MeLo-X is a name you often come across (mostly in association with Mickey Factz and Jesse Boykins III), and you probably have a few of his songs and/or remixes but have never really quite known who he is. I certainly fall into that category, so hopefully this track from his upcoming Fewture album will help us all get more familiar.
I’ll not lie here: it was the title that made me initially give this a go, but the quality of the track is what’s kept me repeating it over the last 24 hours. Genre-wise, it’s mostly grounded in a chillout electronic style, with light lashings of other genres mixed in, and Melo proves himself as an excellent producer of progressive, ambient instrumental music full of intrigue and atmosphere at every turn. Opening with soft electronic samples and airy synths, the track slowly reveals itself with more lively elements thrown into the mix, with the final third of the track having a real epic film score feel about it, and credit goes to mellow for producing a track with such a wonderful depth of layers. An unmissable slice of instrumental excellence.
Brand new material from one of music’s most popular rising stars, ‘recorded for the MUGLER Mens FW 2012 runway show‘, which speaks volumes about her status right now.
There’s certainly a ‘runway’ feel about this for the first half, with a light electro backdrop combining with whispery, intermittent vocals and spoken word additions for a relatively eccentric yet sonically consistent effort that suits its intended environment. Things turn more ‘song-like’ in the second half, as the synth gets a little bassier and Azealia’s allowed a little more time and frequency in the vocal department, bringing some much-needed energy to the whole affair. An enjoyable listen that offers something a little different.
Yes kids, it’s not Friday, but every day is a good day to get a fix of some good R&B right? RIGHT!
I’ve also assembled here a quite perfect trifecta of tracks for your listening pleasure; none of that sweet baby music making here in this episode, just three tracks that will get you moving. Click on below to see what is in store for you this (or last, should I say?) week.
This is the first time I’ve heard the up and coming producer Dan Kent try at his hand at a more dubstep and electro vibe and I have to say it works! Remixing the Artful Dodger song, Could Just Be The Baseline, he takes this rather joyful and head bopping track and turns it into a dark dub one, accompanied with some verses from Jimmy Jitsu. Definitely my kind of thing! You can listen and download it for free below.
The SNDCLSH, the duo of DJ Lupe Fiasco & DJ Sky Gellatly, have dropped the collaborative remix of “Letting Go” with DJ Kue. They’ve pledged to donate ALL of the proceeds from their upcoming EP to kids in need.
The original was my favourite track from Lasers, and surprisingly the electro-heavy club twist put on it here does work relatively well, particularly as the hook carries over smoothly to the upbeat style. Lots of energy and a pulsating combination of synths and progressive percussion makes this one that could very easily be a club hit with the right exposure. This whole trend of removing vowels from a word though? No thanks.
There’s a ton of buzz around Azealia at the moment, and with many feeling the multi-talented, eclectic artist is destined to dominate 2012, here’s a rather good example of just why that may happen.
Blending a house style with a hip-hop sensibility, the production has a retro yet unique sound that will certainly win over the mainstream music fans, whilst also harbouring an appeal to those who loved the UK garage sounds of the early 00′s. Azealia demonstrates her rapping and singing talents throughout, with verses boasting an energetic, speedy delivery that contrasts excellently with the soulful vocals on the hook. Definitely worth a listen, and most certainly one to watch over the next few months.
Many people’s favourite track from Take Care (I like the production but I’m less keen on the vocal and lyrical work, like much of the album), and it’s taken for a spin around the electro block with this thumping remix.
Dominating synths, sharp electronic samples and a booming percussion combine themselves for an enjoyable dance track, and really there’s only a light sprinkling of Drake/The Weeknd’s vocal, with relatively muted samples that add a subtle touch of R&B to the lively, positive production. Oddly for a remix, it bears no resemblance to the original but is a strong enough piece of original production to warrant a listen.
“Australian duo Diafrix, who hit the UK this summer with their banging summer anthem ‘Simple Man’ which features chart-topper Daniel Merriweather via the Illusive Sounds label, have unleashed two remixes for the track from M A N I K and T. Williams.
New Yorker M A N I K, who was named one of DJ Mag’s ‘Hot To Watch for 2011’ and is fresh from releasing on the likes of Poker Flat, Culprit and Hot Creations, has delivered a head-nodding beat worked around the summery guitar vibe that gave the original so much appeal across the board.
