After hearing so many praises over the George Fitzgerald remix of Deetron's latest, I searched high and low to hear a sample.
Preview of Deetron's Out Of My Head EP, which features the vocals of Ovasoul7:
This isn't the first time that they have worked together, having also released "I Cling" to Music Man Records, the same label releasing Out Of My Head. It seems George Fitzgerald is returning the remix favor after Deetron remixed his Hypercolour track, Every Inch: http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/10/george-fitzgerald-needs-you.html
Though the Swiss Deetron, whose real name is Sam Geiser, has been producing for almost 2 decades, there has definitely been a renewed interest in his productions as of late, and with good reason, as the production quality is nothing short of stellar.
I think this was probably the first Deetron track I ever heard:
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This track sat in my drafts folder for awhile, so why not share it now: a remix of Aeroplane's "I Don't Feel". Yet another example of why Deetron is one of the best!
Ha! In light of "bathgate" Maceo Plex took the opportunity to feature the lastest EP coming out from his label Ellum. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that it was from legendary House producer Jaydee! You know, Plastic Dreams Jaydee!
The Dutch producer, whose real name is Robin Albers, is back with a new EP, and it features remixes from the label head himself and Dutch-based Steve Rachmad.
Tech it out!
Nina then took to her own Facebook to address the article written by Wilson and that's pretty much where the controversy began. Maceo Plex posted a now taken down retort to Kraviz' appeal for "sexism and similar bullshit needing to die" by saying (sarcastically) "i'm so happy blatant uses of sexuality and superficiality can take the place of hustling vinyl and spending countless hours in the studio"This is in reference to seeing her in the bath. He then proceeds to shout out other female producers for "playing amazing music and pushing the scene forward with nothing else but sick records and studio time."
This got Kraviz in an uproar and cued a lot of responses, mostly trashing either Kraviz or Maceo Plex:
Obviously Rekids label master Radio Slave will come to her defence, seeing how he gave her a pretty big break in her career.
I can tell you that seeing men trying to make this an insignificant issue is the reason why there needs to be more female exposure and dominance in the dance music industry.
Blogs and music mags like Beatport (the blog) and Mixmag were covering the exchange between Nina Kraviz and Maceo Plex and then Gina Turner weighed in.
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This isn't really a case of pot calling the kettle black cause Turner doesn't deny that she too uses her sexy to promote her image.
And no one said Nina was talentless. But why does she have to be naked? What does it have to do with her music except making those who lust for her drool more? If using her sexuality is part of her schtick, then at the very least own up to it! I'm not condoning the use of sexuality to further one's career, especially women in dance music, given the history of mostly being portrayed as sex symbols without a brain. But it seems like she's in denial that she was unaware of what having an interview in the bath would appear as.
Annie Mac and B.Traits and so many others are really pretty but I've never seem them in exceptionally provocative poses for campaigns. They don't need to, their success comes from their impeccable taste in music and quality productions. And females like them are still able to exude sexy while being fully clothed.
I read something absurd like "are female DJs not using their sexuality to be taken seriously?" Wow, just wow. This is exactly the problem. It shouldn't matter if you are pretty or not, your music should speak volumes for you.
Kraviz even says something along the lines of showing that DJs take baths and are clean. But everyone knows that baths are basically sitting in your own filth! And Nina cites when Seth Troxler was interviewed in the bath (rubber ducky and all) and how its a double standard. I think its hardly comparable. One image is sexualized, the other is being silly.
I posted a link to this picture in a previous post but now I'm just (to my dismay) going to post it:
Yeah yeah, its meant to be "artistic" as it is part of a campaign for Hugo Boss. Please! Its meant to display her sexually and there is no other argument. I'm surprised no one commented on that pic which emerged a few months ago but a split second bath scene is causing so much uproar. This can be compared to other musicians, and other figures in entertainment, and basically saying that their fans and industry should dictate what projects they undertake. Obviously that is ridiculous, as people should have the right to choose, but again, don't cry about people saying you are overtly using your sexuality and then actually do so.
Montreal's Prince Club (again, in now deleted tweets-everyone is deleting what they say) pretty much called her a whining baby for complaining, and Mathieu posted a vine video of himself in the bathtub. Haha, very funny.
And then all the irony in the world comes out of this tweet
Jessie Andrews was actually the initial subject of this blog entry (nevermind that Ultra is the worst when it comes to female portrayal in dance music videos). A lot of glamour models (tame word for porn stars) have taken up DJing. Its mind boggling.
Just reading Jessie Andrews wiki makes me uncomfortable. Yeah sure, I'm a prude, but let's face it; she is a porn star. She was (is?) dating Borgore, and ...wow, this whole scene, I just can't even comment on it...his videos are crass to say the least. Its really not a style of music I enjoy anyway. But I wonder if dating a producer is what got Andrews into producing. And I can honestly say that I've heard male producers singing her praises and her remixes are nothing spectacular. Here is a perfect example of someone's sexed up image playing right into the hands of the same male producers who probably don't even flinch when women are displayed in the ugliest light by the dance music industry.
So the gist of what I'm trying to say is: you can be female, and you can produce and DJ, but you shouldn't have to "look pretty" to get any credibility, your music should be good. Just because you are female doesn't mean you can't play up the sexy. But being sexy doesn't mean be pornographic. And if you are going to be sexy, own it and don't deny that was your intent with a provocative picture you agreed to take. This is my opinion, agree or disagree. Its a free speech world wide web after all...
