Pardon the interruption of service, but we hooligans are still undergoing the slow process of recovering from a healthy serving of Miami Music Week. Your regularly scheduled programming will resume... now.
Richie Hawtin's Berlin-based label Minus just released this one a couple of days ago from Dubliner Matador. Spooky atmosphere and thudding kicks take this brooding techno track to Planet Facemelt and beyond. Vividly reminds me of seeing Sven Vath close the Carl Cox tent this past weekend at UMF. Head to the beatport for the rest of an EP stacked with pumping tekno.
Maceo Plex does not stop. The sexual tension between this me and this song is simply unbearable; you could cut it with a butter knife. Check out the acidic banger of a B-side on the soundcloud [please don't get mad, Mr. Maceo's lawyer!]. This one goes out to all the freaky people who attended/played Get Lost: Miami. Y'all know what sexy is and how sexy does.
In other news, we should be posting some manner of review/summary of our shenanigans this past weekend in the south of Florida in the coming days/weeks/months. And keep an eye out for our interview with a classy fellow by the name of Eats Everything. What a guy.
CONTEST: Stickers will be awarded to the first animal who can identify the home of the lovely disco ball pictured above.
THROWBACK ALERT... over a decade old (2001), the beautiful synths here really feel timeless, and in retrospect probably were way ahead of their time. Check out the Agoria RA podcast for the full mix we grabbed it from.
download: Metro Area - Atmosphrique
In honor of the Prince Club/Jesse Rose/ Cats n Dogz party that got shut down by the po' last night for being too cray, we have a really smooth remix here by the Frenchie Coni. Loving the use of wood blocks... or whatever them percussion hits are.
download: Prince Club - Utopia (Coni Remix)
I'm feeling the deepness even more than usual tonight, partially because I'm done with the week long torture marathon known as "final exams," but also it seems appropriate since we'll be bombarding you with plenty of mentally deranged Ultra-worthy bangers in the coming days (along with our guide for everything you need to know from Thursday to Sunday in Miami + where and when to see everyone worth seeing - but the RA guide is a good starting place). For tonight though, we'll keep things slowed down in the land of the groove and the smooth, off in the deep end where rhythm reigns supreme. A calm before the storm, one could say.
Honestly, who doesn't love some Danny Daze? Out now on Maceo Plex's Ellum imprint, this one again shows how every new release from the Miami local boy seems to confirm his status as the sultan of all things sleek and sexy. Definitely up there with my favorite of his efforts.
download: Bazar - Hard To Find (Danny Daze Love Dub)
Ever since I heard Noir & Haze - Around (Subb-an Remix), Londoner Subb-an has been right at the top of my list for favorite bros I can always count on to be swimming way in the deep end. Somehow I managed to miss this one when it came out a month or so back, but luckily the homeboy Seth Troxler had my back and suggested it the other day. Ferocious grooves here. I can only imagine what this sounds like blasting out of a club PA system. Probably vaguely like what it sounds like at the clubs in heaven.. (Yes if there is a heaven, it will have lots of night clubs... what kind of Utopia has nowhere for dancing?)
download: Subb-an - Take You Back feat Beckford (Original Mix)
I recently discovered one of the best kept secrets of house music, which is that everything and anything affiliated with Dj T. is automatic gold. Whether it's his songs being remixed or remixes done by him or a mixtape he's curated, or any combination of the three, everything seems to always be flawless. In this case, it's T remixing himself. And it's delightful.
download: DJ T. - Opera Buffa (DJ T.'s Night In Turn Mix)
I'd never heard of H.O.S.H. before this, but I stumbled upon his Life Is Music Is Life EP on beatport randomly, and it's straight foolish how strong it is from start to finish. All three tracks on it are sensational, but if I gave them all to you guys for free I'm not sure I could sleep with myself at night. So check out my one favorite below, and grab the other two trax on beatport (link above).
download: H.O.S.H. - Hidden Pleasures (feat Malonda) (Original Mix)
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce: Demarzo. I guarantee this is a name you're going to become familiar with in the future. After someone suggested me this next (totally bomb) preview, I went and tried to look up as much by him as I could get my hands on. Turns out, he only has like 3 tracks released ever... and he still sounds like a certified pro. Actually better than most of the pros.. In other words; homeboy can ball.
I wouldn't just tease you like that and then send you home empty handed, would I? Well maybe I would, but not this time. Grab this equally fresh little number by your new favorite homie Demarzo. And yes, it is sampling the timeless Method Man & Redman classic "How High" in the second half. I told you he was a thug.
download: Demarzo - Northern Soul Crossover (Original Mix)
Fuuuuck it I realized as I was writing that last paragraph I'm pretty much obligated to include this now that it's in my head. One of the classic-est rap jams ever.
