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 Twitter, Facebook , Soundcloud and YouTube.

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.

Oxylice - Pyramid Symphony

Oxylice is another artist that I happen to come across while searching for new talent. And boy I was pleasantly surprised.

I have never actually been a big fan of the electro-trash genre but with Oxylice, he combines elements of dubstep and electro house to his tracks. This I find quite interesting and refreshing. There is not much known about the masked Belgian but the lad can definitely produce music alright. After hearing his track Stratos on YouTube I just had to get his EP Pyramid Symphony.

First off I think it is best to start with minor criticisms. I was a bit disappointed after hearing the track 42. I was so hyped up when I heard Stratos that I thought the other tracks would be just as great. 42 relies heavily on its distorted synths and the problem that I have with it is that there is not much variation. It pretty much carries on without anything changing and it becomes monotonous. Now I am not taking anything away from the production quality of the track, which is of an extremely high quality but that particular track just isn't on par with the rest of the EP in my opinion.
Now lets move on to the good stuff. Next up is Stratos. This is really quite an impressive track. It starts with a very simple melody which pretty much guides the whole direction of the track. Oxylice pretty much shows that you do not need intricate melodies to carry a track, stick to the basics and grow from there. The drop is one that works really well and the vocal sample combines perfectly with the electro - trash drop that follows it. This track is definitely one that is going to be an underground club banger.
Technical Difficulties is probably my favourite track off the EP. Again it starts with with a very simple yet effective melody that is accompanied with a crisp drum beat. Initially the track starts off in a very calm manner but it soon changes when the vocal samples come in and the heavily distorted drop blows up in your face. The drop will be a firm favourite with dubstep crowds and will no doubt have people raging with its distorted lines and wubs.
Overall this isn't a bad EP, in fact it is very enjoyable and it definitely showcases Oxylice's talent and producing prowess. I enjoyed it so much that I wished there were more original tracks on the EP. Now I
am not taking anything away from the remixes but I would have liked to see more of the lad's original tracks, he has an interesting style which I wanted to hear more of. Hopefully there is another EP in the works.

There is definitely a bright future ahead of Oxylice, the lad is talented and he is definitely on the right path. If you like your music more on the distorted side, then check out this EP, it's a banger.

Pyramid Symphony is off Jet Set Trash Records and also boasts with three remixes from Tim Tonik, Hantise and Divine X.

You can buy the EP off Beatport .

For more information on Oxylice, check out his Twitter, Facebook and
Soundcloud

Submotion Orchestra

I am usually not one for anything jazz infused but ever since I have come across Submotion Orchestra, I just can't get enough of it. 

The fact that they combine elements of jazz, dubstep and soul is something that has already got my attention. To combine such different genres into one coherent unit takes some skill. 

Ruby Wood's vocals are simply exceptional, she has this soulful quality to her combined with an enigmatic edge. I would say that her vocal prowess reminds me of Sade and the passion of Nina Simone. 

But it doesn't just stop at the vocals. The production quality and musicianship of this album is of an extremely high quality. This seven piece band is definitely one that knows how to work well together. Their tracks combine the intricate musicianship of jazz music with the visceral bass lines of electronic music. 

Tracks that really caught my attention were Snow, Blind Spot, Sleepwalker, Thinking and Eyeline.

If you are expecting a fierce dubstep drop in any of the tracks then think again, rather a subtle bass line that runs through the track. For Submotion Orchestra the beauty of their tracks lies in the elegant and soulful piano melodies and trumpet solos. The percussion is also used in a very subtle way, too make sure that it doesn't over power the other instruments but rather synch in with them. 

While I was listening to Submotion Orchestra tracks I couldn't help but be reminded of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. The soulful and intricate approach to jazz is an element that is really a big factor in their music. What Submotion skilfully adds is the element of electronics. 

Submotion Orchestra is definitely for those that appreciate the more mellow fields of electronic and jazz music. This is definitely a band that deviates from the normal electronic music that is spewed out on a daily basis.

It is so refreshing listening to them because they are one of the very few bands that gets it right to teleport you to another dimension through the simplicity and elegance of their tracks. 

Submotion Orchestra is definitely a band to look out for in the future. 

The band is signed to Exceptional Records.