There is definitely an insurgence of people moving from the ranks of EDM towards "techno". I'm talking less about producers and more about fans. I think part of it is that "I listen to techno" just sounds cooler than "I listen to EDM".
If you're a longtime follower of the movement or a newcomer, Green Velvet is an artist that you should undoubtedly have on your radar. Probably best known for his track "Percolator" (hey hey Outhere Brothers) and "Brighter Days" with Dajae, Curtis Jones also produces under the moniker Cajmere amongst others.
Felix Da Housecat takes his hand to remix Green Velvet's 1997 track "Destination Unknown" and it is a corker! Together these Chicago boys pack quite the punch!
Felix took a break from the scene and has returned with a new EP entitled Sinner Winner. Green Velvet is expected to provide a remix too!
I love Chocolate Puma, and any chance I get to talk about their music, I take it! They are, in my esteemed opinion, the most underrated producers out there. They have been in the biz for so long, and yet always seem to go under the radar. I'm so excited that Swedish House Mafia was playing their track "Go-Go Boots" http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/06/chocolate-puma-go-go-boots.html in their One Last Tour sets because I'm hoping its gets them even more exposure.
That being said, check out their latest remix of Australia's Yolanda Be Cool's track "A Baru in New York" which features the vocals of Gurrumul, an indigenous Australian singer who was born blind and is renowned for his contributions to world music.
Its like Jake Williams aka Rex the Dog's ears were burning. I tweeted him saying that he should do another disco-infused remix of anything off Sweden's The Knife's new album "Shaking the Habitual", and then I see he is going to release a new EP (not related to The Knife but still...).
With their new album slated to be released later this year, its been quite an exciting time for quartet Rudimental. Its actually been a year since I first heard about them http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/04/one-to-watch-rudimental.html, and its amazing to see how they have attracted so many fans! I'm waiting in anticipation to hear the whole album especially excited to hear the tracks featuring the voice of Sinead Harnett, who lent her vox to Disclosure for Boiling http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/04/jessie-ware-110.html.
Hot Natured's Lee Foss has remixed Rudimental's latest single, and its a nice little deep house ditty. Very much stays true to the Hot Creations sound:
Check out the video for the original track which features the story of Kurt Yaeger and his comeback from injury.
Germany's Chasing Kurt is Daniel Blanche, Wojtek Kutschke, and Lukas Poloczek, who together share a passion for deep house. Their latest comes from Suol, Berlin-based label that houses the likes of Fritz Kalkbrenner, Till Von Sein, Daniel Bortz, Meggy and many more. Their track, From the Inside, gets remixed by fellow Suol players Bortz as well as Till Von Sein & Tigerskin. Check it here:
Update 25/04/13: Here is the video for From The Inside, complete with hipster imagery (sorry, had to!)
Chaim's latest is entitled "We Are". Built in the same vein as fellow Israeli producer Guy Gerber's melodic productions, the track has dawn rhythms written all over it. The track is forthcoming on Gerber's Supplemental Facts label.
I've been a pretty harsh critic of Justin Timberlake's latest album. Boring is a word I've been using often. Maybe it comes from some deep seeded resentment of wishing JC Chasez's career to have taken off like Timberlake's solo career did post *NSYNC. Nah, its just boring.
But I will admit, its been spawning off some great remixes, bootlegs, edits, you know, all that lingo!
Maurice & Tony of J Paul Getto have taken JT's Tunnel Vision and transformed it into something pretty magical: a danceable, fun track with the original paling in comparison!
The UK's Redlight aka Hugh Pescod brings forth his latest featuring the vocals of Meleka.
The video shows some serious Forrest Gump style running that just can't seem to be switched off! You can catch a glimpse of Pescod in the clip too.
Spoiler alert: at the end, he finally switches off the running!
So this week Duke Dumont's Need U 100% http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2013/01/duke-dumont-need-u-100.html was released in the UK (not yet stateside), and it catapulted to number 1 on the iTunes chart, winning the accolades of fellow DJs, and even One Direction's Harry Styles! You can't escape the buzz! Some are calling it a comeback, though Adam Dyment insists he's been immersed in the scene, having never left but rather doing a lot more remixes.
Segway!
Ok, so I feel kinda bad saying this but this all girl trio look like the perfect candidate for Carles' next target on hipsterrunoff! They are actually sisters that hail from California (not Brooklyn), so I'll give them a free pass ;)
Their latest single, Falling, gets the remix treatment from the man of the hour. Seriously, EVERYONE is talking about Duke Dumont, and rooting for him to claim the number 1 position on the charts. Rightly so, but also because it is a win for the whole dance community to show that not just EDM can represent the dance scene and appeal to the masses.
The remix is great, and channels an 80s sound (much like Skream's remix of Need U). For me, all I can think of is Cyndi Lauper's All Through the Night and something else from the 80s I can't quite put my finger on. Been racking my brain to figure it out, but can't (if you have any ideas, please post!).
Check out this minimix he did for Annie Mac's BBC Radio 1 show. It includes a lot of great Chicago House, so you can get to know the second wave generation of House producers and how this great genre came to be:
Side note: so I may have previously called into question Adam Dyment's ethnicity. I shouldn't use past tense since I still wonder. I read this Mixmag interview yesterday while at the bookstore (the city I'm currently in is the boondocks and clearly they are behind with the editions they carry. The interview is in the February 2013 issue) http://www.mixmag.net/words/features/duke-dumont-duke-abides. I read in there that he used to participate in judo competitions, further fueling my Asian suspicions...not that non-Asians don't do judo...ok, digging myself into a deeper hole here.
