Thursday, August 31, 2017

2017's Inaugural Electronic Music Awards (Preview)

I've written about the Grammys and Junos before, focusing on their electronic categories, but always lament the lack of coverage they get, as both opt to announce those winners on their side shows. I've since wondered whether we should care about these award shows at all, since they so often leave a bad taste in our mouths (fans and artists alike). Everyone one knows about the DJ Mag Top 100 lists and the controversies they entail, particularly the so called "DJ" list that in the end is a popularity contest among producers, not DJs. Perhaps as a protest, two new award shows have arisen: The Goldie Awards (backed by A-Trak and THUMP, focusing on DJ and Beat Battles) and The Electronic Music Awards (backed by Paul Oakenfold and TV4, showcasing all that is electronic music). For the purposes of this post, I'll focus on the latter as the anticipation grows in the 3 weeks prior to the event.

Originally announced in January of 2016, as the Electronic Music Awards and Foundation Show, and set for broadcast on FOX, this seemed as large and legitimate as anyone could possibly hope. However in the following months the event was postponed for more than a year, renamed and relegated to a Twitter broadcast. The previously 7 categories have grown to 11, and the winners will be announced live September 21st starting at 7:47 PM PDT. So now let's take a look at those categories and their nominees. Note that I won't be making predictions today, but merely digging into the categories and nominations themselves. See the image below or find the direct link to the noms here.
As you can plainly see, the list of names here is absolutely packed with powerhouse producers, deserving DJs, and awesome artists. The organizers have done a good job of separating categories from Producer of the Year to DJ of the Year, and Live Act of the Year. However I wonder about the New Artist of the Year category, as arguably every act has been big since early 2016, if not before then. But since this is the first edition, I'll give them a little leeway in what new means.

Looking through this list it's clear that the same people who would argue that award shows are mainstream, could easily make that argument again here. There are no names that I'm unfamiliar with. It's absolutely jam packed with big names, but at least to their credit those big names come from all over the place. It's not just top 40 radio wannabes or techno titans. There's deep house, hip hop, electro and of course, what continues to be the style of the moment, future bass.

As always I wonder about how these names were chosen, and further how the winners will be decided. The official statement is that "nominees and winners are voted on by sixty-seven members who were selected to represent all aspects of the electronic music community, in a two-round voting process." But who selected these members? And how well are they balanced? Now, I don't mean to claim that there's collusion or foul play, I just always advocate for more transparency. And no matter what people will bitch and moan about this or that. The positive (and value of any award show) is to showcase worthy talent. Sure you can claim that some of these artists need no more showcasing, but their impact is undeniable, and ought to be recognized as such. Now back to those categories.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Bump In The Hump: August 30 (Season 6, Episode 18)

Tracklist
  • Frustra x W3T W3T - The Getaway
  • DLMT & Ellis - How Does It Feel (ft. AWR)
  • James Blunt - 2005 (Synthy Lox Remix)
  • Daughter - Love (Reynolds Remix)
  • Nineteen Ninety Four x Hudson Alexander - Like Skepta
  • Deadmau5 - Legendary (ft. Shotty Horroh)
  • Dyzphoria - Discipline
  • Bro Safari, Dillon Francis & Salvatore Ganacci - XL (Pat Lok Remix)
  • Oliver - Go With It (ft. Chromeo)
  • Robotaki & Manila Killa ft. Matthew John Kurz - I Want You (Party Pupils Remix)
  • Paris & Simo - Come As You Are (ft. Karen Harding)
  • Allie X - Paper Love (Billboard Remix)
  • Adam Pearce - Complete (ft. XYSM)
  • Lampa - If Not Never (ft. Cisha)
  • Laura Brehm - Parallel (Ephixa Remix)
  • Rain Man & MAX - Do You Still Feel? (Leterna Remix)
  • Bishu & QUIX - Skin To Skin (ft. Cappa)

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Bro Safari, Dillon Francis & Salvatore Ganacci - XL (Pat Lok Remix)

