Events, Review | Hardwell, Dyro, Audien & Henrix @ Governor’s Island 5/26/13
Posted by Middy on June 2, 2013
Looking back on last weekend, I think about how time flew from graduating college on Saturday afternoon, to a whirlwind celebration afterword into the wee hours of the morning, then struggling to move out entirely a few hours later to get home and make it into New York for this show on Governor’s Island by 4pm (was never going to happen). The lineup starting with Hardwell, then Dyro, Henrix and Audien was golden and if you were in New York, you had to attend this event. The city had “officially” kicked off the festival season with overpriced, lackluster EDC New York in the parking lot of Citi Field and really needed a proper start to festival season. Why not a holiday weekend like Memorial Day weekend that is the beginning of summer for many, on the beaches of Governer’s Island, with a lineup led by possibly the hottest DJ in the world right now, Hardwell.
Albums, Review | A Belated Discussion of Random Access Memories
Posted by Spice on May 31, 2013
By now, you’ve already listened to Daft Punk’s fourth album in full. You may have streamed it on iTunes, or downloaded the rip when it leaked (even though ain’t nobody got time for 192 kbps…), or perhaps you waited patiently and saved your first listen for the official, high quality, purchasable version. Your opinion of the album is probably already cemented.
But that won’t stop me from trying to change it.
Dubstep, House, Review | Culprate – The Great Expedition EP
Posted by Mach on May 27, 2013
This has to be one of the best EPs of 2013. Culprate is one of the most underrated artists in the EDM world, and the fact that the main population has not caught on to his music is disappointing. Culprate kicks off his EP with an epic melody of bass. “Scarred” has been sitting in his arsenal for a while now and once fans discovered he was finally releasing it, everyone went nuts, myself included. Dubstep currently is one of the most disappointing genres in electronic music, but it is artists like Culprate and tracks like “Scarred” that give me hope. His second track “Eddys” shows the abstract side of bass music that Cuprate can’t seem to stay away from. I will agree it’s not for everyone, but it is something worth dipping your ears into. Continuing the abstract flow, “Talk To Frank” is definitely one of my favorites from this EP. Maksim spits better than I have ever heard him before and the fact the instrumentals aren’t the easiest to lay his grimy verses over makes this a truly insane tune.
There is an interesting story behind the track “McFunk”, it is actually 1 of 4 collaborations Culprate did with the duo, Torqux. By the time the tracks were completed, Culprate took this incredible funky House tune and let the duo keep the other 3 tracks, what guy. Makes you wonder though, what do the other 3 soound like? When it comes to Dubstep and Midtempo styled bass music, Cuprate takes the win often, but this last track on the EP was something that I don’t think his fans even expected to hear. Collaborating with Addergebroed, Culprate layed out some of the best Techno I have heard in a long time. “Reboot” is exactly what it’s named, it is the revival of one of the most legendary genres. If this track doesn’t inspire more artists to look back at Techno, then it may in fact finally be outdated, but for now just enjoy the greatness.
All in all, this EP is absolutely amazing. I would love to see Culprate top charts with this, he is more than deserving with these great productions.
Beatport: Culprate – The Great Expedition EP
Events, Review | Kaskade – It’s You, It’s Me Redux Tour
Posted by mimada on May 22, 2013
Photo by Justin Nizer
I’ve finally washed ashore from the sensational tidal wave that was Kaskade’s It’s You, It’s Me Redux Tour. Everything you heard about drowning in sweat, auditory immersion and house deeper than the Mariana Trench was no exaggeration in reference to what I experienced that Tuesday night at his kick off show in Dallas. I’ll do my best to recreate the atmosphere (hehe) from that show but when it comes down to it, you just have to close your eyes in dive into the music yourself. Conveniently, I’ve provided the San Diego set in it’s entirety for your listening pleasure so all you need to do is press play and come with me on my journey to the most intimate underground electronic show you’ve only seen in your wildest dreams.
House, Review | Stars Above – Higher Than The Sky EP
Posted by Mach on May 21, 2013
Stars Above is always serenading me with his touch of Trance on his House tracks. it has been well over 18 months since Stars Above was able to release an original production, but he is now here with two epic tracks. Every time I hear a new tune from Stars Above I imagine myself under a massive tent, then I turn up my volume and get lost in the music. His title track, “Higher Than The Sky” makes me want to throw my arms in the air that high. The second drop breaks into an awesome dance vibe, something to make any big room just lose it. “Daybreak” wakes me up, seriously, it has been my alarm for a few days now and I love it. It is the perfect progression for lightening my mood from “I can’t believe I actually have to get out of bed this morning”. Out of the two, “Daybreak” is definitely my favorite, I am just a sucker for piano and Stars Above delivered.
Electro-House, Review | Knife Party – Haunted House EP
Posted by Mach on May 6, 2013
A lot of people have been highly anticipating the next Knife Party release. Knife Party had stated that their “Haunted House Tour” was not related to an EP, but as you can see that’s not the case. I do like this EP, but it is further proof of how lazy the duo is when it comes to producing. My take on this EP is positive and negative, just to warn those of you who will take offense or disagreement to my opinions of each track.
“Power Glove” is a fun, hard hitting Electro-House track that I am sure is a blast in a live setting, but half the time I feel like I am listening to another VIP of “Internet Friends”. “LRAD” isn’t my style of House, I know it is a lot of fun in a big room with a good sound system, but I can’t get over how repetitious this style is. I like to be kept interested in a song, this just sounds like a track meant to please the tasteless festival attendees who are on countless drugs anyways. Speaking of an “Internet Friends VIP”, I am a bit disappointed that Knife Party included the actually VIP in this EP. I will not lie that I have been dying to get my hands on it, but seeing as “Power Glove” already sounds a bit like the original in the drop, I can’t help but think they could have picked a better original to include instead. Finally we get to the only track on the EP that actually sounds like a lot of effort and time was put into its creation. “EDM Death Machine” starts out with a kicking beat and light use in samples, it sounds like they learned from over sampling in “Internet Friends”. I love the progression Knife Party uses, my first listen was exciting, they managed to keep me on my toes the entire way through.
To those of you who are thinking “What are you talking about? This EP is amazing!” I do think it is good, amazing is a little far considering how less creative this EP feels as a whole. I would however recommend this to everyone. Knife Party has always made it their job to help you rage, even if they appear to be extremely lazy at times.
Beatport: Knife Party – Haunted House EP
Events, Review, Trance | The Expedition’s Trance Takeover of Madison Square Garden
Posted by Middy on April 6, 2013
Wow, Wichita State is crushing Ohio State. This is not even close, who woulda thunk it. The bartender refills my glass as I watch the Shockers do just that, shock the basketball world and everyone’s bracket. Man was mine totally ruined, but at least I wasn’t the guy who picked georgetown to go all the way — dunk city. I look at my phone, 8:10. I am pushing the limit of how long I can stay at the bar because I need to get over to Madison Square Garden and sneak down past some security guards to a seat that isn’t in the obstructed view section. I close out and head over to the Garden to navigate the line and get inside.
The line is nonexistent, so I walk through and head up to the first level to probe the defenses of the seat security like a prized fighter trying to find the weak spot of my enemy. I see some other people dancing the same dance I am and as a group we would like to thank the kid in the teal tank who was escorted out of section 102 and left the entrance unguarded, letting the stream of approximately me and 4 other kids into the section. Thank you, because my seat put me dead center and I could see the entire arena laid out in front of me.