I'm embarking on a big move back to NYC and pretty much coordinating it around trying to catch Duke Dumont when he plays Montreal in May, so maybe I will find out once and for all!
The enigmatic Eric Prydz takes to his alter-ego PR(Y)DA with PowerDrive. Having previewed it on his EPIC Radio show (007), the track for me channels more of his techno alias Cirez D, but I suppose all the lines blur at some point when you are producing under more than 3 monikers. Whichever part of Eric Prydz's brain this magnificent piece of music comes from, we're glad it's here!
You can hear BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe going nuts over the track (rightly so). There have been so many people coming out of the woodwork singing Prydz's praises, especially since his arrival to the US. Having been in the music scene for more than a decade http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/05/eric-prydz-presents-pryda.html, and nurturing future stars like Jeremy Olander and Fehrplay, this Swede doesn't look like he is slowing down anytime soon. No complaints here!
Mark Knight always brings the variety to his label, and has a sharp ear as A&R for Toolroom Records. His latest recruit are Montreal boys Prince Club, who are hot off their Nervous Records release with Poupon http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2013/03/prince-club-poupon-only-one-ep.html.
These boys are constantly tapping into old school sounds, and this is their newest offering:
For me, "The Way I Feel" is the standout track. Very MK-esque!
In the beginning there was Jack, and Jack had a groove, and from this groove came the groove of all grooves...etc etc. We all know how the story goes, and Jack is making quite the comeback. After just posting the name of Breach's latest EP http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2013/04/breach-jack.html, Montreal outfit Black Tiger Sex Machine along with Dabin are set to release "Jack Dat Body". This isn't Chicago's Jack, however. This one is armed with electro beats and the remixes are full force entrenched in dubstep.
Side note: David Guetta's label is called Jack Back Records, also an hommage to "Jack"
Dirtybird gets the worm! Ben Westbeech http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/05/you-need-to-know-ben-westbeech-aka.html under his pseudonym Breach has been creating quite the buzz with his latest Dirtybird EP entitled Jack.
Westbeech also recently teamed up with Sweden's Rasmus Faber to lend his vocals to "No Surprises". Faber had contributed to Westbeech's sophomore album. Another familiar collaboration comes from Kraak & Smaak with Westbeech. Having lent his vocals to Squeeze Me, he teams up with the Dutch producers again for "The Future Is Yours." Check out the single and remixes, among which Tom Trago is a contributor.
And last but not least, maybe my favorite collaboration of them all comes from Westbeech and Artwork (who along with Skream and Benga make up Magnetic Man). They made the funniest promo video for Snowbombing, Austria's music festival in the snow:
So I'm guessing Tracques is a play on the word "tracks" and the name "Jacques". Am I right, am I right? Stuart Price's alter ego takes you into a techno journey with his latest album. From the artwork, looks like its gonna be called "Volume One". Here's a teaser:
Part of that album is Lunatrick, one of my favroite cuts.
Is it me or does this aptly fill the void Daft Punk has left behind (not that I'm not excited for their new album but this sounds way future!)
Another great release is Traques new EP for Boysnoize Records, which you can preview here:
Finally, sounds like Stuart Price is slated to be producing the next Pet Shop Boys album. If you're a child of the 80s like me, then you are probably extremely excited by this upcoming project. The album is called Electric and I'm sure it will be exactly that, if this teaser is anything to go by!
Leave it to the King of Acid House, DJ Pierre, to lead me towards greatness. After charting this track on his March Top 10, I got to re-discover why Dave Clarke is the penultimate techno producer.
Getting the remix treatment by Alex Ridha aka Boys Noize, he brings a little darker and dirtier sound to the classic track.
Here is the full remix set:
Lots of fun coming out of the Boys Noize camp. Szymon Rabowicz aka Audionite, has brought his latest to Boysnoize Records, and its a doozy! Check out the heavy "No Good" EP here:
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Is it me or has Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso been distancing themselves from Steve Angello? Just thinking out loud...tbc
Courtesy of Audiojack's Beatport chart, I heard this great track from Marc Romboy and KiNK. Its out now on Romboy's Systematic Recordings.
I know everyone is fawning over Justin Martin's remix of Follow the Step by Rachel Row, which was written by KiNK, but I think you should pick up Over and Out instead (or also!)
Check out the video for KiNK's remix here:
Many people lament that gone are the days of old fashioned techno. The good ol' days, the good ol' days...even I do it a lot! But if you want to go back to the days of 90s techno, say hello to this track!
I'm always late to the dance music party, and so my introduction to the UK's Chemical Brothers came late in life. I remember walking into a boutique in Montreal called Juan & Juanita (they had some of the best clothes in the city) in 1999 and blaring on the speakers was "Hey Boy Hey Girl." I asked the sales girl what was playing, and she handed me a copy of The Chemical Brother's album Surrender. Of course I had heard of the name "Chemical Brothers" but probably could not name a single track before that time. The track is definitely in my top 10 best electronic tracks of all time. So so good!
Ok, well, the video creeps me out a little, but that's cause it doesn't take much!
