Tag Archives: progressive

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.

Tricky futuristic thriller: “Wanchu Back” by @AeroChord

AERO CHORD, “Wanchu Back”

After revisiting “The 90’s” for us a little while back, Aero Chord continues with an even more diverse zinger called “Wanchu Back”.  While desperately wanting his special one back, Aero Chord turns what is essentially an instrumental into a dramatic and stylish reunion by the end.  Along the way though, what seems like it might be a brisk, futuristic bass-laden house track segues into dubstep and trap behind door #1 and then some really inspired and melodic pop moments behind door #2.  Aero Chord really delivers the goods with “Wanchu Back” which is sure to leave club denizens pumped and wanting more.  Check it out at the link above.

Shake your groove thang: “Fixed On You” by @HotelGaruda featuring @VioletDaysband

HOTEL GARUDA featuring VIOLET DAYS, “Fixed On You”

Like the best songs this year that leave their groove all over the dance floor, rising duo Hotel Garuda are out to slay with “Fixed On You”.  Featuring a vocal by Violet Days that also leaves no prisoners, “Fixed On You” is all about that burbling bass synth undercurrent which will empower even the loftiest of dancers to strike a pose or two.  In some ways this one reminds me musically of Madonna’s “Into The Groove” – for inspiration 😛  It’s no wonder that Hotel Garuda – consisting of Manila Killa and Candleweather – are getting rave reviews from audiences and peers alike.  Listen above to “Fixed On You”, it’s a hard one to resist, so you best click that mouse on over to your favourite digital store to get it.

“Key To Life” is a unique floor-filler from L.A.’s @Kaufaudio

KAUF, “Key To Life”

L.A.’s Ronald Kaufman is definitely on the upward swing these days, having held a recent residency at an L.A. club which saw capacity crowds.  Shifting from more experimental cinematic sounds, Kauf’s latest is a dance-floor filler called “Key To Life”.  And that’s not to say that he’s leaving what he’s built behind for something simple.  On the contrary – “Key To Life” is beautifully complex electronica, full of percussive and slighter sounds along with a prominent bass undercurrent, drawing from influences like Björk and James Blake, but embracing a resilient groove that his audiences have appreciated in his live performances.  So here we have a vivid variation of progressive disco, continuing to be well-suited to his voice and yet more accessible at the same time.  That’s a hard place to find and be successful at it but Kauf has nailed it with this one.  “Key To Life” comes from Kauf’s forthcoming album Regrowth and I’m looking forward to hearing more.  Check it out at the link above.

Hearts beat loud: “Again” by @ArnoCost feat. @EricLumiere in a @Neevo_music x Eldar @ZeynaLovin’ & #JackQuade remix

https://soundcloud.com/enhanced/arno-cost-feat-eric-lumiere-3

ARNO COST featuring ERIC LUMIERE, “Again” (Neevo x Eldar & Jack Quade remix)

Fresh off the presses after Tritonal’s Painting with Dreams comes another record on their Enhanced label featuring a bevy of talent:  Arno Cost featuring the highly recognizable voice of dance/EDM veteran Eric Lumiere with “Again” in a remix brought to us by Neevo, Eldar and Jack Quade.  It’s hard to transform a song that’s meant to be a punchy pop/dance floor filler into something more, but the guys have transformed it into a powerfully magnetic, love-hungry EDM ballad anthem.  But it doesn’t get turned down too low, there’s lots of room here to keep you moving in the right direction.  Preview the remix above and pick it up at your favourite digital music store.

“The 90’s” is brought to you by @AeroChord with a twist – or ten

AERO CHORD, “The 90’s”

Greek producer/remixer/DJ Aero Chord returns with something unexpected and totally on point instrumental called “The 90’s”.  He takes several futuristic twists and somehow marries it to some melodies that will definitely make you recall the last decade of the last century, and the one that keeps popping into my head is “Nightmare” by Brainbug, which was all over clubs in the last part of that decade.  So be prepared to slide back and forthfrom slick ’16 rhythms to retro techno and europop.  “The 90’s” is worth the trip back in time through your stereo speakers.  Listen at the link above.