Follow them on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Soundcloud.

Their albums can be found on Beatport. 

Dead Audio - Night of the Living Dead Audio EP

To be honest I had no idea who these chaps were until like a week ago. I randomly stumbled upon them while checking out Beatport.

I decided to check out the preview of the first track Blizzard and I was hooked as soon as the drums started to kick in. So I decided to grab the album and listen to it as an entirety and do some research on them.

Dead Audio consists of Tom Atkinson and Luke Fenn. These chaps have been around the block and have quite a distinguished musical background. The lads have worked with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Yasmin and have also been remixing for heavyweights like Pendulum, Borgore and Modestep. Not too shabby for a group that is not too well known. I was pretty impressed that these lads are signed to Buygore Records and have already released a single last year called Take Me Away. 

Let's just say that, listening to their EP was one of the better decisions I made that day, The EP was on repeat for most of the week and I just can't get enough of it. I love it when I come across an EP that combines melodic progressions with insane production skills and fierce sounding synths. 

The first track Blizzard serves as a good intro for the rest of the EP. At first I was a bit confused with the Alvin and the Chipmunk sounding intro but as soon as the melody and the drums started to kick in, I found myself raving along in the first 30 seconds. It is an electro house track and the vocal sample is hilarious and serves as a great buildup to the drop. 

Now let me tell you, the drop really impressed me. It was melodic, laser infused and didn't irritate me with all that's going on in it. I was pretty impressed that the lads got it right to combine so many elements without it sounding too much. Props to them.  

The second track is called Diamonds feat. Shay. This dubstep track starts off as a real grimy banger, the vocal loop serves as a perfect catch phrase and will get you dancing and head-banging in no time. Then suddenly the tempo increases and the drop causes all mayhem, again laser infused with perfectly added vocal snippets. 

The rap part serves as a great way to bring down the velocity and calm down things a bit but it gives you enough time to build up the energy for the next drop which also hits you like a bang. The only problem that I have with this track that it gets quite repetitive after awhile and I would have liked to see some variation in the second and third drop. 

The third track Goin' In is my personal favourite. The intro reminded me of something that you would hear in a SAVOY track, It has this amazing tempo to it which is just so smooth. With the arpeggio melody and the great synth work, I knew this track is going to be an absolute banger. I wouldn't classify this track as electro house, I would rather say it is a moombahton track infused with electro house elements. The drop is definitely a hybrid moomba drop which incorporates a lot of standard electro house elements but the drums are definitely moomba inspired. 

The track Running Feat. Sam Hardcastle is a dubstep track that ends off this powerhouse EP and what I like about it is that it doesn't waste it any time to get down into the drop. It shows that you don't have to have 2min long intro's before you get to the buildup.

What I love about Dead Audio's style is that they combine grime with melody which is such a lethal and extremely difficult thing to do. It just shows that their producing abilities are on a very high standard and it's refreshing from the generic grimy tracks which are spewed out on a daily basis by other producers. 

This is definitely an EP worth buying, it has all the elements that any EDM lover would love to listen to. 

Buy the EP off Beatport or follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud.

Nom De Strip - Clouds EP

Nom De Strip have been around for awhile. And what I mean by awhile I mean like years and years.

Nom De Strip, or rather Chris Elliot is quite well known in the EDM circles and has been receiving a lot of praise for his producing capabilities.

I must admit that I absolutely hated and I still hate most of his older tracks. I checked out his Soundcloud like a month ago and I just couldn't bring myself to like anything.  I was sitting in front of my laptop, listening to his tracks and thinking good God this a load of bollocks. I quickly forgot about Nom De Strip.

This changed when a mate of mine told me to check out Nom's new EP called Clouds. Now, let me tell you, I gave my mate a mouthful on how I don't want to listen to it because I just don't like Nom De Strip but my curiosity got the better of me in the end. I took another leap of faith and got myself the EP. 

I was quite impressed that this EP was released by Mau5trap, this gave my some hope that this EP might just have good things install.  

And boy was it something else. Opening up with the title track Clouds, I was completely shell shocked. I couldn't believe that it is the same producer that I hated awhile ago. Clouds is a perfect mixture of melodic bliss, catchy leads and an awesome drum beat. 

