A very late-breaking edition of Sweets of the Week here, tendered with apologies: what with the jam-packed summer schedule of festivals and events, it can sometimes be tough to get the weekly playlist assembled in time for Friday. But don’t you stress — I will always provide for my homies.
This week we hear a massssssssive new big-room track from Laidback Luke, which has owned my iPod for the past couple of days, plus new stuff from Toronto’s Dzeko and Torres, Riva Starr and Butch Clancy, aaaaaand a sexy, sultry ballad from Ellie Goulding. These taste sooooo good! Have at it, kids!
A Tuesday to celebrate for fans of French house (and really, aren’t we all?). One of bpm:tv’s — and Canada’s — favourite European DJs, Martin Solveig has released the latest instalment in his “Smash” series of videos.
“Smash” has proven a massive success, and has really demonstrated what good music, clever filmmaking and savvy use of social media can accomplish for an artist. In addition to which, it has revealed a charmingly vulnerable and human side to one of EDM’s true superstar DJs — something refreshing for all of us “ordinary” people to see.
This new episode, “The Night Out,” features cameos from Sidney Samson, A-Trak, Porter Robinson, Dillon Francis, Laidback Luke, Zedd and many more. The offbeat humour of the story, the pause-worthy guest appearances, the stellar cinematography — there’s something in here for just about everybody. Enjoy the show!
Though the week just past did bring the release of new tracks from Sound Remedy and Porter Robinson,plus an album from Rusko, it felt on the whole like the electronic music world was suffering from a bit of a WMC hangover. Everybody seemed to be functioning on half-speed. Still, I believe the majority were fuelling their tanks for what promises to be a summer to remember.
Skream and Benga absolutely killed The Hoxton in Toronto on Thursday night, These two never seem to deliver a weak set. If ever you have the chance, be sure to check them out.
Now, on to the sweets!
This is probably one of the best EPs I’ve heard so far this year. Expect Sound Remedy to be a household name very very soon.
A short week, what with the Family Day holiday on Monday, but I’ve still managed to load up a supply of raging tunes to rock you all through the weekend. We’ve got new cuts from some lesser-known names that you’ll want to clear some memory space for, plus a brand new remix from New York’s own Nico Jaar that is up to his usual high standards. Plus new joints from A-Trak, Guxxi Vump and Conspirator. A serious supply of 128 bpm, so let’s get right into it.
SWEETS
Seems right now like some of the most innovative sounds are coming out of … Hungary? Tits & Clits put this country on the map for me, but it’s We Plants Are Happy Plants that have me booking my flight to Budapest. This track may not get people in the club raging like lunatics — but it’s definitely one for those early morning sessions when you feel the need to zone out and vibe.
Nico Jaar has the rare ability to make each of his songs sound completely different from the others. That’s creativity in a nutshell. Another slower track for you to vibe to — and like the previous offering, it’s a top-quality production.
Brodinski is as streaky as Phil Kessel. For long stretches you don’t hear from him — then he turns around and pots five joints in a week. He’s definitely feeling the heat right now.
Moombah madness. Let’s take one of the biggest hip-hop tracks of our era, and throw that 110 bpm we moombahton fans just can’t get enough of. Sounds wick-it!
The best thing about music nowadays: everyone is doing it. OK, sometimes that’s actually a bad thing. But in the case of Dimension5 it’s a magical thing. Try it on — bet it’ll fit perfectly!
Rusko is doing an album with Cypress Hill. At first I thought there was no way they would blend well. I am and continue to be wrong. Perfecto! Expect to hear this a lot.
That’s it homies … keep it locked and bookmarked, ’cause the sweet is never as sweet without sour………..xx
Happy Valentine’s Day, bpm Nation! Spend the day with someone you love — or at least try to love whoever you’re spending the day with. We’re celebrating this Hallmark holiday with a special “Love” edition of Xtendamix tonight at 8:30 pm ET — check out the track list below. Time to get your lovin’ on!
Exhausted from the incredible Boys Noize show at The Hoxton last night, I’ve reached deep and wide to find some of the biggest tracks in z world for ya. Today’s post features a man who’s playing The Mod Club tonight, a moombahton king, and a track from the nicest dude in the biz. No point on dwelling on the obvious, let’s get to it.
SWEETS
At The Mod Club tonight: the musically gifted Zedd. The young German gave away a free dubstep track earlier this week and it has been ringing around the blog world ever since. However, it’s his feature single that I think will be the track conquering dancefloors this winter. This track has all the essentials to be an anthem. I figure you’ll like it, so: double dose time!
Here’s the young prodigy playing the piano at age nine …
Next up: an artist from Skrillex’s OWLSA label, Kill The Noise. If you’re used to the electro bangers that they put out then you are going to be overwhelmed by the production value of this EP. Every track has its own vibe and energy, and to be perfectly honest … this is heavy in every sense. I honestly found it just about impossible to choose between the tracks to post. These are just the first two. Kill The Noise!
Speaking of Kill the Noise, there’s an absolute killer remix produced by Dillon Francis on there. By now I’m sure you’re aware that I’m a big Dillon Francis fan. Lately, though, I’ve felt he’s been lacking that characteristic soul-shaking, swaggadelic vibe. But this remix of Death Cab for Cutie‘s “Under the Sycamore” joint comes on like a punch in the face. Enjizzoy!
Here’s something a little outside of the norm. I don’t usually care for remixes of tracks that have been out for a couple of years, or are such huge hits that they’ve already been remixed a hundred times. But I like this one, for some reason. North Carolina’s Cry Wolf have taken Justin Timberlake‘s “SexyBack” and killed it. Some will love this, some will hate. Your choice.
