hanging out with a DJ who plays soulful and deep house, and he dropped this version of Envision. It went off! And it restored my faith that no matter where you are, even in a city that normally does not embrace this style, there are always music lovers who will dig deep and try to spread the word of love!

Complete list of official remixes: Yoruba Soul, Âme, Âme Acoustic, Dixon, Argy Vocal Mix, Argy Underground Dub, Tuccillo Vocal Version. And of course there are now tons of bootlegs out there to enjoy!

Simian Mobile Disco - Seraphim

Simian Mobile Disco hail from London, and comprised of James Ford and James Shaw (from the band Simian). They garnered notoriety with their release We Are Your Friends which also featured French electro duo Justice. The video went on to win best video at the MTV Europe Video Awards (much to the dismay of Kanye West).

 
Simian Mobile Disco emerged and released their debut album in 2007 entitled "Attack Sustain Delay Release." My personal favorite cut from the album is "I Believe."

Fast forward to 2012, and SMD brings their fourth album, Unpatterns. Debut single Seraphim was made available for free download, and the video tackles the subject of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The lyrics "why can't you be where I want you to be" are projected quite literally in the clip. An interesting interpretation of what can be a debilitating disease. Oh, and the track sounds quite good too!

One to watch: Rudimental

The first time I heard Rudimental, it was the track "Feel the Love" featuring the vocals of John Newman. Something about the vocals reminded me of one of the Neville Brothers (lets be honest, I'm talking about Aaron! haha), and it was like a warm, cozy blanket. Most things that remind me of the 80s give me that feeling...just like being a kid again! I heard it on Annie Mac's show, but I had no idea it was also featured as Zane Lowe's "hottest record." Man, that Zane Lowe sure knows how to create buzz!

A week later, I was listening to Defected in the House radio, and another Rudimental track was featured. This time, it was Spoons, and didn't sound similar to "Feel the Love" at all. Featuring the vocals of MNEK and Syron, this deep house track is so smooth, it goes down nice and easy.

I tried to find more info on Rudimental. Here's all that I found: the group is a quartet (not the barbershop variety!) which consists of DJ Locksmith, Piers Aggett, Amir Amor, and Des, and they are signed to Black Butter Records. They have remixed a couple of tracks for Ed Sheeran. And I believe they are from Hackney, UK. I stumbled upon two more tracks, and I am amazed how everything has a different sound. I love it!

I think this track is about two years old, but is just as good! I can't wait to hear more from Rudimental. Oh how I wish I lived in the UK...

Jack Beats feat Donae'o - You Should Know (Botnek remix)

Niall Dailly (that's a lot of L's) aka Plus One and Ben Geffin aka Beni G make up the electronic duo Jack Beats. They've had quite a busy couple of months, with tasks including remixing Beyonce "Countdown" to a version beyond recognition (and awesome!).


As a proud Montrealer, I always like to promote local talent. I was really excited when I heard the city's very own Leonard Cohen on their track "End of Love." It was unexpected but refreshing! I don't think poet Leonard Cohen has ever been on an electronic record until now

Jack Beats presents their latest track, You Should Know, featuring the vocals of Donae'o. I can't say I'm crazy about the original, but I am really enjoying the Botnek remix. Botnek is Montreal duo Gordon Huntley and Erick Muise. I was late in hearing about them, first taking notice when they remixed "Hummus" by the Crookers in late 2011. Their remix has been getting a lot of acclaim from fellow DJs. I hope Botnek is about to blow up in 2012!

Buzz Buzz Bzzz: Justin Martin - Ghettos & Gardens

My feelings towards DirtyBird have always been hit or miss. For instance, Shadow Child's String Thing is amazing, and receiving a lot of good buzz that I think is 100% warranted. But this new album from Justin Martin "Ghettos & Garden" is just not my taste. Perhaps it is because I like electronic music to dance to, and "Hood Rich" sounds more like it belongs on a movie score or video game. The title track "Ghettos & Gardens" includes a heavy bass that is almost signature to the label. Run by Justin Martin's brother, Christian Martin, and Claude VonStroke (Barclay Crenshaw), DirtyBird operates out of San Francisco, and the gang is notorious for hosting barbecues to double as DJ sets. They sound like a great group, and I would definitely like to see them in action one day. I'm going to keep listening to the title track to see if it grows on me, because its almost as if I WANT to like it!

T.E.E.D. - Tapes & Money (MJ Cole Remix)

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (thank goodness it is abbreviated as T.E.E.D) whose real name is Orlando Higginbottom, made huge waves last year with his track entitled Garden featuring the beautiful vocals of Luisa from Lulu. Also known for his remixes, including the likes of Friendly Fires and Lady Gaga, this Oxford, UK artist gets regular spin time on BBC Radio 1, making him always one to watch. Slating it himself as the best remix of his own music via Twitter, he presents the legendary MJ Cole's remix to "Tapes & Money." The original is worth a listen as well.

