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. 

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.

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 / Twitter, Facebook / Facebook

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

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