So somehow I only just recently discovered this Audiojack EP from back in February, and it's one of those rare releases when not only are all of the original efforts top of the line, but all the remixes are flawless too. Five impeccable deep house cuts. Too much goodness for one release. (buy here)
download: Audiojack - Stay Glued feat. Kevin Knapp (Original Mix)
I've been meaning to post this one for a while now but somehow kept forgetting. Release on Noir music. Drugs and Choices. They could probably rename the city of Miami that. Just kidding. Not like we would ever make the wrong choices anyway, of course.
download: Superhero - Drugs and Choices (Original Mix)
(ULTRA Tip of The Day: Sven Vath is guaranteed to be a revelation when he takes over the decks on Saturday. Plan at least part of your weekend around his cocoon takover of the Carl Cox tent (Cocoon is his major label and club night in Munich/Ibiza for those of you who have been sleeping under a rock for the past 30-odd years). He's been killing it since before some of the other DJs (and yours truly) were born, yet he still manages to get straight shamanic when he's commanding the turntables.
With that said, I wouldn't plan on bringing any small children near his set, Sven has been known to go into Jim Morrison-style Acid/peyote/god-knows-what trances where he's liable to do just about anything, including proceeding to strip down and dj naked for the next 4 hours. Yes, he has really done that (youtube it). On that note actually, why are you even considering bringing a small child to Ultra in the first place? My god. What is wrong with you.
Although he probably won't be shedding his clothes in a 30,000 person tent anyway, he most certainly will be bringing an unpredictable and tasteful selection of soundwaves from the horizon and back, and you're not going to want to miss out.
If you're still not convinced this dude is some kind of techno wizard and aren't fortunate enough to be at Ultra to see first hand, just hold tight because his 2006 Essential Mix is our next mixtape sunday - 6 years old and still probably the best mix I've ever heard, period)
In less than four days, the whole Bright & Shiny crew will be descending up the Miami beach area. Understandably that's pretty much all I can think about day and night even though it's probably costing me dearly during my final exams right now. What better way to start things off than on the Miami note with Djedjotronic's 80's inflected techno jam "Miamite" off of BNR's Miami Noize 2012 compilation..
download: Djedjotronic - Miamite (Original Mix)
Up next is another track off of Miami Noize 2012, this time by a new alias for Boys Noize called Elax (Elax ---> Alex ---> Alex Ridha ---> Boys Noize). This track shows him in unusually restrainded form, a subtle and gorgeous mix of electro and deeper elements. In case you haven't figured it out already, Miami Noize 2012 is fucking bomb, go buy it on Beatport.
download: Elax - Don't Do It (Original Mix)
R3hab gave this one for free on his soundcloud the other day and it's simple, pure big room madness at its best. A mix between huge stabs and grinding electro, this one's got everything you need to get you in the mood for Ultra.
download: R3hab - Chainsaw The Night (Original Mix)
This is Laidback Luke like you've probably never heard before. Coming from way back in the day (from 1996!!), this one is a relentless and deliriously driving remix of Green Velvet that sounds bigger and better the louder you play it. The bassline that comes in about 1/3 of the way through drives me totally crazy.
download: Green Velvet - The Stalker (Laidback Luke Extended Remix)
I'm not sure if we ever actually posted this one, but you probably recognize it from the amazing mix our dutch homeboys Keljet did for us. I recently came across this remix again recently and have been blasting it nonstop. Grab it if ya don't have it already, this one's a classic.
download: The Whip - Secret Weapon (Alex Metric Remix)
I've been getting more and more into the magic that is Hemingway recently. The dude packs more sunshine vibes into his tracks than like anyone I've ever seen.
download: Keenhouse - Ari-es (Hemingway's Starlight Yacht Remix)
What better way to start off the weekend than in the deep end? First up we have this absolute bomb of a track from Maceo Plex's own Ellum Audio "Sleazy Riders Collection" that comes out just in time for Miami. Head over to Beatport to scope the full compilation, the other efforts are definitely worth checking out, my two picks in particular being the Lukatron and Sync Mode trax. If you're in Chicago tonight, Maceo Plex himself is playing alongside our favorite beatsmith all the way from Bristol, Eats Everything, at Spybar, be sure to make it down there if you're not headed over to the Mid for the Bromance tour.
