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When one thinks of that cumbersomely inclusive descriptor that is “electronic” music or “electronica” more often than not the average person conjures the image of some fist-pumping 18 year olds sucking on lollipops and pacifiers at a “rave” (perhaps the most misunderstood musical phenomena ever, but that’s a rant for another day). Robert Hood, however, is here to break that mold. As founding father of that elusive genre “minimalist” electronic music which for so long went unacknowledged, Hood has done well to bring electronic music back to its roots and original intentions by bringing a refreshingly cerebral approach to electronic music with a thorough thematic production that gives the listener an enrapturing experience on his recently released album Omega.
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If there is one thing I love about Summer it’s mixtapes. Today I’ve got one more for you listening pleasure, this time from Miami native Lazaro Casanova. Casanova pumps out some serious House tunes latent with Funk and Afro-Cuban roots. I was interested to read his bio on his website and learn that
“He is a regular at Club Aura in Monterrey Mexico, where he holds a residency and plays an infamous 7 hour set, which ends at about 11 am. Aura is responsible for many great acts coming to Monterrey including, Matthew Dear, Seth Troxler, Magda, Richie Hawtin and more.”
I guess I know where I’ll be making an appearance in Monterrey as I make the move to Mexico in the coming months; I’m pretty thrilled to catch this dude live and dance ’til daybreak.
Enjoy Mr. Casanova himself as he keeps it sweltering for the Summer.
I used to be a huge hip-hop head. Used to be. Until discovering this mix from the good folks at Discobelle it had been quite some time since hip-hop/rap had managed to hold my attention for more than 3 songs at a time with the singular exception of Diplo’s Free Gucci mixtape. So you can imagine how refreshing it is to hear this superbly blended and well thought-out mixtape by French DJ/producer Brodinksi. This latest mixtape is a two-parter the first half of which is addressed to hip-hop/rap that I surprisingly found more enticing than the B side of straight up electro mixes (shocking, indeed). Be sure to take a listen and follow the links to check him out some more.
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I think I’m in love. I feel like I say this at least once a month but Mad Decent up and done it again. Whose the latest attraction on world-renowned record label Mad Decent’s site this month (besides Diplo himself and Major Lazer)? Franki Chan. I honestly feel like it’s not even fair that Mad Decent exists in the electronic music world anymore, they just consistently attract too good of talent. Somehow (please don’t ask me how or hold it against me), I had never heard of this enchanting Midwest’s own Master of the Mix from Indiana but no doubt after some proper listening he now holds a spot in my top electronic artists.
I was awaiting it long before it ever came out but somehow ended sleeping on it so on a beautiful summer’s day such as today I bring you the LA Riots Spring Mix 2010. Also as a bonus I’m throwing in my favorite mix of the year so far which flew significantly under the radar of many, Jamaica’s “Mixtape II” released on MadDecent.com.
Jamaica is that duo who brought you the hit single “I Think I like U 2″ under French fashion/record label Kitsune earlier this year. They’ve got a very sensible funk and boogie sound about them calling back to early dancehall hits of the early 80’s and late 70’s with an edgy electronic feel that keeps you wondering if you’re really just stuck in a time warp or somehow being fooled by the tunes. Throw this mix on at the pool as you sip some Miller High Life in a coozie, and rock those Wayfarers with Croakies.
Similarly, the LA Riots mix takes a step away from their usually harder and edgier electro sound in the direction of equal parts funk, house, and late 80’s pop. These guys are serious DJ’s and have been fast rising on Fool’s Gold Records as two of the top DJ’s in the nation.
Take a listen.
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Trentemoller has always struck me as one of those brilliant yet brooding young artistic types with really emotional soundscapes that transport the listener to an atemporal dimension of raw human emotion and narrative. Anders Trentemoller is a Danish DJ/Producer whom I first started listening to two summers ago when I initially discovered his beautifully transcendent debut album The Last Resort released in 2006. Upon first listen, I promptly fell in love. I hadn’t heard an electronic music artist with the ability to completely engulf the entirety of my senses and my minds eye and take me on what I can only call a powerful ‘trip’ of raw human emotion and experience, all with little to no discernible vocals. His latest venture, the recently released Into The Great Wide Yonder, is equally good but has lost some of his signature dark and mystifying and sweeping trance-like sound punctuated with reverent bass lines.
From the production genius who brought you Jaydiohead, that recent yet already classic mashup of Jay-Z and Radiohead, Max Tannone now brings you his newest mashup project “Mos Dub”. Mos Dub is an assortment of classic Mos Def jams with a twist of dub reggae that goes suprisingly smooth with the Mos Def vibe and lyrics. Everything from the album art to the track names are expertly done and bringing a refreshing take to Mos Def. I have long thought Mos Def was one of the most talented rap artists and MC’s out there, yet there are times where I have to admit I feel as if his style could use a little mix up; sometimes I can only really handle Mos Def in small doses. This mashup has remedied that entirely for the time being.
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BURNS, BURNS, BURNS. So many fond memories (or lackthereof) of this man as he played a full two-hour set getting me ready for Deadmau5′ apperance at The Fillmore in Detroit last January. This dude is a madman, and is far and away more talented than he a.)lets on and b.) gets credit for. Now, no offense to BURNS but Deadmau5 did rock the house a little harder than he did, but then again he was opening for him; can’t steal someone’s thunder when it’s not your tour…
But now it’s BURNS time to shine, and boy is he lighting up my ears like a 70’s Disco light show. BURNS has recently released a new EP “So Many Nights” reminiscent of his tour last year of Deadmau5 (yea, I saw him front row…) and is anything but disappointing. keep reading and listen…
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As a practice of habit, on his new full-length album Mux Mool tickles my ear drums in ways I never thought possible. Mux Mool is one of many brilliant up and comers on Ann Arbor, MI’s own Ghostly International record label with a habit of pushing the boundaries of what you thought electronic music was, what it should be, and exactly what it could be. All you fist pump hungry electro-ites don’t get too excited though, it’s not that type of electronic music; Mux transcends your brash and shallow need for a banging beat catchy voice sample to take your imagination where you didn’t know it could go.
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When it comes to electro-house the French are second to none and no one proves that more than Kavinsky. Kavinsky has toured along side everyone from Justice to Daft Punk completing the Holy French Trinity of electronic music. Kavinsky’s production style is very visceral and reminiscent of video game music and film soundtracks of the 1980s, similar to fellow French artist Danger; if you ever remember seeing the “All Your Base Are Belong To Us” Youtube video from the 1991 game Zero Wing, there will be something haunting familiar about it when you hear the robotic voice command. You can imagine my delight then to hear his new EP NightCall.
