Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Funkagenda - Samsara EP


I am not too familiar with Funkagenda’s work but I saw that he released a new EP and I decided to go check it out.

Samsara – by definition this means the repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Quite a heavy and profound meaning which already tickles my loins but lets get into the music.

The opening track is To The Moon and Back. The title didn’t grab me but the melody did, with its trance sounding synth it created the perfect backdrop for the hard hitting drum beat and the airy fairy atmospherics, don’t get me wrong, it is extremely catchy and is the perfect buildup for the heavy electro – acid sounding drop which just blows everything out of its way.


The second track off this EP is Half Man Half Drugs. As soon as I read this title I couldn’t help but smile at myself. I just knew that I would like this track.  I didn’t even realize that the song was playing but as soon as the drop came in, it completely kicked me in my face. I had to take a step back, rewind and listen to it again, yes it is that awesome. Funk succeeded in combining the heavy hitting electro bassline with the melodic, this is not an easy thing to achieve.

This EP has definitely been one of the standouts I’ve listened to in the last couple of months, this EP will appeal to not only Electro House lovers but just bass lovers in general.

This EP was released off Dim Mak records and you can buy it on Beatport.

Support Funk and check out his Facebook, Soundcloud and Twitter

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Seven Lions - Fevers ( Feat. Minnesota and Mimi Page)


Two powerhouses in EDM have joined forces to create a track of epic proportions.

Seven Lions and Minnesota have teamed up with Mimi Page to give us Fevers.

The track is a combination of soulful production skills, an ethereal ambiance and the angelic voice of Page that succeeds in combining the mystical with hard-hitting bass lines and melodic chord progressions. The track has already been a hit on Soundcloud, with close to 80 000 plays in 3 days


This is definitely a track worth checking out if you are a fan of melodic dubstep.

The track is available for free download off Seven Lions Soundcloud, Minnesota’s Soundcloud and is part of OWSLA’s The Nest.




Sunday, May 5, 2013

Raf Riley - Now that's what I call gangster beats!!

The reason I know anything about Raf Riley is purely because I checked out his Twitter profile. He popped up on my "Who to follow" list and by accident I decided to check out his profile. 

I was so shocked that not many other people have heard about him. I thought this lad would have tens of thousands of fans on every platform. But it was so shocking that his Facebook profile only has like 560 likes, 3000 plus followers on Twitter and like just over 5000 fans on Soundcloud. I came to the realisation that wow, this lad is really underground. So I decided to go do some research on him. 

Turns out this north London bloke has worked with some big names in the Electronic scene. It is quite impressive that he has worked with both Labrinth and Diplo. Diplo even commissioned him to remix Usher's Climax and then go on to release his Dog Unit tracks off Mad Decent records imprint The Jeffree's. Not bad for a lad that's only in his early 20s hey. But lets move on to his music shall we. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I listened to his track King Henry's Hustle. It was so bizarre that I could not help but just fall in love with it. I have never heard anything of the sort. I must say that I have really started to warm up to this whole idea of Trap, even though Raf classifies his music as Gangster Beats. His music really took me back to my hip hop roots and made me fall in love with it again. 

I was very excited to see that his EP Now That's What I Call Gangster Beats was available for free download off his website. Needless to say I jumped on that wagon and downloaded it asap. It was definitely a good decision on my part. The EP has been on repeat for the past couple of hours and I have not gotten sick of it yet. 

With infectious guitar riffs in the opening track Wunn!!, awesome bass and synths lines in The Liquidator and awesome drum sampling in Gunshot, it has definitely been an EP that has caught me off guard. Caught me off guard in a very good way. 

Raf Riley is definitely an artist that has such a bright future, he has everything going for him. I am looking forward to seeing what he can come up with in the future because I know it is going to be massive.

You can purchase his Dog Unit tracks as part of The Jeffree's Volume 5 off Beatport

Check out Raf on Facebook, Soundcloud and Twitter

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Deorro - Elevation EP

I was never a big fan of Deorro but after I heard Black and his awesome remix of that very shitty Laidback Luke tune Pogo, I knew that there would be interesting things coming from the bloke. 

