Spotlight Saturdays. #10

It’s Saturday night, I’m broke, I’m tired, and I reek of work. All I want to do is relax, have a beer, and listen to some tunes in my apartment until I fall into a beautiful state of sleep. Unfortunately, but also very fortunately, one of my good friends and guaranteed future super star had yet another amazing show last night followed by multiple offers and new major contacts. Therefore, she is looking to celebrate all night. I guess it’s time to suck it up, suit up, and throw back another caffeine laden beverage to make it through the night of abuse. If you haven’t guessed already, some tuneage is in order to change this mood.

What I’m about to give to you lovely folk is a two hour long mix that every EDM fan should have in their library. Artem Stolyarov, better known as Arty, is a young Russian up and comer in the more melodic electronic music scene. Although he may be relatively unheard of here in North American, he’s been getting some major exposure and support overseas. I’m sure that you can recognize a ton of his original or remixed tracks if you keep up with major electronic artists’ podcasts or set lists. The mix below is one of the most impressive sets I’ve heard in a long time. Tons of variation, seamless transitions and amazing track choices. If you’re a die hard Trance or Progressive fan, you’re in for a treat. If you like what you hear, support Arty by snagging any or all of his many bangers on Beatport or going to one of his shows if he comes to your hometown.

Класс,

Grant.

Arty – BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix [Mediafire]

Tracklist.

1. Paul van Dyk ft. Sue McLaren – We Come Together (Arty Remix)
2. Matisse and Sadko, Arty – Trio (Original Mix)
3. M-3ox ft. Heidrun – Beatin’ Of My Heart (Matisse and Sadko Remix)
4. Dirty South and Those Usual Suspects ft. Erik Hecht – Walking Alone (Arty Remix)
5. Ivan Gough and Feenixpawl ft. Georgi Kay – In My Mind (Axwell Remix)
6. Mat Zo and Arty – MozArt (Original Mix)
7. Arty ft. Tanya Zygar- The Wall (Arty Remode mix)
8. Chris Lake – Sundown (Original Mix)
9. Evol Wavwes – Funkytown (Original Mix)
10. Mat Zo – It Yours (Original Mix)
11. Dirty South and Thomas Gold ft. Kate Elsworth – Eyes Wide Open (Original Mix)
12. Massive Attack – Teardrop (Bart Claessen And Tom Fall Bootleg)
13. Daft Punk Vs Kyau and Albert Vs Mat Zo – Be There One More Time (Mat Zo MashUp)
14. Michael Woods Vs Morgan Page Feat Lissie – The Last Day Of The Longest Road (Maor Levi Mash Up)
15. Knife Party – Tourniquet (Original Mix)
16. Dub Vision – All By Myself (Original Mix)
17. Kyau and Albert – Are You Fine (Arty Remix)
18. Arty and Mat Zo Vs Sebastian Ingrosso and Alesso – Rebound Calling (Arty Mashup)
19. Above and Beyond Vs Arty Vs D-Mad – She Gave The Sun And Moon (Arty Mashup)
20. Daft Punk Vs Adam K and Duro the Third – Harder Faster Stronger b***h (Porter Robinson MashUp)
21. Arty – Around The World (Original Mix)
22. M83 – Midnight City (Eric Prydz Remix)
23. Arty – Kate (Original Mix)
24. Coven – Wake You Up (Original Mix)
25. Ferry Corsten – Punk (Arty Rock-N-Rolla mix)
26. Pendulum Vs Arty Vs Moombean – Island Is The killer (Arty Mashup)
27. OceanLab Vs Eric Prydz – Breaking 2nite (Maor Levi Mashup)
28. OceanLab Vs Mat Zo Vs Arty – Satellite Dynamics (Mat Zo MashUp)
29. Armin Van Burren – In And Out Of Love (Original Mix)

Five Four Fridays. #16

I swear I’m going through poutine and smoked meat withdrawal. I just spent the weekend and part of this week in Montreal for the first time, and it was probably one of the most ridiculous periods of time in my life. My once fluent French having turned into some sort of Spanish/French hybrid didn’t help make things all that much easier either. Just the first night alone was enough to be the basis for the next ‘Hangover’ movie. The fact that we literally stumbled across a Zeds Dead show in an art gallery was the cherry on top.

