So: 2012. Best year ever or annus horribilis? Either way, the time to mark its passing approaches rapidly, and Dutch trance superstar FERRY CORSTEN has a special celebration planned. Tune in to his radio show, Corsten’s Countdown, on Saturday December 29 from 10 am to 6 pm ET for an eight-hour New Year’s live special.

You can be part of it, too! Visit the Web page to submit your track requests, share your favourite memories of 2012 or reveal your New Year’s resolutions.

Check out the promo clip (and note the subtle bpm:tv product placement!):

Posted by Scott Willats

So Christmas and New Year’s have come and gone, leaving the inevitable post-holiday sense of letdown in their wake. To lift the spirits a little, here’s a look back at the Sweets of the Week anthems that made 2011 memorable.

Posted three weeks ago: VLSONN‘s beast of a tune. Cop the EP amigo!

VLSONN – dx707: LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Dec. 9th Sweets: what more can be said of Zeds Dead? If 2011 is any indication of what 2012 will bring, we might be looking at a dynasty!

Zeds Dead – Ruckus The Jam: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Dec. 2nd: Possibly the biggest breakthrough of the year was this 21-year-old from Michigan. GRiZ is it!

Can’t Tell Me Nothing by Kanye West (GRiZ REmix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Nov 25th brought us German prodigy Zedd‘s newest release. Getting a lot of love throughout North America with this one.

Zedd – Stars Come Out feat. Heather Bright: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Nov 16th gave the “iPod song” a new identity

Caesars – Jerk It Out (Sawgood Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Remembrance Day had all the vets going wild with the latest from Blood Music’s LeBreton.

LeBreton – Ghoul: LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Nov 4th was Deadmau5 week … with “Aural Psynapse” being the treat of choice

Deadmau5 – Aural Psynapse: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Oct. 27th had Nico Jaar‘s newest on blast!

Sneaky Sound System – Always By Your Side (Nicolas Jaar Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Oct. 20th brought Bombs Away …

Gotye – Somebody That I Used To Know (Bombs Away Dubstep Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Oct. 14th … it’s all Bassssss.

Ferry Corsten – Check It Out (Bassjackers Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Thanksgiving!!!! Shots to the head with this one.

Headshotboyz – Sweton: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Sept. 30th was all Killa Killa….

Easy – Heatshock (The Killabits Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Sept. 23rd had Toddla T in town

Toddla T – ‘Streets So Warm’ feat. Wayne Marshall & Skream: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Sept. 16th….where’s the Dillon at?!?!?

Toddla T – Take It Back (Dillon Francis Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Sept. 9th … some Toronto swag. Poupon just might be the next big thing!

Poupon – Searching EP: LISTEN TO IT HERE

And that’s that. Can’t wait to hear what’s going to be dropping in 2012. I have a feeling EDM is going to hit even higher heights — and I’m stoked for it. Have a Happy New Year………………….xx

Follow Scott Willats (SAWStruck) on Twitter

Posted by Scott Willats

Round one of this week’s concert series came to an end last night, with Wolfgang Gartner going innnnn. Tonight, New York producer Luca Venezia, a.k.a. Drop The Lime, will be making a quick stop at The Mod Club to show off some of his new stuff. This man is talent in the purest form, and if you’re in the mood for a lot of jumping around and beats that hit you with precision and accuracy, The Mod Club is your spot tonight. Yet another beauty brought to you by Embrace Presents!

Boy-8-Bit – Suspense is Killing Me (Drop The Lime Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Since I don’t think I’ll be able to get a post up in time tomorrow, I should talk a little about the raveaggedon that is on tap at Kool Haus. The four-eyed assassin, Skrillex, is coming to town with a very special guest: 12th Planet! This show is for the all-ages type of crowd. Everyone is invited and everyone should come out to really appreciate what Skrillex has accomplished. I think this makes his fourth trip to Toronto in the past year, so it seems pretty obvious that we’ve become a favourite in his eyes.

12th Planet, meanwhile, is the artist I am truly excited to see tomorrow. Not only is this the first time I get to see him live, I will also be doing a web exclusive interview with him as well. So if you’ve got any questions for me to shoot his way, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Skrillex – All I Ask of you (12th Planet Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Which leads me to my sweets. I’m gonna keep them simple this week because I suspect most have you have already clicked off the page to get your tickets. And can I blame you? Not in the slightest.

First one is for all the Ferry Corsten fans out there. A lot of my posts have the dubstep feel, so it’ll be refreshing to hear some big room form. Bassjackers, who are in another zone of late, have absolutely worked their magic on Ferry’s track. It’s heavy and exactly what you want to hear 30 minutes into your fav DJ’s set. This one can’t be listened to sitting down.

