Have to start these reviews somewhere so why not start with Friday? After (somewhat) recovering from a very, very busy 3 days of nonstop dancing, I am finally able to clear my head and recall what the hell happened during this marathon of a weekend. As most people did on Friday, our schedule brought us to the Fool's Gold tent for the majority of the day with stops off at Netsky, Reboot, and Luciano throughout.
Treasure Fingers
Treasure Fingers started out the day for us playing his usual mix of nu disco fire and chiller electronic tracks. It was a perfect way to start the day as everyone's feet needed a little bit of a warm up for what was about to ensue. One of the best tracks that we did not suspect him to play was by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, who we recently saw at LPR, called Tapes & Money.
I think I'm the only writer that failed to do a post about my top picks leading up to Electric Zoo, so I guess I'll try to make up for it a bit by telling you who my favorites were from the weekend. If you read this post, you can probably guess who my number 1 is...
All summer long, Verboten has been killing it with their techno/deep house/tech house parties all over the city and they are showing no signs of letting up. I initially was really looking forward to the Guy Gerber Supplement Facts boat cruise but ended up missing it due to some last minute vacation time. Thanks to Verboten, I was given a second chance at glory and immediately purchased Hot Creations tickets upon their release.
We started off the night exploring the massive boat, the Hornblower Infinity, which apparently can hold 700 - 1,000 people. As per usual, Verboten kept it at a reasonable capacity where there was plenty of room to dance and mingle with everyone. After exploring the boat's ins and outs while dancing to the music all around us, we ended up on the top deck with Infinity Ink who absolutely crushed it. We first recognized some Dirtybird tracks such as Justin Martin's Ruff Stuff:
Hit the jump to read the rest of our review below.
Here's another mix I recorded the other day. One or two tracks are older, most are newer, but they're all of the highest quality. Mostly deep/tech house with a bit of techno peppered in there. Feel free to comment / message me and let me know your thoughts...I'm a big fan of feedback. And follow me on Soundcloud! Cheers.
Tracklist (which is also in the itunes ID3 tag under "lyrics"):
1. Odd Parents - Fame feat. Mp (Catz n Dogz & Martin Dawson Sweet Saturday Mix)
2. Adana Twins - Strange
3. Still Going - Work that Shit Party (Instrumental Mix)
4. Thugfucker - Disco Gnome (Tale of Us Remix)
5. Fuckpony - Bongo Porn (Tale of Us Edit)
6. Oliver Lieb - Extrasolar
7. Julio Bashmore - Au Seve (Original Mix)
8. Marc Romboy & Stephen Bodzin - Atlas (Gui Boratto Remix)
9. Dosem - Replicants (Edu Imbernon & Coyu Remix)
10. Smart & Dreher - Moustage (Mollono Bass Remix)
11. Sasha & Krister Linder - Cut Me Down (Kastis Torrau Donatello feat. Arnas D Remix
Alex Ridha, AKA Boys Noize has released the first track from his new album via Rolling Stone's website. Ridha says that this track has combined the "raw and rough" sounds of his earliest music with the beats and styles of 80's hip hop, particularly The Beastie Boys.
His third album, Out of the Dark, will be released on October 22nd. Ridha says the name of the album is taken from the fact that he usually produces music at night. Boys Noize has been a favorite of mine since the release of Oi Oi Oi and judging by this most recent release, I don't think this album will disappoint.
The Presets have pushed up the release of their new album, 'Pacifica' to September 7th. If that news isn't exciting enough, they have decided to celebrate the good news by giving us a free download! The free download is the legendary Green Velvet's killer remix of 'Pacifica's' first single, Youth in Trouble. It's a great remix, grab it here!
Stream the track:
And in case you haven't heard the original or see the video, here it is:
See The Presets live at Terminal 5 on October 19th. Have a great weekend!
Three huge names, all on one island, in downtown New York City, on the same day. I feel like I don't even need to say anything else really but if I must elaborate and convince some of you then continue reading.
