First up today we have a nice little diddy by UK based house producer, Bicep. This track is on the deeper side of things with lounge-esque percussion, piano stabs galore, and even a nice little R&B vocal sample that repeats itself about 1,000 times. Self proclaimed as a "sleazy homage to the 90's jersey house vibes", this track just got released on brand new Love Fever records. Stream only unless you tryna buy dat vinyl.
This next track is really just summer incarnate. Moon Boots recently put this out for free on the impeccable French Express label/blog. Featuring a vocal sample from "Not Letting Go" by Wayne Wonder, "Got Somebody" utilizes a funk bassline, brushed bell synths, and snappy percussion that's sure to have you at least tapping a foot or two. And fo free??? Thanks, love you French Express. Call me sometime.
Ken Loi's recent self-titled Ken Loi EP is pretty big. Actually, that's an understatement - it's absolutely gigantic. Each one of the tracks is somewhere between big room progressive house and off-the-walls electro, and that somewhere ends up being a seriously lethal dancefloor concoction. Expect to hear these next two all over Miami this year and be sure to grab the whole EP off of beatport.
download: Ken Loi - Cutoff (Original Mix)
Rave stabs and deep bass. Swanky Vibes. We already posted a track from this EP for free the other day, so if you like what you hear go buy this one off Beatport.
Purchase Link: Maelstrom - House Music (Coni Remix)
Today was a big day in internet history, with hundreds of websites blacking out in protest of the SOPA and PIPA bills making their way through Congress. If these bills are allowed to pass, the internet as we know it will be drastically changed; changed for the worse. In a world where these bills are passed into law, sites like Youtube, Soundcloud, Twitter, Facebook and, most importantly, Bright & Shiny would become policed arena's of potential copyright infringement. No longer would these websites be venues for the sharing of ideas, be them base or lofty. So do your part to stop internet censorship. Sign the petition or even write a letter to your Congressman; just don't sit back and let the man take our internet freedoms away.
So in the spirit of internet activism, here are couple of tracks that I would never have come across if it were not for Soundcloud and Youtube.
This track literally would have been impossible to distribute for free in a post-SOPA/PIPA world. Ya girl Azealia Banks spits hot fire over Lone's "Pineapple Crush." I've been waiting for a rapper with good taste to nail the cross-genre game like Azealia has and she's exceeded expectation without breaking a sweat. Congratulations to Ms. Banks for the new record deal: Universal is her new home. Azealia Banks - Liquorice (prod. Lone)
It's the middle of the winter here in Chicago, but Perseus keeps the tropical vibes pumping. I can't thank you enough, kind sir. Perseus - Cool Runnings
Disclosure doesn't stop making the most joyous UK Garage around. Make some babies or dance til dawn to this one. Disclosure - Tenderly
BONUS: New track from Disclosure that I'm anxiously awaiting the release of.
Random edit of a classic Kool & The Gang track, with an updated feel and nu-disco styling. Also could not be distributed (for free) in a post-SOPA/PIPA world... I hope you're starting to get the idea. Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It (E-SIX Edit)
Maya Jane Coles, the young London based house producer who shot into the limelight with the release of the acclaimed "What They Say" dropped her latest, the Focus Now EP, not too long ago. For those unfamiliar with her work, and for those that just want some more of it, I highly recommend checking it out. Ms. Coles demonstrates her production abilities with a slew of deep, entrancing beats. The title track though a bit slow, features a soft and bouncy melody with a killer breakdown around the 3:40 mark. Check out the entire EP on beatport here and show the lady some love.
Patrick posted Breakbot's original, "Fantasy", and it's amazing video in his last post, but already we've seen a number of great remixes. None seem to be quite as fun and funky (dare I say funkier than the original?), as this one from Arthur Baker. If you like what you hear, it wouldn't hurt to check out the other remixes on the full release here.
This Perseus remix of Jeremy Glenn's "New Life" is perfect. Seriously. With enchanting spaced out synth lines, scratchy percussion, and tastefully cut/pitched down vocals from the original, this one's firmly worked its way onto my list of summer anthems. Download or buy below, and be sure to check out more from Future Classic records and Perseus in the future.