Ferry Corsten – Check It Out (Bassjackers Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Steve Aoki and Weezer … this is too good to be true. Genre breakers!

Steve Aoki – Earthquakey People feat. Rivers Cuomo (The Sequel): LISTEN TO IT HERE

And of course, the mandatory new Justice track. Though I must say, this one is top quality. I think it’s so far my fav of the tracks I’ve heard. Smooth feel.

Justice – Newlands: LISTEN TO IT HERE

A lot for a little and a little for a lot………………..xx

Follow Scott Willats (SAWStruck) on Twitter

Once again, we’ve scoured the Internets for info on all of this month’s biggest and best new dance and electronic releases. So hey, you’re welcome.

Alessio Mereu, Tripolarity
Up-and-coming Italian DJ/producer Alessio Mereu shows off his versatility on this debut long-player, which veers from “dark techno” to “warm house” to “abstract electronic sounds.” Acumen, Bloody Mary and others make guest appearances. (Week of Aug. 2)

Camea, Clinkology
Clink Recordings co-founder Camea (a.k.a. Camea Hoffman) mixes the label’s first compilation, showcasing artists like Alexi Delano, Mark Henning and Ambivalent who exemplify its trademark “sleek, minimalist techno and tech house” sound. (Week of Aug. 2)

Carl Cox, Ten Years at Space
With the summer season at Spain’s clubbing capital hitting its peak, Ibiza compilations are landing all over the place. British house heavyweight Carl Cox celebrates the tenth anniversary of his Revolution series at mega-club Space with this limited-edition double CD mix featuring classic and cutting-edge tracks from the likes of Green Velvet, Eric Prydz, Josh Wink, Joris Voorn and many more. (Week of Aug. 2)

Daniel Haaksman, Rambazamba
Berlin’s Daniel Haaksman draws on Rio’s baile funk and a host of other global influences, from Middle Eastern to jazz, for this solo debut on his own Man Recordings imprint. (Week of Aug. 2)

Gregor Tresher, Lights From The Inside
Frankfurt-based techno veteran Gregor Treshor continues to service the club crowd on his latest long-player, but shows a new interest in atmospherics, citing The Cure‘s Disintegration as a major source of inspiration. (Week of Aug. 2)

Heidi Presents The Jackathon
Windsor, Ontario native, Berlin-based DJ and BBC Radio 1 host Heidi assembles this companion to her Jackathon series of parties, featuring 16 tracks of heavy-duty house from big names like Derrick Carter, Juan MacLean, Steve Bug and others. (Week of Aug. 2)

Kryptic Minds, Can’t Sleep
From fast-rising British label Black Box comes this sophomore release from London dupstep duo Kryptic Minds (a.k.a. Simon Shreeve and Brett Bigden). Advance word says the album has a minimalist flavour, spiced with hints of Portishead, jungle and Detroit techno. (Week of Aug. 2)

Moonface, Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped
Moonface, an uncategorizable new project on Jagjaguwar from the adventurous Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown), is described as “something between pop and lush drones,” with layers and loops of organ beats, beeps and bloops, and digital drums. (Week of Aug. 2)

Mount Kimbie, Carbonated
UK dubstep duo Mount Kimbie deliver a dispatch from the cutting edge of bass with this EP, which features two different remixes of “Carbonated,” the standout track from their 2010 album Crooks & Lovers. (Week of Aug. 2)

Newworldaquarium, Dead Bears
Elusive Dutch producer Newworldaquarium, otherwise known as Jochem Peteri, issues an expanded version of his sophomore release, a critically acclaimed 2007 exploration of “downtempo grooves, dub techno and deep spacey house.” (Week of Aug. 2)

Roska, Rinse 15
Roska, the poster child for UK funky, surveys the underground dance scene in this latest mix CD from self-described “seminal” London-based radio station and record label, Rinse. Listen for tracks by Katy B, Magnetic Man, Redlight and Roska himself. (Week of Aug. 2)

Stereociti, Kawasaki
Japanese artist Stereociti (a.k.a. Ken Sumitani) serves up “soul-inspired deep house with a raw, dubby edge” on this debut long-player from Berlin’s Mojuba label. (Week of Aug. 2)

Accessory, Underbeat
German synthpop duo Accessory (a.k.a. Dirk Steyer and Ivo Lottig) continue to march in Depeche Mode‘s well-worn footprints, with a dancefloor-friendly new album that tempers tunefulness with well-timed bursts of industrial-style aggression. (Week of Aug. 9)

