So here’s some good news: if you’re a Bell TV or TELUS TV customer, you can enjoy bpm:tv free of charge from April 1 to 30. We’re in free preview with both providers all month long. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample our full lineup: the best new and classic videos, live sets by leading acts, artist profiles, fashion and a whole bunch more.
We’re channel number 579 on Bell TV — part of the Movies And More theme pack. Go to Bell.ca or call Bell TV at 1 888 759-3474 to subscribe.
We’re channel number 579 as well on TELUS Satellite TV, where we’re found in the Family 2 theme pack. And we’re channel 251 on TELUS’sOptik TV service — part of the Music theme pack. Go to TELUS.com or call 310-MYTV (6988) to subscribe.
Visit bpmtv.comregularly for programming highlights!
Short post today, as this week has been a little slow. That will change when you see what I’ve got for you in the “Sweets of the Week” tomorrow. Until then, let’s all say hello to Parov Stelar, the inventor of electro-swing.
It’s a little odd to describe him in those terms, because to be honest I don’t know of many other artists who even make this kind of music. So he’s more than the inventor and pioneer — he’s pretty much the living, breathing definition of electro-swing.
Stelar has just released the video for his new track “Jimmy’s Gang” — and, like just about everything he produces, it puts a smile on your face right away. If you ever find yourself DJing or playing music at one of those parties where everyone is just too frickin’ cool to relax and enjoy the atmosphere, all you’ve got to do is throw on one of his records and I guarantee the hoedown will begin.
Born Marcus Fureder, Stelar is an Austrian musician with a long and impressive history — more than I have the time or resources to do justice to here. Suffice it to say that this latest track is pretty typical of what you can expect from him: the sound of a louche swing band sawing away in a dingy beer hall where the lost souls drink away their pain in the dark corners. Throw in some proper kicks and bass, plus some heavy synth strings, and you’ve got yourself a brand new genre.
Fact is, these tracks are ‘wicked awesome’ and keep everyone in a good mood no matter where you are. Lezzz get it.
Take a gander through some of these tracks at your leisure. But be warned: only do so in an environment that permits dancing, because you may not be able to control yourself.
So CMW was in full effect last week, which naturally meant that I saw no Canadian musicians. Wait, wait, wait — before you throw the spit and vinegar at me, understand that CMW has gone so far to the alternative rock side that there’s really not a lot on offer for EDM fans like us. Factor in that the week coincided with a certain little festival down in Miami and maybe you can understand why CMW was a little lacking in terms of the music we love.
That said, CMW did come through with the best show of the weekend. In a week that saw impressive performances by the likes of the UK’s Foreign Beggars, Jack Beats and Annie Mac, and Japan’s Kim Fai, what really got my pulse pounding and my mouth salivating was the chance to catch Nicolas Jaar at Toronto’s Revival. For the past eight-plus months, this Chilean-American New Yorker has been one of the most creative, innovative artists to break through and establish himself in the EDM world. His blend of acoustic and organic sounds, meshed with subtle yet effective bass and methodical kicks, really speaks to the next generation while drawing on the influence of those who came before. An indie darling in every sense of the word.
And this was precisely the feel of the scene and the show: lounge-y, with a very chill vibe. Revival was the perfect locale for it, too. (If you’re familiar at all with this spot, you’ll know that some of Canada’s best musicians have got their start on Revival’s stage on open mic nights, performing their original material for the audience to love or hate. Toronto’s version of The Apollo Theater in Harlem.
Nico started his set dramatically, with a seven-minute intro that really created the atmosphere that he wanted. And I have to say, seeing him play live was a refreshing experience. After a while, you sort of want to see artists do more than press the cue button on their Pioneers and turn up the highs and lows. Nico was accompanied by real flesh-and-blood musicians on bass and saxophone, and you immediately felt as though you were hanging out on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg. Savage!
The only negative, and I think lot of fans felt the same way, was the absence of remixes and uptempo releases from the set. He stuck with really new, really low-key material. So if you were there to hear Nico play that 4 am sound keeps you up to the bleary predawn looking for cold tea, you probably went home a little disappointed. Still, if you appreciate the other side of Jaar — futuristichippyflysh*t with a Chilean twist — then there was much and more to savour.