Apparently Pat Lok has been very busy producing. Even though his debut album just came out, he's proceeded to release two separate remixes in less than a week's time. After putting his spin on JNTHN STEIN's "Master Control," he returned with a rework of the three pronged collaboration, "XL." At first glance Bro Safari, Dillon Francis and Salvatore Ganacci's track doesn't seem ripe for the bright backbeat bounce of a Pat Lok production, but that's the genius of this mix. He recasts the vocals alongside a grand old groove, funking out everything with fabulous chords and effects. Stream below.We get "XL" on Bump In The Hump tonight, with a more full, dance-friendly set than usual. There's more funk from: Chromeo with Oliver, and Party Pupils' remix of Robotaki and Manila Killa. I've also got the premiere of a forthcoming Frustra collab, due out Friday Sept. 1st. Add to that some fire future bass and trap, some delightful deep house, a new banger from Leterna, and you've got yourself a full hour on Radio Humber. Listen live here starting at 6 PM EDT or find the episode uploaded to Mixcloud.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2017

SBTRKT ft. Sampha - Never Never (Andrew DIFF Remix)

There aren't many artists that are as immediately identifiable as SBTRKT. His early work with Sampha continues to stand apart from nearly anything and everything produced during that same period. There's an incredible creativity and coolness to what they've done, and the waves of their awesome efforts continue to make an impression producers years later. The latest example of which comes from Minneapolis' Andrew DIFF who's taken on "Never Never." Repackaging the futuristic breakbeat garage track with just enough juke to get your feet going, DIFF has injected an unmissable energy that just feels right under the new melody. The tuning and emotion of the original remain intact, while the upped tempo gives the groove a gravity of its own. It's as bouncy as it is beautiful and can be yours free here.FOLLOW SBTRKT: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW SAMPHA: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW ANDREW DIFF: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Four New FoFoFadi Tracks

Last week FoFoFadi founder Trippy Turtle released his debut EP, and just as that was happening the other animals in the collective began uploading their own tracks. First was Drippy Dolphin with "Heaveeen" as covered here. Then came Cha Cha Chimp with a club flip of Fetty Wap's "679."

While the FoFoFamily is generally more focused on bouncy bootlegs, they've also filled up on feels laden dancehall-esque tunes, perhaps best evidenced in Baile Bear's take on Destiny's Child "Bills, Bills, Bills," translated to "CONTAS." Further mixing fire and feels, Pretty Panda added their Hailee Steinfeld "Starving" remix to the exhibit. All of this bootleg brilliance came to a head early this morning when Faded Fox uploaded "So Into You," saying "forgot to drop this track because I was too faded."

This collection of tracks is about as fun and carefree as you can get, quite the example of the ethos of the FoFoFadi family. Get faded for yourself by streaming below and copping the free download.FOLLOW FOFOFADI RECORDS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Monday, August 28, 2017

Nero share two demos in honour of 28/08

Six years ago British trio Nero released their debut album Welcome Reality. The concept album was driven largely by an 80s electro inspired future, first established in the lead track "2808" and immediately followed by "Doomsday." This dark and moody atmosphere always made me imagine them as the perfect pairing with a neo-noir film, a la Blade Runner. With a reboot in the works, we could only hope that Nero would find themselves a part of the project, and while that may still happen, we've been blessed with a demo they did (below). In honour of today's date 28/08, they made that demo available free, alongside a new version of the epic "Innocence." Stream and download both below.FOLLOW NERO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Tiber - Good 4 U

I don't know what is it, but there's certainly something going on on the opposite side of the globe. Whether it's Flume, Slumberjack, or Anna Lunoe, there's always some awesome Aussie tunes being cooked up. This fact was something my pal Colin at FUXWITHIT addressed nearly 3 years ago here. While there's no particular essence to Australian electronic productions, there seems to be no shortage of quality content. One of the latest examples of that excellence comes from Geelong's Tiber.