download: Maceo Plex - Deez Nuts (Original Mix)
Get loose. Each release on leftroom seems to be bigger than the last. If you're gonna be in Miami next week, wednesday has a bunch of absolutely ridiculous parties (more on that in our official guide) but Culprit vs Leftroom is definitely one of our picks. The lineup ranges from bristol bass-ers Waifs & Strays to Lee Foss, Laura Jones, Droog, Inxec, Jozif, and the man behind this next track, Gavin Herlihy... Yeah, you could say "stacked."
download: Gavin Herlihy - Get Loose
Huxley is a dude I've really been getting into more and more recently. This track in particular is an all time effort from him full of swinging bass and classic piano stabs.
download: Huxley - Shower Scene
Deetron taking a bit more of a techno approach here, but still sprinkles on his typical amount of swiss melodic magic like only he knows how. This one really takes off in the second half. Like, really takes off.
download: Simon Garcia - Train In Vain (Deetron's Slave To The Rave)
A massive Casino Times remix of the new Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs single.. pretty much a combination guaranteed to lead to amazingness, this one is deeper than a lot of TEED's stuff but manages to really hit the spot. Can't wait for the full release on April 2nd.
Not So Deep
If you're like me and have been playing the youtube version of this song countless times over the past couple days, this mp3 will come as a godsend.. Full 320 quality. If you're in Chicago tonight and looking for something a little (lot) higher energy than the deep shenanigans at Spybar be sure to check out Brodinski & Gesaffelstein at the Mid.
download: Lana Del Ray - Blue Jeans (Gesaffelstein Remix)
A bit older, this one came out earlier in the spring courtesy of the French teenage prodigy Madeon... sunshine vibes all the way through.
download: Madeon - Icarus (Extended Mix)
I have to say I'm not usually a fan of mashups at all, but our DC homeboy Sean Johnson sent over his classic rock vs progressive house mashup pack the other day and something about these tracks is really awesome. This Tristan Garner vs The Police's Roxanne is my personal favorite from the bunch, just a ton of energy and fun.. Head over to his facebook page to grab the other two bootlegs for free as well.
download: Tristan Garner vs The Police - Punxanne (Sean Johnson & Third Culture Bootleg)
An incredible remix package on Joakin's newest single... literally each one is so good I can't pick a favorite.
Can't wait for this next one to come out on Revealed recordings. No_ID are a group you should get familiar with, the dutch duo has been getting attention by everyone from Hardwell to Axwell recently..
Just press play and wait for 45 seconds in. Disclosure must be some kind of demi-gods... Every song they release is better than the last one.
download: Disclosure - Flow (Original Mix)
These next two are your big room treats for the day. First up we have socal based duo No Body releasing this free bootleg yesterday and as we've come to expect from them it's quite large, and it even features the classic Walking On A Dream vocals. The second track is a Laidback Luke effort that while I'm not crazy about the vocals from Wynter Gordon, the drop on it is simply too crazy for me not to share. Old School Luke.
download: Wolfgang Gartner - There And Back (No Body Remix)
We've been slacking pretty hard lately, but I hope you ate your wheaties this morning because in preparation for Miami Music Week/Ultra we've got a megapost coming at you today that's literally so dumb it's clinically retarded. It is Miami after all right? I think that means we're kind of obligated to start with the biggest, most off the wall stuff.
TECHNOOOOOOOO. This newest release on Brodinski's Bromance imprint is insanely fat. Expect to hear this one devastating dancefloors inside the tents during some of the techier sets at Ultra this year. Needless to say, Pipes is a dude who you should pay attention to from now on.
download: Pipes - Sleeping (Original Mix)
Underground Sound
If you guys didn't eat your wheaties this morning, maybe you had some Cocaine and Ketamine instead? I hear either one counts as nourishment in Miami... In all seriousness (listen to the song and you'll understand), I'm excited to introduce you to the anthem for every basement in Miami this year. The long awaited "You and I" (better known as "Cocaine and Ketamine") by Fur Coat is out now on crosstown rebels.
download: Fur Coat - You and I
Light Year's newest release shows them going in a much more underground, deep house direction, and frankly it was a beautiful decision. I could eat this bassline for days. Sexy, 5AM vibes.
download: Light Year - Moderation (Original Mix)
This song is THE jam. Turn your speakers to full blast and listen to the little break after 1:30 to understand what I'm talking about. The only possible way this song could be cooler was if she was actually saying "Shots are on the house"... free shots are nice
download: Tensnake - Around The House (DJ T.'s 2011 Edit)
French Fries with some bass filled heat from dirtybird. Sidebar, I'm still waiting for patrick to learn how to do the Vogue like he says he's gonna. Will he pull it off in Miami? Tune in this time next week to find out.
