House music champion Kerri Chandler's Madhouse Records created a new subdivision in 2012 to cater to the darker, techier grooves. Enter MadTech Records. Earlier this year, we heard from Krystal Klear releasing on the label http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/09/krystal-klear-more-attention.html. In a series of free downloads comes the MTDL tracks, and Shoot the Ghost's "So Cold" is the third instalment. Can't seem to find too much about Shoot the Ghost, but this track should put this artist on everyone's radar.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Shadow Child - 23 EP
If there is one man that has taken an alter ego to another level this year, it is Simon Neale. Known to most as Dave Spoon, the Portsmouth native soared to new heights under the moniker Shadow Child. Allowing him to go in a completely new creative direction, Shadow Child's bass heavy tracks have ruled the dance floor. His debut and perhaps biggest track under the alias, String Thing, was one of the top tunes of 2012 http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/03/shadow-child-aka-dave-spoon.html.
Along with artist Kry Wolf (Bill Francis & Lewis Darvill), Shadow Child has created the label Food Music. Its first release, aptly titled YUM001, comes from the man himself and includes the EP's title track "23" (which is very reminiscent of String Thing), along with "Sensible Haircut" and "The Verdict" with a remix from co-label owners Kry Wolf.
Side note: I've been staying with my sister for the past few months, and I sleep next to her 7 year old daughter. Apparently I was having a dream about dance music and I said "where is the Shadow Child" in my sleep and my niece has not let me live it down ever since. Every so often she asks me "is Shadow Child your favorite DJ?" and laughs at me :/
Along with artist Kry Wolf (Bill Francis & Lewis Darvill), Shadow Child has created the label Food Music. Its first release, aptly titled YUM001, comes from the man himself and includes the EP's title track "23" (which is very reminiscent of String Thing), along with "Sensible Haircut" and "The Verdict" with a remix from co-label owners Kry Wolf.
Side note: I've been staying with my sister for the past few months, and I sleep next to her 7 year old daughter. Apparently I was having a dream about dance music and I said "where is the Shadow Child" in my sleep and my niece has not let me live it down ever since. Every so often she asks me "is Shadow Child your favorite DJ?" and laughs at me :/
Dusky - Calling Me EP
Nick Harriman and Alfie Granger-Howell, otherwise known as Dusky, really struck the big time with their track "Flo-Jam." Back with more deep house, the duo presents their EP "Calling Me". The title track is bass heavy with a synthed vocal, and is my favorite of the 3-track EP.
JMX - Give It Up
Belfast's John McIver aka JMX has released his latest on Mark Fanciulli's Deleted Records. Being the label's fourth release, looks like they are making it a point to only put out quality releases:
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Chocolate Puma and Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano - Stiffness
These boys might be my absolute favorite Dutchmen http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/06/chocolate-puma-go-go-boots.html and they have teamed up with fellow Dutchmen Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano for "Stiffness" which is destined to be released on Steve Angello's SIZE Records. Packed with those famous Dutch drums, they even make a declaration of "drums" in the track! Here's a bit of a preview:
Side note: While Sunnery James is actually married to a Victoria Secret model, I feel like SJ&RM could actually be models themselves. Anyone agree?
Don Rimini - FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) (Treasure Fingers & Malente Remix)
Frenchman Xavier Gassemann aka Don Rimini provides a funky disco track which is remixed by Malente (Christophe Gottshe) and Treasure Fingers (Ashley Jones) and is fit to make your booty shake! And even better, its available for free download. Don't miss out!
Alex Metric - Ammunition Part 2
So OWSLA apparently derives its name from a caste of military rabbits from a legendary children's novel entitled Watership Down. I knew there was more than one reason to finding Skrillex really bizarre! And not that kids can't appreciate literature that precedes them, but we're talking about a book written about 16 years before Sonny Moore graced the Earth with his presence. Ah, digression...
OWSLA's latest comes from Alex Metric, and is the second instalment of "Ammunition." It includes Rave Weapon and its remixes, along with tracks "Prophesies" and Motion Study which features Oliver.
Check out the latter tracks here:
And the teaser trailer here:
I gotta say I'm pretty glad it doesn't resemble Skrillex's brand of dubstep!
OWSLA's latest comes from Alex Metric, and is the second instalment of "Ammunition." It includes Rave Weapon and its remixes, along with tracks "Prophesies" and Motion Study which features Oliver.
Check out the latter tracks here:
And the teaser trailer here:
Attaque - Blinded By The Moonlight
This one was brought to my attention by Autokratz. Their Bad-Life label mate, Attaque, recently put out this track. Hailing from Essex, UK but harbouring a french name, this producer channels a french electro sound with "Blinded By The Moonlight." The video is exceedingly strange, but the track itself is pretty awesome.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Caspa feat. Mighty High Coup - On It (Dismantle Remix)
I accidentally found Caspa when I saw his clip for Fulham to Waterloo. I then dug a little deeper, happy to unveil that Gary McCann was a talented dubstep producer whose productions date back as far as 2004. He has also collaborated with Mr. Hudson in the past for the lovely "Love Never Dies" record.
