Posted by Scott Willats

First and foremost a Happy Good Friday and Easter Sunday to all of bpm nation. Amidst all your ragin’ this long weekend, try to take a few minutes to remember the meaning of the holiday.

Thursday is one of the biggest nights in the club world. Even the people who don’t enjoy clubbing — because of the crowds, because of the price it exacts on your wallet and your body — will be out and about tonight. I think it’s a great time to hit a club that has a resident DJ and see what he or she is playing. Are they sticking with the tried-and-true crowd-pleasers, or pushing the boundaries with some creative new sounds? All questions worth answering, while indulging in a few drinks and the occasional taste of eye candy.

With Coachella coming up, next week’s Sweets will be dedicated to that infamous festival, which showcases some of the best acts in the world in a three-day clusterf**k. Meantime, this week’s helping should hold you all the way to 4/20, when we will get high together. Figuratively speaking, of course .

SWEETS

Return of the Mizzack! Best tune of the week

Mark Morrison – Return Of The Mack (Viceroy “Jet Life” Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

After seeing these guys perform two weeks ago, I’m really wishing I could have been in Miami when they made this!

Tocadisco feat. Julian Smith – That Miami Track ( Bassjackers Remix ): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Couldn’t believe I hadn’t posted this yet. Hugeness from Zedd

Zedd – Shotgun: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Very proper!

BeatauCue – Slow Down: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Been a while since I heard the Japanese Popstars. Very much missed them. BTW: Not Japanese. Not pop stars. Now you know.

BeatauCue – Slow Down (The Japanese Popstars Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Came across these just a couple of days ago. Thought I would share. Different, yet utterly irresistible.

C2C – Down The Road: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Get used to these guys.

These Vile Creatures – Helicopter Showdown feat. Lea Luna: LISTEN TO IT HERE 

VISUAL SWEETS

Keep an eye out for that Steve Aoki Web exclusive coming soon!

Dillllllllon Francis and Nero Tomorrow!!!!!!

…enjoy the Easter eggggggggggs!

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Posted by Scott Willats

Yesterday being Valentine’s Day, all my thoughts were focused on a very special someone. Oh Dillon Francis, I sighed. When, oh when, is this EP going to drop? Like Juliet on her balcony, I sat staring blankly at his Soundcloud, Facebook and Beatport pages, refreshing every 10 minutes or so minutes in the hope I’d be able to post in the afternoon. Oh Dillon, where art thou? Sadly, I was left spurned and heartbroken. And as you can see on you could see on his Facebook wall, a lot of other people were waiting impatiently too. Dillon’s EP with Cory Enemy had been such a success that it left us all salivating for the new one. But it seemed our hopes were to be dashed for another day …

… until around 7 pm when, in the midst of a wonderful Valentine’s Day dinner, my BlackBerry informed me that the EP had finally dropped. And it was on like Donkey Kong.

I immediately asked permission to slip on my earphones give a listen. My date rolled her eyes, but graciously gave her blessing. And what I heard was exactly what I ‘d expected: high temp electro, with precisely timed build-ups, all at a relaxed yet amped pace. Dillon oh Dillon, you bless us.

However! Only three tracks, one of which had been previously released — it left me wanting … scratch that, craving more. There’s an ongoing debate out there about the death of the album, and as EDM fans I think we have to acknowledge that it’s our genre leading the massacre. Long gone are the Tuesdays when your favourite artist would drop off 14 tracks on a bright, shiny new CD. Now it’s all little bits and little nibbles throughout the year. Does that suit you better? Would you rather hear one or two new tracks every month, or get a lump sum of 14 new bangers all on one day, once a year?

It’s definitely something to be discussed. Dillon kinda gets a pass, because everything he seems to drop is, as Dylan would say, “hot fiiiire.” Check it out and send me your comments here or @SAWStruck.

DILLON FRANCIS – SOMETHING, SOMETHING, AWESOME: BUY ON BEATPORT

Download Dillon Francis Now Hear This (Original Mix)

Download Dillon Francis Falling Up (Original Mix)

Dillon Francis & Kill The Noise – Dill The Noise: LISTEN TO IT HERE

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Posted by Scott Willats

Another weekend come and gone to much success. Winter is here: for many that means hibernation, while for others it’s time to get into winter party mode. Personally, I’m always up for a good party with good music, but I mostly find myself spending time with small circles of friends until about March. And that’s great, because it means I really get to try new stuff in terms of playing music and seeing what resonates. Constructive criticism from friends is always better than the feedback from a crowd of strangers, so I really search through different sounds and genres to see what type of love they get. Here are some that passed with flying colours — with luck, they’ll make your set or playlist too.

A tune like this isn’t the ideal winter track, but I don’t plan on waiting until March to break it out. The Long Beach City Kids are back with a disco/rap/funky/drumstep track that immediately makes you feel cooler than you are. Try to not dance to this!