"Good 4 U," the lead single from his upcoming Moments EP, is smooth, sexy and just a little bit dirty. There's elements of the fresh future bass vibes the likes of Wave Racer and What So Not were so well known for, built around some strong vocal production. And while I absolutely love the chords and chops that come together at 0:41, it's his heavier and more violent electronic explosion at 2:17 that takes this track up to an 11. "Good 4 U" is gold with just a hint of grit. Get your copy from Trench Records, here.FOLLOW TIBER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Omega Squad - One Night In Bangkok

Even if you don't know it, you're probably familiar with Murray Head's 1984 new wave sensation "One Night In Bangkok." With such a catchy chorus line and a multitude of musical instrumentation, it's no wonder San Diego's Omega Squad has since put their own spin on the classic. This new version features a big bed of bass and strong synths while maintaining the foreign feel of the original. Its got wicked breaks and vocal chops, putting the new back in new wave. Download free via Tunebula here. FOLLOW OMEGA SQUAD: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Friday, August 25, 2017

Sevla debuts SevSquad Mixtape series

Toronto "TRVP GOD" Sevla, still riding the high of bass house banger "Bandits," has a new treat in the form of a curated mix series. SevSquad is set to play host to some of the producer's favourite tunes including fire from his friends, and some exciting new edits. He takes no time at all establishing the edits, with a killer combination of Woolymammoth's "Cult" and Mura Masa's "Lotus Eater" kicking off the mix. There's familiar names like CRaymak, Joyryde and Dombresky, alongside bad ass bootlegs of Kendrick Lamar and Migos. If hard hitting, drop for drop destruction is what you crave, Selva and the SevSquad Mixtape series ought to satisfy. No download available at the moment, so stream below. FOLLOW SEVLA: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Bump In The Hump: August 23 (Season 6, Episode 17)

Tracklist

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Bensley - Under The Sunshine

After nearly 8 months of quiet, Toronto's Peter Bennett broke the Bensley silence with last month's "Slither." He's back again now with a brassy jazz take on DnB in "Under The Sunshine." Propelled through clairvoyant vocals, the track exudes a bold and beautiful purpose. It's snappy, and oh so strong, truly a terrific turn of Bensley's brilliance. "Under The Sunshine" seems to bring so much together, while remaining relatively simple, as it often is in DnB. It's triumphant, yet bluesy; live feeling, yet electronically produced. Maybe best of all, it exemplifies the power of sunshine. Bask below.Bensley hits at about a 3 of a possible 4 on this week's episode of Bump In The Hump. We start with some deep house, get a little dreamy, head into some future bass and chiptune, before the fire finale of DnB, dubstep and a whole other host of hard hitters. There's 4 artists getting first plays, including Alice Glass (previously of Crystal Castles) with her debut eponymous EP. Other big names include Datsik, Dzeko, and Kaytranada, with favourites Lambo, MDK, and Sam Lamar also dropping new tracks. Catch the live broadcast from 6-7 PM EDT via Radio Humber (here) or stream after the fact here.

FOLLOW BENSLEY: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

The Disco Fries - Moving On (ft. Great Good Fine OK)

To call New York duo The Disco Fries versatile would be an understatement. From their Flo Rida remix to "Murika," "Head In The Clouds," and beyond, their abilities continue to evolve. Whether it's drum and bass or electro house, they always deliver quality productions through and through. Each element comes together with extreme precision, clicking along like clockwork. In this case "Moving On" sees an easily accessible pop delivery, befitting of the duo's disco moniker. The inimitable vocals of Great Good Fine OK's Jon Sandler cover the funky backing-track like a thin layer of gold, its polished plating giving of a sublime sheer. Even the resonant effects sparkle in the The Disco Fries' soundscape. Let their groove guide, chords caress, and the feelings flow by picking up "Moving On,' here.FOLLOW THE DISCO FRIES: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW GREAT GOOD FINE OK: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Monday, August 21, 2017