I am a very big fan of punchy electro house tracks and Clouds definitely falls into that category. The opening arpeggio is so skilfully composed and beautifully harmonised with the main chords in the background that I was taken to another dimension. I am all for chord progressions being done correctly and according to a scale and Thank God this was done correctly. 

The thing that I really like about this EP is that it only has 3 tracks. I hate it when EP's feel the need to go on forever and ever. Less is always more. Good life lesson to learn. 

The next track on the EP is the progressive house track Counting Sheep. At first I thought this title was a joke but I quickly realised that it serves a purpose. The beat and the intro melody really sets off the tone for a metronomic feel to it which made me realise that this is why it's called Counting Sheep. I thought this was really clever and it made me like the EP even more. This track isn't as punchy as Clouds but it is definitely skilfully produced, all the elements are so well put together  and the drop couldn't be more fitting. Relying on mostly just bass in the drop ,sequenced in a melodic progression was genius. You don't have any over the top drops but rather a drop that goes well with the rest of the song. 

Pulse is the last track off the EP.It starts off as a seemingly generic house track which I thought would have a drum intro for like 5mins but it quickly changes after 1 minute or so when a staccato melody enters the equation and sets up the rise to the drop. The melodic nature of this staccato arpeggio is one that really caught my attention, it is a simple melody used to perfection. The drop is pretty much an extended version of the melody, the amplified and distorted bass and melodic feel to it just works so goddamn well. Pulse reminded me reminded me a lot of Kill The Noise's sound, especially the drop part. It serves as a great end to the EP. It brings together all the elements of Clouds and Counting Sheep into one track. 

Nom De Strip's Clouds EP has definitely converted me to being a fan. Elliot's production capabilities are definitely a force to be reckoned with, the fact that he has the ability to compose melodies that are simple yet effective is another area which makes this EP so amazing. 

To buy the Clouds EP check out Beatport.

Follow Nom De Strip on Twitter, Facebook and Soundcloud. 

Das Kapital - All Trades EP

Now, I have not always been a big fan of South Africa's bad boy producer Das Kapital but with the release of his remixes for Drumsound & Bassline Smith and Laidback Luke, the lad has gotten my attention.

I decided to take a leap of faith and get myself his All Trades EP off Do Work Recordings. Now let me tell you, I was not expecting much but I was pleasantly surprised. 

Ol' Das has got it right to succeed with an experimental approach to this EP. Incorporating elements from dubstep, psy-trance, electro house and also deep house. A pretty broad spectrum to fill but he gets it right. 

The first track Amsterdam Rubberband with dutch producer Revero starts off as a seemingly generic house track but as soon as the drums and the samples kick in, it turns into a club banger. I like the fact that this track uses the less is more approach, there is not too much going on but it sounds so damn good. There is nothing better than a track that has a sick and simple beat to guide it through. 

The next track PSYCH! is an interesting one.I am not a big fan of psy-trance in fact I think it is a load of bollocks but as the track progresses elements of dubstep is being thrown into the equation, now this makes it very interesting. It adds another dimension to it which a typical psy- trance track would lack. It has that typical psy-trance drum beat but the synth work, sampling and layering just screams dubstep. The drop of this track sounds like a Koan Sound - ish production infused with The Prodigy sounds, which is always a winner.

The next track is a personal favourite, Reverse & Rewind feat Alex Mills is probably the most commercially viable track off the EP. This electro house track infuses deep house elements with a fierce electro drop. The vocals have been perfectly added and adds a very pop orientated dimension to it which just seems to fit in this track.

White Room feat Louis Blaise is also another interesting track. When I first started listening to it, it sounded like something that The Prodigy would release. It was a bit of a mind fuck at first but I got into the swing of things pretty quickly, it gets a bit repetitive after awhile because there is not much variation.
The Instrumental version of Reverse & Rewind is reminded me a lot of Mord Fustang's sound but with more of a deep house edge to it. I was definitely jamming to it because it is just so catchy.

I have to recommend ol' Das on his producing capabilities. It is of an exceptional quality for somebody that young. His producing skills exude a maturity that exceeds his years. All Trades is definitely one of the better Eps that I have listened to this year and it showcases Das Kapital's diversity and flexibility. The bloke really knows how to infuse different elements which are not normally used together. 

