MOODTRAP - OUT OF TIME [122bpm]

You need to wait for the moment at 3:24 when everything drops, the world stops, and nothing but the bass and vocals are left. And we’re all peaking.

This is the point in the party where tired eyelids lift, people raise from their seats and hurriedly rush to the dancefloor out of not only curiosity, but anticipation for the drop. And the drop is well worth it.

Moodtrap is a mysterious duo of well-known producers who wish to remain anonymous at this time.  The moniker was specifically crafted for Tsuba’s record label.  Their “Body to Body EP” was recently dropped, and quickly followed by this seemingly digital-only release.

This 3 track EP takes techno (a dirty word in my book) into realms I hadn’t thought imaginable. With hints of UK bassline, and even grime, we might be able to narrow down the producers’ identity. But it’s not about that, obviously. It’s about the music. 

Be sure to check out the roster of talent on Tsuba Records, and keep your eye out on Moodtrap in 2012. As always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

MICHAEL IMPERIAL - NICOLE [124bpm]

I’m kind of smitten by this guy.

The album artwork leads you to expect pop music, and then he gives us this instead. A minimally percussive, heavily bass-laden track with unabashedly lush vocals.

I personally think it’s pretty clever to go ahead and name the track after the artist the vocals have been sampled from. It’s almost humble; like he understands that the music world is rife with R&B vocal samples, but believes in and loves the production enough to dedicate it to its origin.

Each track on the EP doesn’t bother to hide in shadows of splicing or pitch-control, either. Instead they are embraced.

But honestly, where is this guy’s press? His debut 6 track EP doesn’t have a single song worth skipping, and actually deserves to be heard. Go pay a measly $5 for it on his BandCamp page, and follow on his SoundCloud. As always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

STEVE MURPHY & CO. - WIND MASTER [120bpm]

Did y’all feel that? Yeah, me too.

Only five seconds in, and the wind’s intensity has been made audible through this glowing deep house track. It feels like I’m dancing inside of a windmill.

Steve Murphy & Co., with their Wind City EP, have created a thematic masterpiece. Printed on luminous turquoise, hand-stamped vinyl, the sky-bound dreamscape is presented. Next comes the noise, as they continue to showcase the powerful element of air with organic textures and moods within each of the four tracks.

Highly dance-able and equally heavy, this EP shouldn’t go unheard. It’s the first imprint on newly established Chiwax label (what appears to be a sub-label of DBH Music), which is meant to be testament to the Chicago house aesthetic. You can hear the forthcoming record on the DBH SoundCloud, and see what Steve Murphy (aka Mattia Effe) has to offer here. As always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

RONI BE & TOM LUSTIG - SOMEWHERE IN SANTORINI [122bpm]

Someone once described progressive house to me as “all bulid-up, no breakdown.”

That brand of progressive house exists, but not in this track.

Instead, Roni Be creates a solid, outstanding groove, which is beautifully coupled with Tom Lustig’s intense vocals. The work that was done with sub-bass is phenomenal, and meticulous to say the least.  Leave it to say, as usual, if you’re listening to this on your laptop speakers, you’re doing it all wrong.

LOK Records has a pretty dope roster of talent, all exploring new areas of deep, progressive house.  Although their artwork appears to be vinyl-based, this is an all-digital label. You can follow their SoundCloud for future tracks, and check out the rest of Roni Be’s beats here. And, as always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

CHAOS IN THE CBD - I’M LOSING YOU [124bpm]

It will be nearly impossible for anyone to top the compilation that French label Youngunz has created this year.

With original tracks from heavy-hitters like French Fries and Bambounou, just to name a few, I’m officially taken aback.  All of the tracks are deep explorations of house, with huge bass and huge emotion.

Ben & Louis Helliker-Hales, who comprise Chaos in the CBD, have been steadily gaining momentum for some time now, and I might go so far as to say that they’ve peaked with their contribution to this compilation. Soulful vocal samples are on point, and not generically manufactured, rather cautiously placed and deeply felt. The perfect tempo and meticulous production combine to make a perfect song.

Trust me when I say you need this compilation; it’d be depressing if you spent the rest of they year without it.  Available from most digital outlet hubs, but especially this one.  Go show some love for the boys of Chaos in the CBD, and don’t take your eyes off of Youngunz’s website. 

ADAM STRÖMSTEDT - FEEL [127bpm]

I forgot that I live for this shit.

I forgot that the movement, the virtue, the soul of house music is bigger than the mediocrity, the routine, the fear of everyday life.

Give me repetition. Give me build up. Give me vibration.

Give me meaning.

I just don’t care. Don’t give a fuck about anything but this.

This shit right here. 

The first release on Junkyard Connections exemplifies those sentiments. Adam Strömstedt’s B-side is a gorgeous, uplifting, deeply felt house track. It’s one that reminds you where you came from, why you’re still listening, and why you can’t imagine life without.

I really can’t believe this hasn’t sold out yet. A limited pressing of 250 made by people who understand the art of DIY music. Copies are still available here, and if you never want to lose touch again, you’ll follow Junkyard Connections and Adam Strömstedt. Check out their second release by Hannes Netzell, which was featured here a few months back. And, as always: 

.::do:work.show:love::.

ENCHANTE - KISS ME [140bpm]

…Wait, did he just fuckin’ do that? Yes. Yes he did.

This is a new level in sampling. It feels like this guy is saying “Yeah, I sampled that shit. But watch this shit.” He doesn’t even bother taking the vocals for the main portions. Instead he reminds the dancefloor of the original, then takes the track right where he wanted it.

At a pounding 140bpm, this is a dancefloor killer. Finally getting a vinyl release on newly founded Crazy Way Trax, it’s been matched with tracks sampling R. Kelly, Charlie XCX, and more that need to be discovered to be fully realized.