Drippy Dolphin - Heaveeen

Continuing the cosmic trend of the day (with the first full eclipse in ages), Drippy Dolphin just dropped off a bootleg more powerful than a blackhole. "Heaveeen" capitalizes on jersey club's simple yet endlessly appealing traits. At its heart burns the fire of the foundational DJ Sammy track, but the FoFoFadi family member takes it further working in Aqua among countless samples, maximizing the meme and nostalgic enjoyment. It's straight up party music, brightening dancefloors direct from the DJ booth. No question minds will be lost to this, as "Heaveeen" is so head spinning Drippy Dolphin may have lost his own mind making it. Survive off the stream for now, no download is currently available. FOLLOW DRIPPY DOPLHIN: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUND TWITTER

Friday, August 18, 2017

cavest - Koala

I've showcased several cavest tunes on this blog, and after hearing his latest, "Koala" I just had to share this one too. The German teen who dabbles mostly in the chill variety of trap has dropped that shroud for a more rip, roaring delivery. Usually Koalas are considered cuddly and cute, but this one is a technological terror. It growls, grits its teeth and groans, giving the impression that this "Koala" is not to trifled with. As usual, cavest's creation relies on a smart soundscape and deft drum work, and while this is a new turn, it's done with serious skill. Keep your eye on cavest and cop "Koala" free here.FOLLOW CAVEST: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Kamome Sano - Internet City (WRLD Remix)

Dutch Dance Don, WRLD continues to wow me at every turn.. He's back today with an animated remix of Kamome Sano, who is, as he says "one of my favourite Japanese producers." What entices me to "Internet City" is exactly what I enjoy so much about WRLD's catalog. It's packed with punchy synths that pulsate your hips and propel your feet. WRLD is warm, even when he's not. There's a magnitude to his overall craftsmanship that's commanding, but never in an obnoxious, negative way.
"Internet City" pairs the most righteous retro synth with cool vocal play. If you turn it up in the right room, there's no way you don't feel some kind of way. It's a without a doubt, 5 star, perpetually playlisted track. As of two hours after posting, there is no download available, check back for that, I'll retweet (follow me here), but in the meantime I recommend his Monstercat DnB track "Everything."

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FOLLOW KAMOME SANO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Bump In The Hump: August 16 (Season 6, Episode 16)

Tracklist
  • Markus Aurelius - Horizon
  • Conro - Circus (ft. Beckii Power)
  • Owl City - Fireflies (pooldad Remix)
  • Future Magic x Viska x Lantte - Save Yourself (ft. Katie Mackie)
  • Dillon Francis ft. G-Eazy - Say Less (Lunice Remix)
  • DJ Khaled ft. Drake - To The Max (Thugli Remix)
  • San Holo ft. James Vincent McMorrow - The Future (Vincent Remix)
  • ZaGa - Power Up
  • 8-Bit Tits - Actors
  • Kill The Zo - Part I (Krayysh Remix)
  • Sam Lamar x I am Sid - Cry
  • Rezz - Green Gusher
  • ANGELZ - So Fly (ft. Kaleem Taylor)
  • Bliss ft. Fem Fel - I Wanna Feel (Rene LaVice's Feel The Bass Crunch D&B Remix)
  • Subject 31 - Hectic
  • CRaymak & Apriskah - Arrival

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Kill The Zo - Part I (Krayysh Remix)

After a week devoted entirely to house, Bump In The Hump is back with an all new hour of Canadian tunes with just about everything but house. There's dubstep, drum and bass, trap, future bass, techno and this gritty, stomping electro number from Krayysh. After wiping his socials clean and finally reappearing with "Underthinking Things" in March, Toronto's Krayysh is back again with a major splash. Remixing either Kill The Noise or Mat Zo is a tremendous accomplishment, but to be tapped to take on their collaborative effort Kill The Zo's "Part I," is quite the coup. As we saw with his previous production, this one is nearly impossible to define, it's a touch funky, definitely dark and dirty, and shows a strong affinity for futuristic electro feels. Despite its short runtime, it's clear why Kill The Zo's called on Krayysh.As promised above, I've got a host of hard hitting tracks from the likes of Lunice, Rezz, Rene LaVice, Vincent and ANGELZ. There's also some strong summer cuts from Thugli, Conro and CRaymak. Don't miss Bump In The Hump live Wednesday from 6-7 PM EDT only on Radio Humber.