Fast forward to close to a decade later, and Germany's Alex Ridha releases the groundbreaking Oi Oi Oi under the moniker of Boyz Noize. Chalked full of electro beats, the album made quite a mark on the electronic scene's landscape. Since, Ridha has collaborated with heavyweights like Mr. Oizo and everyone's favorite dubstep brostep poster boy Skrillex (known together as Dog Blood). He also released his sophomore album Power, which included the gem Jeffer, and late last year released Out of the Black. That album contained the track XTC, and has now been remixed by Tom & Ed Chemical. Its almost as if the duo has returned the remix favour, as Ridha remixed their track Swoon in 2010.
Hey hey, its a post about DJ Sneak not calling him out on being whiney!
The producer of Puerto Rican origin who now dwells in Toronto after being inspired by the streets of Chicago during the birth of House puts his hands on Duke Dumont's "Streetwalker." You can hear the Latin sound that has been a huge part of Sneak's influence on the music he has made.
The track is fittingly featured on the Turbo Recordings Miami compilation, just in time for the annual Winter Music Conference.
Streetwalker comes from Duke Dumont's (real name Adam Dyment) Turbo EP "For Club Play Only Vol. 1." http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/05/sinden-keep-it-1000-duke-dumont-remix.html. Percussion is huge on both the original and the latest remix!
Check out the video for the track: lol!
Side note: this is how I plan to pay back my educational loans...just kidding!
New music and a new artist (to me) I'm excited to share with you. Jacob Otten is Dutch-born and based producer also known as Kid Sublime. Releasing his Return of the Basehead EP on his label Dopeness Galore, a standout track for me is "Keep On". Reminds me a lot of Daft Punk in the Homework era. I know people think its sacrilegious to compare anything to the French duo (who are slated to release new material in the not-so-distant future), but I think the track has a great old school vibe, and once you listen to it, you will agree:
Ellie Goulding has always been dance music's darling since she burst onto the scene. I was first introduced to her through Max Vangeli & AN21's remix of Starry Eyed. Her title track from her breakthrough album, Lights, was famously remixed by Bassnectar. She became entrenched in the scene when she started dating dubstep giant Skrillex. She collaborated with Calvin Harris for "I Need Your Love" and her latest sighting was in the video for Diplo's track featuring Gents & Jawn called "Butter's Theme."
I last blogged about Stay+ with the track "Crashed" http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/11/stay-feat-queenie-crashed.html. Little was known then about the artist behind the name. It has now emerged it is the work of Matt Farthing of Manchester, but details still remain murky. Stay+ has remixed Ellie Goulding's Explosions off her latest album Halcyon. Its pretty darn good!
Side note: Halcyon was the name of a benzodiazepine, and is the name of one of my favorite Orbital tracks from 1992. The track was titled as such because of the brothers of Orbital had a mother addicted to the medication. Kristy Hawkshaw's voice is played backwards as the vocals of the track, and she is featured in the video:
While everyone else is sampling the 90s, these Canadian boys have made original tracks that channel the deep house sound about to overtake EDM. Only One features Toronto's Nahrin David on vocals, while Before introduces us to vocalist Mars. Even though its chilly in Canada right now, prepare to be warmed by the heat of these records!
Junior Sanchez, a longtime House music producer who has equally forayed into other genres of music production, has unveiled his new label, BroBot. If you're a social media follower of his, you'll notice he refers to a lot of his friends with the affectionate name, and unless you're living under a rock, you'll know that a lot of the fist pumpers call each other "bro." Well, maybe its a pun, maybe the name is to be taken seriously, but the new venture in conjunction with Steve Angello's SIZE Records look to put on display friends and newcomers supported by the veteran NYC DJ. The SIZE team put together this nice interview with Sanchez where he talks about past influences and collaborations (Armand Van Helden wut wut!), how he came to work with SIZE, and how he envisions the future of his label.
Can someone seriously get the tracklisting of the music being played in the background? So good! And so telling of how diverse Sanchez's music knowledge goes.
Do you remember this track? Its only 3 years old!
Dragan Roganovic has released his first full length album today, and it shot straight to Number 1 on the US dance iTunes chart. First day of release and already at the top. That is a testament to the strength of dance music and its followers in America if I ever heard of one. I've always been a pretty huge fan of Dirty South http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2013/01/dirty-south-was-one-of-my-first-dj.html, and want to highlight some of my favorite tracks from Speed of Life.
Probably my favorite cut from the album is Champions. I like how the preview has a pic of a kid superhero in a wheelchair. Its a nice touch! I think I love this track because the dirty basslines are what made me fall in love with this Australian-Serbian producer, and they are out in full force on the record.
The smooth, soft sounds of Sunset (clearly the time of day the track was intended for) are a departure from the synths of EDM we are used to from most of Dirty South's more recent productions.
To see Dirty South take a completely different direction from "house" and make a chillout track is refreshing, and shows that after all these years, he was not afraid to make a track that doesn't conform to expectations but rather follows his own creative direction. Pick up the album because frankly, he's a good guy who has put the time in. After banking in years of productions, collaborations, remixes, DJ gigs, this new outlet is one that deserves the dance community's recognition.
Deep house veteran Henrik Schwarz from Germany serves up his latest "Take Words in Return" coming from Watergate Records.
A "Return Version" as well as a C2 Vocal and Instrumental Remix have also been released. C2 is of course the legendary Carl Craig. His vocal remix is the one!
Side note: not gonna lie, but sometimes the vocals just scream "auto-tune"!