I was very excited to see that his EP Elevation was going to be released on the 23rd of April. It has definitely been a release that I have been waiting for. And it has not disappointed.

I must say that the opening track Stronger is probably the weakest track off the EP. It definitely wasn't a good start but I forced myself to keep on listening and it was well worth it. The track just doesn't do it for me, it becomes really boring after awhile and it is way too long in my honest opinion. The melody is also not one that is catchy, I found myself forgetting what the track actually sounded like after the first listen. 


But let's go on to the good stuff. The rest of the EP is simply sublime. Red Lips feat. Pasha has such a feel good and fun intro melody that I could not help but fall in love with it. With those naughty vocal samples, I could not stop myself from bobbing my head to the infectious beat. 

The drop is also an interesting one, I like it when producers have weird and interesting drops. Gone are the days when you need to make your drop sound like an Atom or Ode To Oi rip off, let's leave the rip offs to PSY and Will.I.Am shall we?


The third track on the EP is Cayendo feat Tess Marie. Now, I am not Spanish so I have no fucking idea what that means. I could probably google it but that defeats the point. The point of the matter is that I don't care what the fuck it means or what Tess Marie is singing about. I just dig the awesome sounds that are coming out of my speakers. That is how awesome this song is. It is an instant club banger and it makes you want to move around with your eyes closed. The drop is another reason why I love this track so much, it infuses dirty dutch elements with some fierce electro synths. Now in my books this is an instant winner. Couldn't ask for a more in your face combination.


Elevated feat. Erick Gold is the fourth track on the EP. This is probably the heaviest track on the EP. When the vocal sample comes in with "it's going down tonight", I knew that this is going to be a real treat. The drop was so fierce that I had to momentarily turn down the volume of my speakers because the floor and the windows were starting to vibrate from the bass of my sub woofer. Now that is what I call dropping the bass ladies and gents, when something like that happens then you know this is a gem. What I really dig about this track is that it end off on such a chilled note, it brings about this really rounded effect to the song, this is an element that most tracks lack. 


Hype is the final track on the EP. What a way to end an awesome EP hey. I would say that Hype is Deorro's way of saying, "I know this EP is awesome and I am just hyping you up for the next one." "Bring the motherfucking hype" can almost be seen as laying down the gauntlet for his future releases. This is definitely one of the stand out tracks. Such an infectious melody and it will definitely be a favourite amongst house DJs for its great beat and dirty dutch- esque drop.

Deorro has definitely impressed me with this EP. It's innovative and extremely well produced with very catchy tracks. It is definitely a good bye for any EDM enthusiast. 

This EP was released off Dim Mak Records.

To buy the EP check out Beatport.

For more information on Deorro check out Soundcloud, Twitter and Facebook.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Life Magic - Highway Dawn EP

I am always up for promoting local talent and the next artist has definitely a bright future ahead of him. 

Guy MacKinnon-Little or rather Life Magic is relatively unknown. Wait, let me rephrase that - I know absolutely jack shit about him. Don't even know what the lad looks like but I do know that he is a fucking talented musician. I guess that's all that matters in the end. 

So I was casually waddling about Twitter, going on my random stream of consciousness rant when I get this notification from my home girl SIDESHOW. She tells me I must check out this link, by that time, I was sitting in a boring ass meeting, Wi-Fi wasn't working and I was itching to take a listen. My curiosity always gets the better of me, I guess that's why I'm journalist. 

So anyway, when the meeting ended, I quickly jogged over to the nearest cafe and abused the internet.

Let me tell you, this EP was worth the jog. Initially I wasn't expecting much but I was still curious to check it out. 

The EP starts off with the title track Highway Dawn which in my opinion is a mixture of trap, electro and some ambient sounds. The drums only start to kick in like 1 minute into the track, usually songs like that would bore me because usually the intro melody isn't strong enough to grab me. 

This is not the case with Highway Dawn. It has this very spacey feel to it which I find quite enigmatic and beautiful. When the drums and the drop come in, I was sold because it just sounds so damn smooth. 