A crazy night last night, what with running back and forth from The Cobra to The Hoxton to check out Jack Beats, Annie Mac and Kim Fai. And I wouldn’t have had it any other way: loads of great music, and even better people to celebrate it with.
Mind you, between last night, Bassmentality on Wednesday and Nico Jaar at Revival tonight, there hasn’t been much time to spend polishing my prose to perfection. So let’s just get straight to the point: SWEETS!!!!
If you’re in Toronto tonight, get your ass to Revival to see one of my top-five-dead-or-alive producers tear up the club: Nico Jaar. Info and tix HERE.
bpm:tv producer Declan O’Driscoll has been down in the Sunshine State covering Miami Music Week 2012. Here’s a sampling of his photos from the week’s biggest events.
If, like us, you’re a devotee of banging, progressive house, then you ought to be primed for two-time Grammy nominee MORGAN PAGE‘s new album In The Air, the follow-up to his 2010 long-player Believe. And, in the absurdly unlikely event that you’re not already primed … well, you will be once you’ve checked out the killer video for his single “Body Work,” featuring the estimable Tegan and Sara.
So: pretty awesome, right? Kind of makes you want to hear the whole album? Well, guess what: you’ll be able to do right here at bpmtv.com. Starting on Monday April 2, we’ll be hosting our first-ever online listening party, courtesy of Nettwerk. Drop by our home page any time during that week, click on the Morgan Page banner, and stream the entire album. Post a comment and let us know what you think.
Here’s a short sampler that’ll give you a taste of what to expect. See you April 2!
Back to the world of EPs. Believe it or not, I’m one of those people who actually believes EPs are better for music — especially EDM — than albums are. Then again, after checking out Felix Cartal’s brand new album I might have to rethink that position.
Could you imagine if all of our favourite producers came out with long-players this year? How awesome would that be? Like the best year in the history of electronic music ever. But if that’s too much to hope for, I’d be willing to settle for a full-length album from this guy: Mord Fustang.
He’s back with his latest installment, a four-track EP called Welcome To The Future, and it’s chock full of the usual Fustangy goodness. Now, some of you may know that I care deeply for the Estonian DJ. He’s the artist who kicked off the first ever “Scott’s Selections” podcast, and for that alone holds a special place in my heart.
But enough of the violin strings and heart chords. The point is: Mord is back at his best, with that signature blend of Arps and heavy bass. Now, some artists with successful sound tend to get trapped by it, while others try so hard to escape it that they end up losing the thing that made us love them in the first place. Mord, however, seems to have found the right balance — evolving his sound in new ways, while holding onto those special qualities that first caught our ears.
Check out these two-minute teasers brought to you by Plasmapool — and enjoy every second!
There are certain artists who know how to make the most of it every time they step into the studio. When you consider that the “studio” often consists of a laptop in a hotel room somewhere, it’s even more amazing just how rich and dynamic these tracks end up sounding. Exhibit A: Felix Cartal.
It’s a dramatic statement, but I’ll stand by it: there is no one in the world right now creating better big room house bangers than this Vancouver-based artist. March 27 is the release date for his new album Different Faces, and it’s a work many electro heads and EDM fanatics have been waiting years to hear.
First off, let’s break down Cartal’s catalogue. This is the artist who’s given us stadium bangers such as “Drugs,” “The Joker” and “The Riddler,” not to mention cult classics like “Montreal Dreams,” and two personal favourites of mine: “Skeleton” and “Drone.” With a track record like that, you can see why he’s held in such high regard, not just by his boss Steve Aoki, but by everyone in the EDM game. His tracks are usually the first to played, the first to be remixed, and first to be loved by millions. So when I sat down to listen to Different Faces, I expected a lot.
What I got was a slap in the face accompanied by a raised eyebrow that said, “What the f**k did you think I was gonna do?”