To mark the tenth anniversary of Toolroom, Mark Knight joins forces with Dutch producer Sander Van Doorn (Laidback Luke's doppelganger) and the iconic duo of Underworld. For the new kids on the block, you may have heard the musical stylings of Underworld during the London Olympic games Opening Ceremonies. What a way to highlight how important electronic music is to the UK music scene!
I really love NYC and so its great to see this video set in good ol' Brooklyn (hipster Williamsburg to be exact - you can tell by the train being used!).
When I was young, I always thought I'd grow up to go through some bodega (well, in Montreal they are called depanneurs) and go through a secret door to an underground club, much like the one in the video. Pssh, I couldn't even get into Crif Dogs secret bar Please Don't Tell so I guess that'll never actually come true haha!
A lot of people are comparing the track to Faithless but you can tell this isn't a Maxi Jazz narrative but rather its Underworld's Karl Hyde. Mark Knight collaborated with D.Ramirez in 2009 for "Downpipe" which also featured Hyde.
Fun fact: Darren Emerson was part of Underworld in their heyday (~1990-2000), and was once married to Amy Thomson, who is the manager of Swedish House Mafia.
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An earlier release from Toolroom that also deserves a listen is the Mark Knight remix of Leeds-based dubstep outfit Submotion Orchestra. The vocals of Ruby Wood give the track something special. The 7-piece group is also definitely worth exploring if you are a fan of UK style dubstep. The remix is being supported by the likes of Frankie Knuckles, which puts a stamp on this track being classic house approved!
Maybe its cause I'm old, but when I hear the name "Rasputin" all I can think of is the Boney M hit: "Ra Ra Rasputin, Russian's greatest love machine" Haha!
Russian producers Hard Rock Sofa title their new track after the influential advisor to the Imperial family (the Romanovs). To be honest, I'm waiting for HRS (or Swanky Tunes for that matter) to just come out with a track called Vodka.
Releasing on Axwell's Axtone Records, the HRS boys are always an SHM favorite, and this track is the perfect fit.
p.s. no, it does not sound like Nari & Milani's Atom!
I'm so excited! My birthday is coming soon and Scuba (Paul Rose) will be spinning on that day in Ontario (and I'm going lol)! His label Hotflush has been churning out some massive tracks, and the latest from George FitzGerald is without exception! He's been having quite a successful run as of late, releasing off of Hypercolour http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/10/george-fitzgerald-needs-you.html, remixing Jessie Ware http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/11/jessie-ware-no-to-love-george.html, the list goes on.
Thinking of You is a nice little meshwork of tech house sounds and deep house grooves. I am itching to know where the vocal samples are from. But til then, I'll just have to listen to this masterpiece:
Out March 18th, 2013
While we're on the subject of George FitzGerald, check out this remix of his. Its a track by Close (Will Saul) featuring Scuba and Charlene Soraia. It is forthcoming on Will Saul's AUS label.
Scuba and George FitzGerald recently did a back-to-back set for Boiler Room. I wanted to count how many times I saw Scuba smile during the set, but I gave up...
Update 01/04/2013: George FitzGerald will be releasing a full EP on Hotflush in May, and will include this incredible track called "I Can Tell (By The Way You Move)"
He is also slated to remix Deetron's "Out Of My Head". KiNK will also be remixing the new Deetron track. Can't wait to hear that one! Big tings for George FitzGerald!
If Carl Cox promotes a track, you have to at least give it a listen. Bright and early this morning he gave his support of the latest track from his friends, Freemasons. (Troy McClure voice:) You may know them from tracks such as Love on My Mind and Watchin' featuring the vocals of Amanda Wilson (who you probably have heard on Avicii's Seek Bromance), Rain Down Love, featuring Siedah Garrett (who sang "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Michael Jackson), or Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer) featuring the vocals of frequent dance music diva Sophie Ellis-Baxtor.
The boys of Freemasons are Russell Small, who was one half of Phats & Small and James Wiltshire, who also produced for Phats & Small. Its funny cause I remember thinking that "Turn Around"
sounded like something Stardust (Music Sounds Better With You) would make, and now this new track, Bring It Back, it totally reminding me of Daft Punk's Da Funk.
The video takes a venture into Lego Land, and puts graphic design on full display. I'm pretty sure at 1:50, the cassette tape becomes Justin Bieber's hair. Blink and you'll miss it!
Last Wednesday, I got to attend Swedish House Mafia's One Last Tour in my hometown of Montreal. As someone with few friends that listen to electronic music, I rarely actually attend any DJ shows, so I was especially excited for this one. Its no secret that I love these guys, and have been a longtime fan. The last show I had seen at that venue was Kanye West & Jay-Z's Watch the Throne, and the last electronic show I saw at the Bell Center was Daft Punk. So the bar was set pretty darn high! The trio did not disappoint, giving a show full of pyrotechnics and lights that set the stadium ablaze. Check out the guys dropping Antidote. So much fun!
But after the show, I went into deep thought about the whole electronic scene in general. I found myself thinking like a hipster (which I loathe), not wanting to share the artists I follow (in this case, SHM) with the masses. Being part of the older demographic (30s!), it was tough to be surrounded my fluorescent-wearing, grammatically incorrect speaking adolescents. If you're from Montreal, I'm talking about the St. Leo/RDP/Laval crowd. If you're from New Jersey (or America for that matter), I'm talking Jersey Shore crowd. And if you're from the UK, well then Geordie it is. An example of my frustration was when the guys dropped Axwell & Ingrosso's "Together" which was produced in 2005 and I was literally the only one singing along. Its like the rest of the crowd went dead.