The next and last track off the EP is Pool Fun. When that intro melody starts, it made me feel like I was lying on the ground in an enchanted forest. When that sub bass, the drums and the punchy synths gradually fill your ears I knew this would be my favourite track off the EP. 
I was quite disappointed that it was only a two track release because I wanted to hear more tracks from the lad. I'm sure that this Cape Town bloke will provide more enchanting music for us in the future.

The best way I can describe this EP is - This is some awesome dolphin music that is perfect for those days when you just want to lose yourself and smoke weed.

Check out his SoundcloudTwitter and Facebook for more info. 

This EP is released off naasMusic Electronic and is a free download. 


Friday, April 12, 2013

Liar - Alpha EP

This EP has had a lasting effect on me.

I have never been into the whole trap genre but when it is described as being post trap infused with future garage and minimalist elements? Well then I will sit up and pay attention.

So I checked out this Romanian artist on Soundcloud. Never heard of this bloke before but by God he is talented. It has been awhile since I have listened to an EP that is so well produced and so interesting, it is really something new. Making use of weird elements that do not normally go together and combining them to create such awesome music. 

The first track - Tequila Mockingbird - is probably the best track off the album. The title in itself is so brilliant that it caught my attention immediately. The track features North American producer and DJ Druid Cloak. The track has all the elements of a banger, choral sections, melancholic vocals, a heavy bass drop and that poignant minimalist feeling and tempo to it. As soon as i listened to this track with my headphones, the drop and the heavy bass just blew my head off. 

Alpha is the title and the next track on the EP. This is quite an interesting track. Interesting in the sense that it uses Ciara's Get Up vocal snippet as the main vocal breakdown. This really works well with the hip hop feel. This track actually reminds me of a post moomba track infused with trap elements. I love these weird combinations, keeps things interesting. 

Honey Trap is the third track off the EP. To be totally honest, it isn't my favourite track but it does have some great aspects to it. I really love the drums in this track, its heavy and goes so well with the industrial minimalist feel of the rest of the track. Combine with the a typical trap drop, it makes for a pretty catchy song. But this is also the reason why it doesn't sit well with me, I have heard too many trap songs that use this effect and it has become quite boring to me. But take nothing away from the song, it is extremely well produced and will be a firm favourite with Trap enthusiasts. 
The EP also boasts with remixes from future-garage heavyweight ViLLΛGE and also Fuckowfski.

To buy the EP visit the Origami Sound site. 

For more information on Liar check out - Soundcloud, Twitter and Facebook

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Kicks n Licks - The Expedition

Kicks n Licks are probably one of my favourite bass acts at the moment.

What I like about this San Diego duo is that they have such a clear sound and they don't try to do too many things at once. Less is more with these guys and I always respect that.

Their self released EP The Expedition has been one of my top plays for the week. More props to them for making this beauty a free download because it is definitely loaded with quality tracks. 

I really liked the fact that they have a variety of bass tracks on their EP. You will find dubstep, drum and bass and even a trap track on the EP. It definitely shows their flexibility as producers. The EP will show their Hip Hop roots come through into a well crafted bass EP. It is always great when producers combine other genres into their work.


While listening to the EP I must say that the their sound reminded me a little a bit of Adventure Club with the melodic synth work. 

The feel good drum and bass banger After Hours and the hard hitting title track The Expedition are definitely the best tracks off the EP in my opinion. Even the trap influenced Hit Em' With The Horns surprised me with its well crafted, punchy sound. 

This EP will satisfy any bass lover, it has something for everybody. Definitely worth checking out.

You can download the EP for free off their website.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal

I have decided to move away from the EDM scene for the moment and focus on this gem of an album. 

I have gone back to my metal roots with Bring Me The Horizon's new album Sempiternal. Now I know you are probably having a fanny wobble with hearing the term "metal" but let me tell you, this album is simply exceptional.

In the last couple of years I have had this love - hate relationship with the metal genre. With previous releases just not being on par and bands just not trying anything new, I frankly got sick of all the albums that were being released. But 2013 has started off with a real bang, with new releases by heavyweights Killswitch Engage and expected new albums from Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Behemoth, Satyricon, Children of Bodom and even Slayer! It is bound to be quite an exciting year in the metal scene. 