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FOLLOW MAT ZO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW KILL THE NOISE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Monday, August 14, 2017

hyleo x sakuraburst - Galaxy Cutter

After cutting myself away from the internet for two days, I opened my browser this morning and went right to Soundcloud to quell my craving for new music. Now I should say that I don't often click on the first track in my feed, because it's usually either a literal promoted track (that I've already heard or don't want to hear) or some other 'promoted' track (that's been reposted way too many times). However today was different. That first track was a 'playlist' from the UK's sakuraburst, used to promote his track with hyleo, "Galaxy Cutter." I'm surprised that I've never written about sakuraburst here as I've enjoyed his stuff since his Purity Ring "Begin Again" remix and more recently his collab with Josh Pan. But their qualities aside, "Galaxy Cutter" is a track unlike many, if any, I've ever encountered. It's complex in its arc, at once banging and beautiful, funky and full of fire, godly, glitchy and there's a guitar solo to boot.
"Galaxy Cutter" comes in sweet, soundtracking a sublime ceremony. It feels like waking up in a new video game landscape; your eyes are bleary, battered by chiptuned bleeps and buzzes. The carefree chords bounce brightly, while the drums whip you up into a frenzy. Then there's the first of many fiery flourishes, that while wickedly wild, still satisfy even the most reticent and reluctant raver. The entire atmosphere of "Galaxy Cutter" is epic. It's got a gravity of its own, buckling under its own beauty, before bursting into a blaze of bass. The final piece, and killer capstone, of this great wonder is the guitar at 3:35, and it's role as God sticking his finger in this primordial soup, stirring it to perfection. This track truly has it all: cutting emotional intensity, utterly exciting breaks and drops, and masterful musicality. Become the blind watchmaker and get "Galaxy Cutter" for yourself from Bandcamp, here.

FOLLOW HYLEO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW SAKURABURST: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Friday, August 11, 2017

My Mixtape featuring The NightOwls


Tracklist
  1. The NightOwls - Mustard
  2. Adrian Oblanca - Daikiry (The NightOwls Remix)
  3. Audiometrics - Gonna Get Ya (Raul Facio Remix)
  4. Fragala P - Calling
  5. Guided By Noises - Static*
  6. Audiometrics - Digg
  7. Jared D - Constructed
  8. Vaxx - Block
  9. Joey Avila - Downtown LA (Mark Vidovik Remix)
  10. Staccato - Conqueror*
  11. Andy Rojas - Sound Decks
  12. The NightOwls - Lotion
*Asterisk* indicates tracks set to be released Sept. 15th as part of The NightOwls/Parliament House cancer research compilation. Will also be accompanied by a release party at One Loft, the same night. Event RSVP and details, here.

HAIM - Little Of Your Love (BloodPop Remix)

The Haim sisters have once again released one of my favourite albums of the year, with Something To Tell You, the follow up to their genius debut Days Are Gone. That 2013 album spurred several superb remixes from the likes of MK, Cyril Hahn, Duke Dumont and others. I fully expect this collection of tracks to tempt producers to take on the vocal talents and magical melodies of HAIM, reworking them for the DJ decks. The first such remix comes from Michael Tucker, aka BloodPop (and previously Blood Diamonds). While he's remixed "Little Of Your Love" you may also be aware that he helped produce "Want You Back," the lead single from Something To Tell You. Stream below, and purchase here.What I like most about this mix is the way BloodPop stays true to the original, while playing with all of the elements that make HAIM more than just a rock band or a pop trio. "Little Of Your Love," like much of the album, showcases prolific pop production abilities from Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij, which BloodPop has zeroed in on and utilized expertly. The main melodies and vocals remain intact, while being re-birthed as a snappy synth driven singalong. The clicks, clacks and snaps of the reworked percussion work perfectly with HAIM's unique style. However the cherry on top of this mix is BloodPop's chords which are imbued with an astonishing amount of love. It's incredibly easy to enjoy, and I cannot wait for more mixes like this in the coming days and months.

