Monthly Archives: October 2016

Drop that house: “Be My Love” by @Mahalo_music featuring #CatLewis

MAHALO featuring CAT LEWIS, “Be My Love”

“Be My Love” is just about everything that a slicker-than-average house track can be.  House is such a versatile dance genre and L.A.’s Mahalo embraces it with wonderfully evocative 90s flavoured synths and piano, while Cat Lewis delivers one of those powerful top liners that makes other producers and DJ’s simply rave.  Neither are well-established yet but potent original songs like “Be My Love” are the tickets to send them on their way, this time courtesy of Swiss label No Definition.  “Be My Love” is a superb follow up to Mahalo’s recent late-nite-L.A. take on “La La Land” by Shaun Frank, DVBBS and Delaney Jane.  You’ll want to head over to Beatport to listen to and download “Be My Love” at the above link.  

Especially for guitar fans: “Home” by @Ugochill

UGOCHILL, “Home”

“Home” is the stuff that dreams are made of for rock guitar fans and guitarists alike, courtesy of The Netherlands-based veteran indie performer Ugochill (aka Alex Radojcic).  Reminiscent perhaps of Genesis transitioning from Peter Gabriel to Phil Collins years with guitar work that instantly brings to mind some of the most renown – Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck or Stevie Ray Vaughan – “Home” also features a deep haunting almost spoken-word vocal and a prominent bass that will plow right through you.  Its melody is so familiar yet distant at the same time, and the sound overall is crisp and contemporary.  But Ugochill’s distinctly brilliant guitar work is the star here.  Listen to “Home” on Spotify at the link above.

Guitar-toasted deep house courtesy of Belgium’s #Dyrigent “Stones” featuring #JulianEasily

DYRIGENT featuring JULIAN EASILY, “Stones”

The Tipsy label has a winner with young Belgian newcomer Dyrigent and “Stones”.  Like songs from his fellow Belge The Magician, songs like “Stones” are atypical of the EDM emanating from Europe.  Featuring a laid back vocal by Julian Easily that might remind some people of qualities of a young Neil Diamond (who ironically recorded a song of the same name!), “Stones” is a mid-Autumn guitar-toasted deep house escape back to the Summer and long drives down an endless highway near sundown.  Its forlorn, retrospective melody evokes a touch of sadness as life moves on.  But that having been said, it’s perfect for the dance floor – those who have opined about being sick of the tropical sub-genre need look no further to help change your mind.  Do check out “Stones” at the link above.

Gimme more of that funky stuff: @Jenauxmusic meets @BrynChristopher for “I Want Your Love”

JENAUX featuring BRYN CHRISTOPHER, “I Want Your Love”

NYC producer/DJ Jenaux continues the wild ride he’s been on throughout 2016 with his funk-laced EDM with “I Want Your Love”.  It’s his debut release for none other than the Ministry of Sound label, and is a collaboration with UK singer/songwriter Bryn Christopher (otherwise known these days as a member of EDM group I See Monstas).  It’s a straight-forward but powerful record, bridging Jenaux’s US funk sound with British soul/house.  Like with his last original release “Get It On”, he uses a fierce chopped up high pitched vocal to excellent, easily recognizable effect.  After his recent collaboration with Tritonal for “Broken” (featuring Adam Lambert) and remixes for Gramatik, The Chainsmokers and a number of other A-list EDM talent this year, Jenaux will continue on roller skates touring and releasing new songs as the rest of the world discovers his genuinely appealing, stand out take on dance music.  Check out “I Want Your Love” at the link above.

“No More Love Songs” puts @BrandonSkeie’s versatile voice on display

https://soundcloud.com/brandonskeie/brandon-skeie-no-more-love-songs

BRANDON SKEIE, “No More Love Songs”

“No More Love Songs” is the follow-up single to Brandon Skeie’s brilliant “So Bad” from this past Spring, which is one of my most favourite songs of 2016.  “No More Love Songs” doesn’t resonate as quickly perhaps, though it is handsome textbook songwriting.  The star here is Brandon’s versatile, far-reaching voice, which we also heard in “Pulse”, a song that he and Eli Lieb recorded after the Orlando murders.  He can pretty much sing anything and will slide easily between pop and EDM/dance genres.  “No More Love Songs” swoops and swirls and is big or quiet in all the right places.  Check it out at the link above and pick it up on your favourite digital platform.