Rihanna - Where Have You Been (Hardwell Remix)

I have a good friend who I talk to quite a bit about Rihanna. She loves her, I'm lukewarm. Her songs are infectious and catchy, but her persona irks me. Admittedly I am pretty old school in my thinking, so perhaps it is her overt sexuality that I cannot seem to fully embrace. But my friend adores her, and we talk about her tons. So it was definitely to my surprise that I took a liking to this remix by Hardwell of "Where Have You Been." First off, I did not like the unremixed version, because it sounded like an incomplete dance track. Second, there is my innate bias to not immediately like Rihanna songs. I cannot say I overwhelmingly like Hardwell's productions either (ok, fine, who doesn't like Cobra?! and his Martin Solveig remix of Ready to Go is pretty good too!). But there is just a little "oomph" that his remix gives the track which I believe will make it a huge dance song "in da club." That combo of pop and "EDM" that people want these days...

Gavin Herlihy - Get Loose

The Irishman Gavin Herlihy, now based in the UK, released his Get Loose EP in March 2012 on Leftroom Records. I've said before, I don't consider myself that good with words, so I will just say this about the title track: its awesome! Check it out

I love tracks that remind me of 90s house and this one definitely has that sound. Its all in the vocals!

Sister Bliss vs Swedish House Mafia

Why won't people just leave SHM alone? The UK's BANG Showbiz interviewed Sister Bliss of renowned group Faithless in mid-March, and she had the following to say:

"I think their sound is very Faithless-y in a way but a very crude and reduced kind of Faithless. But I think without the kind of lyrical integrity maybe, and the subtlety in the sound.
"There's a different kind of energy with a lot of the guys who are making dance music now, who really just want to write to get that instant thing. I like that out music has had more twists and turns in it."
"We never set out to make hit records, and they grew into that really, the original tracks all evolved over eight long and interesting minutes. They were on the other side of the underground, if you take 'God is a DJ' or 'We Come 1' they weren't big cheesy, obvious records."
http://www.list.co.uk/article/41488-sister-bliss-slams-swedish-house-mafia/

"Reduced?" Its like when Madonna was asked about Lady Gaga's song "Born This Way" and how it was similar to "Express Yourself" and she called it "reductive." Underhanded insult much? If I were trying to gain more attention, especially if I had an upcoming release, yes, I would totally try to slander another artist to gain more attention that is no longer as tantamount as it once was. Faithless have a new CD/DVD coming out called "Passing the Baton - Live From Brixton." Who are they passing the baton to? Cause it sounds like there are a lot of older generation electronic artists just not willing to embrace the newer generation. I love Faithless, just the same way I love DJ Sneak, however calling the other a sellout pretty much questions their own personal integrity. I never really cared for who these people were personally, but rather more artistically. But when they taint their own persona, they end up tainting their music.

I've posted Faithless' "God is a DJ" for the purpose of irony. These holier than thou attitudes are getting tiresome. And speaking of irony, I believe in the same interview, Sister Bliss likened British "rapper" Example to other Faithless member Maxi Jazz.  What she may or may not know is that Elliot Gleave has collaborated with Steve Angello's brother, AN21 as well as Max Vangeli for their upcoming album. He has also worked with artists such as Laidback Luke and Dirty South, regular collaborators of SHM. Just goes to show again it is better to just be nice to everyone in the industry because you never know who you will need next.

I won't be trying to get SHM's attention on this one. Funny cause Sneak actually posted a link to an article talking about Sister Bliss' comments. Maybe they will hear about it, maybe not. But the onslaught of negativity their row with Sneak created will probably indicate that they would not react to this one. At the end of the day, there is no point. They will continue to enjoy success as long as their fans support them, no matter what their peer critics say.

Nouveau Yorican - Quiere Mas

Nouveau is the French word for "New." Yoricans are a nickname given to the large Puerto Rican population that settled in New York. Gina Turner, half of the duo, is based in NYC, and the sound of the pair has quite a bit of a latin flair. Her other half is Laidback Luke, who is also her fiance and a huge producer/DJ in his own right. Side bar: Gina is on Them Jeans podcast, talks about her upcoming wedding, and it is hilarious: http://www.mixcloud.com/THEMJEANS/gina-turner/
I remember the first time I heard the name "Nouveau Yorican" I got very confused with Nuyorican Soul, which one of Louie Vega and Kenny Dope's aliases. The first tracks I heard from them were Chiuso and Nueva, both which were released on Defected Records. I felt like I was transported into a bodega in Brooklyn whenever I heard these tracks.
Quiere Mas is out on Riva Starr's Snatch! Records.

Miike Snow - Devil's Work (Ruben Haze Remix)

"You finally found your place, you know it always works"...Andrew Wyatt's vocals are made to be even more sullen as Ruben Haze does its magic to making their melodic remix to Devil's Work.
Ruben Haze has not been very vocal in revealing its identity, but it most definitely is a side project of Australian DJ/producer Dirty South, and possibly also involves his longtime collaborator Rudy Sandapa. The two have worked together on tracks "Let it Go," "Better Day," "Open Your Heart," "We Are" and "Phazing." The original and Alex Metric remix of Devil's Work are slightly more uplifting in tone as compared to the Ruben Haze remix. It evokes sadness and is beautiful all at once.