Albums, Electro | Andrew Bayer – If It Were You, We’d Never Leave (Album Review)

Posted by Middy on April 24, 2013

The world needs this album right now. Sometimes in this fast paced mile-a-minute world you just need to sit back, close your eyes and relax, and this is the album for that. The 25 year old American producer has developed a reputation for composing genre defying music that spans many styles and sounds. His 2011 album, “It’s Artificial” propelled his solo career forward with its wide variety of styles, from glitch-hop to silky smooth techno to eclectic electronica and progressive, creating a very cerebral experience.

Fast forward to 2013, Andrew Bayer has become a well established member of the Anjunabeats, producing with Above & Beyond on their album “Group Therapy”, being a part of Group Therapy stages everywhere from Tomorrowland to EDC Las Vegas and Electric Zoo, and joining Above & Beyond on tour all over the world. He has established himself with a growing single discography that includes the recently released “England” on Anjunabeats. “If It Were You, We’d Never Leave” is the progression of Andrew Bayer as an artist from his more days with the Signalrunners, making traditional trance music, to a now more ambient, orchestral, album oriented sound that has a timeless quality seen in very few full length electronic pieces today.

Beatport | iTunes | Physical CD

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Exclusive, Featured, Interviews | Andrew Bayer talks past and future with “If It Were You, We’d Never Leave”, producing with Above & Beyond, future works and more

Posted by Middy on April 15, 2013

American producer (we can’t even try to put him in one genre), Andrew Bayer may seem like a new name to many of you, but this veteran has been in the dance music industry for 10 years now and finally getting the credit he deserves. Starting back in 2003 when he was just a teen in the now on hiatus group, the Signalrunners with Alan Nimmo, before striking out on his own in 2008. An alum on Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts (we are all pulling for you guys), he is one of the few DJ / producers with a professional music degree, an experience he calls “amazing for my growth as a producer”.

Andrew Bayer’s music crosses genres and styles. His 2011 artist album, “It’s Artificial” made waves with its wide variety of styles, from glitch-hop to silky smooth techno to eclectic electronica and progressive, that made the whole experience very cerebral. The experimental 8 track debut artist album signaled his arrival as a solo artist and put the world on notice that he was to be reckoned with. His upcoming album “If It Were You, We’d Never Leave” is a beautiful piece of work. Set to release April 22nd, it may be my favorite album since “Group Therapy”, I am willing to go that far. The subtle layers and samples that create the soothing emotions and sounds are unparalleled to what other producers are putting out right now. You can download “It’s Going To Be Fine” for free here on XLR8R, but to be honest it would be a disservice to the track because this album needs to be heard as one contiguous piece of music, just as it was originally constructed, and each single by themselves will not make as much sense without the context of the album.

We had the chance to get him on the phone today, to talk everything from, working and producing with Above & Beyond, the Signalrunners, the album and more. Pre-order and preview the album below and then click the jump to read the interview.

Pre-order album on iTunes

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Progressive House | Pierce Fulton & Maor Levi – Wanna Be

Posted by Middy on April 12, 2013

Mark Brown’s Cr2 Records has been a friendly home for many of Pierce Fulton‘s releases throughout his young, and burgeoning career. This collaboration with Israeli producer and Anjunabeats regular, Maor Levi, is the first original release for Pierce since his two track “Mr Mime / Sink Or Swim” EP, while Maor Levi takes a break from his impressive gauntlet of remixes to release his first original of the year. “Wanna Be” combines the best of both producer’s worlds, delving into Maor Levi’s trance roots and combining them with the eclectic sensibilities of Pierce Fulton with atmospheric breaks, cheery, pitched female vocals and a smooth top line. The club mix takes an edgier approach, making it more suitable for live sets.

Beatport: Pierce Fulton & Maor Levi – Wanna Be

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Trance | Kyau & Albert – Glühwürmchen

Posted by Middy on March 18, 2013

One of my favorite cuts from Anjunabeats Volume 10, Kyau & Albert’s “Glühwürmchen” get its full single release in the aftermath of the compilation that has already seen the release of Norin & Rad’s “Aldo“. “Glühwürmchen” embodies the current sound of Anjunabeats with a slowed down tempo, gritty low end and an infectious melody. Coming off of the release of their artist album “Nights Awake” last month, Kyau & Albert are off a to a very good start this year.

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Trance | Norin & Rad – Aldo

Posted by Middy on March 14, 2013

With the release of Anjunabeats Volume 10 in our rearview mirror, we now will see the single releases of the tracks on that oustanding compilation. First up comes from North Californian duo Norin & Rad, who have had a somewhat quiet start to the year supporting Above & Beyond on tour in Australia and in the US, while working on finishing up material for their upcoming album. With its genre defying sound “Aldo”, combines a progressive bass line with strong synth chords and atmospheric pads for this euphoric track that is sure to remain strong in the Anjunabeats and Norin & Rad catalogue for months to come. Next up on the docket is my favorite from the entire compilation, Kyau & Albert’s “Glühwürmchen”. If you have not read our recent chat with Norin & Rad, do so here.

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Interviews | Norin & Rad Interview (FNT Exclusive)

Posted by Middy on March 1, 2013

Bruce Karlsson (Norin) & Nick Sember (Rad) better known as Norin & Rad to most of you have become one of the brightest stars in the American trance scene. The two Northern California natives met several years back through mutual friends and since their first single “The Gift”, their career trajectory has only been upward. After releases on Tritonal’s Air Up There label, Enhanced and Coldharbour, they were taken under the guise of Above & Beyond and signed to Anjunabeats. Their single “Bloom” announced their arrival to the trance community that they were a name that needed to be watched.

They have a unique and varied sound that is the archetype of the new blend of trance and house that pervades the trance genre now. The duo have gone from being college students to playing festivals like Tomorrowland, Electric Zoo and EDC in a few short years. Coming off of a strong 2012 with a slew of releases on Anjunabeats, they are set for an even bigger year in 2013 with an album in the works that they say has some “really interesting material” and a single “Aldo” coming this Monday on the Anjunabeats Volume 10. We had the chance to ask them about being a part of the Anjunabeats family, their album and their working relationship. Check out their recent free track “Snap” below and the interview after the jump.

Free Download: Norin & Rad – Aldo

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DJ-Set | Mat Zo Essential Mix 2/8/13

Posted by Middy on February 10, 2013

Following up Eric Prydz’s legendary essential mix last week, Mat Zo had the unfortunate job of trying to follow up that otherworldly two hour mix. Mat Zo manages to mix 75 songs into the 2 hours given to him, making for some very quick transitions and interesting drops. The mix takes you on a journey of genre and style moving through not just trance or house, but through tech, nu-disco and even some drum n bass, as be used to make it himself under his MRZO alias. The mix is nothing like you would hear from a Mat Zo club set, but rather the eclectic taste of the artist and displaying his care free attitude for barriers in music. The mix features new tracks from his upcoming album, including the funky “Pyramid Scheme”, which we have heard in his sets for the past few months and also has some exclusive cuts from The M MAchine and fellow Anjunabeats label mates Andrew Bayer and Norin & Rad. Tracklist after the jump.