This is a vinyl-only release, and you’re gonna be pretty bummed when it sells out. Go ahead and order it before it’s too late. Check out the rest of these tunes available on Enchante’s SoundCloud, and, as always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

ELEK - SHE’LL NEVER LEAVE [129bpm]

This should probably only be played at 4am in basements of warehouses on the outskirts of cities. It’s the song that makes you stay, right when you thought your night was over.

The rawness is unreal. You can feel the percussion in your bones; it’s tangible, gritty, and as emotional as the vocals that surround it. By the time it’s over, you may realize that you were stuck in a trance for five minutes, and want the feeling back. 

I can’t speak more highly for the work this guy is doing. With little to no information, social networking or shameless self promotion, it’s easy to simply be satisfied with his offerings on SoundCloud.  I love the direction he’s heading, and can’t wait to hear more. As always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

.::DRAMATICS::.

A Leaving Scene Mixtape

[129bpm]

DOWNLOAD

TRACKLIST:
1. Disclosure - Flow
2. Mike G - Disco Radio
3. Brenmar - Let Me Know (5kin&Bone5 & Vin Sol Remix)
4. A1 Bassline - Falsehood
5. Boddika & Joy Orbison - Swims
6. MikeQ - Let It All Out 2012
7. Goldlines - Goldman VIP
8. Look Like - Downtown
9. Quentin Harris - My Joy (Leon Chase’s 808 Edit)
10. Klic & Lokiboi - I Won’t (Steel Remix)
11. Sir Nenis - Play The Game (Daniel Klauser Remix)

CYPRIOT VIBEZ - TAKE YOU THERE [137bpm]

I mean, seriously. Are you fucking kidding me with this track? I haven’t even played it all the way through yet. I just keep pausing it due to an overwhelming “this is way too good,” feeling.

If it weren’t for my all-time homegirl, Unholy Rhythms, I may never have heard a single second of this. She knows me well, to an extent that can’t really be expressed on a tumblr blog. Needless to say, she dropped me this track, and I’m forever indebted to her.

The Weeknd’s (now classic) track, “What You Need,” subtly makes its way into this future-garage endeavor by 17-year-old Aron Djandash of London.  Like I said before, I haven’t listened all the way through, because it’s just too good. Therefore, a proper review and feeling of the track isn’t in store for today.

Instead, you should just listen, feel, dance, be inspired. Somehow this track has been out for a whopping SIX MONTHS, and it’s painful to just now be hearing it. You’ll want to hear everything this guy has to offer, available on SoundCloud and YouTube. And, as always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

JAMIE GRIND - SORRY [127bpm]

Oh, man. This guy never ceases to amaze me. Diving head first into the realm of ‘92-‘94 era deep house / US garage, Jamie has absolutely killed it on this one.

At 127bpm as opposed to the more classic 123bpm, the dancefloor will surely erupt. This track feels like he traveled back in time to some grimey basement in New York, felt vibes, and came back to the present with massive pressure on the production. 

Easily one of my favorite UK artists, Jamie Grind is consistently surprising me. 2012 will see the release of a split EP with Kingthing on Infrasonics, featuring the tracks “For You” and “We Still Play 140,” which are both some seriously heavy tracks. He’s also got the Rum N Raisin EP in the works on Wicked Bass Records. In the meantime, follow his moves on SoundCloud, and always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

COSMIC REVENGE - PARADISE [130bpm]

Finally some new pressure from the Bay Area.

Having originally fallen in love with Cosmic Revenge’s “Late Nights,” which is a deeply soulful (/sexual) dive into 70bpm territory, this new house banger comes as a welcome surprise.

This feels like you’re getting ready for a workout, maybe a run in the San Francisco fog. It’s a perfect starting pace, but then the tumbling synths make their way in and you’ve found yourself skipping / two-stepping up the concrete hills. The vocals get pretty sexual towards the end, which makes for a good peak.

There’s no word on a release for this track, but his other tunes have been featured on fantastic labels like Car Crash Set and L2S Recordings. Meanwhile, you can catch up on his SoundCloud. Here’s to hoping for a sweet revenge from this beatsmith in 2012. As Always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

QUENTIN HARRIS - MY JOY (LEON CHASE’S 808 EDIT) [125bpm]

Bass that makes no sense on your silly laptop speakers.

Needless to say, you’ll be doing it all wrong if you don’t listen to this on a good sound system.  Preferably in a car, so you can feel real hood.

Leon Chase has the vibe down.  Deep house and classic instrumentals, but with ghetto bass and 808s. The background synths sneak up on you during the minimal intros and buildups, and suddenly you’re feeling like house music should always be this way.

The original track is quite the classic, but Leon has taken two feet into the future. Check out all of his vibes on SoundCloud, especially seeing as this has been offered as a free download. He also appears to be heading a record label project called Overcooked Records. Keep your eye on what’s to come, and, as always:

.::do:work.show:love::.

KONDOR - CASSIE & ME [119bpm]

I’m a firm believer that it will never be too late for a “Me & U” remix to surface in this world. That’s not to say they are all fantastic (and many are not), but it’s an unbearably timeless song.

This is no exception. In fact, it’s a welcome surprise. 

Filled with funky bass and intelligently chopped vocals (that may or may not have been re-arranged to create a new vocal message), this could easily be considered for the [imaginary] “Best of Me & U” remix compilation.  Echoed, distant, and subtle claps are sure to get the dancefloor to pop off in celebration of something familiar.

All of Kondor’s tracks are filled with soul, and (dare I say) post-disco vibes. Be sure to go check out the funk on his SoundCloud. And, as always:

.::do:work.show:love::.