If the world was gonna end — as it’s supposed to do today! — what would your tracklist sound like? My own taste in music is pretty diverse; the following are the tracks that will take me through the imminent apocalypse. (There are so many more, but I’ve narrowed it down for you. Last day on planet earth, and all: I figured you’d be busy.)
And here we go. Y’all getting sick of me talking about festivals? Well sorry, but tuff f***ing luck. Because this weekend Toronto the place in the world to be for EDM. Or any kind of music, actually.
Sure, Montreal has Osheaga happening, which promises to be nuts in its own right But Toronto is bringing the heavy, what with VELD and HARDboth going down this weekend.
What’s HARD, you ask? Just a little gathering featuring the likes of M83, Buraka Som Sistema, Austra … oh, and Justice. Sorry, let me rephrase that: JUSTICE!!!! The French icons make their looooooooooooooong-awaited return to Canada in style. Fort York is a special place to be this weekend.
And then there’s VELD, the brainchild of Canada’s own EMD titan, Deadmau5. Check out this lineup: Avicii, Kill the Noise, Mord Fustang, Bassnectar, Cosmic Gate and soooooo many others are busy tearing Toronto’s Downsview Park a new one. Rain is in the forecast for Sunday, but it’s gonna get real messy long before that. Canada, this is our weekend!
And with that, it’s on to …. THE SWEETS!
This will get your weekend going just right. A free download that hits the spot.
The second installment of Fools Gold‘s Clubhouse compilation series is just as heavy as the first. No point trying to pick a favourite: here’s the whole thing, amigos. Did I mention it’s FREE?!?
How can you not love Montreal’s Adventure Club? OK, maybe the sound is becoming just a tad predictable. But that in no way means it’s played out. And the fact that it’s free is an added attraction.
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!
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.
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!
We take a break from Porter Robinson week to give you our latest edition of Scott’s Selections. Our mini-mix for June is 17 minutes of the freshest bangers on the planet: a collection of tracks that will turn your party into a rager in a matter of minutes. Brodinski, Felix Cartal, and Pleasurekraft are just a few of the artists to make this month’s cut. Download the mix from SoundCloud, then grab the tunes you like at Beatport.
A quiet-ish week in terms of new releases — but that doesn’t mean what we do have lacks for quality.
A lot of the big DJs seem to be on a bit of a hiatus right now. There may be a couple of reasons for that. WMC wasn’t that long ago, and a lot of artists dropped their newest stuff at the conference. Plus, festival season is just around the corner, and many DJs like to wait and give new material a test-run in front of a live audience. I’ll admit I often prefer to hear new tracks for the first time at shows rather than on the blogs, so the more of this practice the better, as far as I’m concerned.
All that said, some of the heavy hitters are still leaking new material. In today’s post we’ve got some Pretty Lights, Benga and Digitalism, to name a few. Strap up!
Back like he never left. When we went to London, Ontario last week for the Grand Benders party I was hoping to cross paths with this hometown hero. But Overwerk, as it turned out, was busy tearing up Norway. By way of compensation, however, he’s given us something brand new — and it’s a banger!
Ma-Ma-Ma-Majoooooor Lazer! What more can you say? The boys are back in the groove, making beats of quality. Alex Clare is one lucky son of a bitch to get this all for himself! Huge!
This track reminds me of the late comic Mitch Hedberg’s classic line: “I remixed a remix until it became an original again.” Sound Remedy takes on Sound Remedy … proper. Finest tune of the week IMO.
Pretty Lights is back at it again, and it’s his pretty old self shining through: a mix of bass and hard drops on this peach of a tune. Feels like it’s been a while since we last heard from the Colorado giant. Let’s hope there’s more coming soon.
Goldroom seems to have attracted a news and different audience in recent months. I’m not usually one for fads, but this one is definitely worth climbing aboard. Love this track.
What do I keep saying about Germany? They seem to perfected some kind of magic potion, because EDM’s global centre of gravity is rapidly shifting from Sweden to Deutschland. And Digitalism is spearheading the takeover. Justice fans will eat this up!