London’s own T. Williams, who has gained a fearsome reputation in the UK thanks to his releases on Local Action Records and his own Deep Teknologi label, takes Merriweather’s hook and weaves it around a pounding bassline and grime-esque snaps guaranteed to have every face in the place screwed.
From bass-heads to the most mainstream of ears, these remixes will most definitely get toes tapping and necks banging.”
As someone who has a lot of time for Mt. Eden, in most part for the excellent dubstep remixes of mainstream tracks, I gave this a listen after stumbling upon it (props to the Gowhere hiphop lads!).
I didn’t (and still don’t) know much about Quest, but it’s testament to his ability that I found him to be the most impressive thing about this song.
Production wise this is what Mt. Eden did with Imogen Heap’s The Walk – providing a nice choppy but frenetic beat which Quest has no problem spitting in time with, displaying an excellent double-time flow, putting to shame a lot of rappers in the game right now. If you like some light hearted raps laced with a great flow, then this will be your thing. I’ll certainly be looking out for Quest’s future stuff. Download this track below.
Good and bad sides to this one, from the masked man with a dislike of vowels. The subtlety of change in the verses is excellent, with a slight tempo shift, more reverb and a couple of other small additions that add gentle originality to Frank’s excellent track without being dominating. However, the same can’t be said for the hook, which features an incredibly grating synth that sounds horribly out of place, both in the context of the remix and of the original. I’m sure the techno heads will love the inclusion, but for me it’s a horrible distraction away from the best part of Frank’s vocal performance on the track, and really doesn’t do that original hook any justice.
A welcome change of pace from the hip-hop domination of the last week!
Flow Machines are an upcoming group from Manchester who have recieved plenty of critical acclaim for past remix works, and are now set to break out on their own with this fusion of electronic, pop, alternative and dance into one cohesive sound.
The synth work really anchors this track, and constantly shifts the dynamic of the song into the various genres the group looks to incorporate, creating an almost freeform track that has a very unique style and appeal. Backed by additional melodies and a soft percussion, the production is an atmospheric listen that intertwines with the lonely, isolated vocals for a mellow, easygoing track that will quietly rack up a few plays for many. The video is a solid watch too, progressively incorporating more dramatic light and action to match the pacier style of the final third.
New material from XV, and here Vizzy gets together with a man regarded as the US’ biggest foray into the dubstep genre, as Skrillex serves up the production (though purists assure me that his style isn’t actually ‘real’ dubstep). It’s a diverse production, with video game-esque samples that stay true to the title and artwork, and genuinely do have an early 90s gaming vibe (think games like Golden Axe), whilst the verses are packed with that dizzying, jaw-rattling bass that you’d expect from any dub-influenced track.
XV’s raps are solid enough, taking on a relatively tricky beat with relative ease and whilst it’s not exactly a lyrical masterclass, it certainly makes for a more enjoyable listen than the mainstream bragging usually found on these energetic, electronic productions. An OK track that will find a loving home in many of your libraries, but as I’m not so keen on the dub style, it won’t hang around in my rotation for too long.
Jamie xx and Quayola recently brought their creative vision to life, live in Shoreditch. Using two 15-metre HD screens, Quayola and his team, Abstract Birds, created live sound visualisations of Jamie xx’s set using their bespoke Partitura software.
A fantastic bit of technology here, and probably the closest thing I’ve ever seen to simulated synesthesia: you almost see the sounds come to life, as the visualisations have a very anthropomorphic quality in their movements and pulsations. It’s essentially the basic concept of a visualiser, but amplified via some very abstract thinking, and of course is aided by an excellent instrumental from the talented Jamie xx. Blending together soft bass hums, airy synths and a mixture of electronic sounds, Jamie creates a mellow and intricate production that only has one flaw: it’s far too short. Hopefully an extended version surfaces soon, but for now enjoy this unique audio-visual.
The dance/electro/dubstep scene has been getting a lot of exposure lately, largely for its influence on popular music today, with almost every genre of music about has been experimenting with this sound and usually in a watered down manner. So, how about some music that’s genuinely a part of the genre? Step forward Mirrored Theory – an electronica artist from Northampton making dubstep/DnB/electro music and his second EP, The Great View.
Before I get into reviewing this EP, I’ll give you the links with which you can consume it for yourself: iTunes Amazon Spotify
Click on below to read my thoughts on this piece of music.