Let's get down and dirty with Sempiternal. I only got into the whole BMTH vibe with their album Suicide Season, I was also one of those people that thought the band was utter shit without giving them a chance. I took a leap of faith with Suicide Season and I haven't looked back since. 

BMTH is definitely a band that just gets better and better with every release. It is every evident that as they get older, their sound matures. In juxtaposition with their earlier albums like Count Your Blessings, it sounds like two different bands. The BMTH on Count Your Blessings was all over the place, really focusing on the teen infused Deathcore scene. The BMTH discography should really be seen as the band's evolution as musicians. 


The thing that really impressed me and has always impressed me is the lyrical finesse that the band has. They could be seen as one of the voices for their generation. The ability to write lyrics that are catchy yet poignant is a an art that very few musicians have mastered.

The other element that really attracted me to the new album is the incorporation of more electronic elements. In my honest opinion it fits the band's style perfectly because it provides a well balanced and harmonious contrast to the heavy guitar riffs, technical drum work and the harsh vocal work. Jordan Fish has definitely been the missing link. 

I believe that the electronic aspect works so well for BMTH because their guitar work does not depend on its technicality and guitar solos like many other bands. The fact that there is no such pressure it opens a space for another instrument to create the rounding, background effect. The keyboard doesn't detract from the other instruments but it is also not overpowered by the drums and guitar. BMTH have got it right to create a perfect balance between ambience and metal. 

I really can't fault this album. This was one of the very few albums that I have listened to from start to finish without skipping any songs. BMTH have definitely set the bar for 2013 releases. Metal bands need to take note because this album is definitely in a class of its own.

Best tracks off the album in my opinion - Can you feel my heart, Sleepwalking, Shadow Moses, Crooked Young and The House of Wolves. 

Album is released off RCA Records

Check out the official Bring Me The Horizon website for more information on the band.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

James Egbert & Schoolboy - Silver Lining EP

I am a big fan of these lads, both of them are masters of their craft and they are some of the few producers that always tries something new. 

I knew the day that these two would combine their talents it would be a release of intergalactic proportions. And boy was I right.

Silver Lining consists out of 3 tracks; the electro house banger and aptly named intro track All Systems Go, The glitch hop offering Hero Down and the dubstep anthem Stardust featuring talented Taylr Renee. 

There is no other way to describe All Systems Go but as an epic journey infused with orchestral glory. This is the phrase that came to mind when I was listening to it for the first time. That orchestral breakdown just kicks me in the face every time I listen to the track. Combine that with an epic vocal sample and an insane drop - well you got a winner. This is definitely a track that will be a banger in the clubs.

Hero Down serves as a great calm down for the EP. It slows down the pace from All Systems Go and has this great glitchy sound to it with a very catchy melody. What really stood out in this track were the piano breakdowns. It is very well crafted and doesn't detach from the overall feel of the song. 

Stardust ends the EP with a bang. There is nothing better than ending an EP with an anthemic dubstep track. I love the vocals in this track, the lyrics are cleverly written and fits in with the space theme that is a constant on the EP. With the background chorus shadowing the main vocals it just gives it this uplifting feel, like Zedd's Clarity effect. I love the why that the vocals go so well with the drop, this definitely is something that is not easy to do and they used the vocal loop to perfection. 
I really enjoyed this EP and the production quality is amazing. I recommend James Egbert and Schoolboy for really producing an EP that succeeds in its musicality. 

Definitely worth every penny.

This EP was released off Infrared Music

The EP is available on Beatport.

Check them out on Soundcloud / Soundcloud, Twitter / TwitterFacebook / Facebook

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Donkong - JAWZ EP

I am not entirely sure how I came across this group but I clicked on something and then I found myself on their Soundcloud page. I digged their profile picture so I was like what the hell, lets listen to one of their tracks. 

I had no idea that they are a group that deals primarily in Trap. Now let me tell you, I hate Trap. I think it's the worst thing in the EDM scene at the moment. But this German group really surprised me and I have started to question my stance on the whole Trap genre. 

Donkong's JAWZ EP is signed to Reid Speed's record label Play Me Too. Now this in itself impressed me because Play Me have always released quality tracks and always find the most talented producers. 