download: French Fries - Yo Vogue (Original Mix)
I was waiting a long time for this remix EP to come out on the LA deep house label Culprit, and, well, it's finally out... AND IT'S AWESOME. Konrad Black puts in a supreme deep house cut here alongside a slew of other megafresh remixes. Make sure you check the whole thing out on Beatport.
download: Subb-an - What I Do (Konrad Black's "What I Did To You" Mix)
After the After-Afterparty
Some tracks for those late nights/surreal mornings when youre just trying to recuperate and relax. What better thing for that than some spacious amazing progressive house? This throwback by Inpetto always hits the spot.
download: Fragma - Toca Me (Inpetto 2008 Remix)
Super chill remix by the legendary discomaster Greg Wilson that I randomly came across on a compilation by a label called Bear Funk Records. I definitely recommend checking out their "Hibernation" compilation series (which this track came off of), its some disco fuego.
download: Social Disco Club & Maia - The Way You Move (Greg Wilson Version)
Everything In Between
When Ed Banger's SebastiAn puts out a new track or remix, for me it's always a question of which SebastiAn is going to show up. Good SebastiAn (like Embody), or bad painfully-overdistorted SebastiAn (like on pretty much his entire album). Luckily here we have a perfect example of good SebastiAn. A friend of mine best summed it up to me recently when he said "it's almost like this is what Justice was trying to do on their most recent album...and failed miserably at". Either way, this song rocks.
download: The Shoes - Time To Dance (SebastiAn Remix) *Highly Recommended
One of my first memories of falling in love with a piece of music was on a road trip at summer camp when I was maybe 12 or 13, and the older counselers who were driving us played the same Talking Heads CD in the van over and over, and in particular the song "This Must Be The Place" and by a couple hours in everyone was belting all the words to the song at the top of their lungs. That little antidote is only relevant cause that awesome song gets an awesome remix effect here, with Anna Lunoe turning it into a nice little bit of sun splashed house.
download: Cari Kennedy & Goodwill (Talking Heads cover) - Home (Anna Lunoe Remix)
And last but not least, some Soulwax is always the basis of a healthy diet. (this is kind of just a testament to me being crazy excited to see 2manydjs again at Ultra this year...you should be too)
download: Walter Murphy - A Fifth Of Beethoven (Soulwax Edit)
CHICAGO, IL -- This Friday, March 16th, the Bromance Tour will hit The Mid. Performing will be head of Bromance Records, Brodinski, young-gun and techno lunatic, Gesaffelstein, with strong support from the always-lovely Treasure Fingers. I had the pleasure of seeing Brodinski spin unannounced at a small, impromptu Ed Banger party last March in Miami, and I'm here to tell you that this man is a world-class party starter. On the decks, Brodi casually glides through genres: rap, techno, electro, tech-house, and everything in between to get you dancing. In Miami, I remember him getting on the mic to inform us that we were about to hear a new track from a friend, before unleashing it, sending the crowd into a drunken frenzy. The friend he mentioned? None other than Gesaffelstein. And to think that these two Frenchmen are being supported by Treasure Fingers is simply ridiculous; TF never fails to impress with his overall disregard for sub-genre barriers and his devotion to playing only the freshest and funkiest dance music.
But wait, there's more! If you tweet @br1ghtshiny between now and Thursday at 9PM, you will be entered to win a pair of FREE TICKETS to the show. All you have to do is tweet at us, mention the show, and you'll be entered to see Brodinski, Gesaffelstein, and Treasure Fingers spin live at The Mid for free! There is not a limited number of entries per person. Event details and some bonus trax after le jump.
High energy post to get y'alls Tuesday night started riiight.