“After the success of the first Kidda album, ‘Going Up’ including two high profile syncs (Bacardi and Warner leisure) and the Herve remix of ‘Under The Sun’ which was one of the biggest dance tracks of 2008, Kidda took a step back, released a remix album (‘Go Up To Get Down’), and now has a brand new long player to unleash on the world!
‘Hotel Radio’ is more pop than dance with radio-friendly three-minute pop anthems that zing with joie de vivre alongside your Daft Punk dancefloor fillers and the first single ‘Wanna Be Loved’ was released 1st August featuring remixes from Stupid Fresh and Benji Boko.”
Great song this, with a vibe that’s complimented well by the fantastically nostalgic visuals!
The album Hotel Radio is out on October the 17th, and Kidda is playing a gig tonight in London at Queen of Hoxton. You can actually watch the gig live on www.reslive.com which is a 3D virtual world platform to share music and aims to be the next best thing if you’re unable to make the show!
Star One are a new production duo who have been creating a name for themselves with their unique blend of Garage, Funky and Grime productions. The duo are brothers from Kent and have racked up hundreds of thousands of YouTube views with their remixes. Their recent free download, The Freemixes, included some of their most popular remixes of the likes of Jamie Woon and Rizzle Kicks.
Another great talent have found their way to OTU. The production skills of the duo are superb, and Oh Maria is an superb example of that, with an addictive piano melody tied to pacey percussion and pulsating bass, making for a well-rounded and eclectic production that draws on a few styles well. Sarah Lillie is excellent throughout, with a strong, enchanting vocal performance that blends with the upbeat production smoothly, giving the track a wholesome, complete quality.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend checking out the full EP as it’s stacked with some top class productions in a range of styles: you can hear snippets of each track here, or take the plunge and grab it on iTunes now.
Whilst Apple disappoints their ‘followers’ with the 4GS announcement, Microsoft (or Windows Phone) are making some better PR moves as they link up with Kendrick and Nosaj for a rather excellent promo track.
Nosaj serves up a spaced-out, atmospheric production that has a fantastically laidback style, using electronic pulses, drifty synths and a hip-hop percussion, with the end product being an extremely listenable treat that blends cleanly with Kendrick’s raps. He’s certainly elevated himself in recent months with his enjoyable debut album, and Kendrick continues that uprising with a diverse performance that includes some relatable raps alongside a little harmonising on the hook, as he takes on this production with ease. Very enjoyable effort.
Amidst interestingly-timed rumours that he’s been ousted from Bloc Party, Kele Okereke releases new visuals from his upcoming EP, The Hunter.
The production has the electro-dubstep blend that characterised his slightly disappointing debut solo album, though its utilised much more effectively here with atmospheric synths and energetic bass pulses creating a paradoxical style that blends ambience with intensity, and successfully so. The vocals are enjoyable from both artists, as Lucy Taylor dominates proceedings throughout the track with some very smooth deliveries, with Kele confined to sharing the hook. Interesting strategy, but it makes for an enjoyable song that could see some mainstream success by virtue of having a friendly, accessible female vocal lead.
Visuals are simple enough, focusing on one character at a time, with that role played by Kele, Lucy and various dancers throughout. Nothing that particularly enhances the audio at all, but its an easy watch and the simplicity of it helps to soften the relatively complex nature of the audio. The Hunter EP is released on 7th November.
Very demented. Dark, edgy electronic vibes coarse through this one from start to middle, backed by thudding bass typical of the dubstep style, whilst the middle section opts for a minimal build section that eventually launches back into those pulsating synths. One the dubstep and electro fans will really appreciate.
Recorded live for MistaJam and 1Xtra at Maida Vale Studio, DEVolution perform their new single. I wasn’t sure how good this sort of song would sound live, but I can tell you it sounds positively awesome.
The singer has a powerful enough voice to take on the intimidating live production, and she does this with amazing confidence. If you’re only going to watch one video today, make it this one.
You can go pre-order the single Good Love by, which is released on the 12th of September, clicking here, and you can grab the Good Love EP for free right over here.
Undoubtedly, the highlight of this week’s R&B content has already been delivered, with the hugely-anticipated release of The Weeknd’s second project, Thursday. There’s also new music from upcoming UK singer Chrome, dropping off an energetic single for his latest video.
