The latest release from Holy Ghost's upcoming album, Wait & See, is pure synth pop gold. I'm a huge sucker for interesting vocal melodies and acoustic piano... so this track has gotten me really excited for the full album to drop. My good friend Alex just recently had the pleasure of seeing Holy Ghost! open for Cut Copy in DC at the 930 Club and he said it was absolutely magical. Love these guys.
Awesome new LBCK remix. I really don't even have to say much about this fantastic track. The name LBCK should just speak for itself at this point. Sample laden and funky. Cue disco ball.
Now this one is a wee bit odd, but not in a bad way. The top 40's esque pop vocals/lyrics throw me off a little, but I honestly enjoy the dance track that 8barz has created underneath them. This is one of those tracks that I feel like could get a lot of radio play and have mass appeal. Take a listen for yourself.
16 year old (youngster talent) French producer, Madeon, has caught my attention now twice. His latest remix of Yelle's Que Veux Tu has been on my 'walking to class' playlist for a few weeks now and I think it deserves to be posted. I'm really impressed with his precocious production abilities. Also check out his Killers remix below.
Parisian duo (obviously), Jupiter recently released their new single Sake coupled with a great music video. Dance floor ready. Cute French girl vocals are always a welcomed touch. Be sure to check out the Para One and Tacteel remix for a down tempo chilled out version of the original.
I actually meant to post this a ways back, but it must have slipped my mind. Coming off of the absurdly massive Miami Noize 2 compilation on BNR, "Glass" combines that frenetic techno sound we all know D.I.M. & Tai bring to the table with an almost funky melody.
John Poincarre is a name I've just recently come across, and given that his website is entirely in French, I don't know too much about him. What I've gathered though is that he know a thing or two about making fine ass disco house, as proven by "Get Up, Yeah!" whose sample you may recognize from Foamo's "Generate Some Heat".
Boston duo and Bright & Shiny hall of famers Nightriders can do no wrong, it seems. This recent remix they did for Cassian has it all, knocking drums, a catchy vocal sample, and quirky synths that build into a drop of one of their signature groovy basslines.
Poolside's "Do You Believe" is the perfect song with which to welcome some warmer weather and more sun: a slow, light-hearted romp with hints of an 80's vibe and a sing-along chorus that you'll be glad you can't get out of your head. Also check out the James Curd remix on beatport, he kills it.
Now, if you're like Patrick and myself and you missed out on all the Ultra festivities this year (again) or you just want to re-live the experience, check out pretty high quality recordings of sets from Afrojack, Avicii, and other big acts at beatmyday.com. Thanks to Khiz for the heads up on that.
Somehow we managed to escape UMF Miami alive, although I can't say I feel particularly alive at the moment. We had an absolutely crazy and music packed weekend between the festival itself and lots of ridiculously fun afterparties every night. I'll keep it brief as I'm sitting in the Miami airport about to head back to LA, but here's some of what we've had pumping out of the speakers at the Bright & Shiny penthouse this weekend:
We posted this a while ago, but Umek dropped this in his groovy and thoroughly pumping set in the Heineken Dome during Ultra last night and it reminded me of how incredible of a remix by DC natives Pleasurekraft this was, and I think it's worth putting up here again. Tribal, freaky beats here. Miles Dyson - Zooloo (Pleasurekraft Remix DRM)
I was a little on the fence about this new Boys Noize remix the first time I heard it, but after hearing him drop it in his completely outrageous and energy-filled set on Saturday I realized those doubts were misplaced as this song sounds absolutely bonkers flying out of a massive sound system. Boys Noize also dropped a lot of what appeared to be unreleased material by him during his set, and it all sounded completely amazing so look out for big things coming from Mr. Ridha this spring. Housemeister - Monkey Flip feat. Nazizi & Abbas (Boys Noize Remix)
Check back later for some exciting news (among other things, we're adding new writers, so expect an increased flow of music) and a full review of all this weekend's debauchery. Also be sure to grab the new Justice single as it came out on Itunes today.
Yo dudes, sorry for the lack of prime tunage flow over the past couple days. But we're proud to announce that Bright & Shiny has arrived in Miami and we're fully prepared to wreak havoc and cover all aspects of the next couple days, including the best of the action at Ultra Music Festival. Be sure to follow our up-to-the-minute coverage of all things ridiculously Miami on our twitter (@Br1ghtShiny) and stick around for a full on review of the festival itself.
