Canadians are more than lucky this year. Usually, festival season means having to venture to some distant location to see our favorite acts in the flesh. But not everybody can afford the cost of a trip to Coachella or Electric Daisy Carnival.
This year, happily, some of the best fests are taking place right in our own backyards. WEMF you know about already — an automatic must-see. Then we have Digital Dreams, which promises to be absolutely sick: Duck Sauce, Afrojack, Kaskade — ’nuff said. And, of course, there’s the much-publicized Full Flex Expresscross-country train tour, featuring Skrillex, Pretty Lights, Diplo and Grimes.
Also on the agenda: HARD Toronto on August4, featuring M83 and Justice along with locals Austra. Another must-see, right? But wait! Turns out the VELD Music Festival , featuring Deadmau5 and Avicii, is going down the same day. R’uh r’oh!
So Toronto goes from having no electronic festivals to having too many — a great problem to have, right? I dunno. Sure, we’ve got a large number of EDM fans in the city and province — but enough to support two festivals on the same weekend?
Granted, the music on offer isn’t exactly the same. Justice appeals to more of a rugged, indie-based crowd, while the VELD fest lineup is the definition pure EDM. (I mean, the mau5 even made a song called “The Veld.”) But for most fans, it’s not going to be a question of preferring one over the other. It’s more of a scheduling conflict that could end up costing one or the other of these fests a lot of audience — not because the promoters failed to assemble a good show, but because your average EDM fan just can’t physically be in two places at once.
I kind of think this problem sucks — but I also figure it’s better to have too much choice than too little. Either, it’s going to be a helluva festival season. A lot of people will be wearing out their summer tires that first weekend in August, shuttling between Hard and VELD. And I’ll be one of them.
CONSUMER WARNING: The bass on this album has been clinically proven to cause full and debilitating mind-and-body addiction to electro.
Go for it!!!!!!!!
(What? Do you wan to live forever or something?)
Finnish electro-house artist Huoratron (a.k.a. Aku Raski) has no restraint when it comes to his productions. He goes for it — and boy, does this guy deliver. There’s a raw underground feel to much of his stuff, and this albums is absolutely awash in it. It’s a rare and refreshing quality nowadays, as EDM colonizes the mainstream. Cryptocracy is an electrifying pastiche, melding electro and underground with a scorching, rock-styled sound: a stalwart, forceful work. After playing the album through and looking up a few videos of him spinning, I’ve made it a priority to catch him live at the earliest opportunity. This is one performer I am very eager to see behind the decks.
Check out the videos and tell me if you don’t agree …
On to the album. Here’s a track-by-track rundown:
1. Cryptocracy – An amazing start to the album, opening the minds of his listeners and luring them into uncharted corners of his musical labyrinth. Check out the video for this track; turn up the volume, give in to the sound and let Huoratron take full control of your mind. It’s a mental ride you won’t forget.
2. New Wave of Mutilation – Mu-ti-late: to deprive a person of a limb or other essential part. This track will deprive you of all senses other than hearing — in the nicest possible way. My recommendation? Don’t fight it … not that you could. Just give in and let the new wave take total control.
3. A699F – Listen at the 0:30 mark and you’ll get a distinct “Happy Violence” vibe. This one left me eager to press repeat repeat repeat — but with eight more tracks still to go, we soldier on.
4. Bug Party – Frenzied. My body absolutely refused to stay still for this one. The farther I follow Huoratron on this wild sonic journey, the more I get the “bug” to see him live!
5. Dungeons & Dungeons – Here, Huoratron pulls the listener into the dungeon of his musical mind and unpacks the instruments of euphoric torment. And it hurts so good.
6. Sea of Meat – And here a fashionable dubstep feel takes over: electro wobble wobble dub. Not a personal favourite of mine, but still an ear-pleaser.
7. Top 1% – “Do it again.” And again. And again. Huoratron keeps finding peaks and depths you didn’t even know existed. With this one, he made me an official convert to the electro chiptune sound.