What did I think? When “Don’t Turn On The Lights” came out in December, I’ll confess it didn’t give me the electric shakes I usually feel when I listen to Felix Cartal. I think I was worried that the album would be rushed and overly calculated to make sales. Slap again. “What the f**k did you think I was gonna do?” Of course not. Felix dropped pure class with this one: a summer anthem playlist and a tutorial for other producers on how to make bangers. It’s as close to The Source magazine’s famous 5 mic rating as you’re ever going to get, and so intense that it sucks the oxygen right out of your lungs. It’s that good.
Every track has its own personality. The tunes with vocals are radio-ready (as in, “ready to take over the radio”), and the instrumentals are every DJ’s dream. This is going to be the hit of WMC in Miami, and a definite top 10 finisher in on a lot of year-end best albums lists. It’s inspiring, too, to see the best EDM coming out of Canada again.
I’d love to go into every track in detail, but let’s give it all some time to sink in. For now, here are my preliminary faves — sure to change by the end of the week. Only to change again. Did I mention how good this album is? It’s good.
Kind of a calm-before-the-storm weekend. Not that much new stuff dropped — but what did definitely raise some eyebrows. First was a quick video teaser from Zeds Dead. You really have to appreciate what these guys are doing right now. Sure, the whole hip-hop/dubstep thing has been taking off everywhere, but DC and Hooks are doing it differently — and doing it better, some (OK, me) would say. Their video teasers and trailers, especially, are sheer genius, creating such a buzz around the songs that they seem larger than life. This video highlights their new track “The One.” Check it out — and be sure to cop the Victor EP while you’re at it.
I’m a huge fan of Ecotek, so when this dropped late last week it was an automatic download. With Paige on vocals, it sounds downright heavenly. Reminiscent of Deadmau5, it’s made for boats and beaches. Throw in remixes from Kevin Alves and Trajikk & Joman, and the whole EP is a must-grab.
Speaking of progressive house, I have a gem for fans of that genre. Whelan & Di Scala are two dudes out of Liverpool who have a track that’s climbing the Beatport charts. “The Fox” will put a smile on your face no matter where you are. This is an immediate buy.
A big shout-out to Pleasurekraft, who have been a personal fave of mine since their remix of “La La Land” a few years back. The boys were just in Toronto last week — check out the Provoke Web site HERE for a taste of what you missed. The double Ks, Kaveh and Kalle, know how to nail that perfect balance of carnival and progressive house to create sustained pleasure. Always a good show, and often an even better listen, this Swedish-American duo will be one of the hottest acts to catch this week in Miami. Keep an ear out for their new joint “Skeleton Key,” featuring Green Velvet on vocals. Should be a return to the glory of “La La Land” all over again.
The eve of Miami Music Week, and you always knew these sweets were going to be something special — so sit back my friend, because it’s about to get a little hectic. Got some exclusive brand new cuts here from big names and no-names, major players and underground movers. This time of year you can’t help but smile. Suddenly it feels like springtime outside, and that calls for a toast. Coincidentally it’s also St. Paddy’s Day this weekend — which means, for those who can’t make the trip to sunny Florida, there are green beverages to take the pain away.
Enough chit chat. Let’s get in to it — with Tiësto remixing Canada’s own Autoerotique! This is incredibly huge: biggest, baddest Tiësto tune since “Strings.” Yeah, I said it!
How many times can a song be remixed? At least one more, apparently. This take on Lana Del Rey‘s “Blue Jeans” has surpassed Kris Menace‘s mix as my fave. And wow — there is no label with more momentum than Bromance Records right now.
Iy-yi-yi … not gonna lie, I didn’t know much about Delta Heavy until about 27 hours ago, when this dropped. This is the kind of dubstep I love: not just smashing your face in, but doing it with a melodic touch. Enjoy!!!
Diplo is everywhere this week. Check out the new visuals for “Express Yourself.”
Swedish House Mafia are superheros. Not gonna lie — this video is pretty dope.
This, of course, is only the tip of the iceberg — many more songs will be released throughout the week. Be sure to check in every day, as this is the first place all those new tracks will be posted……xx