LBCK – Real Caviar ft. Chuuwee: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Brand new synthetic funk from Louis La Roche, and it hits all the pressure points nicely. You never quite know what you’re going to get from him, but it always seems to be stylish. He really doesn’t try to do too much to the track — just embraces the simplicity of it.

Louis La Roche – F.U.B.A.R: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Never been a huge fan of Cobra Starship. In fact I’ll be honest: I don’t really like their music that much. They actually seem to be pretty cool people, but their sound has just never connected with me. However, I am a fan of Bingo Players, and with this release they give Cobra Starship a whole new light to shine in. The song is dope, and maybe I won’t skip past them anymore when I see a new release. Btw, this was ripped from Hardwell‘s mix — and no, Mac Miller isn’t on it. (At least, I didn’t hear him.)

Cobra Starship feat. Mac Miller – Middle Finger (Bingo Players Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE 

Just a couple more to keep you warm.

First is the brand new video from the baddest-coolest-flyest-rudebwoi in the game: Dillon Francis. This video is hilarious, and you can see what an easygoing, funny guy Dillon really is. He’s also the elite of the elite. No one has put out hits like he has these past 12 months — and as we come to the end of 2011, he has to be a serious contender for EDM artist of the year. This video is for a track I posted a good month ago: proof that this site needs to be bookmarked, my friend! Enjoy the visuals!

Finally, one of those year-end mash-ups that always seem to pop up in December. You know the story: all of the big pop tracks of the year, blended together so your kid sister and your mom really feel like they understand the art of mixing. As corny as these tracks can be, sometimes they’re good to keep in your catalogue for a wedding or bar mitzvah, when you’ve got to pop out something that’ll satisfy all ages. And besides, they’re good to have around so that in 10, 20, 30 years from now you can listen to a year of pop culture in five minutes. The video for this one puts it a cut above the norm, too. Enjoy!

Kaskade review tomorrow!

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Posted by Scott Willats

Let’s talk about Moombahton. Whenever a new genre pops its head into our iPods, there will always be skeptics, haters and posers. I’m not here to examine what types of people make up those three unique categories — that’s not my job. Truthfully, I don’t believe it’s any person’s job. What is my job is to present to you the various characters who have become influential in this genre, lay it on a plate for you, let you savour and digest it, and come to your own opinion about the outcome.

I’m not going to date myself and say I remember when dubstep started. I’m really not that old, and I don’t want to be. But I do remember when it first started to get big here in North America. It was 2007-2008 when the people who had their ears glued to London’s underground began picking up on this grungy, drum-influenced, bass-inspired music. What it had in common with moombahton was: it was very specific, and people either loved it or hated it.

Well, the tables have turned. This time around, it’s North Americans who are the creators of a new genre, and it’s everybody else who needs to decide whether they “feel it or not.” Now, I’m not expert on the subject of who invented the genre or how, but from what I understand, it all basically started with Dave Nada slowing down an Afrojack beat. The track was Moombah, and when he slowed it to 108 (107-111 is the bpm that all moombahton follows) he thought it sounded like reggaeton — so he named it Moombahton.

Whatever the story, this is definitely made for dancing. Sometimes electro just goes faster than you can manage on the dance floor. I mean, you’ve had a couple of brews and you’re a little bloated, right? Lol, no problem: we just slow that tempo down to 108 and it’s easy skankin’, ya dig me?

The one criticism that can be laid on Moombahton — and it’s the same one I’ve heard about dubstep — is that it’s too much like reggae. I’m a huge a dancehall fan, huuuuuge, and I respect what the likes of Vybz, Movado, Busy and Jahvinci are all doing right now. I do believe the genres sound similar (I mean, Major Lazer‘s Pon de Floor could as easily be placed in either category). But Moombahton has way more of a EDM feel, while reggae always seems closer to soul.

But enough of the dry stuff; let’s get into the tunes — starting with the track where it all began.

Dave Nada – Moombahton: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Mad Decent seem to be the nation of Moombahton, and Diplo is their Prime Minister …

Diplo & Skrillex- Amplifire (Kristiän Edit): LISTEN TO IT HERE

A totally crossed out video that will leave you yelling ‘Que!’

Dillon Francis & Diplo feat. Maluca “Que Que”: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Which leads us to the beast known as Dillon Francis. You’ve heard me sing his praises thousands of times — quite simply, this man is Moombahton.  Enjoy this selection of hits from young Dillon…

Huge!!!!

Dillon Francis – I.D.G.A.F.O.S.: LISTEN TO IT HERE

A teaser of epic proportions …

Digitalism – Circles (Dillon Francis Remix) **TEASER**: LISTEN TO IT HERE

And a mix to put in your playlist for the right time … enjizzzoy.

Dillon Francis 25 Minimix On Flux Pavilion Takeover BBC Radio 1: LISTEN TO IT HERE

If you’re looking for other Moombahton artists, try Port Alberni, BC native Paul Devro, Munchi, Nadastrom, Sabo, and basically anything Mad Decent!

Class is now dismissed……………xx

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