Sunday, September 29, 2013

Jackson and His Computerband - Vista (Hudson Mohawke Remix)



Featuring a tantalizing 3 minute buildup, prolific Glaswegian Hudson Mohawke has metamorphosed Jackson and His Computerband's already exceptional single 'Vista' into a soaring neon anthem, the climax of which is reminiscent of label mate Rustie's work. How the times have changed; the man who once brought us showstopping Brainfeeder tinged cuts like 'Star of a Story' has increasingly begun to tap into his mainstream-edm friendly leanings. Although there's certainly nothing wrong with that, it feels strange being able to say anything made by Mohawke would fit comfortably under somebody else's name, even if it is longtime colleague Rustie.

-Farsight

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Jordan Rakei - Add The Bassline (Penthouse Penthouse Remix)



From its humble beginnings as a two-man remix contest, Team Supreme has blossomed into a cornerstone of the West Coast’s electronic scene, putting out a weekly remix set that is consistently excellent. The tracks are provided by a broad and deep stable of chilled-out, hip-hop influenced producers, but the real standout is Penthouse Penthouse, the collaboration between Preston James and Mike Parvizi. Their most recent contribution to the Team Supreme series is this remix of a soon-to-be-released Jordan Rakei track called “Add the Bassline” that ably marries classic garage sounds with contemporary sensibilities. If you missed it, you should also check out their track Closer with Chloe Martini from two months back to see their take on the nu-disco sound.

-Hieratic

Friday, September 27, 2013

Jam City - Club Constructions Vol. 6



An enigma with a knack for oblique, minimal and often experimental cuts, Night Slugs pillar Jam City is set to release a fresh batch of dance floor ammunition early this October. This EP marks the sixth installment of the 'Club Constructions' releases, a carefully curated series that arguably represents Night Slugs' most accessible offerings — the label's forward-thinking bent is at times challenging to the uninitiated. Accordingly, Jam City's "constructions" are uniformly dance-able, featuring his relentless kick-patterns, rhythmic samples, and flourishing, persistent synthwork (notably in the case of the EP's heavy-hitting closer, 'Garlands'). The end result is satisfying and far less abstract than his LP, 'Classical Curves,' although both are provocative in their own right.

-Farsight

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Dirty Chocolate - Awesome



Trap is dead. Long live trap. Just as it looked doomed to be the next dubstep, a genre reduced to a punchline, trap has seen a flowering of creativity by artists like Dirty Chocolate. His new track 'Awesome' artfully interweaves distorted, contorted samples from Danny Brown's "Blunt After Blunt" extolling the virtues of kush with luscious, chippy treble synths and thick bass — and all without asking "Damn son, where'd ya find this?". With artists like Colta and Two Fresh also pushing the boundaries of trap, there may be hope for the genre yet.

-Hieratic

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Unknown Artist - XPNL 001



This four track vinyl-only release takes no prisoners, cutting to the quick with a syncopated, gritty style that that pays homage to breakbeat, grime and dubstep. This EP constitutes the founding release of the Expect No Less label, an offshoot of the established Sound Pellegrino imprint. Orgasmic, the driving force behind Expect No Less, asserts his new venture aims to release "tools and secret weapons for demanding DJs". With versatile rhythms that could shake up almost any set released at a highly limited run of 200 copies, I can see how "secret weapon" would be an appropriate descriptor. Speaking of secrets, although the producer is billed as "Unknown Artist", the liner notes indicate that this mysterious figure is in fact fellow French producer Para One, better known for airy, synth filled cuts.

-Farsight

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Poolside - Slow Down



It my be fall, but that doesn't mean you can't warm up with this summery cut by nu-disco enthusiasts Poolside, off their 2012 album Pacific Standard Time, available here. This track, “Slow Down”, is hot, sticky, and deliciously sweet, like a Sno-Cone melting on Venice Beach in late July. Listen to it whenever you want to kick back, relax, and feel like you’re sitting at the side of a pool, no matter the weather. -Hieratic

Monday, September 16, 2013

Addison Groove & Sam Binga - Rzor



Sam Binga is quickly carving a unique niche for himself in the world of 160+ bpm music by skillfully combining footwork and DnB with a dash of trap music. Though the trio often share tempo, there has until recently been a distinct lack of hybridization between the three, more often than not limited to acknowledgement by way of a stray break in the case of trap or perhaps a distinctive juke snare rhythm in drum and bass. However, 'Rzor' off of Binga's collaborative EP with established producer Addison Groove provides an excellent case for further exploration of this mixture. The track's frantic sub stabs and ever-building percussion do credit to its various genres of origin while simultaneously giving life to something truly fresh.

-Farsight

Sunday, September 15, 2013

DJ Funk - Three Fine Hoes (Sinjin Hawke Remix)



Although grandiose horn arrangements and orchestral stings might seem at odds with the relatively no-frills aesthetic of ghetto house, Sinjin Hawke has melded them in manner that is engrossing and altogether thrilling. Hawke's remix of DJ Funk's 'Three Fine Hoes' is in part notable for its incessant climbing; about two thirds of its play time are swells and rises, finally giving way to a brief segment that only vaguely resembles the straightforward trappings of its original. Sinjin's project seems to be an effort to maximize the impact of ghetto house's trademark minimalism by juxtaposing it with an exceptionally extravagant production. It's pretty damn safe to say he did a great job of it. Forthcoming on France's Booty Call Records.

-Farsight