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FOLLOW BLOODPOP: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Trippy Turtle Drops 2 Tracks and Announces Tour

Trippy Turtle (the Jersey Club moniker of choice for Lido) has made quite the splash in the last week, dropping original "Animal" last Wednesday, and a collab called "Lettuce" with Soulja Boy, yesterday. Adding to that he's just announced that he'll be heading on what he's calling the "Lettuce Turnip Tour." Starting August 1st in his homeland, he'll head through the UK, Germany, all across the states and end up in Toronto and Montreal, the first weekend of November. Expect the tour to be an explosion of energy, naughty bed-squeaks and fire FoFoFadi tracks. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, so don't sleep! FOLLOW TRIPPY TURTLE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Wednesday, August 09, 2017

Bump In The Hump: August 9 (Season 6, Episode 15)

Tracklist

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: ASHE - Space Between (ft. Amy Kirkpatrick)

The wave of new music from Toronto and across the country continues to amaze me. This week I'm proud to bring both the first Radio Humber appearance, and first single from ASHE and his Whale Bones EP. "Space Between," featuring Amy Kirkpatrick, promises to be the first of many upcoming releases in this new progressive house turn for ASHE. It's powerful and emotive through the vocals and otherwise; truly exemplifying its title, opening up an immense rift. Careful not to fall its infinite abyss!Bump In The Hump this week is pure house heaven, I've found so much new music that there's more than enough for an hour entirely of made up of house. There's everything from big room, deep, progressive, to tech and other houses. No need for a contractor. Points of particular interest include: Loud Luxury fresh off playing Veld this weekend, both Snails and Botnek with new bangers, and friends of the show Maddmon, Leterna and OAKS. Oh and how about new Tiga? Perfect.

Finally the hour wraps up with my chat with Jeff and Mark of The NightOwls before their episode of My Mixtape goes live, Friday August 11th at 11 PM EDT on Radio Humber. Stream Bump In The Hump live (here) from 6-7 PM EDT tonight, and after the fact on Mixcloud.

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Tuesday, August 08, 2017

Dr. Fresch - Roll It Up

I've been supporting Dr. Fresch here for quite some time now, and always jump at the opportunity to showcase more of his magic whenever I get the chance. Thankfully today is one of those days as the man has just released a "Funky Swervin Booty Ghetto Tech" track called "Roll It Up."
If you've been to or heard one of his sets this summer you've probably already heard it yourself, but now you can make it your own for free via Hive, here. While it's always been somewhat difficult to categorize Dr. Fresch's productions (most often people go to G-House), but this one takes that even further. It's generally house at its core, but it almost bounces back and forth between Deep and G-House vibes. With the additional influences from UK Bassline this one really earns its name.

The way "Roll It Up" is delivered feels almost like its from a classic cartoon in which physics are defied as a character is turned into a cigarette and smoked. Actually, now that I write that I'm struck with the vision of a certain video, one that I'm hoping someone will overdub and make a music video out of.
As the good doctor says in his description, this is a "fun, banging club track," and I couldn't agree more. It's the perfect combination of noxious nostalgia and banging bass house that begs clubbers to kill it on the dancefloor with their most fire footwork. Be sure to pack this powerhouse into your pill box.

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Monday, August 07, 2017

Kamakaze - Kano (Prod. Massappeals)

Grime continues to grace my Soundcloud feed like crazy, and I for one am glad. It means I get to hear hot cuts like "Kano" from Kamakaze. Massappeals, the man behind the beats, has done more than just lay down a simple bed for Kamakaze to bounce on, he's made a magic two minute track worthy of praise in all its instrumental glory. Right off the get go it's clear that this is some godly grime. The low end is lit, the percussion pops off and that switch up in the second half screams success. The smoothness of Massappeals production allows for Kamakaze to go off, conjuring the the image of grime king, Kano. His flow is dark and dirty, "dress code black, Jon Snow ting." The best bit of all this is that both the fire flow and the instrumental edit are available absolutely free. Find both below. If you like this be sure to check out the artists below, as this is not their first time working together.