Boston Bun goes in on this remix for Maelstrom's new EP on French label Sound Pellegrino. The laziness of the synths contrasted with the track's persistent high-end make for a feeling something like futuristic sushi. Check out the rest of the release on beatport 'cause it's damn near bulletproof. Bright & Shiny favorites include the Hacker remix of "uSSR" and Coni's tech house interpretation of "House Music". Maelstrom - House Music (Boston Bun Remix)
This next one from the duo of Polish Berliners known as Catz 'N Dogz is a Class-A Party Starter. Warped synths ascend as the track grabs your attention, a faint R&B refrain provides added sexiness, and then, all at once, the track is plunged into the low-end: this is where you dance. Check beatport for the just-as-good B-side (a veritable master-class in current bass music), or watch the hysterically cute video below. Catz 'N Dogz - Professor Nice Love
To get the crazy flowing, we turn to Brodinski. This is the kind of Boys Noize-esque electro/techno us circa-2006 bloghaus heads fiend for. Simple, effective, infectious, this song hammers out the groove-- perfect for the club or a festival setting. For all our Chicago readers, French masters Brodinski & Gessafelstein will be playing The Mid, March 16th, alongside the legendary Treasure Fingers. Get tickets/info here, and be sure to keep an eye on the blog for a chance to win free tickets to the show next week. Yuksek - Off The Wall (Brodinski Remix)
Closing out is a track I stumbled upon courtesy of the great Maya Jane Coles. This remix from Paraguayan outfit Wowogueros is an absolute monster. When Ms. Coles drops it on the unsuspecting peoples of Miami, you can see this results: the searing bassline rattles eardrums, the repeated "YEAH"s stirs the crowd into a frenzy; the whole club goes gorillas. Watch below. P. Lopez, Catnapp - For The Fun (Wowogueros Remix)
This first track is a really gorgeous collaboration between German singer/songwriter Coni and the Swedish beatmaker Hakan Ludvigson. Somewhere between late night progressive house and straight up deepness, this one is sublime and amazing in all the right ways. And far too short at just under 5 minutes.
download: Hakan Ludvigson, Coni - Goodbye feat. Coni (Original Mix)
Off the wall, Caribbean tribalist freaky gonzo style dutchness. I can't think up enough superlatives to describe this one. FAT.
download: Bassjackers & Apster - Klambu (Original Mix)
5AM bass in your face with Nina Kraviz. Been on this one for a while but I guess she's just releasing the music video now in the run up to her debut album release. Grab the mix and be sure to watch the freaky/hypnotic video below.
download: Nina Kraviz - Ghetto Kraviz (Original Mix)
So, if you've been paying attention lately you've probably noticed we've been getting more and more enchanted around here with the funky bass and r&b inspired grooves of contemporary UK garage. So in sticking with that theme, this sunday's mix comes from one of our absolute favorite acts pioneering that sound right now, the UK duo Disclosure. This mix is from the Data Transmission Podcast, which I highly suggest you all start following for more high quality mixes (the most recent one by Maxxi Soundsystem is also fire). See what Disclosure have to say about their mix and also check out the tracklisting for both sets after the jump...
download: Data Transmission 201 - Disclosure
And secondly, as a bonus mix, comes this hour from Hardwell's spot on XM radio which, as you can probably expect, is nonstop, high-energy dutch madness. 70 minutes of big room sounds. Perfect to throw on while pregaming or other things along those lines.
download: Hardwell On Air 053 (Sirius XM - Electric Area) 02-03-12
R&B vocal samples are basically the new thing. It's the rebirth of the 90's (praise the lord). UK bass music and garage has really pushed itself to the forefront of electronic music productions and the following artists/tracks have become staples in my DJ sets. Instead of giving you a ton of words, I'll let the fantastic percussion production and vocal sampling speak for itself. Hopefully I don't have the DCMA all on my ass for this post... Anyways, happy weekending y'all.
Boys Noize Records recently uploaded their third installment of the infamous Miami Noize compilation to soundcloud, and boy does it bang. Really, it's got everything you could expect from an imprint captained by one as equally innovative and maniacal as Alex Ridha, featuring new tunes from the likes of Djedjotronic, SCNTST, Shadow Dancer, and many more. Two standout in particular for me, however, the first being "Don't Do It", a debut release from a "mysterious new producer" called Elax, who we suspect (read: know) is actually an alias of Boys Noize himself (Elax = Alex...clever). It certainly has a Boys Noize sound to it, but with a very uplifting feel together with the pitched vocal and lead synth line. This is one that'll inspire some debauchery filled nights, that I can assure you. The second standout for me is the Strip Steve track, "Strollin'". It's much more laid-back and feel good than the rest of the compilation, which is probably why I like it so much. It's fitting that it concludes the mix; after all that jack- inducing head-banging techno music, everyone needs a little reprieve. Peep the compilation, and the two that I mentioned, below, and be sure to mark your calendars for it's release (digital only) on March 12th.
Like I said above, at some point or another we all need a little break from pounding techno music. Luckily, producers like LA based smoov house expert Urulu exist. This is a little remix he did for the Amadeus imprint. It's as soothing and soulful as anything I've heard in quite a while, perfect for just lounging or perhaps for getting a little intimate. Download below, and be sure to keep your eye on this guy, we predict big big things from him in the near future.
I leave you with this mix I've recently done, featuring, among many others, the Urulu remix from above. It starts off deep and slow only to pickup in the middle and drop down a bit again at the end. I hope it serves as a good soundtrack to your weekend, TGI-mothafucking-F y'all. Click on the link to find the tracklist.