Super Prime Tunes The Calvin Harris single in particular has been really stuck in our heads. Keep it chillin'.
Bibio (aka Stephen Wilkinson) is a self-taught guitarist and musician from central England. Attending the University of London and studying Sonic Arts, Bibio's experimental electronic sound began to emerge. Taking influences from other artists such as Aphex Twin and Boards of Canada, Bibio made use of many field recordings and other strangely affected noises to create his subtle and unique music. His recent surge in popularity has landed him campaigns with big name brands such as Adult Swim, Toyota, and LL Bean. Be sure to check out his new album coming out on March 29th. The music really speaks for itself.
Lymbyc Systym is an American duo consisting of brothers Jared Bell and Michael Bell. They are currently signed to Mush Records, the very same label that Bibio was originally signed to. I find them to be equally hypnotizing in their musical approach.
Gypsy & The Cat recently released an EP as well as several remixes for their tracks. My favorite remix coming from Bright and Shiny favorite Alan Braxe. Download and video below.
It's Saturday night, so let's get right down to it.
The good guys over at the Justin Faust camp were kind enough to send us this remix package to share with you all containing Fare Soldi's take on Faust's "Sloppy Chic" and two mixes of "Your Life" from Super Mal and Italo Brutalo. You guys know how Fare Soldi brings it, but I'm really digging Super Mal's version as well. Check out all three below. Justin Faust - Your Life (Super Mal Remix)
There have been quite a few stabs taken at Chilly Gonzales' "You Can Dance", including one from Fare Soldi that we gave a whole lotta love, so there's a chance some of you have overlooked Robotaki's remix. Trust me, it's right up there with Fare Soldi's as the best of the bunch. This young Canadian is churning out killer remix after remix, so you'd be doing yourself a favor if you kept an eye out for his releases. Chilly Gonzales - You Can Dance (Robotaki Remix)
If you're looking for something a little harder tonight, don't worry, I've still got you covered. Everbody and his mother loves Cee Lo Green's "Fuck You". Bart B More has decided to capitalize on its popularity and remix the shit out of it, turning gold into...more gold. Cee Lo Green - Fuck You (Bart B More Remix)
And finally, I leave you with a track I couldn't be more excited about. Brand spankin' new SabasitAn. It's been a big week for Ed Banger, news that really puts a smile on my face. "Embody" is a gorgeous tune with a an addicting, albeit somewhat morose, melody that'll take you back to the golden days when this French crew dominated the electro scene. Check the video below as well. SebastiAn - Embody
I won't waste your time with a lot of words. I'm on spring break and I'm stoked. There's been a crazy amount of good music coming out recently, and every one of these songs is absolutely dirty. You're welcome.
We'll start things out at a bit of a slower pace here. This Kaskade remix of J Boogie's Dub Science doesn't sound like the typical big room progressive Kaskade you're probably used to hearing. It's more like a hearkening back to his roots with the San Francisco based lounge-house label Om Records, where he used to make some seriously chilled out tunes. This sexy downtempo effort is reminiscent of that older stuff, except for it's more refined and shows hes clearly still growing as an artist almost 15 years later. Bump this one drinking mojitos poolside. J Boogie's Dub Science - Raining (Kaskade Remix)
Sticky K's long awaited Prince of Persia EP came out on itunes the other day, with the full release on beatport set for march 22nd, and it's absolutely MASSIVE. This sounds like what would be played at some futuristic desert rave outside the pyramids in egypt or something. Check out the 192 below, but be sure to grab the high quality on Itunes now or beatport next week. Also, be on the lookout for our interview with the Californian youngster himself coming later this week. Sticky K - Prince of Persia (Original Mix)
I just stumbled across this progressive BOMB by 24 year old Norwegian Funkin Matt today and its a huge high energy beast that's been featured in sets by everyone from Laidback Luke to Bart B More recently. Be sure to grab the release on matt's own label Fjordin. Don't miss out on this one. Funkin Matt - Anywhere (Original Mix)
Off of the Miami Noize 2 compilation, which came out earlier this month on Boys Noize Records, this Strip Steve original is a maddeningly catchy house stomper. The song is centered around an awesome jumbled up synth/piano-stab melody that pulses along with an upbeat, relentless sense of purpose (i.e. makes you want to dance). Be sure to grab the Miami Noize compilation off beatport, as it's stacked from top to bottom with some really quality tracks. Strip Steve - The Freaks (Original Mix)
