Drum & Bass, Dubstep, Moombahton, Review | Emalkay – Flesh & Bone (Remixes)
Posted by Mach on February 28, 2012
I wanted to take a day after this released to listen a bit more to these remixes. Emalkay are amazing, but this package contained some lesser names and I really wanted to be sure about posting them. Turns out I am in love with every remix on this, and picking one favorite is very difficult to do. The original track is cool reggae vibed drum & bass, a feel I have really been getting into as of late. The first remix on this happened to end up being my favorite, The Others kept the parts I loved about the original and added a sweet dubstep drop. When it came to picking my favorite out the 3 remixes, Delta Heavy’s remix was almost tied with The Others. Delta Heavy went with a drumstep remix, and really took off with the drum beat which sounds incredible. Beatport confused me, they have the entire remix EP labeled as dubstep, but clearly Dismantel went with a sexy moombahton remix that I don’t think anyone would mind hearing on the dance floor. All in all I really enjoyed listening to these remixes.
Compilation, House, Interviews, Review, Videos | Jaytech Interview + Anjunadeep Vol 4
Posted by Middy on February 27, 2012
We have a lot for you in this post. We have an exclusive interview with the Australian Dj / producer, James Cayzer, better known as Jaytech, one of the mixers on Anjunedeep Volume 4, which just released today, as well as an exclusive download of one of Jaytech’s more popular songs “Djembe”. As Jaytech explains in the interview, Anjunadeep is the sister label of Anjunabeats, the label run by the trance super group Above & Beyond. Anjuandeep deals with everything melodic house and this can be seen on this mix compilation. The first CD was mixed by James Grant and the second was mixed by Jaytech. The first CD has more of a techy, deep house feel with some great groovy tracks from guys like Tom Middleton (no relation to me), Andrew Bayer, Dusky and more. There are old releases and new including Andrew Bayer & James Grant’s remix of Above & Beyond – Prelude, Two songs from Dusky, Andrew Bayer – You and many more.
The second CD is more of the melodic house signature of Anjunadeep with some heavy trance influences in some of the songs. The second CD is chock full of quality tracks from Solarity, Suspect 44 and their uplifting track “Neon Feel”, Oliver Smith, Andrew Bayer and more. Jaytech premiers some new tracks on here with “Synergy” and “Atlantic”. The entire compilation send us on a journey of sounds and emotions with the music through a variety of tech, deep, and melodic house songs with different sounds and styles from groovy and funky rhythms to songs with more trance influences. This compilation has something for everyone who likes EDM and after the jump check out the interview with Jaytech that has been in the works for a while but just came to fruition. Also below are two mix previews, buy links, social media links, and the exclusive song from Jaytech, “Djembe”.
Buy it via: Anjunadeep Store | iTunes
Jaytech – Facebook | Twitter | Anjunadeep – Facebook | Twitter
Review | Dillon Francis – “Something, Something, Awesome.” EP
Posted by Spice on February 14, 2012
Dillon Francis released his new EP today as a little Valentine’s day present to his fans. There may be only three tracks (one for each Dillon Francis on that cover art?) but this EP is nonetheless fire: it combines electro house with the downtempo funk of moombahton to great effect. Dillon has already managed to cultivate an undeniably distinctive sound and these tracks reinforce that, with high-pitched synths and the agile, I.D.G.A.F.O.S.-esque melodies that are rapidly becoming his trademark. And, of course, plenty of driving and super danceable moombah basslines. Good stuff all around. My favorite of the three is currently “Dill The Noise,” which Sev previewed in last night’s Moomabah Mondays post, but “Falling Up” (which you may have already heard on BBC Radio 1) is packed with catchy riffs and “Now Hear This” layers some heavier electro synths under those recognizable moombahton leads. In short, this is a must DL; I have a feeling that Dillon’s in for a very big year so support his work by purchasing these tracks on Beatport.
Dubstep, Electro, Review | Nick Thayer – Like Boom EP
Posted by Spice on February 8, 2012
When OWSLA releases something new, you pay attention. Recent EPs from OWSLA-affiliated artists Kill the Noise and KOAN Sound have represented some of the most innovative efforts in EDM to date, and no one can deny the growing firepower behind young guns Zedd and Porter Robinson. So when Nick Thayer’s newest EP “Like Boom” dropped under the imprint yesterday, I knew that it would be worth a listen.