But this knee-jerk reaction of being annoyed by kids is just adult resentment. Everyone and their blog has taken a stance on who should listen to dance music, how it should be listened to, who is cool, who is not cool, go educate yourself about the history, blah blah blah. Like Tommie Sunshine, who feels the need to be an advocate for dance music by contributing to the Huffington Post on the matter. No thanks dude.
Obviously music is a matter of personal taste, and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Its kind of nuts that people feel the need to dictate how other people listen to music, or how they should take in music into their lifestyle. Am I right?
I also got to thinking about how as a fan of the SHM boys, how I always feel the need to defend them. I guess case in point was the whole DJ Sneak debacle. I mean, look at this childish behaviour:
Slander is just not ok. But even the boys have moved on, showing success truly is the best revenge. They are clearly too busy to be bothered with Sneak. Witness more of his absurdity here: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/clubz/4798538/A-peak-into-the-world-of-Sneak.html
I just wish the underground could accept the mainstream. They don't need to like it, just not slag it off all the time! I suppose that would be trying to enforce censorship though.
Its equally strange when fellow commercial acts like Deadmau5 start up the chatter too. Shouldn't they band together agains the underground scene out to get them? http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/deadmau5-covers-vibes-febmar-2013-issue/?page=1 Everyone is on blast: SHM, Avicii, his manager Ash Pournouri, Guetta, anyone that breathes basically. I've said it before and I'll say it again, guy's got some serious mental health issues and he puts it out there for everyone to see. And its not in a "lets generate awareness" kind of way. Just the other day I was in Toronto and a friend of mine told me our mutual classmate is Zimmerman's neighbour, and he is a bad neighbour. Not because he plays music loud, because he is a downright douchebag. I guess my bottom line is, why is everyone so cranky and wants to be mean to others?
Anyway, back to more reflection. I've always been quite critical of the blog Dancing Astronaut. Now they are taking contributions from writers reviewing more underground acts (which is actually a good thing), and their writers are even turning their backs on guys like SHM. Is it because it isn't cool anymore to like guys like Guetta and SHM? Its laughable! Even the boys of SHM are trying to prove they have musical tastes beyond EDM. Angello had posted Disclosure's Latch a few weeks back, and Seb Ingrosso posted a Cyril Hahn remix. I don't know what is going on, but there is crossover everywhere and it is interesting to watch it all unfold. I guess labelling what is in and whats not is the evolution of dance music. Yesterday was EDM, tomorrow is looking to be "deep house."
This video is funny and really shouldn't be taken seriously.
Best line "I bet they don't even know who f#*king Derrick Carter is" Haha, spoken like a true hipster! I mean Hitler!
I kind of sort of went on a whole One Last Tour tweeting spree, and I actually out of paranoia checked if some of the underground DJs that follow me unfollowed (no one did!). Whose approval am I seeking anyway? To be chastised for liking something another person doesn't is ridiculous.
My friends have told me I should write a blog cause random strange events always happen to me. A clear example just happened. When I took the bus back to Ontario after the SHM concert, there was a kid standing, waiting for the city bus. I asked him if he knew what time the bus was coming, and it prompted him to start talking to me (I don't know why random strangers always feel like I'm approachable but for some reason this always happens to me!). Anyway, the kid might have been drunk, as he was coming from some university function. He realized I could speak french and insisted on speaking in french the whole time. Then he asked me where I was coming from and I told him I went to Montreal just for the SHM concert, and he proceeded to tell me that he listens to "electro house." Intrigued, I asked him to name some artists he listens to. But he couldn't. Then he said he listened to dubstep, and insisted he didn't listen to brostep (aka Skrillex). So I asked, like Skream & Benga? And his face went blank. Who are these kids trying to impress? Everything doesn't have to be so contrived!!!
Ok, so maybe I am completely contradicting myself in this post, but I wanted to write out all these random thoughts. I need to keep reminding myself to just enjoy music, and not get so worked up about other people listening to electronic music too. Even if I'm a longtime fan and they are fairweather fans, to each their own!
Update 06/03/13: Seriously Sneak, seriously? http://djmag.com/content/60-seconds-dj-sneak
Locked Groove's latest serves up a 6 track EP on Paul Rose's Hotflush label. The Belgian, whose real name is Tim Van de Muetter, has contributed to Hotflush before as well as Turbo Recordings.
I have to say, I'm a little surprised that this particular track, Wear It Well, is included in the EP, since it sounds like jazzy/classic house. But hey, the track is awesome, so its not a complaint at all!
Jeremy Olander returns to the Pryda & Friends label with his latest "Let Me Feel."
A melodic track that stays true to PR(Y)DA form, Let Me Feel is destined for an early March release.
In one of his EPIC Radio shows, Eric Prydz played his remix for the track. I have to say I'm partial to the remix over the original.
Fun fact: While Olander hails from Sweden, his mother is of Indian origin, which explains the name of one of his monikers, Dhillon.
Laidback Luke's leading lady Gina Turner joins Canadian producer John Roman for the tech house track "Dance For Me" slated to be released on Chocolate Puma's Pssst Records.
The Dutch duo even provide a remix which I am sure is going to be laden with some heavy drums! This is the teaser they gave me: https://vine.co/v/brxe66jDMhZ LOL!