EAST: Volume Cinammon
DJ Ping celebrates his ongoing residence at Hamburg’s EAST Hotel with a flavourful new addition to the EAST series of mix compilations. (Previous volumes: Ginger, Jasmine, Lotus and Mandarin.) He serves up “atmospheric deep house” for the bar, and “a multi-faceted Europe-meets-Asia sound collection” for the lounge area. (Week of Aug. 9)

Hardfloor, 20 – Two Decades of Hardfloor
German acid techno kings Hardfloor (a.k.a. Oliver Bondzio and Ramon Zenker) have compiled a massive three-disc career retrospective that assembles the very best of their prodigious output, from the early Harthouse singles to last year’s long-player Two Guys Three Boxes. (Week of Aug. 9)

Teen Daze, A Silent Planet
The new six-track EP from B.C. chillwaver Teen Daze was inspired by the “beauty and monolithic qualities” of the Fraser Valley mountains, and by the former bible college student’s reading of the C.S. Lewis classic Out of the Silent Planet. Download a free track here. (Week of Aug. 9)

Ursula 1000, Mondo Beyondo
On his fifth album, Brooklyn’s Ursula 1000, otherwise known as DJ and multi-instrumentalist Alex Gimeno, splatters his “quirky electronic dance pop” with bits of disco, Latin funk, surf guitars, electro, Sixties lounge pop and all manner of other musical bric-a-brac. Guest stars include Fred Schneider of the B-52s. (Week of Aug. 9)

zerO One, remiXed
New from electronic adventurer Kevin Dooley, who records under the name zerO One: a reconfigured version of his debut long-player, remixed with helping hands from Bluetech, Phuturerprimitive and Magic Sound Fabric. (Week of Aug. 9)

50 Weapons of Choice #10-19
Bass heavyweights like Benjamin Damage, Cosmin TRG and Phon.o appear on this new compilation from 50 Weapons, the white label series founded in 2006 by Berlin’s Modeselektor. (Week of Aug. 16)

BLNRB: Welcome To The Madhouse
Afropop meets German electronica in this intriguing assemblage of colloborations between Kenyan musicians and Berlin-based artists such as Modeselektor, Jahcoozi and the brothers Teichmann. (Week of Aug. 16)

Dubstep Allstars Vol 08: Mixed by Distance
UK dubstep mainstay Distance (a.k.a. Greg Sanders) assembles a survey of the British bass music scene that includes new material from the likes of Kryptic Minds, Tunnidge, Deleted Scenes and Benga. (Week of Aug. 16)

Fool’s Gold, Leave No Trace
Stripped down to a five-piece for their sophomore album, funky L.A. collective Fool’s Gold continue to refine their blend of deep soul, Afrobeat and synth-based British new wave. (Week of Aug. 16)

Hans Nieswandt, Hans Is Playing House
Veteran German producer, DJ, author, radio host and all-around scenester Hans Nieswandt drops his first remix collection, disco-fying favourite tracks by Barbara Morgenstern, Eisen, Universal Gonzalez, Mittekill and others. (Week of Aug. 16)

Hed Kandi: Ibiza 2011
No summer season in Ibiza would be complete without a mix compilation from relentless UK house label and “lifestyle brand” Hed Kandi. This edition features contributions from top flight artists and producers such as Wolfgang Gartner, Afrojack, Alex Gaudino and Calvin Harris. (Week of Aug. 16)

Jus-Ed, Vision Dance
This new album from Connecticut-based producer, DJ, label manager and part-time landscaper Jus-Ed (known to his mother as Ed McKeithen) is a one-stop shop for all your deep house needs. (Week of Aug. 16)

Kid Koala, Space Cadet
The new album from Montreal turntablist Kid Koala serves as the soundtrack to his 132-page graphic novel of the same name, and fleshes out his trademark sound with live strings, horns and other touches of instrumental colour. (Week of Aug. 16)

Kompakt Total 12
Cologne’s influential Kompakt label issues the latest edition of its annual compilation series, featuring tracks from Gus Gus, Superpitcher, Gui Boratto, The Modernist and more. (Week of Aug. 16)

Natalia Kills, Perfectionist
British actress and filmmaker turned up-and-coming songstress-slash-drama queen Natalia Kills makes her bid for Lady Gaga-style multimedia meta-popstardom with a debut album featuring contributions from Akon and mentor will.i.am. (Week of Aug. 16)

Nero, Welcome Reality
After seven years together, hard-hitting UK dubstep duo Nero are finally ready to unleash their debut LP. Check out bpm:tv’s Web Exclusive feature in Nero here. (Week of Aug. 16)

Nervous Nitelife Presents Muzzaik
Hungarian DJ/producers Daniel and Sullivan — otherwise known as Muzzaik — do their bit to advance dance music’s Eastern European invasion with a mix compilation that reveals why the duo have been increasingly in demand as remixers. (Week of Aug. 16)