The new Dillon Francis Westside EP, out now on Mad Decent, is completely outrageous. It features a blend of tribal-sounding dancehall music that sounds reminiscent of Portugal's J-Wow in a lot of ways and demonstrates that Francis is definitely one of the most talented young artists emerging on the scene right now. Check out two of the tracks below, but be sure to grab the whole EP since it's full of a bunch of other awesome tracks including a good moombahton collaboration with DC's own Dave Nada. Diplo & Dillon Francis - Que Que feat Maluca (Original Mix)
This comes off of Brodinski's Best of Everything vol 2 unofficial compilation, which was a project where he asked his various favorite producers to remix random rap/r&b songs. Djedjotronic completely kills it here, twisting this Young Money track around and making it into a crazily funky and futuristic hip-hop jam. Young Money - Bedrock (Djedjotronic Remix)
Steve Aoki really impresses on this new Klaxons remix, showing that he's equally adept at making beautiful melody-driven house as he is at pumping out crazy party anthems or running his label Dim Mak. Speaking of which, if you're in Miami during Ultra be sure to check out the Dim Mak afterparty on friday, the lineup is stacked, we'll definitely be making an appearance. Klaxons - Echoes (Steve Aoki Remix)
This new rework by Erol Alkan is completely gorgeous and shows why he's considered one of the most respected producers in the game, cause this is hardly the average hard-hitting house he's normally affiliated with. This and the MGMT rework he did a while ago are two of my favorite pieces by him, maybe this is signalling a new, more acoustic direction for him? Either way, this one is awesome. Connan Mockasin - Forever Dolphin Love (Erol Alkan Rework)
Swedish producer and DJ Avicii burst onto the electronic music scene in 2008 at the young age of 18 with his track "Lazy Lace" (Strike Recordings), a remix he did of the theme song of "Lazy Jones" for the Commodore 64. From that point forward, Avicii spent hours in his home studio intoxicated by his craft, cranking out smashing tune after smashing tune. Later in 2008, Avicii entered Pete Tong's Fast Trax competition and won in a landslide victory with his track "Manman" receiving 70% percent of votes. The release of "Manman" on Pete Tong's label Bedroom Bedlam afforded Avicii quite a bit of visibility in the industry. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by numerous labels, promoters and booking agencies the world over, firmly launching his career as a unique producer of melodic tracks and pounding beats.
Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing the Swedish savant spin at the Mid, Chicago, an experience I will not soon forget for its euphoric sounds, masterful mixing, and the absolute madness Avicii incited in the hearts of the crowd. I was fortunate enough to get to sit down with the man himself and ask him a few questions just before he took the stage. Here's how our conversation went:
[Bright & Shiny] The first song of yours I ever heard was "My Feelings For You" and I immediately knew you were a different kind of talent. How did you come to forge such a unique sound for your productions in a genre which is notoriously full of generic, uplifting tracks?
[Avicii] [Laughs] Well, I’ve just been working my ass off with my manager who’s been guiding me the whole way and he’s given me tips on production as well as everything so I guess that’s kind of where we found my sound.
[Avicii] I heard that track and I really wanted to remix that, and a friend of mine told me about FL Studios. And yeah, I just downloaded it and tried remixing and I just ended up getting stuck with it. [B&S] What is your process behind producing a track once struck with inspiration?
[Avicii] It’s different every time. It all depends on what kind of track: if I’m doing an original track or if I’m doing a remix, or what kind of original track I’m doing… So, it’s different every time.
[B&S] Speaking of which, do you prefer remixing or producing original tracks?
[Avicii] No, I love both its just two different ways to approach a track. Usually if I get a remix I try to start off with just one element, like a vocal or a hook or whatever, and then just move on from there and try to make a completely new track out of that one [part]. And then when doing an original it’s almost the same thing, but I make up the part, so I make up a melody, a hook, whatever. So, no, I love it just as much.