I find Coyote Kisses something of an enigma. When I listen to one of their songs, there always comes a moment when I find myself thinking I would have chosen a different road in terms of sound choices. Yet by the end, I feel satisfied with the result. This new track is sheer genius, and makes me think the duo are ready at last for household name status.
HyperCrush seems to spark a love/hate reaction among EDM fans. Some find them too poppy, others say they get it just right. Personally, I think they are perfect party material.
In case you missed the earlier post: new Ruskooooooooooooo! Look out for a new bpm Spotlight episode on Rusko — coming very very soon!
It’s Friiiiiiiday — and not just any Friday. The bpm:tv Nation will be venturing into Knights territory to celebrate the premiere of Grand Benders at Cobra London.
The only downside is that I can’t be in two places at once, which means I’m going to have to miss Goldroom tonight at the Gladstone. This is a Pop Kult! event presented by Mansion, so you know the crowd will be knowledgeable, the drinks will be flowing and the music will be top-notch. If you find yourself in the dot this evening, head for Queen and Gladstone, homie.
I’m stoked for the trek to London. An hour’s drive means I need to get on my A-game and prep a road trip playlist with the freshest/flyest new beatz. And so, without further ado, your Sweets of the Week …
Start off with a brand new banger from the beatdown king. Aoki and Dimas go apeshit on this one.
I feel like I should be on the Blood Music payroll. I mean, any time I hear anything brand new from these guys, I’m all over it. Then again, I feel like I should be paying them for delivering such a steady supply of the baddest beats. So let’s maybe just call it even. Anyway, here’s a double dose: first with Ado, then LeBreton … ‘aaaaave it!
If you can’t make the Pup Kult! event tonight, then download this asap: it’s the closest you can get to actually being there. Josh Legg is in the creative zone right now, so look out for a Goldroom feature on the blog next week.
Track has barely been released and already the remixes are pouring in. This one employs my favourite recipe: one cup Wolf plus two scoops Disco. Go in boyz.
My progressive peeps: you know I always got you covered, right? Dyro & Rene Kuppens tackle you in full stride with this orgy of synth and bass sounds. Has the smell of summer all over it.
For many of us, May will be known as “Pryda Month.” The Swedish God of House Music is set to unleash his three-CD compilation Eric Prydz Presents Pryda on May 21. 3 CD’s of Eric is about enough to fill your sets for the next year. Doubtless this mammoth album will get leaked soon enough. In the meantime, we’ll just have to settle for this anthem.
Finally, this. Far from new, I realize, but sometimes you gotta bring a track back — backtrack, you dig? Jacques Lu Cont has been quietly making a return to glory of late. But it’s his take on a house classic that remains top of my iPod playlist. Hope this brings you back. U know i love you better …
Dada Life take the typical house video and put a spin on it. Careful, fellas — watch the whole thing before you comment.
It’s no secret that I have a serious Kris Menace obsession. This track is made for clubs, movie soundtracks and bus rides alike. Only Menace can pull that off.
Can’t just play one Menace. I mean, are you kidding me?
And that’s it for the week. Just a reminder, bpm:tv Nation is gonna be in London tonight — and trust me when I say “It’s going down.” We’ll be celebrating the launch of bpm:tv’s newest series, so come on out and meet the stars of Grand Benders. Lehhh go!
Just in time for the NHL post-season, I’ve compiled my latest hard-hitting mix. Who needs holograms when you’ve got a mix of Jackbeats, OVERWERK, Brodinski, Gesaffelstein, Eptic and Kill The Noise. Accompanied by my cuts and add-ons, you know this is a definite download.
It’s no secret that Coachella, which kicks off today, is the festival all the “cool kids” swarm to. Maybe it’s the fact that no media are admitted, or just that the organizers somehow manage to book the best artists in the world year in and year out (many from our own EDM world) — whatever the reason, one thing is certain: this is definitely a box that needs to be checked off your bucket list.
Now, for those of you who can’t make the cross-continent voyage to that sunny valley in California — no worries, I got you covered. This week’s “Sweets” features tracks from some of the hottest acts set to smash up Coachella this year. Put on your cargo shorts, switch on the sun lamp and crank the tunes. Close your eyes and it’s almost like you’re there. OK, I said almost.
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).
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