8. Force Majeure – Here, things take on a nightmarish tone, sucking you into dark realms of the unknown on the scariest roller coaster you’ve ever ridden. This track left me utterly speechless.
9. Transcendence – Homestretch now. Throughout “Transcendence” you hear alarms, as if warning you about the presence of dangerously powerful bass. And with good reason: I was sitting in a friend’s car listening to this track while she dashed into a store and — no word of a lie! — it triggered the alarm on a parked car nearby. The power of this track can only be fully appreciated on good speakers or headphones. It’s like an endorphin overdose surging through your whole system, till it feels like your head may explode. When it comes to a raw, underground hard bass sound, you’ll find no superior example.
10. Unblinking Eyes – At first I felt as though this track ought to have been the album opener: it has a great build to it and really hypes up the listener. But Huoratron knows what he’s doing. It’s genius to make this the album’s finishing touch, because it just leaves you craving more. A masterpiece.
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
Extreme! The Red Bull generation is coming into its own — and dubstep seems to be its soundtrack. Now, I’m a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to sports, but not so much when it comes to music. You could say the same about Johannes Bürmann.
A graduate of musicology at Germany’s University of Giessen he has released outstanding remixes and originals under the names Brand Blank and Burman –notably “Take Me Away,” posted below.
Bürmann is in fine form on his cutting-edge remix of Bob Marley‘s “Sun Is Shining.” While that track deserves attention on its own, what really makes it worthy of a post is the amazing video below, which uses it as the soundtrack to footage of extreme athlete Jokke Sommer in his wingsuit, flying through some of the gnarliest places in the world. The images and sound together are truly inspiring. Enjizzoy!
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.
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.
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.
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!
Tonight, The Mod Club in Toronto plays host to Hamburg hipsters Digitalism. For many, this is as big as a Justice or a Skream show. Digitalism have, after all, been consistently putting out some of the most copied sounds of the past five years. Copied as in: people tend to borrow their style but never quite get it right.
Isi and Jence are two seemingly down-to-earth artists with great chemistry. Because they don’t stick to a defined genre, you never quite know what you’re going to get with these guys. One minute you’re listening to what sounds like indie electronic alternative (“Circles”), the next you’re hearing classic electro (“Stratosphere”) — and both tracks are putting a smile on your face.
They’ve definitely made it. Notwithstanding a lack of North American radio play, they are pretty much a household name for anyone who knows EDM. Big festivals and sold-out arena shows are as familiar to them as tight sweat-pits and hole-in-the-wall bars. Wherever their shows may be, they are sure to be crammed.
I’m looking forward to sitting down with them today, because I don’t just like their music — I like their taste in music. Just a couple of weeks ago I saw them Tweet a track from a German artist known as Erobique. Those familiar with him will know what a treat it was for me to discover this artist — all thanks to the two guys from Digitalism and their impeccable ears.
Looking forward to sitting down with them, and to catching the show afterwards. Hope to see you at The Mod Club. Get your tix at Embrace Presents!
In any recent discussion of innovative and trend-setting DJs, the name Boys Noize has been at the top of most people’s lists. The 29-year-old prodigy turned professor has spent most of his 20’s inventing and establishing sounds that embody the music of tomorrow, today. With the upcoming release of The Remixes, today is a day to reflect on this skillful artist.
Alex Ridha, in my opinion, is one of the greatest remixers of the decade. Not to dismiss his originals or his live sets, but the track selection of his remixes, coupled with the production quality and style, put him in a class all by himself. And if you think I’m being a tad melodramatic, all I ask is that you press play on the track directly below and lose yourself in seven years of perfection.
This little mix/preview gives you a sense of his incredible consistency. And chances are that track list features at least a couple of titles that will find themselves on your iPod real soon. The most amazing thing is that many impressive remixes didn’t even make the cut.