Sophisticated fun: @CallieReiff remixes @SofiTukker’s “Déjà Vu Affair”

SOFI TUKKER, “Déjà Vu Affair” (Callie Reiff remix)

I’m always happy to write about the talented duo Sofi Tukker, who have come a long way since that infectious Portuguese-language club hit “Drinkee” was released about a year ago.  Starting as protégés of The Knocks, they later released their EP Soft Animals via the Ultra label and have been touring steadily ever since.  NYC producer/DJ Callie Reiff lends her sophisticated layered backdrop to “Déjà Vu Affair”, a track from that EP, which is so instantly complimentary to the duo’s catchy vibe.  It’s an equally infectious spin that keeps the bounce of the original but more in the deep house vein.  So it’s all here for dance clubs to embrace… check it out above and download the remix for free.

 

Live forever: @runCryWolf shines with progressive, languid electronica “Quantum Immortality”

CRYWOLF, “Quantum Immortality”

“Quantum Immortality” is the kind of song title that belongs as part of a sci-fi movie, and actually this new single by L.A.-based performer Crywolf would totally suit that artistic environment.  Drawing from influences like Crystal Castles and Flume while stylistically falling into similar musical trappings as M83, James Blake, and Porter Robinson, Crywolf (aka Justin Phillips) packs a lot of content and flair into his songs that sustain them till they finish.  “Quantum Immortality” may not be for everyone, but its theme is universal and the melody moves along a lot like classical pieces at times.  But it wouldn’t be convincing without his far-reaching vocal, which I first heard earlier this year through Bronze Whale’s remix of the heartfelt “Slow Burn” (from his recent album Cataclasm).  Crywolf has been gaining more momentum over the past few years, currently wrapping up a recent multi-city tour, and I think his profile will continue to gleam with songs like this.  “Quantum Immortality” is for late nights when you want to ponder life sitting under the stars.  Check it out at the above link.

 

“Constant Crush” by @Verite unravels into a potent @weareAnden deep house mix

VÉRITÉ, “Constant Crush” (Anden remix)

NYC brothers and producers/DJs Anden follow up their stellar remixes of Great Good Fine OK’s “Always” and “Undertow” by Satchmode with a rich and potent remix of immensely talented NYC alternative vocalist Vérité’s “Constant Crush”, which in its original version appears in her recent EP Living. Vérité’s music is deep and full of conviction, and has a lot of edge in concert.  Sometimes her songs are a matter of taste and not always suited to a dance beat.  “Constant Crush” though completely basks in the deep house setting provided by Anden, while retaining enough flavour to keep her alt.rock fans engaged.  Plenty of layers of busy instrumentation plus a relentless rhythm are here for your attention, and some simple-sounding vocal effects near the end help “Constant Crush” to a memorable end.  Download it for free at the link above.

Get that party started: “The Thirst” by @EricSharp featuring @ZhaoKennyZhao

ERIC SHARP featuring ZHAO, “The Thirst”

If you want to put some punch into that deep house mix then “The Thirst” by producer/DJ Eric Sharp featuring Zhao, who both hail from L.A., is your party-starter.  From its first note “The Thirst” does not let up, recalling late 80’s house at the height of its infectious initial heyday.  It’s married with some late 90’s Daft Punk guitar riffing and a next-level vocal by Zhao that fuels the rhythm.  Kudos to The Disco Fries for believing in this one for release on their Liftoff label.  “The Thirst” will leave you wanting more.  It’s one of those unique records very deserving of a big push from club DJ’s.  Give it a listen at the link above and let the groove take over!

Slay your own dragon: “Balmung” by @Alexandrius_ and @DJMirkoB

https://soundcloud.com/vireggs/alexandrius-dj-mirko-b-balmung-out-07102016

ALEXANDRIUS & DJ MIRKO B, “Balmung”

“Balmung” is the stuff of Nordic legends, a sword used to kill a dragon.  So if you’re going to use imagery like this to be the face of your EDM instrumental, it had better be over-the-top.  And “Balmung” by Italian producers/DJs Alexandrius and DJ Mirko B is just that, it is out to slay you and make you react instantly on the dance floor.  It’s fist-pumping, floor stomping, battlefield-dirty electronica that can only be borne out of Europe.  It simply does not let up, a real crowd-pleaser among many solid instrumentals that have arrived in 2016.  While you can only preview “Balmung” at the link above, it’s well worth the trip to Beatport or your favourite digital store to pick it up.