FOLLOW KAMAKAZE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
FOLLOW MASSAPPEALS: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Sunday, August 06, 2017

5 Tunes To Wake Up To

There really is nothing like waking up your senses to some smooth grooves and with that in mind, I've put together a playlist of 5 tracks I'm playing non-stop right now that fit this category. Enjoy!

Mura Masa - Second 2 None (ft. Christine And The Queens)
I could've gone with any of Mura Masa's album but "Second 2 None" really got me when I heard those pans live on a big system at WayHome. It's incredibly beautiful and perfectly produced.

Pierce Fulton - Life In Letters
That piano makes me feel like a god within the first 5 seconds. How's that for a wake-up call?

Late Nite Tuff Guy - Do I Believe In God (LNTG Muscle Mix)
Been absolutely rinsing out Joe Goddard's disco mix for Annie Mac during Glastonbury (stream here), and this may be the peak cool it hits. As if Prince wasn't funky enough already, this is seriously sublime.

Kraak & Smaak ft. Joi Cardwell - Just Wanna Be Loved (Blende Remix)
Blende sure knows how to bring the bouncy beauty, and with Kraak & Smaak's delightful disco this is a can't miss, despite me doing just that for three years.

A-Trak - Believe (ft. Quavo & Lil Yachty)
Almost at a million plays on Soundcloud should be a sign as to just to how good this is. Oh yeah, and those three on one track? Come on, it really doesn't get much hotter than this extremely cool cut.

Saturday, August 05, 2017

Post Malone - Congratulations (Goshfather x Aylen Remix)

Hey you! Yeah, you. You ever heard of this guy Post Malone? You know that White Iverson guy? Yeah, him. He's got a new track and it's the hottest shit on the planet. Oh you've heard it? A million times? Oh shit, my bad. Well what about a remix? Oh really? Dozens?! Damn, I'm sorry. But how about this one?First off apologies for being such a sardonic sack of you know what, but I just can't help myself when I've been bombarded with the same song for months and months. I'm sure that like me you've heard just about a bazillion remixes of "Congratulations," some good, some bad, but the one I came across this morning bests them all. Goshfather and Aylen leave just enough of the original intact to keep your attention while getting wicked in their recasting. I've written about Aylen several times here, particularly because of his awesome and evil sound design. Once again that salaciousness runs front and center as he and Goshfather fill the tune with a flurry of fire disco feels. It's dark and dirty, invoking delirium as those only familiar with the original struggle to breathe as stabbing strings suck up all the oxygen. Whether those jabs are actually from Nero's "Must Be The Feeling" or recreated, I'm always happy to have some hard hitting and bad-ass bass to go with a groove that guarantees flying footwork. Even if we've hit peak "Congratulations," I'm happy to have this remix. Get it for yourself free here.

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FOLLOW GOSHFATHER: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Friday, August 04, 2017

Biscits - M Night (Boy 8-Bit Remix)

Last Monday a teaser video appeared on Boy 8-Bit's socials (here). It showed 38 seconds of his forthcoming remix of deep house banger "M Night" originally from Southhampton's Biscits.

Apparently an ode to, as Boy 8-Bit put it, "the underdog," however we can read between the lines, and realize that it's about the "director of The Village," M. Night Shyamalan. The nearly 6 month old original holds some exceptional design, especially in terms of the depth of bass and delectable drum work. It also boasts a groove that is just about guaranteed to get your body moving, but for my liking it needed a little more of that M. Night magic, particularly a twist. Boy 8-Bit has obliged (although he thought about doing more), by adding his own vocal bits detailing Shyamalan's struggle with critics.