Very diverse episode this week, with some mainstream pop, old-school style soul and the usual R&B fare all made available for your listening pleasure, and plenty of big names providing that content. Click below to fill yourself with R&B nourishment.
Another very diverse episode this week, with some mainstream folk sitting alongside a couple of old-school favourites to provide a little bit of everything.
“DEVolution – Consisting of Artful Dodger founder Pete Devereux and former Size Records artist Tom Devos – will release their debut single ‘Good Love’ on September 12th on One More Tune / Warner Bros. Records.
Pushing the genre boundaries of dubstep into bold new territory, ‘Good Love’ has already become an underground hit after continued support courtesy of MistaJam, Trevor Nelson & Target at 1Xtra/Radio 1. MistaJam has selected the track to be his Jam Hot Record of the Week to kick-start Dubstep Week.
Propelled by an intensely heavy bass line, ‘Good Love’ builds to anthemic status with the addition of an infectious hook courtesy of the Birmingham-born, Australian-based vocalist Amy Pearson who has previously worked with the likes of Klaus Derendorf and Tom Nichols.”
You’ve heard the remixes, now check out the glorious original and its official video. Nice bit of eye candy to keep you captivated to an already addictive song.
“DEVolution will preview the release of their hotly-tipped debut single ‘Good Love’ (out August 29th) with the launch of a major competition powered by SoundCloud. Aspiring remixers are invited to participate in the ‘Bad Love’ remix competition in order to win an enviable collection of prizes: the winner will see their mix released by One More Tune / Warner Bros. Records and will also receive £500 and a year’s SoundCloud Pro account worth over £200.
All you need to do to enter the competition is to download the a cappella track from http://badlove.wearedevolution.com, create your own winning remix and upload it to the site.”
You can vote for your favourite remixes on the site and the winner will be chosen by DEVolution themselves! Competition closes August the 29th, so get cracking.
Fierce yet accessible, ‘Sunlight’ combines the rugged elements of dubstep with the energetic power of the hardcore rock acts that the band grew up on. A rather good description, as Modestep not only risk blending two very seperate genres, but in doing so add a structure and an organic quality to dubstep that has been missing from the genre’s largely repetitive and chaotic catalogue.
Thudding, winding bass and razor-sharp synths blend seamlessly with pounding live drums and licks of guitar for a busy production, whilst the vocals are simple and catchy, ensuring the audio satisfies the hardcore dubstep fans alongside those of us looking for something with more regularity in the genre. Top all that off with a video of old people going to a rave and generally having shenanigans, and you’ve got an all-round package that’s likely to be a widespread success. Available everywhere on 15th August.
“Cinematic keep up the quality control with this remix, retaining the soulful vibe of the original while adding tight percussion and a deep sliding bass line. This collaboration between Context MC and Cinematic looks set to be an anthemic addition to the summer. It was uploaded to Drum and Bass powerhouse UKF last week, and earned over 35,000 hits in its first day! The remix has also been supported by MTV!”
Loved the original to this, which has been supported heavily by BBC Radio1 and BBC Radio 1xtra. A tale of walking home after a night out, the original which was produced by Slof Man and is a slow and very reflective track, so it’s interesting to hear this Drum & Bass twist to it. Rather skilfully, it still manages to capture the reflective vibe as well as being something you could listen to in a club, offering the best of both worlds. Top stuff.
My first exposure to Lucy Love’s music (shouts to Sam), and I’m massively impressed. I’m told ‘the MC is already a superstar in her native country‘, and with pulsating, energetic tracks like this it’s only a matter of time before that appeal is considerably more universal.
The production is fantastic, being almost divided into two entirely seperate sections, each fusing together influences from dance, dubstep, alternative and hip-hop. The track opens with a set of dark synths and haunting vocals that are soon joined by a pounding percussion and thudding bassline, suggesting the song will remain as a slow paced head-nodder. Instead however, the ‘second act’ arrives with high-tempo percussion and synths/bass boasting a heavy British influence, with the two combining to take the dark vibe of the synths and vocals and infusing them with a powerful intensity and energy.
The video serves to enhance that moody, uneasy atmosphere, with a somewhat eerie storyline being cleverly shot in a dim, hazy light that makes for unusual and extremely well-produced viewing. Fantastic track, and will be available here on August 8th.
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