Seablaze - Disc 1: Kalm

A newcomer espousing the seapunk aesthetic with gusto, Chicago's very own Seablaze is appropriately poised to release his first offering on Russia's Hyperboloid Records, a veritable treasure trove of hyperactive beats that revel in their own internet-fueled pastiche. Sporting the typical palette of incessantly melodic day-glo synths while tastefully re-appropriating aspects of trap, juke, and more experimental sub-genres, Seablaze has hit upon a particularly compelling combination that is greater than the sum of its parts, an increasingly rare achievement in this particular (and often maligned) musical niche. Seablaze has graciously offered 'Pastel Spells,' a more restrained cut from the release as a free download, here.

-Farsight

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

DIGI - Ivory

                       

Digi G'Alessio, Italian bass-music producer extraordinaire, has just released Ivory, an EP infused with the sounds of Digi's (alleged) recent trip to Africa. Digi's typically off-kilter brand of production, characteristic of his usual label, Lucky Beard, is joined with layered hand drums, shakers and elephant noises. The eponymous track, 'Ivory' is especially notable for its absolutely mental half-time breakdown at the 3 minute mark, combining a unique range of sounds to constitute one of the most compelling approaches to trap music in recent memory.

Hayato6go - CHOP JUKE

With its surprising diversity and ingenuity, the Japanese juke scene provides a welcome respite for those footwork fans who are a bit too familiar with the typical Chicago-inflected take. Representing the Osaka-based Booty Tune label, producer Hayato6go crafts maximalist beats that feature an impressive range of influences, barely honing in on one genre before deftly turning to another. Featured on Hayato's recently released EP Promised Land, 'CHOP JUKE' finds a tasteful jazz bass sample careening head-first into a manic rush of samples and rhythmic 808 assaults. While the EP is weighed down by a couple of weak tracks, the all-caps  'CHOP JUKE' is one of Hayato's stronger offerings.

STARZ - JUKE IT

Absolutely insane work from London-based STARZ here. This display of raw production talent brings new excitement to the now well-worn trap formula that has established itself on dance floors everywhere. JUKE IT features a wide variety of passages that flow elegantly into one another, beginning with a carefully crafted and expansive intro that makes clear STARZ's versatility as a producer before cementing a firm yet playful understanding of the bass-ics.

B.o.B. Feat. Lil Wayne - Strange Clouds (Big Dope P Remix)

I've had my eye on France's Big Dope P since I heard his remix of Canblaster and Berou's 'Kapongo Dance'    which caught my attention immediately with its unrelenting footwork beats and top-notch production quality. While typically I'm not the hugest fan of B.o.B or Weezy, Dope P has warped the track 'Strange Clouds' into a hyperactive dancefloor smasher that had me hooked from the first measure. The complimentary blend of hip-hop and juke is intensified with a pinch of electro and dubstep influence to keep things nice and crazy.

MONGO SKATO - TRAI

Just recently I've noticed a trend of mine on this blog to focus more on established artists. Let's shake that up a bit with MONGO SKATO of New Zealand. In his track TRAI, Mongo exhibits raw talent and rhythm in a style that blends the fast, percussive bass hits of trap with steady melodic synth stabs reminiscent of house. Mongo's refined approach to footwork beats is addictive; here's hoping for a release sometime in the near future.

Flosstradamus - Rollup (Baauer Remix)

Whoops, its been a while, huh? The kids sure like their trap music these days. Chicago's Flosstradamus have poised themselves at the fore of this movement and they've got beats on beats to back them up. This remix by Brooklyn's Baauer gives "Rollup" more space to breathe than the original while keeping it dirt. Keep yo subs cranked.