Next: a double dose from one of Holland’s finest, Laidback Luke. Always a huge fan of Luke’s tracks, and this is no different. I find that he goes into modes where you don’t hear from him at all, and then he drops, like, three massive tracks in a matter of two weeks. The Eric Prydz gift/curse, I’d call it. The first one here with Sander van Doorn is huge.
Lastly: Hardwell. Haven’t always been the biggest fan, but consistency kills skepticsm. In this anthem — and all he seems to make is anthems — he teams up with Dutch producer JoeySuki. The result … well, you can see/hear for yourself. The video is a great teaser — check it out!
Here’s the BBC Rip. Support the industry and buy the track!
So our friends over at Z103.5 have a new compilation CD out. HIT MIX 2011, presented by Z103.5 personalities The Hammer and DJ Danny D, is available now in stores and online, and it slays all the competition — except, ahem, for our own bpm:tv DANCE 2011 collection. Check out the killer tracklisting below: Alexandra Stan‘s “Mr. Saxobeat, Martin Solveig‘s “Hello,” Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke‘s “Turbulence, Tiesto & Diplo‘s “C’mon” and … well, why aren’t you running-not-walking to your friendly music dealer right this very minute?
Obviously, it goes without saying that when you’re not watching bpm:tv, you should be tuning in to Z103.5. You can listen live right here.
Tracklisting:
1. Chris Brown, Yeah 3X
2. Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette, Hello (Sidney Samson Remix)
3. Afrojack feat. Eva Simons, Take Over Control
4. Tiesto vs Diplo feat. Busta Rhymes, C’mon (Catch ‘em By Surprise)
5. Steve Aoki & Laidback Luke feat. Lil Jon, Turbulence
“Who’s That Chick?” Well, sir, that chick is Rihanna – and her collab with superduperproducer David Guetta is perched at the top of this week’s Hot 20 Dance Chart. Benny Benassi? He’s da man — da “Electroman,” to be precise; his collab with T-Pain is feeling no pain, as it sits pretty at number two.
Elsewhere, Inna‘s “Sun Is Up” is up (from eighth place to seventh), but the Taio Cruz/Kylie Minogue joint “Higher” is lower (sinking from fifth place to tenth). Morgan Page‘s “I’ve Had Friends” is losing friends, tumbling all the way from second place to eighth, while the Laidback Luke/Steve Aoki/Lil Jon project is creating some “Turbulence” as it claims 13th spot. And it’s just about time to say goodbye to “Hello,” the Martin Solveig/Dragonette hit, now in 18th place and fading. Check out the full rundown here.
Laidback Luke @ The Guvernment, Toronto: March 19, 2011 Reviewed by Scott Willats
Grote Kamer de Nood Grote Kamers van Deejay! For those of you not fluent in the language of the people who live in tulip country, home of the infamous Oranje jerseys and many canals, I will translate: Big Room DJs Need Big Rooms!
Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Fedde Le Grand, Ferry Corsten, Afrojack (breath), Sander Kleinenberg, Joris Voorn, Sidney Sampson, Sander Van Doorn (deep breath): the list of DJs from The Netherlands goes on and on and on. There is no other country on this planet that has the array … no, wait, the artillery … no, correction, the arsenal of all-star DJs that the Dutch can boast. They can brag about having DJ Times’ Top Rated DJ of all time in Tiesto. They can also pound their chest about having Armin Van Buuren, who has been head-to-head with David Guetta, the best DJ in the world for the past 5 years. We all know the rookie of the year for the past 12 months should definitely be Afrojack. So it’s downright devastating to witness the overflowing cup of riches the Dutch possess in house music when you see Laidback Luke come to town.
The Manila-born, Amsterdam-raised DJ has been in heavy demand for the past two years. Countless remixes, each of them better than the last, have surfaced on blogs and electro websites across the world. This was not lost on the electro-lites in Toronto who bought out the show and were ready to send Luke to Miami with all the confidence in the world.
Without breaking a sweat “Timebomb” plays throughout the Guvernment’s sound system, and for all I knew we could have been in the Ajax Arena at a full-on Ferry Show. The crowd was proper and poised for a long and “ecstasy”-filled set that would take them away from their 9-5s. When “Timebomb” was done it was obvious to everyone that Luke, like many Dutch DJs, cannot be stuck in a small club. He needs an arena.
The show was filled with new tracks, as Luke has been very busy. Those of you who saw my 2010 Summer Rush interview with Lil Jon would know that Jon and Luke had just finished a studio session days before I talked to him. ”Turbulence” is, of course, the name of the track they collaborated on with the help of Steve Aoki, and that track is BIG: Miami Music Conference track of the year BIG! Look out! The remix of “Wait for Me” played along with MSTRKRFT’s “Heartbreaker” and Roybn’s “Indestructible” has me asking my friend if Luke is the best remixer in the world. And that is my question to you: Is there anyone in the world making better remixes than Laidback Luke? I mean, the man still uses Fruity Loops for heavens sake! This is the same man many will say is the true architect behind Swedish House Mafia’s “Leave the World Behind,” which turned them into a house movement. Like Johan Cruyff to Marco Van Basten, Tiesto has been quoted as saying “Luke is a bit special.” Imagine that on your resume.
The only sour note of the night was a personal one. Luke’s remix of David Guetta’s ‘”Ain’t That Enough” is easily my favourite Luke song — and one of my favorite songs, period. Unfortunately, we did not hear that track, as it is a little dated. But how could I blame the man when he drops hit after hit from just THIS YEAR! For those of you still hurting from the Oranje’s loss to Spain in the World Cup, I say let them have the World Cup — because the World of House belongs to the Dutch, and Laidback Luke has a firm grip on that trophy.
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remix produced by 