Ok, here is the real thing:
As I ready myself to watch Swedish House Mafia's One Last Tour in Montreal next week, I'm putting together a playlist in my mind. I can't help but think Wakanda http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2013/02/dimitri-vegas-like-mike-wakanda.html and this latest SIZE release should be played back-to-back. I'm extremely partial to drums, and both tracks scream percussion bliss. I will admit the entirety of the track did not win me over, but that drums section is just too good (0:45-2:15 is the one). The quartet that came together for the track all hail from Miami, and I'm sure this track will be a big one for Ultra!
If you have a sibling in the same profession as you, chances are you don't want to live in the other's shadow, or always have that sibling mentioned in every article meant to be written about you.
For instance, when your brother made one of the quintessential tracks of 2012 played by almost every House producer in their sets, then its kind of difficult to be like "look at me, I'm good too." But Leon (Ruggero Di Gianvito) manages to do just that. After his successful collaboration with Fabio Petti (Toky) last year http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/10/superhero-new-york-ep.html the two join forces again to release on Defected Records.
It is Leon's 909 Dub Mix that really takes the cake here. Listen up!
So I'm not gonna mention who Leon's famous brother is, cause he is a force to be reckoned with in his own right! (you can Google it, not hard to find!)
Jamie Roberts aka Blawan teams up with Anthony Child aka Surgeon (collectively known as Trade) to release on Karenn's (Blawan + Pariah) label She Works the Long Night.
I am so in love with Half Nelson. It reminds me so much of the 80s, which is kind of twisted since those were my formative years and were laced with synth & cheesy pop. There is something Kraftwerk-esque about the track I think (maybe I'm reaching). Get a more in-depth preview here: http://www.rubadubrecords.co.uk/music/techno/sheworks005
I can't help but wonder if Green Velvet is into Blawan's sound...
It would be a total generalization to say that all producers are nerdy, but lets face it, the technology used in production these days takes a certain amount of skill to understand, master and implement to make actually good music. So when Scotland's Liam Robertson and Calum Macleod aka Clouds (who released this banger late last year http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/11/turbos-mysterious-ways.html) called their latest EP "Bulbophyllum Remiferum" you can't be that shocked that the boys turned to the scientific classification of a type of orchid to give it a name. But since I'm cheesy, I would have totally run with that theme in naming the tracks. Oh well. I guess they kind of continued the nerdy trend as HE 1523-0901 refers to a red star in the Milky Way. Go figure.
Terrorcore is probably my favorite of the 3 tracks. "My money my money my money my money my money my money my money"...I mean, I could sing this all day!
Out now on Tiga's Turbo Recordings offshoot Twin Turbo.
It seems like Russia is the new Sweden as the boys of Hard Rock Sofa carry the torch of hard hitting electro (along with fellow Russians Swanky Tunes). HRS's collaboration with brothers Pete and Andrey Stepanov (also known as the St. Brothers) finds a home at Axwell's Axtone Records, where the label head and frequent player Thomas Gold provide a stellar remix fit for any fast drive along a European highway. Trust me, its good stuff:
Looks like Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike are making the SHM rounds. Having released together on Steve Angello's SIZE, they now take to Axwell's Axtone Records with the bass-thumping tribal smash Wakanda. With Afro-tribal beats in tow, this floor banger contains the right amount of appeal to satisfy the EDM palate and reach the detractors of that scene.
The boys explain in their track description that Wakanda is a fictional African country in the Marvel comic Black Panther.
Hot off the heels of "Benediction" and the summer hit "Infinity", Ali Love returns to Damian Lazarus' Crosstown Rebels label for "Emperor." Joining him on the track is female vocalist Kali. The remixes for the EP come from Waze & Odyssey (wut wut!) and Maceo Plex. The Maceo Plex remix goes in with a very dark and dirty bassline. Check it out:
Fun fact: Ali Love used to date the O.C.'s Mischa Barton...irrelevant but kind of funny!
For any Daft Punk-crazed fan, Romanthony is a familiar name. Having been featured on Too Long and One More Time, his smooth vocals have touched many a House music tune, including his own productions such as 1994's Let Me Show You Love.
Fast forward almost a two decades, and Berlin-based Oliver Seibert aka Oliver $ tends to the remix of the classic tune.
What is it about trumpets and Defected Records (remember Ray Foxx's The Trumpeter?)? This new one from Stefano Ritteri has trumpets front and center that adds a jazzy flair to this deep house ditty. The Congoloid music label head is making his 2013 a busy one! After releasing "Rules of Control" http://jackhadagroove.blogspot.ca/2012/11/stefano-ritteri-rules-of-control.html with Defected late last year, he is back with "Nothing Stays the Same."
To top it off, Ritteri released "The Partylife" on Shir Khan's Exploited label this week. It is part of the Exploited EP entitled Black Jukebox 06.
This disco-infused track will get your hips shaking all night long!
This will be your year my friend! Welcome to the partylife!
Henry Riton returns to the electronic music realm with his latest EP forthcoming on Ed Banger Records. My favorite cut from the EP is (aptly!) titled Bang Your Head (get it? Bang Your Head, coming out on Ed Banger ...don't laugh at me!). Scrufizzer, Jay Norton and Miss Kittin all make appearances on the EP. Check out the preview here for the upcoming release:
Side note: in the artwork for the EP, is that a shark going for some ganga? Weird!...