This time around, he teams up with Mighty High Coup, an MC collective out of Atlanta, Georgia (A-T-L!). Will Knighton aka Dismantle, probably best known for his track "Computation"and being part of Shy FX's Digital Soundboy crew, goes in for the remix with amazing results. Bass bass bass!
Syron - Waterproof
What a year for songstress Syron! After Spoons http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/04/one-to-watch-rudimental.html, Breaking http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/09/syron-breaking-tom-flynn-remix.html, Home is Where it Hurts http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/05/solo-ft-syron-home-is-where-it-hurts.html, and the infectious Mainline http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/09/tensnake-feat-syron-mainline.html, she is back with Waterproof. I can only describe this track as a combination of breakbeats meets Miami Vice meets sultry yet powerful female vocals.
I was just singing Huxley's praises yesterday http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/12/huxley-no-matter-what-mk-dub.html and he is back to lend his production skills to the record.
I was just singing Huxley's praises yesterday http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/12/huxley-no-matter-what-mk-dub.html and he is back to lend his production skills to the record.
Kraak & Smaak - Hit The Club (Sander Kleinenberg Remix)
Its all gone Dutch! Trio Kraak & Smaak get the remix treatment from fellow Dutchman Sander Kleinenberg.
Roger Sanchez and Prok & Fitch - Take You There
I am really loving this! This is not Prok & Fitch's first rodeo into Stealth Records http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/04/prok-fitch-symphony.html, but it is great hearing what they have created with the S-Man himself!
Coyu - Urbasong
Most infamous DJ cat lover since Deadmau5, Coyu is back with his latest tech house release. Coming from Christian Smith's Tronic label, Urbasong brings a bass thumping record to a dance floor near you.
Huxley - No Matter What (MK Dub)
The other day I was going through my blog posts, compiling a "best of 2012" list. Without a doubt Huxley's "Let It Go" makes that list http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/04/huxley-let-it-go.html. I am so thankful to Hypercolour for having brought my attention to this talented producer, who has made a name for himself this year, and it is great to see someone like the legendary Marc Kinchen take notice and remix one of his tracks.
MK is well known for his "chopped and screwed" remixes (no, this isn't meant to be a hip hop reference!). He knows how to take pieces of a track and reverb them into something special. His "No Matter What" dub is no different. Take a listen:
MK is well known for his "chopped and screwed" remixes (no, this isn't meant to be a hip hop reference!). He knows how to take pieces of a track and reverb them into something special. His "No Matter What" dub is no different. Take a listen:
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
One Republic - Feel Again (Thomas Gold Remix)
He might just be the king of the remix. His official remix of Adele's Set Fire to the Rain was one of my favorite tracks of 2011.
Thomas Gold takes his hand to One Republic's Feel Again, with massive results. Here is a pop-dance crossover anyone can commit to!
Also from Thomas Gold comes his Star 69 remix. I remember playing Fatboy Slim's album "Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars" for months on end while I was in undergrad on my discman (yes, discman. Yes, I am that old!). So happy to see TG do Star 69 justice!
Side note: anyone else want to say "I love Gold" a la Austin Powers: Goldmember every time you hear anything by Thomas Gold?
Side note: anyone else want to say "I love Gold" a la Austin Powers: Goldmember every time you hear anything by Thomas Gold?
Nicky Romero & NERVO - Like Home
NERVO are the kind of girls other women could easily be jealous of: beautiful, smart, talented and well-liked by everyone. They have made friends in both the commercial and underground electronic world and beyond. Their careers are really taking off.
Born in Australia, the twin sisters Olivia (Liv) and Miriam (Mim) probably got one of their biggest breaks by penning the track "When Love Takes Over" for Kelly Rowland and David Guetta which is one of the anthems that pretty much launched "EDM". The girls have also worked with Armin Van Burren (on tracks Drowning and Feels So Good) as well as other Guetta tracks, with Steve Aoki and Afrojack, and have even worked with fellow Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue. All summer, I would see the girls interviewing other DJs for various label-sponsored segments. They are songwriters, vocalists and DJs! Most recently, their latest gig has been becoming CoverGirls for the make up brand. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, they are also models! Busy busy, and yet maintain strong heads on their shoulders.
Earlier this year, they released "You're Gonna Love Again" which featured their melodic vocals and a little help with production from Avicii.
Their latest also puts their vocals on display, this time in collaboration with Dutch powerhouse Nicky Romero. There is something so pure about this track that I am (slightly guiltily) addicted.
The track is available now on Romero's label Protocol Recordings.
