Posted by Scott Willats

So this week I focused on the UEFA EURO 2012, a tournament many say is harder to win than the World Cup. A good chance to take a look at some of the powerhouse nations in the EDM game and see just how many A-list artists they’ve got on the roster.

With all that said, though, it bears pointing out that North American is making a pretty convincing bid for EDM supremacy, too. This week, in fact, we have one of the year’s biggest fests taking place down in Vegas. Electric Daisy Carnival is finally here — and this year’s looks to be one for the ages. The set lists are incredible, and too numerous to list here, so I’ll just pass on the images I’ve been drooling over for the past two months. If can’t make it, don’t worry — I’ll have you covered next week with info all the best sets.

Until then, some sweets to turn your weekend into a Vegas vacation. Let’s get to it!

SWEETS

From one side of the country to the other: Felix Cartal lends his touch to Autoerotique‘s “Roll the Drums.” An absolute banger.

Autoerotique – Roll The Drums (Felix Cartal Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Disclosure‘s “Control” gets absolutely glorified in the hands of producer Joe Goddard. From the 2:50 mark onward this track gets out of haaaaaaaaaaaaaaand! My personal favourite of the week.

Disclosure – Control (Joe Goddard Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Brodinski teams up once again with Louisahhh! and the outcome is the same. Funky, creative and swagged out, this track begs the question: when do we get the Borsahhh! album?

Brodinski feat. Louisahhh! – Nobody Rules The Streets: LISTEN TO IT HERE

A little tardy with this one, but whenever you come across a new Pleasurekraft track you wait until the full version is released. We were teased with a preview a few weeks back, but it didn’t do the tune justice. It’s truly out of this world — particularly once it hits the four minute mark. (PS, Pleasurekraft are in Toronto tomorrrrrrrrrow night at SPACE IBIZA at Sound Academy. BE THERE!!!!!!!!!)

Pleasurekraft & Belocca – Murdered Out: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Speaking of previews, Tits & Clits have given us a glimpse of their latest track — and this one can’t wait. It’s a remix of Demon Superior‘s “Creepy Little Doll.” Something about T&C in the studio: they know how to pick just the right chord for every part of a remix. This will be a definite download when the full track becomes available; until then, this two-minute snippet should hold you.

Demon Superior – Creepy Little Doll (Tits & Clits Remix): LISTEN TO THE PREVIEW HERE

A double dose of T&C: pick  up this one while you’re at it.

Tits & Clits – Rendezvous: LISTEN TO IT HERE

If you like the idea of mixing swing music with electro, and if you like Parov Stellar, then you’re going to loooooooooooooove Sound Nomaden, who has taken over my iPod.

Sound Nomaden – You Gotta Hurry: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Mau5trap is well represented this week with the latest from Moguai: a remix of a track he released back in February. He must of heard something in the past four months that he wanted to incorporate, because this version is miles away from the original. Both are good — but this one’s better.

One of my favourite acts, T.E.E.D., remixed by none other than Miguel Campbell. Huge!

T.E.E.D. – Stronger (Miguel Campbell Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

New music from the man who repped the Oranje in this weeks bpm:tv Euro Cup of EDM! Nicky Romero teams up with ZROQ to bring you a track that’s certain to be a festival anthem all summer long.

Nicky Romero & ZROQ – WTF: LISTEN TO IT HERE

And finally, before we get to the ZD visuals: a mix from Grimeskee, Bassmentality approved. WEMF is gonna be ill this year!

Bassmentality – In The Mix with Grimeskee: LISTEN TO IT HERE

… annnnnnd just in case you live under a rock: new visuals from the current Best Group In The World …

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Posted by Scott Willats

In football terms, Group 2 is the UEFA EURO 2012  tournament’s “group of death,” home to global powerhouses Holland, Germany, Portugal and Denmark. In EDM terms, too, this is an impressive stable — but not quite so evenly balanced. While Portugal has a lively, up-and-coming scene and Copenhagen is known to throw down some of the best dubstep concerts, neither can match the firepower of the Dutch and German camps. Let’s break it down.

GROUP 2

Netherlands – Nicky Romero

The Oranje. Total Football. Clockwork Orange. The Dutch have, by far, the greatest collection of offensive players in the tournament — the kind of goal-scoring talents that bring the masses to the stadiums. In the EDM arena, meanwhile, the country fields a similarly formidable team. Just think on these names: Sander van Doorn, Laidback Luke, Afrojack, Sidney Samson, Fedde Le Grand, Hardwell, R3hab, Bingo Players — not to mention the former DJ Mag Top 100 winners Tiësto and Armin van Buuren. That’s one hell of a starting squad. Still, for my money it’s the kid from Amerongen, Nicky Romero, who’s the talent to watch right now. Blending the familiar Dutch and Swedish sounds, he seems to have found a foolproof way to make hits. Heavily respected in the game, as evidenced by his collaborations with David Guetta and most of the DJs on the list above, Nicky Romero is the Robin Van Persie of this tournament: coming off his best year yet, hungry and embarrassingly talented.

MASSSSSSSIVE!

Nicky Romero – Toulouse: LISTEN TO IT HERE

The perfect download …

Nicky Romero – Essential Mix BBC Radio 1: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Germany – Boys Noize

Germany is stacked: ATB, Paul van Dyk, Moguai, Cosmic Gate, Digitalism and Kris Menace — all household names in the EDM world. But there’s one young man from Hamburg who stands out from the pack. Alex Ridha, a.k.a. Boys Noize, has redefined techno — not just with his own innovation in the studio, but through his label Boysnoize Records (BNR), which can boast some of the biggest releases of the past five years. The one thing always synonomous with the German team is clinical finishing; the same can be justly said for this man.

Quick shout-out to Donna Summer: here’s an amazing tribute Boys Noize did for the late, great disco queen!

Boys Noize – Donnastag: LISTEN TO IT HERE

Portugal – Buraka Som Sistema

Style and flair. The Portuguese, much like their Brazilian brethren, are admired not just for their talent and skill, but for the elegance of their play. Fitting, then, that we should choose Buraka Som Sistema to carry the flag for Portugal in bpm:tv’s EDM Euro Cup. The group that messed with African kuduro so thoroughly that they ended up creating “progressive kudoro” is an act you don’t want to miss. While the Portuguese squad boasts boasts Cristiano Ronaldo, arguably the best player in the tournament, BSS boasts “Up All Night,” arguably the best song out there right now. Never underestimate the Portuguese. Por-Tu-GAL!

Buraka Som Sistema – A$$ (Bootyleg): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Denmark – Medina

It may not be known as a hotbed for house music, but Denmark still boasts an impressive lineup of performers. Trentemoller, Daniel Kandi, Kid Massive and Noir are all the kind of big names you’re likely to see at any festival as an opening act on the main stage. But it’s Medina I’ve chosen to represent the Danes. Maybe, as a Canadian, I’m swayed by her Deadmau5 connection. But there’s just something about this woman’s angelic voice over progressive house chords that gets me every time. It’s always a treat to hear a brand new Medina track, and to look forward to what creative remixers will do once they get their hands on those vocals. Some forget that the Danes have been winners of the Euro tournament before. They may well be poised to strike gold once again — just as Medina did with “You and I.”

Medina – You And I (Deadmau5 Remix): LISTEN TO IT HERE

Next up: Group 3, home to the defending champs, Spain.

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