[B&S] What's it like to play in front of hundreds of dancing people every day?
[Avicii] It- it’s amazing! I mean it’s why I got into it in the first place; why I chose to do it, to fight for it professionally. I wanted that, that… The kick you get out of that you can’t compare it to anything else.
[B&S] What has been your biggest break thus far?
[Avicii] Biggest break? It’s probably “Bromance,” I think, my solo track.
[B&S] What is it they're putting in the water in Sweden that makes your people so inexplicably adept at making incredible electronic tunes?
[Avicii] Well, I think it’s a mixture between just Sweden being a really cold place for 8 months out of the year, so you don’t really have anything to do, so it’s easy to put all of your effort into making music. But then I also think it’s because there’s been so many successful producers in general from Sweden, like Swedish House Mafia or even pop producers, like Max Martin, there’s just so many. So I think they inspire all the new ones to feel like “Ah, I can make it as well in this industry!” So people actually take the time to produce, et cetera.
[B&S] What are your top 4 tracks of the moment?
[Avicii] My top 4 tracks… I would have to say its Axwell and Dimitri Vegas’ remix of “One Look” by David Tort. Then I would say Steve Angello, AN21 remix of Pendulum’s “The Island,” one of my new tracks which I haven’t named yet, and, still, “One” by Swedish House Mafia, to be honest. I mean, it’s killing it everywhere I am still almost a year after it was released. David Tort - One Look ft. Gosha (Axwell vs. Dimitri Vegas, Like Mike Remix)
[B&S] Yeah, we were there when Swedish House Mafia first played it at Ultra last year and the crowd response was absolutely phenomenal. Are you playing any after parties at Ultra this year?
[Avicii] Yeah, I am. I’m playing Ultra on Friday, Saturday, and then I’m doing Ultra official after party on Sunday.
[B&S] What’s coming up for Avicii in 2011?
[Avicii] Oh, lots of stuff. There’s lots of stuff coming up. I think I have like 8 or 9 tracks this year that should be coming out.
[B&S] Alright, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us.
[Avicii] No problem, it was a pleasure.
Thanks again to Avicii and his management for the opportunity, and to Avicii for an absolutely amazing set, as usual.
Ok guys, I have a real treat for you today. Granted, this is an electronic music blog, but this is too exciting for me not to post about. The Strokes have a new album coming out on March 21st and I am filled with wonderful anticipation. They've been releasing tracks from the upcoming album and I am very pleased with what I've heard. Julian Casablancas... will you be my best friend?
I posted a streaming only version of this track a few weeks ago and I was finally able to get my hands on this superb Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs remix of Firework... an otherwise intolerable original turned Bright Shiny worthy thanks to T.E.E.D.
Fake ID take this original and turn it into harmonious disco gold. Using most almost all of the original vocals, Fake ID has made a remix that Dem Slackers should be proud of.
I don't really know anything about the Jackals other than they are a Canadian electronic music duo. Can't go wrong remixing a Phantogram song. Soooo.... uhhh..... ummmm.....
It's finals week, and you know what that means! Life fuckin' sucks and I've got very little time to allot to blogging. So instead of boring you with my normal nonsense, I'm going to share with you my studying playlist. Some old, some brand-spanking new, all ideal (at least, for my malformed brain) for studying to. So plug in, sit forward, and study your face off to these beats.
"The Writer" from English songstress Ellie Goulding gets the remix treatment from French house legend Alan Braxe here, combining airy, uplifting synths and a floor-filling beat with Goulding's sweet vocals. Euphoria induced dancing ensues. Ellie Goulding - The Writer (Alan Braxe Remix)
There's a lot of remixes of Bag Raiders' "Sunlight" out there, including two stellar mixes we posted earlier from GLOVES and Stopmakingme, but I think Armand Van Helden's take has cemented itself as my favorite...take a listen below and decide for yourselves. Bag Raiders - Sunlight (Armand Van Helden Remix)
Next up I got a release from His Majesty Andre I stumbled upon while browsing his beatport page. This is an absolutely thumping disco banger that is guaranteed to get you bouncing like a maniac. His Majesty Andre - Gaff Card
I believe this one from the hard hitting Frenchman Gregori Klosman was just released on beatport today. "Bombata" comes in a two track package with "Zulu". The former is an example of pure tech house destruction, with massive builds and synths that really pop. Support the full release hurr. Gregori Klosman - Bombata (Original Mix)
We're going out tonight with a bang in the form of this huuge remix from Bart B More. The man smashes TAI's "Big Bass Drum" into little bits and pieces, re-assembling them into a floor killer topped with a big dollop of acid house. Delicious. TAI - Big Bass Drum (Bart B More Remix)
Every year around February I find myself wondering where all of the fantastic music I regularly download en masse has gone. But, in the words of the great Lil Wayne, "da drought is ova." As we near WMC 2011, the music will only get better and better.