Before I begin to explain, if you are into deep house, tech house, techno, and tribal house at all then just do yourself a favor and buy a ticket right now, I guarantee you won't regret it. First off, Danny Tenaglia is a straight legend, especially around New York City. As far as locals go, no one could possibly be bigger than Tenaglia. The man has played everywhere imaginable and truly knows house music as he has been killing it since forever ago. He never plays a set (or transition for that matter) twice, as any quality DJ should. He is the true meaning of what a DJ is, no pre made set where you simply press play, you hear what he wants and feels at that moment. If you missed him at EDC NY or at Pacha this week then I urge you to come even if it is just for him.
Secondly, John Digweed takes more of the progressive house style but has largely been influenced by his close friend Sasha. Sasha recently played an epic boat party that my friend wins1o will write about shortly but let me just say that Digweed is up to par with Sasha so prepare for greatness here as well. He played at EZoo last year and was dominating the main stage (kind of wish he was in the Sunday School tent but whatever). Below I have posted some of his remixes that are in a word, timeless.
Lastly, and most importantly in my opinion, are Pleasurekraft. I have been waiting for them to come to NYC (and begging them to do so) for the past couple years. I missed them at Cielo last year in May and have been awaiting their return ever since. Hopefully, we will get the both of them but I fear this may not be the case. Either way I cannot wait for them, as every single release since Tarantula has been a treat. From Tarantula to Carny to The Main Ingredient to Skeleton Key (released today), every song is spectacular with that signature circus sound that only Pleasurekraft can deliver. Prepare for some of that old apple pie melody to shine through all day and night at Governor's Island.
Tickets can be found here and a couple preview tracks are below after the jump. Prepare yourself for one of the best overall house shows that will ever be in NYC. Do not sleep on this one folks.
Alright. With Art Department at Beekman Beach Club / SRB looming large, I have to take a moment to give some props to Verboten New York. As one who attends an unnecessarily large quantity of electronic music events, I feel like I have enough authority these days to bash promotion companies when they suck and praise them when they're awesome. Lately I've been doing much more bashing than praising, but that's not the case today. When Verboten throws a party, you can pretty much count on not only fantastic deep house and techno, but also smooth sailing logistically (entrance / bathrooms / bars).
These guys threw a show a few weeks ago featuring Maceo Plex (Crosstown Rebels), Maya Jane Coles (2020 Vision), Audiofly (Get Physical), and Maher Daniel on the decks. The night kicked off at Beekman Beach Club down at the South Street Seaport and then moved to SRB in Brooklyn, and the party didn't stop until well into the next day.
This Friday, the format is the same, and only the cast of characters has changed (buy tickets here!). Most notably, Beekman will feature Art Department (No. 19), Ryan Crosson and Shaun Reeves (Visionquest), and No Reg Play (Wolf+Lamb) and Tone of Arc (No. 19). The afterparty at SRB is simply touted as showcasing "Art Department and friends," so we'll probably see some other No. 19 artists in the mix. Verboten will follow up this one with Oliver Huntemann Saturday, but thats another story...
Toronto-based Art Department consists of Canadians Kenny Glasgow and Johnny White. Kenny is a techno hero and Johnny is quickly rising to fame. Johnny also owns the No. 19 label, which has been on fire with a series of stellar releases this year. The duo only began collaborating around 2009 when Damian Lazarus (Crosstown Rebels owner / the tits) asked them to do a remix, which ended up leading to several releases on the prestigious label. Art Department has a unique style, but I would suggest that their signature sound usually includes deep, driving synth and somewhat haunting vocals.
This one was released on Monday and is done in collaboration with Konrad Black, another Canadian (Vancouver-based) techno veteran. It pumps out serious deep house vibes and is bound to be dropped at afterhours clubs all summer long. I definitely expect to hear it at SRB on friday. Hit the jump below for more of what to expect this Friday.
Alright...down to business. I think electronic music is like fine wine in that you have to appreciate its subtleties, its creator(s), and its place of origin to get the full value out of it, and this track proves that point perfectly.
Marco Bailey has been one of my favorite techno guys for a long time now and his work with Tom Hades has been exceptional. And when you put these two on Bedrock Records, boners result. Marco and Tom are both from Belgium, an area clearly influenced by the rise of techno in neighboring Germany/Netherlands. Marco and Tom are both veterans of an energetic techno sound and have worked together on many collaborations since 2000.
"Stars and Shines" is definitely up to par with some of the other tracks that I love from these two, including "Shining" and "Brightness," though arguably with a trancier vibe. Regardless, this track has been sending shivers down my spine for the last couple months. John Digweed close his set with this one in Cordoba Argentina at 8am recently, and you'll instantly be able to see why: this one was meant for sunrise.
What is it about French electronic producers that hypnotizes me like no other? Para One, or Jean-Baptiste de Laubier to his mother, just released his new album "Passion" and it is absolutely beautiful. These 12 tracks seamlessly flow across many genres of the EDM spectrum. For the most part it's techno-licious experimentation with a bit of glitch mixed in for that extra kick. Check out the album teaser below and make sure to buy the album on Beatport. Also remember to like him on Facebook!
Last night at Hudson Terrace, we saw Gigamesh in all his disco glory and it was quite a show in terms of song selection. As a bit of a change of pace last night, Alex English had the honor of opening for him and I'm pretty sure he hit every electronic genre other than dubstep.
One trio of songs particularly caught our attention starting out with this amazing song Breakfast, which we did not know existed (thank you for the ID Mr. English). Obviously, this song is a bit of a joke with the lyrics but it's also pretty damn awesome. Right after, he mixed in Club Sandwiches which blew us away as this was the first time I had heard anyone play it live. And to top it all off, he threw in Big Bad Wolf (Gesaffelstein Remix) for good measure.
If anyone was there for this, then you definitely saw us there as we were probably the only ones there that were going insane during these songs. Enjoy all 3 below and make sure to catch Oliver at Hudson Terrace next Thursday for more amazing disco.
Le Le - Breakfast (Mercury Remix)
Detroit Grand Pubahs - Club Sandwiches (Marc Romboys Systematic Soul Mix)
While browsing through the latest offerings on beatport today I stumbled into this great little track from Christian Smith. I must admit that I was drawn in by the title of this track as it is the city that currently call home. Get ready for 7 minutes of good ol' fashioned tech house. Further exploration of this Toolroom Records Ibiza EP led me to a new Kaiserdisco track called Semiramis. Check out both below and make sure to get the whole EP here!
Well the weekend is here once again and with summer officially in full swing, I have two incredible mixes just for you all. We first start off with the Nu Disco up and comer from Germany, Justin Faust. He has quickly become a must know name in the disco scene and has been creating mixes that rival the Magic Tapes from The Magician, great for any summer weekend. Up next, we have Shinichi Osawa who created one of the best techno mixes I think I've ever heard. I am not normally a techno fan but I have listened to this 3 times now and closing it out with a Soulwax remix of Arcade Fire is just phenomenal. Depending on your mood, both of these are excellent listens for the weekend and I hope you all agree.
As an added bonus, I threw in a track that was recently brought to my attention by a friend. Some true dubstep that is just too damn impressive to not post, especially because it comes from a deep house producer, Maya Jane Coles.
If you haven’t heard by now, Alex Ridha aka Boys Noize is putting together a 2 disc compilation of his best remixes. As an avid fan of this German techno god, this has greatly excited me as it’s an opportunity to pick up some quality remixes that I may have missed along the way. Now we all know the classics like Swoon, My Moon My Man, and many more (and if not, come on doood…) but there are some seriously top notch tracks that I was hearing for the first time. The full compilation will be released this Monday December 5, but Alex has been so kind to provide us with a full tracklist so we can all get a head start. Here are some of my favorite new (to me) tracks that I have picked up, and I suggest you all do the same.
Justice- Phantom Pt. II (Boys Noize ‘Unreleased’ Turbine Remix)
You’ve probably heard the version of this remix that was released by Justice. This version is fairly similar except for some minor changes in the beginning. But once the song hits the 4 minute mark Alex throws in a little acid surprise that compliments the already fantastic remix oh so well.
Gonzales- Working Together (Boys Noize Remix)
I have actually been a big fan of this song for quite some time, but I don’t think it’s that widely known so I figured I would share. It’s a fun track that’s groovy and glitchy all at the same time. It’s tracks like this that show off how versatile and talented of a producer he really is.
Para One- Dudun Dun (Boys Noize Remix)
This one is weird and acidic and everything I love most about Boys Noize. Once the beat drops around the 2 and a half minute mark, you can’t help but grind your teeth in anger (which is of course how any good acid song is measured).
Apparat- Arcadia (Boys Noize Remix)
The first half is light and melodic, and just when he lulls you to sleep, Alex turns this into a tech-house tune so bouncy yet chilled out, you cant help but tap your foot to it.
Make sure you check out the rest of the compilation, because there are plenty of other gems in there. And if you ever get the chance to check out Boys Noize live don’t pass it up, he never disappoints.
Keep it weird, and keep it fraiche.
Hank Alfresco
Ps. Apologies for the lack of posting by that lazy bum lamebrain. Make sure to give him some good hating when you get a chance.
Have to say I was very pleased to get an email about this mix being put up today on Soundcloud. We tried to see Umek at Electric Zoo but apparently he had gotten sick so he couldn't make the show. Disappointing as that was, we can all listen to this awesome live mix from him at Space, Ibiza. Perfect to get you in the zone and have some background tunes to work to. Most people I talk to prefer no lyrics when trying to work so this is the best possible mix for that. Check it out below and make sure to keep an eye out for any Umek releases as he tears it up every time.
When it comes to EDM shows, oftentimes the best time of year for them are around Halloween for the sheer insanity that ensues. If you thought people dressed crazy for a normal show then just wait until you see anyone at a Halloween show. Of course, HARD Haunted Mansion normally ends up in Los Angeles with a fantastic lineup but this year we have gotten very, very lucky. They will be gracing us with a special NYC show on Saturday, October 22nd at the best venue in New York, Terminal 5.
The fact alone that this is a HARD Haunted Mansion show should excite everyone enough but take a look at the lineup. Skream & Benga, Dillon Francis, Joker, Gesaffelstein, and Destructo. If that isn't a lineup that has the potential for some spooky tunes then I don't know what lineup would. Gesaffelstein's deep techno jams alone make me want to kill someone every time they come on. The way I see it, Dillon Francis will warm everyone up with some bouncy, fun Moombahton and then Joker, Gesaffelstein, and Skream/Benga will murder us all in succession.
Tickets are located here and are available on Friday, August 26th (although I did find them here, available now but only at Will Call). Below are some delicious tunes from each act that I absolutely love. Take a listen and prepare to get all sorts of spooky in October.
TAI has just released a FREE DOWNLOAD of his autumn mix! If you heard his summer mix he gave out back in May than you already know this dude has some serious talent. This one features some amazing techno from the likes of Gessafelstein, Djedjotronic and an unreleased monster from TAI and Bart B More. Once again his excellent mixing skills show why he is one of the producers to keep an eye on. Enjoy
Lots more new music, most of it being techno in origin. We start off with a new EP that will be released on Beatport on June 27th by BeatauCue. This is a mini mix and there really isn't much telling what song is what but it is good regardless and I suggest at least a listen.
Next we have some pretty new Savoy of whom, if you didn't know already, will be playing at Webster Hall this Friday with Zedd. This should be one hell of a show and I recommend exploring more Savoy if you don't know much about them. This song comes with a free download as well.
And last but certainly not least is another remix by Crazibiza which may be my favorite of the bunch. This could very well be because I'm more of a house fan than techno but whatever, I like what I like. A bit of a let down that it's only a 2:36 clip but it's quite tasty regardless. I definitely need to increase my collection of Crazibiza tunes.
For those of you that haven't seen, TAI released an hour long DJ mix not so long ago. Among the many techno jams found in this masterful mix are a few unreleased bangers from D.I.M and TAI including the much anticipated Ion which has been dropped by just about everyone this summer from Boys Noize to Gessafelstein. Take a listen below and go to TAI's soundcloud to catch a full tracklisting.