So I said a silent prayer to the bass gods and decided to get myself the EP. Let me tell you, the bass gods answered my prayer. The two track EP blew my mind. I found myself bouncing along to it and its been on repeat for awhile now. 

The first track is JAWZ. The intro melody is directly linked to the famous movie theme and it serves as an intro and buildup before the drop. When those claps and the vocal snippets enter I just knew this drop is going ravage things. And good God was I right. What I dig about this track is that it infuses dubstep elements with the typical trap bounce. This is quite a lethal combination and works so well. 

I must praise the lads ability to add grimy baselines to the track. It is mint as hell. Another cool thing about this track is that the 2nd drop is different from the 1st and the 3rd is different from the 2nd. Such variation just makes me really happy. There are too many tracks out there that are too monotonous and don't push the boundaries. Props to Donkong for going past that.

The 2nd track is Beamer. It starts off with as a typical trap track, the staccato notes with that infamous drum beat. But what really got me about this track is the dubstep drop that is present. It is quite a heavy drop for a trap track but it works so well and serves as a great balance for the bouncy trap feeling that the rest of the track has. 
I must say, not too shabby eh. This EP is extremely enjoyable and the production quality is sublime. Donkong's brand of 'molly grit' is definitely something that has gotten my attention. I can't wait for future releases from them. 

The EP is available on Beatport.

Follow Donkong on TwitterFacebook , Soundcloud and YouTube.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Specimen A - Rock Star EP

The first time I heard about Specimen A is when I came across their track Unforgettable on
YouTube. I was very impressed with the brutality and the melodic nature that was present in the
track, so I decided to check them out and lo' and behold, they had an EP that just came out. My
curiosity always gets the better of me when it comes to listening to new music so I decided to go
grab the EP.

Rock Star (Explicit) starts the EP off with a very intricate chromatic distorted guitar arpeggio which
adds to the rock theme of the whole EP. Suffice adds the Cypress Hill-esque rap vibes to the track
which just adds to the brutality of the track. The drop of the track brings in this sort of muscular
power which balances out the melodic lead and the very intense drop.
The vocal parts are not too overpowering and is well synchronised with the rest of the track.
Arpeggios pretty much dominate this track which is already a big plus in my books. The melody is
also one which is quite impressive, infusing metal, with neo-classical and electronic elements is
very intriguing.

All or Nothing opens with an Egyptian sounding intro melody and leads into heavy tribal-esque
drumming which serves as a great build-up for the very melodic drop. What really impressed me
about this track is the melody. To use an Egyptian sounding melody and get it right to not sound too
distant from the rest of the EP takes some doing.
Unforgettable feat Nickita is definitely going to be a hit amongst dubstep DJs. The vocal prowess of
Nickita adds a pop element to the track which is very well balanced by the very brutal drop. What I
like about this track is that it is not as grimy as other dubstep releases, This track reminded me a
lot of the Pegboard Nerds sound and their use of intricate synths. Unforgettable is definitely a track
that I'm going to rinse at my next gig.
Closer feat Miss Trouble is the best drum and bass track on the album and it is definitely one of the
highlights on the EP. The drums are definitely the winning factor in this track. The pendulum-esque
drum work is quite impressive and ties really well with the vocals and the overall melody. This track
will definitely be a firm favourite with DnB DJs for its ferocity and its melodic quality. I love how the
vocals are not very present but they come in at just the right time, this is great because it allows for
more focus on the music.
This EP is extremely in your face and opens and ends with a bang.With the insane melodic drops,
the intricate chord progressions and the well infused vocal parts, it is definitely an EP that
succeeds in its production quality.

Specimen A have succeeded in delivering an EP which is well produced and succeeds in
combining melodic harmony with technical brutality. There is not much variation on the album and
they have not tried anything new but I have to recommend the lads on their awesome production
abilities, it is crisp, flawless and they know what works well together. It is definitely an EP that will
go down well with any listener that enjoys music on the rough side. Definitely a buy that is
worthwhile.

The Rock Star EP is released off Funkatech Records and is available on Beatport.

Check out Specimen A on Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud.