Posted by Scott Willats

Dunno about you, but this weekend feels like Christmas to me. The dance music season is in full swing, and Canada is playing host to the best parties in the world! Can you feel it?

This is our weekend. There’s Bassmentality — sorry a Super Bassmentality happening in Ottawa, along with the Escapade fest. As for Toronto … well, you may have heard about a little something called the Digital Dreams festival. Homie! Iz going down. I said, can you feel it?

In this spirit of celebration, I’ve put together an extra-special “Sweets” — not so difficult, when you consider that this has been one of the better weeks of 2012 in terms of new music. Special praise for The Knocks, Zeds Dead and, of course, Dillon Francis. CAN YOU FEEL IT?

THE SWEETS

I love Ryan Enzed. If ever there was producer who deserved to be famous worldwide — as in right this minute — it’s this guy.

Ryan Enzed – Mission Accepted: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Dropped it yesterday, dropping it again today, might even drop it tomorrow. Zeds Dead are making next-level music. Canada. Does. It. Better.

Colin Munroe feat. Pusha T – The Fight Of My Life (Zeds Dead Remix): LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW HERE

Dillon Francis tweeted, while making this track, that it was creepy and awesome at the same time. Been waiting a while for a fresh Dillon track with quality — and man, is it good to have him back!

Steve Aoki – Control Freak feat. Blaqstarr & Kay (Dillon Francis Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

The Fool’s Gold Clubhouse mixtape dropped this week, with nine quality tracks. Highlights go to the Donovans and our homie Meech.

Donovans – House Of God: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Meech – Somethin: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Don’t know much about Elliott Porter … but I know this is massive!

Elliott Hamilton Porter – Flamingo

Don’t know who I’m more excited to see this weekend: Afrojack or R3hab! Anybody for a joint set?

Afrojack & Shermanology – Cant Stop Me Now (R3hab & Dyro Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

French excellence.

Madeon – Finale (Original Mix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

A shout-out to Provoke for throwing this li’l ditty on their SoundCloud.

Gabe Gallucci & Jed Harper – Falcon (Kim Fai Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Mister Bashmore, you so special …

Julio Bashmore – Troglodytes: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Only a preview, but that’s not gonna stop me posting this soon-to-be-colossal hit.

Kaskade feat. Neon Trees – Lessons in Love (Fareoh Remix): LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW HERE

Montreal madness!

Adventure Club feat. Kai – Need Your Heart: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Feel-good track of the week and my personal fave!

Santigold – The Keepers (The Knocks Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

VISUAL SWEET

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Posted by Scott Willats

It’s no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Fake Blood and his Blood Music label. I’ve never seen another group of artists who share a similar sound yet manage to be vastly different. Does that even make sense? Is this even possible? What do I mean?

To be honest, I don’t quite know how to describe it — which, of course, is exactly what you want to hear from an EDM addict who wakes up every day hoping to introduce someone to their new favourite track. All I do know is that whenever there’s a new release from the label — no matter which artist is responsible — it will have the distinctive atmosphere that says: “Blood Music.” That dark, uptempo, 16-bar electro sound I have come to love.

This newest release is more of the same, and exactly what the doctor ordered. Following hard on two new tracks from Donovans comes another soldier in the Blood Army, dangerDAN, with The Count: a three-track EP that includes a Boy 8-Bit remix of the title track.

dangerDAN’s bio isn’t exactly common knowledge, but I can tell you that the man has some gems in his library: “Tokyo Night Drive” stands out in my mind, but take a gander at his YouTube channel for yourself. You’ll get a real sense of what makes his sound unique.

The new EP really strikes a balance between his sound and the characteristic Blood Music feel. “The Count” supplies some heavy kicks at the beginning to get your pulse racing before a melody fit for a haunted house starts to kick in at what feels like 128 bpm. Heavy.

dangerDAN – The Count (Original Mix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

The remix is a different take on the same melody, with Boy 8-Bit adding a little of his own very welcome flavour.

dangerDAN – The Count (Boy 8-Bit AD 1972 Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

And then there’s “Like Butter,” which is probably the illest name for a track this year. It’s the perfect description: because if your ears are bread, this track is like butta, baby. If I’d heard this without any prior knowledge of the artist, I might have pegged it as a Fake Blood track — and that’s high praise. In terms of production skill, dangerDAN could well rival Blood Music’s founder himself.

dangerDAN – Like Butter: LISTEN TO IT HERE

A release like this definitely makes me hunger for a multi-artist Blood Music showcase like the one they staged not long ago at Fabric in London.  A Fake Blood show is good enough on its own — add Bowski, Ado, Kris Menace, LeBreton, Boy 8-Bit, Donovans, Ego Troopers and now dangerDAN, and you might bleed for days.

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