You can buy the EP on Beatport. You can also follow Das Kapital on Twitter, Soundcloud and Facebook.  

The M Machine - Metropolis Pt II

The M Machine has been gaining a lot of followers in recent months. With their latest release, released off prestigious OWSLA records, it is no wonder that this group has garnered a lot of attention in a very short time. 

I must admit that I was quite hesitant at first to give this group the time of day because I feel a lot of artists in the EDM scene at the moment, have not been trying anything new. Boy was I wrong with The M Machine.

Metropolis Pt II is without a doubt one of the most complex EP's I have listened to in awhile. With masterfully crafted tracks that exceed the boundaries of the normal production capabilities, it really blew me away with incorporation of so many genres in the respective songs. 

Starting off The Palace feat Blake Hazard. Wow these guys really know how to start off with a bang. The enigmatic intro is enough to throw any music enthusiast into a pool of heavenly bliss. The piano melody has been so skilfully composed that it just adds a feeling of long lost glory to it, making it even more appealing to listen to. Hazard's vocals just add an ominous and airy feel to the track, which serves as a great build up for the drop. 

The drop in itself is one that is skilfully crafted. The production quality of this EP has been one that has been blowing me away with each listen. The drop is heavy, mathematical and melodic in its execution. It is not one that carries on for ages like in most dubstep tracks but it lasts just as long as it needs to which does not make the track boring at all. The synth work and the sampling has been used to perfection, with vocal snippets and layering being used so skilfully to give it this spacey feel. 

The space theme has also been used as an overriding theme which I think is quite an interesting one. It definitely adds to the feel that this is definitely a concept EP which should be seen as a story.

I am not one to enjoy anything indie related but Ghosts in a Machine, really impressed me. It reminded me of Crystal Castles, in the sense that the beat and the vocals go so well together while layering it with great technical synth work. It was definitely a track that impressed me in the synth pop genre and its a good ambassador for it. The other indie / synth pop tracks on the EP are Tiny Anthem which has a feel of the electronic era of the 90s.

If there was one thing that was wrong on the EP it would have to be the track Moon Song, the intro of the distorted synths already put me off, it just sounds out of place and detached from everything else. It starts off really slow and it goes into a techno house vibe which is not a bad thing but I don't think it works for this particular song. Although I must say that the vocals on this track is quite magnificent and really ties in all the loose ends that this track creates. But this track is skilfully produced and on a technical level, I cannot find any problems with it.
Now we are coming to my personal favourite track off the EP - Schadenfreude. The meaning of Schadenfreude is one that got my attention. When translated into English it pretty much means enjoying another person's misfortune, I mean come on? Whats not to like about that? But lets get back to the technical aspects of the track. This electro house track is one for the books, the drums have this tribal quality to them which gives the track an animalistic but refined feel to it. The vocals are so perfectly crafted for this track. It serves as a buildup for a very intense drop. Now let me tell you, even Nicky Romero and Zedd would be proud of this drop. It is punchy, melodic and the automation was done to perfection. It fits so well with the rest of the track that it serves as the perfect climax and then comes the chilled part which definitely comes at the right time. 

Luma is the last and the longest track on the EP and serves as the perfect conclusion. It has a melancholic intro, beautifully composed and executed on the piano. It sounds like a neo-classical piece. The synth work is what makes this track so unique, it has been produced to go so well with the piano intro that it sounds natural for this progression. Another element in this track that really got my attention is that the drums are only present much later. Which is a great variation from the generic EDM intro which is so focused around the drum beats. The drums are almost secondary in this track and does not detract from the piano and the synth work. But it comes with such a bang in the 'drop' part of the song. The reason I said 'drop part' because it is also not a conventional drop that we are accustomed to in typical EDM tracks, it is very simplistic and melodic and relies on an overriding synth melody to guide it. There is even a slight break in it that serves as a sort of crescendo for the next synth arpeggio to take you on a ride through the galaxy.

I cannot wait for the next instalment from The M Machine, OWSLA have really outdone themselves with this band and they are going to go on to do really great things.

Support the M Machine by buying their album off Beatport or follow them on Twitter, Soundcloud, Facebook or YouTube