But this remix is more than just strong storytelling on a hearty house beat, it's got Boy 8-Bit's signature sublime synths that always seem to play perfectly with his crispy, crunchy drum kit. I'll be honest here, I'm gushing because I've loved all of Boy 8-Bit's productions ever since I first heard "The Cricket Scores" years back, but this really does have just about everything that I've come to love about Mr. Morris' music. The bass booms, the sneaky synth progressions, the distorted and disembodied vocals, and the explosive waves of energy in his drops. The only thing it's missing is the chiptune bleeps and bloops, but despite his name, Boy 8-Bit hasn't done much of that since his inception.From the overall soundscape, the onslaught of effects and playful power throughout, there's nothing that this track doesn't have. Add it to your own collection through your preferred service here.

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Thursday, August 03, 2017

The Wonderland That Was WayHome 2017 (Recap)

Credit: Karis Malszecki (Instagram)
When the lineup for the WayHome Music and Arts festival was first announced, there were two artists at the top of my list: Justice and Mura Masa. By the time the festival actually rolled around I had added a significant number of names to my list of must see acts (see here and here), but still there were two tracks from those first two artists that I essentially hung all my anticipation on: my #1 track of 2016 "Randy" (read here) and "Helpline" (read here). Unfortunately neither track was played, but that didn't stop this past weekend from being perhaps THE BEST WEEKEND EVER.

This being both my first WayHome, and my first overnight camping festival, I went in with very few expectations or even ideas about what I was getting myself into. I was also flying solo for the most part (bouncing between groups of friends, as I'm apt to do), which allowed for full freedom and discovery. I had a strong schedule of who I wanted to see, but that was more of guideline rather than a strict itinerary. And this is part of what I love about being a blogger/reviewer as opposed to a photographer/videographer/etc, it allows me to experience the festival as a whole, while still focusing on the music. From the camping, food, staff, fellow WayHomies and everything in between, WayHome was pure perfection. If you're reading for the music only, jump ahead to the break below.


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Weather
Mother nature set the mood for the weekend right off the bat, clearing out the clouds, turning up the temperature and letting the sun shine full blast from Friday morning through Sunday evening. Even the grass was green, which I'm told was not the case in previous years. Check out the Friday night sunset.
Camping
The seemingly endless rows of camping played host to hundreds of little parties. It was absolutely mind-blowing walking from one corner to another, passing thousands of people all here for the same thing. Saturday morning I met up with 404, and we literally went back and forth between a half dozen different groups of people getting ready another full day of fun. This was tiring walking so far, but inspiring in that it brought so many people together. However the highlight of my camping came when I met Kyle (left) and his group from Barrie. Just take a look at this character (RIP those sunglasses, which fell into a porta-potty minutes after this picture).
Food
No matter your dietary restrictions or desires there was something for you. Poutines aplenty placated, staples like Pizza Pizza and Beaver Tails satisfied, while dozens of other delicacies tickled your taste buds. I had a wicked good (but ultimately bad choice due to time spent in the porta-potties afterwards) spicy chorizo burrito. However the most talked about foodstuff was The Colossal Onion, but beware it's not for the faint of heart, I barely made a dent in mine even though it was sinfully scrumptious.

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Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Bump In The Hump: August 2 (Season 6, Episode 14)

Tracklist

Bump In The Hump Sneak Peek: Dyzphoria x 2Ravens - EyezOpen

It's not been two months since I first found Dyzphoria, and his track with Kyddiekafka, "Possession." After tonight he'll have been on Bump In The Hump three times in that span. After focusing on WayHome last week we're back to normal episodes with all new music. Of course that includes Dyzphoria's latest, a collab with fellow Vancouver producer 2Ravens, "EyezOpen." Download here.Ride a wave of new music ranging from progressive and bass house, to trap, future bass, club, trip hop, and hybrid, live on Radio Humber tonight from 6-7 PM EDT. The number artists in this hour is massive, including multiples Canadians on several tracks. The names range from A-Trak and Rezz to Ramzoid and Michael Sparks. Don't miss the magic all our great Canadians have cooked up this for week.

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