Posted by: Cor

It seems like it’s been a long while since I’ve posted any proper electronic dance music, so today I’d like remedy that by to introducing you an unsung favorite. Meet Sam Hell. He’s quickly becoming my go-to producer for ass-shaking funky electro, now that the Plump DJs have gone all rave-wobble on me. And while he doesn’t seem to have as many different tricks up his sleeve as the aforementioned duo, he consistently delivers bouncy beats that get a reluctant dance floor moving. Let me give you a taste of Hell…

Cosimo
An older breaks number, this is the song that made me sit up and take notice of Mr. Hell. It reminds me of the Plumps of yore… especially when it gets around to that funky melodic hook near the end of the track.

Algebra
This is his latest single. Not much more than a syncopated bassline and some techy stuff on top, but sometimes that’s all you need in a club track.

Mothership
And rounding out the sampler we have this rolling progressive house cut. I love the breakdown in this one. That dramatic piano and synth combination almost has a Muse vibe to it.

PLAY ALL
For those of us with shit to do.

If you like what Sam Hell’s got going in these tracks, you can pursue more of his work on Beatport and even Amazon.

Posted by: Matt

First, Adam Freeland was after your soul. Then Benny Benassi needed satisfaction. In 2010, England’s Cakeboy steps up to fill the chantable, disaffected robot vocal gap with Swamp Thing.

Surprisingly often the A-side of many singles end up in the shadow of any of many remixes that may follow (or were deliberately solicited to maximize commercial viability). In this case though I think the original version holds ground quite firmly as a sunny electro-breaks jam that doesn’t break any new ground but hits all the right notes and sweet spots you would want/expect from this well-flogged territory. The JFB remix turns the lights down a bit and staggers into Dubstep territory, but don’t let that scare you away. The crunch is all still there along with a few new melodic phrases that add a nice darkness to the track that is missing in the original (hey, it’s about a monster after all!).

Cakeboy - Swamp Thing (Original Mix)

Cakeboy -Swamp Thing (JFB remix)

Buy the full release and more remixes on Beatport

Posted by: Derek

I always thought Norweigians were pleasant, mild mannered folk, but if you listen to the music of production duo Rawthang, they’re fulla some serious fuel too.

This is a DnB release I stubled upon years ago when it was first released on Orgone Records (a sublabel of previously covered DJ Dara’s Breakbeat Science powerhouse), and I haven’t been able to forget it since.

Both cuts are pretty driving, wih some searing production work.
Unity is 100 percent full on ravey, with a nu-Hoover inspired lead and some piano work that could find it’s way into a Happy Hardcore tune…minus the happy!
B-side Netrunner (my fave) is full on cyberpunk - deep wet-as-frack bass stabs, and skittter lines to make you feel like you’re INSIDE THE MACHINE…

Check em out:

Unity

Netrunner

Sadly, Rawthang have almost NO internet presence, but you can find their other releases listed on their discography. Some may have been vinyl-only, as I believe this one is too - so these are rare gems!

Posted by: Jay

A big whassup from Brazil my peoples! I’ve been traveling for a little over a month now (well, if you don’t count the year I was living in La Paz as “traveling”) and have a major itching to share some dope new music with all of you. Expect a bunch of posts coming up, which could possibly include any of the following:

• The new Holy Fuck
• The new Tobacco
• Wu-Tang Clan vs. The Beatles (It’s good!  Really!)
• The new RJD2

See I always stock up on new music before a long trip, especially if I’m traveling by myself.  I’m never alone if my fav artists are keeping me company (^-^)v  I’m at the point now where I’ve giving this new batch of music a good listening to, and there’s one album I keep coming back to, over and over: Lazerproof.  I just can’t get enough.
Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by: Cor

Today our beat du jour is an awesome remix of a track called ‘The Phoenix Alive’ from one of my favorite producers, Kris Menace. His treatment of the song absolutely destroys the original version by synthpop duo Monarchy, whoever that is. Seriously, it seems no one knows. I’m probably burying the lead here by not delving into the rumors that the duo might be Stuart Price and Fred Falke, but frankly, all I care about is this remix. Enjoy.

Monarchy - The Phoenix Alive (Kris Menace Remix)