Without further adieu, here are the bangers that have been on high rotation this week. First up is a track that may take a proper listen or two to really appreciate. I could see it being a wicked track for someone to drop live at a high energy venue. Next up is a new track off the new record from the Mau5trap signed German talent known as Moguai. Super heavy on the vocals, utilizing real drums, and on its way to being classified as pop, it’s a sweet track to jam to. After that is a classic from two crazy Italians that should require no introduction. If you were watching the Grammys, you would have caught a live rendition of the next track. Pretty cool to see on National television regardless if you love or hate the sudden North American rise in popularity of EDM. Last up is the new remix from Pendulum’s side project. The intro and breakdowns are unlike any other track they’ve done before, but once the drop comes in and kicks you in the face, you remember who you were listening to in the first place.

J’aime la musique électronique,

Grant.

————————————————————————————–

Tracklist.

Bad Rabbits – Booties (Big Chocolate Remix)

Moguai – Invisible ft. Polina

The Bloody Beetroots – Dimmakmmunication

Foo Fighters – Rope (Deadmau5 Remix)

Labrinth – Last Time (Knife Party Remix)

Get the mixtape – five four fridays. #16 [Mediafire]

Spotlight Saturdays. #9

It’s been a little while since I’ve highlighted and focused on just one particular electronic artist. About four days ago, when I logged onto SoundCloud in the morning, Jon Gooch’s new album was patiently waiting for me. If you weren’t following this blog when I first posted about Jon, you can read about it here. Essentially, he used to perform Drum & Bass under another alias, but a little green sinister character has taken it’s place as the image of his most recent project. The reason I have so much respect for him as a producer, is that he constantly sets out to create music in more than one genre or repetitive style. This new collection is no exception whatsoever. Even though it was barely even noon, I got comfortable, plugged in my headphones, and surrounded myself in a sea of insane sound.

The album starts out with Trapdoor, a track that will kick you wide awake if you’re not paying attention. For this song, Jon brought on another British act from the Punk/Grunge scene. He carries this trend throughout the rest of the track, using real drum sounds as opposed to synthesized beats and even throwing in a bass slap every so often. The pace of the song and rock vibe give us a taste of what to expect in the tracks to follow: A whole new style with typical Feed Me flair.

Feed Me – Trapdoor ft. Hadouken [Purchase]

This next track took me completely by surprise. It’s pretty clear that Jon’s been taking some lessons in Progressive from the likes of his label mates, Deadmau5 and Moguai. For the first couple minutes, I was just waiting for an insane drop that would never come, and I couldn’t be happier with the lack thereof. Relocation is a melodic masterpiece, especially coming from someone who creates some of the most insane electro out there. The fact that he uses the melody from Blood Red in the outro is just the icing on the cake. This track solidifies the fact that Jon is incredible at diversification and can succeed in just about any genre thrown at him.

Feed Me – Relocation [Purchase]

Counter Strike fans will love this one. This track was leaked a few days early by Jon himself, and when I first heard the sample about forty seconds in, I had a flashback to a YouTube video I once saw many years ago. In all honesty, I think the track could have done without the vocal sample, but it made me smile and laugh nonetheless. I’m sure if I was in a venue filled with avid fans, sweat, and excessive amounts of energy, I’d go just as insane when hearing the sample as I would the rest of the track. Here we start to get some more of the typical Feed Me sound and energy level, making One Click Headshot an assured crowd favourite.

Feed Me – One Click Headshot [Purchase]

Following the fashion of the last track, Embers gives us a taste of the signature Feed Me wobbles, samples, and style. Although it starts out with the same Progressive vibe as Relocation, the drop brings it into a pace and feel reminiscent of Talk To Me. Lindsay’s vocals and the recurring subtle synthesized melodies manage to keep the entire track moderately toned down. Good thing too, because a breather was needed after the last track and before the two that are to ensue.

Feed Me – Embers ft. Lindsay [Purchase]

I’ll admit that Trichitllomania, although a wicked word, is my least favourite track on the album. The tongue twister is the name for a condition which causes one to twist and pull out their own hair. It wasn’t drastically bad enough to make me follow suit, I was just a little disappointed that it was rather mundane the entire way through. I think the hook in this track would have been awesome  in combination with a drop or two. Still, there are some pretty cool sounds in the almost seven minute long piece.