Update 22/02/13: Here is the official video for the track:
Born in Australia, the twin sisters Olivia (Liv) and Miriam (Mim) probably got one of their biggest breaks by penning the track "When Love Takes Over" for Kelly Rowland and David Guetta which is one of the anthems that pretty much launched "EDM". The girls have also worked with Armin Van Burren (on tracks Drowning and Feels So Good) as well as other Guetta tracks, with Steve Aoki and Afrojack, and have even worked with fellow Aussie pop star Kylie Minogue. All summer, I would see the girls interviewing other DJs for various label-sponsored segments. They are songwriters, vocalists and DJs! Most recently, their latest gig has been becoming CoverGirls for the make up brand. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, they are also models! Busy busy, and yet maintain strong heads on their shoulders.
Earlier this year, they released "You're Gonna Love Again" which featured their melodic vocals and a little help with production from Avicii.
The track is available now on Romero's label Protocol Recordings.
Update 22/02/13: Here is the official video for the track:
Buzz Buzz Bzzz: Skream feat. Kelis - Copy Cat
I've mentioned before how I hate hipsters. But sadly, even I sometimes act like one when I react with music snobbery. I guess I've always felt possessive of dance music (which is ridiculous, since it is one of the best forms of music that has crossed so many barriers: gender, sexuality, race, age). When I saw celeb blogger Perez Hilton post this song, I felt some kind of impending doom. Not because I don't acknowledge dance music now reaches the masses. Its just that I never fathomed someone like Skream ever being noticed by someone so vacuous as Perez.
So yeah, this track is definitely all the buzz. SPIN's Philip Sherburne calls it the female version of Usher's Climax.
Kelis is no stranger to the dance music world, having collaborated with acts such as Basement Jaxx (Scars), Benny Benassi (Spaceship, as well as Emancipate, Brave), Boys Noize (22nd Century), BURNS (Intro), Calvin Harris (Bounce), Crookers (No Security), David Guetta (Acapella, Scream) and for her latest album, she works once again with BURNS as well as enlists Tom Neville and dubstep producers Caspa and Skream (Oliver Jones).
The latest is called Copy Cat. It definitely has a trap music feel, and I'm not too fond of that style of music. What do you think? I personally really like Sticky.
So yeah, this track is definitely all the buzz. SPIN's Philip Sherburne calls it the female version of Usher's Climax.
Kelis is no stranger to the dance music world, having collaborated with acts such as Basement Jaxx (Scars), Benny Benassi (Spaceship, as well as Emancipate, Brave), Boys Noize (22nd Century), BURNS (Intro), Calvin Harris (Bounce), Crookers (No Security), David Guetta (Acapella, Scream) and for her latest album, she works once again with BURNS as well as enlists Tom Neville and dubstep producers Caspa and Skream (Oliver Jones).
The latest is called Copy Cat. It definitely has a trap music feel, and I'm not too fond of that style of music. What do you think? I personally really like Sticky.
Jamie Jones - Changes EP
Hot Creations head honcho Jamie Jones has decided to create yet another label (part of the Hot Creations family) which is destined the more "underground" ear. The first HOTTRAX release includes title track "Changes" which features a spoken word lament about going through changes. Deep.
"Road to the Studio" is probably my favorite cut, cause it is by far the funkiest track. "No Rush" unfortunately sounds like every other Hot Creations track out there. I can't say I hear a distinct difference between the sound resonating out of this EP compared to the other Hot Creations material, but I suppose only time will tell what direction Jamie Jones has destined for this new off-shoot.
"Road to the Studio" is probably my favorite cut, cause it is by far the funkiest track. "No Rush" unfortunately sounds like every other Hot Creations track out there. I can't say I hear a distinct difference between the sound resonating out of this EP compared to the other Hot Creations material, but I suppose only time will tell what direction Jamie Jones has destined for this new off-shoot.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
A-Trak - Tuna Melt EP
This is a much anticipated EP from the co-owner of Fool's Gold Records. Alain Macklovitch has partnered up with a slew of friends to deliver this tasty treat (warning: all food-related puns intended!).
Check out this awesome promo video:
The first collabo brings A-Trak together with Tommy Trash. Earlier this year, Tommy Trash contributed to Fool's Gold with his track "Truffle Pig" http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/10/tommy-trash-truffle-pig.html Seeing how its not really a food reference, I guess it made sense not to necessarily group it together with Tuna Melt. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Next up is Landline, a collaboration with GTA (Van Toth and JWLS). I thought A-Trizzy put in some strange Simpsons reference but it turns out that he uses the laugh of loveable childhood character Woody Woodpecker in the track.
The third track of the EP sees Macklovitch with my other favorite Swedish trio (besides SHM!), Galantis. The boys of Galantis are Bloodshy (from Miike Snow), Style of Eye and Carli. Whatever they are serving up, it's surely in JUMBO size! (Get it, cause the track is called Jumbo?!)