If you thought the break up was gonna be an issue, think again. Showcasing Vito De Luca's notoriously funky style, this track should be celebrated as a return to form for Aeroplane. Human League - Never Let Me Go (Aeroplane Remix)
Gregor Salto has impressed me as of late with the massive scale of his progressive house productions, but this one is different. Whoeverthe Flexican is, he's a fantastic influence on young Gregor, adding a latin flavor to the mix which ultimately turns into an acid trip to the cumbia club. Gregor Salto, The Flexican - Maldita Cumbia (Original Mix)
I came across Hatiras by chance a few weeks ago whilst browsing beatport and was immediately impressed by his production finesse. This track is halfway between progressive house and electro: a recipe for dance floor success. Just ask Laidback Luke, who's already supporting this banger reminiscent of his remix of MSTRKRFT's "Heartbreaker." Nu-Gen - Mopho (Hatiras Remix)
Last and most wonderful comes Prince Club. We've been showing these Canadian boys a lot of love recently, and I want you to know this is no mistake. The unique depth of their productions is positively refreshing and if they keep churning out tunes with such consistency I may be forced to create a label just so I can sign them myself. Prince Club - 303's & 808's
Finally, I had the pleasure of both seeing and speaking with world-class act Avicii last night at the Mid, Chicago so be on the look out for a brand new, exclusive Bright & Shiny interview with Tim Berg himself!
I've said it before and I'll say it again; I love RAC. They are wizards when it comes to remixing. They choose such subtle and cohesive instrumentation and they keep the integrity of the song while still drastically improving upon it. Roughly three years ago, RAC released a remix album called RAC VOL 1 that was critically acclaimed and really laid the groundwork for this awesome collective. Today, March 4th, they have finally released their second volume on their website and it's FREE. Below are two tracks that I've been abusing over the past week ever since I heard them, but if you fancy yourself a music enthusiast, you should just hop on over to their website and download the entire album in a nice little .zip file (or just click here).
Dance Ritual was founded in 1998 by two of dance music's most respected artists, Louie Vega and Joe Claussell. The two wanted to create a party without musical boundaries, where African, Jazz, Latin, Soul, Gospel, R&B, and Brazilian sounds would blend through house forms. Vega is unquestionably a major force in house music, both as a producer and DJ, and Dance Ritual is his cultural and spiritual home. Without further adieu, here are a couple tracks I've been fiending over lately.
I recently found out that Tepr plans on releasing one track at the beginning of each upcoming month on his website (www.tepr.net). This month's track is definitely club ready. A bit on the deeper side, but with those standard Tepr floating synth lines that really create a dancing atmosphere in pretty much any setting. Enjoy this in all its free glory.
Now, Quinten 909 uploaded this track to his soundcloud 1 month ago, but just recently decided to make it available for download out of the kindness in his own heart. French/Disco House master does it again. Repetitive but insatiably pleasing to the ears, You're My Friend will undoubtedly soothe your troubled brain.
Brand new Classixx original guys. It sort of sounds like it's in the same vein as the Ghost Busters theme song... pure 80's cheese, from the funky bass line to the nostalgic synth guitar chord stabs. These lyrics... I'm beginning to think this is actually an 80's song. Anyways, here.
Now this one is from 2007, but I recently began listening to it and I have to say... I wish more music was made like this. SebastiAn is an Ed Banger GOD and he needs to release more music for me to froth over. This crunchy kick drum and the grimey bass synth... yum yum yum. The Rakes - We Danced Together (SebastiAn Remix)
Bonus:
Just wait for the vocals to kick in on this beautiful track