Feed Me – Trichitllomania [Purchase]

If you hadn’t heard this track when UKF leaked it about a week ago, grab hold of something, because you’re in for one hell of a ride. Right from the first few seconds, the two producers crank the intensity dial to high, using epic string samples in combination with spacing between short jabbing synths. When the drop comes down, it hits hard and includes some of the craziest samples I’ve heard in a while. It’s almost as if they took the sound of a failing jet engine or pod racer and digitalized it. What caught me the most off guard about this track was the reggae-like breakdown a few minutes before the end; a sound that I’ve noticed a few other artists take on to a track or two. Fans of Skrillex, or just a track to lose themselves and go nuts to will highly, highly enjoy this one.

Feed Me – Whiskers ft. Gemini [Purchase]

I’d strongly recommend any Feed Me or EDM fan to purchase this album, especially considering it’s only $3.99 on iTunes; something that Jon made sure would happen. The six original tracks truly showcase Jon’s talent to conquer any genre, and give us a taste of what we can expect from Feed Me in the future. Who knows, maybe he’ll be next in line to get a Grammy nomination.

I’m hungry all of a sudden,

Grant.

Five Four Fridays. #14

I swear that ever since I’ve started having Fridays off, they always feel like Saturdays. I roll out of bed and step out into the world in my laziest attire, expecting to be greeted by a city still half asleep. Wrong. I stand out like a supercar in a small town, but with not nearly such a positive reaction. At least it forces me to pull myself together and get on with my day.  On that note, on with the tuneage.

First up we’ve got a track that my buddy back home brought to my attention. The creator is an eighteen year old producer from way down south in Sydney. Although most his tracks are fairly similar, the guy definitely has talent so it’ll be wicked to see where he goes. Next up is an awesome track from someone whom I know absolutely nothing about. Then we’ve got a remix wizard’s take on the new Rusko single. Up after that is some new stuff to be released on Lazy Rich’s label so you know it’s good. Lastly there is a mind blowing remix of an already insane track. Brace yourself.

Love from your no longer unemployed Internet friend,

Grant.

Mild.

Walden – Brightness (Original Mix) [Mediafire]

Medium.

W&W – Nowhere To Go ft. Bree (Shogun Remix) [Mediafire]

Spicy.

Rusko – Somebody To Love (Aylen Remix) [SoundCloud]

Killagraham – Silence (Original Mix) [PurchaseOnly]

Suicide.

Knife Party – Internet Friends (Poisound Remix) [Mediafire]

Bonus Mix.

Two UVic students with incredible taste in electronic music made yet another awesome monthly mix… for free. Get some.

Fargey & Pasternak – February 2012 Mix [SoundCloud]

Bonus Previews.

Minero – Bi-Polar [ListenOnly]

Wolfgang Gartner – There And Back (Original Mix) [ListenOnly]

Time out.

If I could have one wish, it would be to have the ability to control time. There never seems to be enough of it in life, and especially for my relationship with music. Most of the time I can barely keep up with the world of sound and give this blog the love it deserves. If I had the choice, I’d spend the majority of my day with a dark room and a pair of headphones. Unfortunately, life does not allow such a fantasy for a student.

It’s been an exhausting week, and this week is only going to get busier. The Dada Life show, my program’s annual party, trying my hand at club photography, and increasing amounts of homework have made me become restless again over the weekend. Looking forwards I have interviews with San Francisco’s Midi Matilda, Swedish group The Concept, California’s Act As If, and a couple others that I’m keeping under wraps for now, seeing as I don’t even have the time to formulate the questions I want to ask. If you’re in the same boat as me, take a moment to just relax. Plug in a pair of headphones and tune in to Toronto’s best up and coming Progressive House artist’s take on another well known producer’s track.

First world problems,

Grant.

Ps, I want to apologize for all MediaFire links up until this Saturday’s post not working anymore. Every file I had on my account was removed in recent political events. I’ll try to get all the files back online once things cool down, but for now I suggest saving your pennies.

Deadmau5 – Community Nap (StrobeHypnoticz Remix) [Mediafire]