The final collaborative track brings in Oliver (Vaughn Oliver & Oliver Goldstein) for "Disco Nap," a term coined and used by DJs worldwide. I guess after all that eating its time for a nap! Eh, eh? (ugh, I tried to carry the food theme as long as I could).
Check out the sampler here:
Good tunes all round!
Full EP:
Check out this awesome promo video:
Next up is Landline, a collaboration with GTA (Van Toth and JWLS). I thought A-Trizzy put in some strange Simpsons reference but it turns out that he uses the laugh of loveable childhood character Woody Woodpecker in the track.
The third track of the EP sees Macklovitch with my other favorite Swedish trio (besides SHM!), Galantis. The boys of Galantis are Bloodshy (from Miike Snow), Style of Eye and Carli. Whatever they are serving up, it's surely in JUMBO size! (Get it, cause the track is called Jumbo?!)
The final collaborative track brings in Oliver (Vaughn Oliver & Oliver Goldstein) for "Disco Nap," a term coined and used by DJs worldwide. I guess after all that eating its time for a nap! Eh, eh? (ugh, I tried to carry the food theme as long as I could).
Check out the sampler here:
Good tunes all round!
Full EP:
wAFF - Eclipse EP
The UK's wAFF returns to Jones & Foss's Hot Creations for his Eclipse EP.
The real gem is the track called Ibiza. Its that bass filled track I imagine they would release just as the crowd's momentum peaks on a hot summer's night on the Spanish island (ok, maybe my mind is wandering cause its in the minus degrees Celsius over here in Canada right now....).
Monday, December 3, 2012
Rihanna - Diamonds (Congorock Remix)
Rihanna has been infiltrating dance music producers as of late. and Rocco Rampino aka Congorock has recently joined the starlet on her tour promoting her latest album, Unapologetic.
Here's a case of Kevin Bacon (you know, 7 degrees of separation. Get it?) Sebastian Ingrosso's wife, Kinnda Hammid, helped pen "Who's That Chick" which was produced by David Guetta, and of course, performed by Rihanna.
Rihanna has worked with Guetta on other projects, but there is no doubt that he is the one who led her to young Dutch producer Nicky Romero, who co-produced a track with Guetta on RiRi's latest album. Also on her latest album is a track called Diamonds, penned by Sia Furler (who notably once lent her vocals to alt-dance group Zero 7 back in the day).
Sia has also collaborated with Guetta, with tracks such as She Wolf, and Titanium (She was also featured on Wild Ones, produced by Ingrosso's fellow SHMer Axwell). Did I mention that Congorock's biggest catapult for his career was his remix of Swedish House Mafia's One?!
So, now that you're all caught up, check out how Italy's Rampino got to tag along for the ride:
Here's a case of Kevin Bacon (you know, 7 degrees of separation. Get it?) Sebastian Ingrosso's wife, Kinnda Hammid, helped pen "Who's That Chick" which was produced by David Guetta, and of course, performed by Rihanna.
Rihanna has worked with Guetta on other projects, but there is no doubt that he is the one who led her to young Dutch producer Nicky Romero, who co-produced a track with Guetta on RiRi's latest album. Also on her latest album is a track called Diamonds, penned by Sia Furler (who notably once lent her vocals to alt-dance group Zero 7 back in the day).
Sia has also collaborated with Guetta, with tracks such as She Wolf, and Titanium (She was also featured on Wild Ones, produced by Ingrosso's fellow SHMer Axwell). Did I mention that Congorock's biggest catapult for his career was his remix of Swedish House Mafia's One?!
Duke Dumont - The Giver (Remixes)
Hey kids, its been awhile! Nice to be back, though I don't know for how long. Life is getting more and more busy, and there has been a serious back log of good music that I just can't seem to keep up with. But I will try my best!
How do you make a great track even greater? Well, sometimes the remix can achieve it. In this case, I'm going to say the ruling is that the original is the one http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/08/duke-dumont-giver.html, but some seriously nice efforts have been put in. Label boss Tiga gives the remix a go, along with fellow Canadians Gingy & Bordello. The Toronto duo's effort may just be my fav of the four remixes. Rounding up the remix friends are Holland's Locked Groove and California's Antaeus Roy (aka Lando Kal).
* * *
How do you make a great track even greater? Well, sometimes the remix can achieve it. In this case, I'm going to say the ruling is that the original is the one http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/08/duke-dumont-giver.html, but some seriously nice efforts have been put in. Label boss Tiga gives the remix a go, along with fellow Canadians Gingy & Bordello. The Toronto duo's effort may just be my fav of the four remixes. Rounding up the remix friends are Holland's Locked Groove and California's Antaeus Roy (aka Lando Kal).
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