Enjoy this trippy trip: @FoxStevensonnow’s “Rocket”

FOX STEVENSON, “Rocket”

British producer/DJ/remixer Fox Stevenson offers up a trippy dubstep instrumental called “Rocket” after making headway in the biz these last four years or so.  And yes it’s a perfect soundscape for anything up in outer space.  It has a deceptive lead up which bursts just before the minute mark, and then some right crazy melodies and a wash of synths leap out to render you helpless.  So with “Rocket” you’re on one heckuva musical carnival ride that you’ll enjoy visiting over and over.  Be sure to check it out at the link above.

San Diego’s @Zumadotwav and @Nsolomusic tantalize with progressive, chilled out “Haste”

https://soundcloud.com/zumadotwav/haste-ft-nsolo/s-Dl71I

ZUMA featuring NSOLO, “Haste” (free DL)

Call it the beauty behind the sadness 🙂 San Diego producer Zuma was a DJ in Tokyo for a few years, and that may have contributed to his refined look at the past through his new song “Haste” which features fellow SD denizen Nsolo on vocals.  It’s a chilled out but progressive slice of EDM with an added touch of rich soul in the vocal that a number of performers are finding appealing these days.  The result is a complex, lush song that tells an intricate story but is also meant to tantalize your senses and emotions while giving you a grooving rhythm backdrop.  “Haste” is one of those records that may not appeal to everyone, but the percussion flourishes in the melody and strong vocal make it memorable.  Listen to “Haste” and then download it for free above.

Way more than just big beats and drops,@iamtheElephante’s debut EP is a #Dance and #EDM jewel

elephante3

ELEPHANTE, I Am The Elephante (EP)

As of yesterday, if there’s any record that the Dance and EDM worlds should be paying attention to in 2016, it’s I Am The Elephante by of course L.A.-based Elephante (aka Tim Wu).  It’s the culmination of a huge amount of growth during the last year from a talented guy on the rise with a fine mix of original songs that just might send him over the top.  

The 9 songs are full of rich and layered synths (and probably more instrumentation) and production, and it rarely lets up (i.e. no downtempo!).  What I’ve discovered more about EDM over the last year is that there’s lots of room for heartfelt emotion to pour out, and Elephante embraces this, so in some ways the songs play out like theatrical pieces.  We’ve already been predisposed to “Black Ivory” (the instrumental I call his theme song), the powerful “Hold” (featuring Jessica Jarrell), “Catching On” (featuring Nevve), and of course the beautiful song which seems to be transcending 2016, “Closer” (featuring Bishøp).  And the new songs are equally diverse, alternately progressive and futuristic.

Both “Shake The Earth” (featuring Lyon Hart) and “Goliath” (featuring Jody Drake) are riveting, where big things happen and melodies win out over the aggressive backdrop.  I could picture Florence Welch singing “Shake The Earth”!  I’ve got a really soft spot for the new single “Plans” (below) which features the ever-amazing Brandyn Burnette in a romantic story that is the core of this EP, and I expect “Plans” to blow up similarly to “Closer” so watch out!  The record is rounded out with “Dynasty” (with Mila) and another track with Nevve that crushes it called “Sirens”.  There is not a mediocre song within I Am The Elephante!  When does that ever happen?

So I’m very enthused, happy, and inspired for Elephante and this debut EP, as well as for Dance and EDM.  When you need to make a huge calling card, you make a record like this.  BRAVO!  

Listen to “Plans” featuring Brandyn Burnette below.

@TwoFriendsmusic crank it up with @ExitFriendzone for new original “Overdose” featuring #Natalola

TWO FRIENDS & EXIT FRIENDZONE featuring NATALOLA, “Overdose”

The stars continue to soar for L.A. based duo Two Friends as they follow up their first Armada Trice original “Forever” with “Overdose”, this time in partnership with Toronto duo Exit Friendzone and Demi Lovato-esque vocal by Natalola.  “Overdose” could easily have been over-the-top but restraint comes in the form of familiar Two Friends melodies which make it swing.  But it’s definitely one of their more powerful, aggressive tracks, meant to be the centre of attention on the dance floor.  So if you’re looking to turn the speakers up to 11, “Overdose” is the song to help get them there 😛  Listen above and pick it up on any digital platform.