Ørjan Nilsen, In My Opinion
A mover and shaker on the Norwegian club scene for the last five years, trance producer/DJ Ørjan Nilsen delivers his long-awaited debut album. “I can’t describe it other than being me,” he says on his Web site. “It seems like I have so many things that need to get to the surface, and I’m showing that through my music.” (Week of Aug. 16)

Woody McBride, Adventures in Deep Techno Volume One
This new mix CD from Woody McBride (a.k.a. DJ ESP) spotlights the Minnesota-based producer’s distinctive blend of “tribal techno, acid house, elektro, ambidelics, hardtek and authentic old school minimal electronic music.” (Week of Aug. 16)

David Guetta, Nothing But The Beat
Can French superstar DJ David Guetta possibly top the success of his Grammy-winning 2009 release One Love? We’ll find out when his fifth long-player drops. Flo Rida, Nicki Minaj, Taio Cruz, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Usher and will.i.am are among the guest stars on hand for what promises to be the party album of the year. (Week of Aug. 23)

Andrew Bayer, It’s Artificial
The debut album from adventurous Washington DC producer Andrew Bayer touches on everything from glitch-hop to progressive house, according to the release from the label, Above & Beyond‘s Anjunabeats imprint. (Week of Aug. 23)

Balam Acab, Wander/Wonder
Following up on the critical success of last year’s five-track EP See Birds, Pennsylvanian slo-mo house/experimental hip-hop artist Balam Acab (a.k.a. Alec Koone) drops his full-length debut on Tri Angle. (Week of Aug. 30)

Cocoon Compilation K
Sven Väth‘s Frankfurt-based techno label Cocoon Recordings delivers its latest compilation, featuring tracks from Nina Kraviz, Tom Trago, Henrik Schwarz, Maetrik and Dinky. (Week of Aug. 30)

Dalot, Minutestatic
The influence of Boards of Canada and Stars of the Lid can be heard on this sophomore release from New York sound artist Maria Papadomanolaki‘s electro-acoustic project Dalot. (Week of Aug. 30)

Ferry Corsten Presents Full On Ferry: Ibiza
Dutch trance powerhouse Ferry Corsten celebrates the debut of his “Full on Ferry” event at the Ibiza club Sankeys with a double-disc mix compilation featuring tracks and remixes from the likes of Giuseppe Ottaviani, Zoo Brazil, Cosmic Gate and Bart Claessen. (Week of Aug. 30)

Robbie Rivera, Juicy Ibiza 2011
“Tuff and sexy house music” originator Robbie Rivera celebrates summer in Ibiza with an all-star double CD mix compilation featuring tracks and mixes by Ferry Corsten, Moby, Tiësto, Allure and many more. (Week of Aug. 30)

Thundercat, Golden Age of Apocalypse
Suicidal Tendencies’ bassist Thundercat, who contributed to Flying Lotus‘s critically acclaimed Cosmogramma, gets a solo showcase of his own on FlyLo’s Brainfeeder imprint. Erykah Badu is among the guest stars on a disc that seeks out the middle ground between jazz fusion and glitch-hop. (Week of Aug. 30)

YACHT, Shangri-La
Idiosyncratic Portland, Oregon electropoppers YACHT issue the sci-fi-influenced follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut See Mystery Lights on DFA Records. According to the press notes, “”YACHT asserts that the future is a blank slate upon which anything can be imposed … Shangri-La argues that ‘Paradise is kinetic potential, a latency within us that has been eaten alive by time.’” So there you go. (Week of Aug. 30)

The dramatic finale of Superstars of Dance airs Jan. 14 & 16

CHECK OUT OUR ROUNDUP OF WHAT’S AIRING ON bpm:tv IN JANUARY.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Kaskade

From The Prodigy to Pete Tong, Carl Cox to K-OS, there’s just one show on Canadian TV that brings you up close and personal with the biggest names in dance and electronic music. This month’s highlights include one-on-one interviews with U.S. house producer Kaskade (Jan. 4 & 6), Grammy Award-winning French hitmaker David Guetta (Jan. 13), British house duo Basement Jaxx (Jan. 20) and ethereal dance-pop diva Sylvia Tosun (Jan. 27).

Superstars of Dance – Fridays at 8 pm ET & Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT
** SERIES FINALE: JAN. 14 & 16 **
It’s the Olympics of dance: the best dancers from eight countries face off in a spectacular winner-take-all battle for global dancefloor domination. Michael Flatley and Susie Castillo host this nail-biting performance competition from the creators of American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

Back @ Ya! – Every night at 7pm ET

Danny Davalos