Nick Thayer is an Australian producer with a marked talent for weaving together elements of different genres — this latest EP mines hip-hop, dubstep, electro house, progressive house, moombahton and drum and bass to tremendous effect. While I had never heard of him before, I was immediately impressed by his versatility and obvious skill. Opening with some unexpected funked-out hip-hop (“Like Boom”), the EP veers quicky into heavy electro domain with “Facepalm,” which has a gritty, almost rock-inspired edge. “Totalitaria,” with its laser synths and more languorous tempo, is practically in moombahcore territory, while “What Props Ya Got” will ratchet up your heart rate with some truly frenetic DnB runs (before easing into a catchy, house-inflected hook). On the whole, “Like Boom” is an explosive and boundary-blurring listen which shows that Nick Thayer is less interested in the rules than he is in charting new territory.
Buy “Like Boom” on Beatport or preview the tracks below.
Dubstep, Review | Teknian Firedance EP
Posted by Sev on February 7, 2012
Teknian, the 17-year old prodigy out of Sweden signed to Screwloose Records, dropped this amazing musical masterpiece EP entitled Firedance yesterday. After going through each track multiple times I came to the conclusion that Teknian’s style can be said to be a fusion between KOAN Sound and Culprate. As you will soon hear, Teknian doesn’t just slap together a melody and some bass and call it a track. Each track is intricately created to the detail. Take Urban Grounds for example, besides the fact that the drop is out of this world he also creates a unique blend of instruments in the introduction that bring a feeling of tranquillity to the listener, then he just turns their world upside down after the drop. Not limiting himself to one genre either on this EP, he provides some drum and bass and a new interpretation on house music. Amazing stuff coming from this producer and a very promising future ahead of him if he keeps unleashing musical masterpieces like these. Make sure to listen to all the tracks and don’t miss out on grabbing this EP. Get it on Beatport HERE.
Dubstep, Electro, House, Review | Feed Me – Feed Me’s Escape From Electric Mountain EP
Posted by Mach on February 7, 2012
Feed Me dropped this killer EP yesterday, and I have literally had the entire thing on repeat since. Feed Me AKA Spor has had an insane career so far. As Spor, Feed Me was one of the most legendary artists in drum & bass and is still considered so. He created Feed Me, the green critter above as a new persona with the goal of creating crazy sounding dance tunes out of electo, house, and dubstep beats mainly. Though he still does some work in drum & bass as Spor, Feed Me seems to understand that his new persona is now his main one, and will surely continue to drop insane works such as this one.
As I said before Feed Me’s goal has been to create great dance tracks, and that greatly reflects on this EP, even on the dubstep tracks. Trapdoor which was the first track off this EP that we were teased with, has a sick vocal and dubstep blend. Relocation is the first time I have really ever heard Feed Me create a very strong uplifting house track, shows that the man does not wish to settle on one style of music. One Click Headshot is a laugh for anyone who has seen the youtube video that is sampled on the track, and once it drops….BOOM HEADSHOT! I get the feeling that on Embers, Feed Me had some guidance from Deadmau5 with the use of the chords, the track itself is built perfectly, too bad we never got a preview of it before the release. Trichitillomania (mouthful of a name) I have a feeling was meant for the sole purpose of being remixed, considering how basic sounding of an instrumental track it is until the drop at 4:30. Last is the greatly anticipated dubstep collaboration between Feed Me & Gemini, Whiskers. Gemini’s style is very smooth, melodic, and almost trance like, but that blended with the raunchy styling of Feed Me leaves us with one dope finale to the EP. Happy listenings.
Review | Skrillex @ Terminal 5; New York, NY / Mothership Tour Short Film
Posted by Spice on February 7, 2012
I was lucky enough to snag a last minute ticket to see Skrillex with Skream, Benga, KOAN Sound and TOKiMONSTA in New York this past weekend. From the insane crowd to the incredible opening acts to the absolutely mind-blowing performance that Skrillex put on for two frenzied hours, it was without a doubt one of the best shows I’ve ever been to.
Before we go into that, however, check out the video above. The OWSLA team just dropped this extended behind-the-scenes look at the Mothership tour and it’s a must-watch, although it basically just serves to confirm what most of us already know: Skrillex is living the dream right now.
But back to Saturday. Keep reading for my review and some videos from the show….