The latest from Laidback Luke's Mixmash Records comes from Dutch hero Gregor Salto and Norway's Funkin' Matt. Its strange they are releasing this on Mixmash because together they run the label called Fjordin Records. Funkin' Matt, whose real name is Mats Ronander, released "I Wish" off of Fool's Gold Records earlier this year, gaining him a little more notoriety on the west of the Altantic.
Maybe its just because I am obsessed with Swedish House Mafia, but parts of this track remind me of "Leave the World Behind." In any case, the track is an electro banger reminiscent of the sound that emerged in the early 2000s, but it still sounds fresh (to death!) Check it out here:
Montreal's darling Jacques Greene has posted his latest track entitled "Quicksand" to his SoundCloud account. The downtempo track will leave you in a trance...utterly beautiful!
The mob have gone ACID! The duo of Danny and Alessandro who hail from Milan prove they aren't a one hit wonder with "Need In Me" and return to Defected Records with their latest entitled "Pieces".
For me, its all about the Panorama Mix! The talk over on this track reminds me of Underworld's "Two Months Off."
DJ Pierre would be proud!
The track is destined to come out on their "Pets Will Carry You Home Too" compilation, which also features the likes of A1 Bassline and more, due out early February 2013.
Dirty South was one of my first DJ crushes. So cute, and so talented! While I'm less of a fan of his more EDM-esque tracks, I loved his earlier productions and have really high hopes for his side project with Rudy Sandapa called Ruben Haze.
One of my favorite remixes of his from back in the day was his take on the Pussycat Dolls track "When I Grow Up." What a banger and transformation from the original!
When I heard this teaser for his collaboration with Deniz Koyu, my interest was peaked. The beginning of the track is reminiscent of Dragan Roganovic's earlier productions. Yet the track goes into full "screechy synth EDM mode" and loses me. But I think it is a valiant effort to bridge the two (though I doubt that's what they were trying to do!). Take a listen and form an opinion!
I love being right. It doesn't happen too often, and when it does, I'm not usually one to gloat, but I am so incredibly happy I was right about this duo. Waze & Odyssey are breaking into 2013 with a great EP forthcoming on Kerri Chandler's MadTech Records (love me some Kerri!).
Deep, delectable house!
I'll admit though, every time I hear "Be Right There" I just start singing the Brothers in Rhythm track "Such a Good Feeling" which I'm guessing is what the boys sampled. What a classic!
p.s. in case you weren't following what I meant by being right, I've been keeping my eye on this elusive duo all of last year and so excited to watch them grow! Big tings!
Oh Mark Knight, I can never predict who you are going to sign next!
Nicky Romero marks his Toolroom debut with a collaboration between fellow Dutchmen Nilson and John Christian.
I remember in 2006 hearing the House track "Same Man" from Germany's Till West and DJ Delicious. I'm going to guess that it was that track that served as inspiration for Romero's "Still the Same Man" but both heavily sample the B Beat Girl's "For the Same Man." Check out the track from 2006:
And here is the upcoming track for Toolroom:
Hashtag EDM!
A lot of artists who make EDM get slammed because of its "hit you over the head with a hammer" sound. This whole phenomenon is actually where I think Holland's Dannic got the name for his new track. "Clobber" is the latest from Daan Romers, who hails from the same hometown as Tiesto and Hardwell (Breda, Holland). Mark Knight is known to sign some obscure and not-so-obscure tracks to his Toolroom label, and I think this signing is warranted for this rising star. The track is fun, fluffy, doesn't make you think too hard, and hey, isn't that what having a good time is all about?!
So far, I've found 2013 to be a little blah. Ok, I know its only been 22 days, but I thought at least some people would be releasing heavy arsenal to mark their debut for the year. I'm really excited about this remix from Louis La Roche (real name Brett Ewes). He takes on Joy Orbison's BRTHDTT (<- I thought that meant birthday but after some googling I saw that it stands for "Big Room Tech House DJ Tool Tip)...also, I can't get on board with this whole Roy Orbison/Joy Orbison play on his name. His real name is Peter O'Grady). Despite not being a huge fan of his name, Joy Orbison continues to blaze and conjure up fans from around the globe.
Check out the original here. It samples Tevin Campbell's "I Got it Bad":
If there is one thing that A-Trak and Nick Catchdubs know what to do, it is see talent! Sweden's Carli Lof has made an absolute banger track that sounds like its from the 90s UK garage era. I first heard it when A-Trak dropped it at a festival late last year (it was either EZoo or EDC), and then again in his Diplo & Friends guest mix for BBC Radio 1. Carli is also part of the Swedish collective Galantis (with Style of Eye and Bloodshy) and duo Savage Skulls (with Mans Glaeser). The track is destined to drop January 29th on Fool's Gold Records. So so good!
Here is the B-side:
13/02/13 Update: Here is the official video for the track. Why is there a baby at this party?!
Oliver are Vaughn Oliver (aka U-Tern) and Oliver Goldstein, and together will release their latest on A-Trak and Nick Catchdub's Fool's Gold label. The Mechanical EP features the title track, which sounds like 80s synths from Grand Theft Auto, as well as tracks "Night Is On My Mind" (a slower, downtempo track), "MYB" which stands for Move Your Body (which is being championed by the likes of Justice), and finally "Control" which samples the 80s record "Self Control" from Laura Branigan.
Heavy on the 80s influence this EP shows maturation and growth from the duo, and is sure to rock many a dancefloor.