The album, which will be available December 5, is like a stroll down memory lane for electro enthusiasts. Some will say its release right around Christmas is purely for marketing and profit. Fair comment, but I personally like it when a DJ assembles a list like this to demonstrate his or her mastery. Not that Ridha has anything he needs to prove.
He has created so many tracks with such intimate sounds that you would figure them best played in the close quarters of a basement club. Right? Wrong. You’ll find them being used as festival shakers and stadium anthems. There is no rigid format, no step process — it’s just original quality: dense sound from every angle possible. The album ought to be worth the pick-up, if only for the tracks that you don’t already have. Some of the songs selected were big summer anthems, so even if you’re unfamiliar with the artists I’ll bet you’ve heard one or two of these before.
And when you’re talking about the man, you have to talk about the label: the Young Money of electro. A collection of equally talented producers with long lists of credentials in the banger department. A personal favourite of mine being Jan Driver, who has the same heavily German electro sound that Boys Noize has polished. This track “Rattlesteak” is war music:
It’s the week when guys dress in the most hideous or hilarious outfits they can find, while every woman resembles a porn star — and I couldn’t be happier. Halloween is a weekend that many of us cherish. Whether you’re the little kid who gets a night of candy and excitement, the high school and college kids making blurry mistakes at a Halloween kegger or the adult who appreciates the fun of a good night with friends, Halloween is always a joy. So let’s make it a little more fun!
I’ve compiled a playlist of some of the best electro-house tracks to play this weekend. Whether you’re playing at a party, hosting one or just messing with the kids that walk to your door, I’m sure this will fit in nice and perfect. So strap up and keep your children close because … alll work and no play make Johnny a dulllllll boy! REDRUM!
Felix Cartal does a great job of making an eerie melody, Clockwork picks it up and adds the zombies!
Like I wasn’t gonna get him up here. The master of the dark melody: even for Fake Blood, this one is a little murderous. Makes you feel like the prey being hunted.
And a couple videos to top it all off. First up, from the French Jack Ripper, Gesaffelstein, who shows you what Tour de France you do not want to be a part of (or maybe you do).
Yes, it’s only Thursday. But I have a special post for you tomorrow, so I thought I’d share what I’m feeling this week a day earlier rather than not at all.
First of all, this was a huge week for new releases. First comes from a duo out of France, who released the album people have been waiting some little while for. Audio, Video, Disco finally dropped on Tuesday– and unfortunately for our friends Justice, many people in Internetland had already gotten their paws on it weeks earlier. Without dissecting it at length (because there are plenty, and I mean plenty of “critics” doing that), I’ll just say: I think it’s a good album. Different, just like Cross was four years ago.
The other huge release comes from a bpm:tv staple and a personal favourite interview of mine: Kaskade dropped a double album, Fire & Ice — and if you know anything at all about Kas, you know it’s heavy and well thought-out.
The first disc is called Fire and features collaborations on every track. A lot of good vocals and catchy strings: everything that makes up today’s poppy sound — and that’s with nothing to be ashamed of. The second disc, Ice, is all songs remixed by Kaskade. Admittedly, two discs’ worth is a lot of Kaskade — but he’s earned it, and I can recommend picking it up. “Turn it Down (Fire Version)” is my fav track, but all of them have a big room sound. For the parties where there are more “top 40″ girls than you know what to do with, this is the album to play.
So without further delay, let’s get into the tracks I’ve been feeling this the week.
Kaskade’s remix of Kaskade’s track “Ice (Ice Version)”. Simple enough to understand, right?
Look, it was always going to be so easy to dislike the Justice album. Though the entirety isn’t my cup of tea, there are very special gems in there. This is more than a track to me. It’s elegance and sophistication that I would loooooooove to see live at a festival (which is what I think this whole album is meant for).
The Boomzers are back! And they have a heavy, loud and uptempo in-your-face track to prove it. If your not familiar with The Boomzers: they’re an Italian electro duo. Fans of Bloody Beetroots, Crookers, The “S” or Fare Soldi? You should pick this up, then.
