W&O Street Tracks Sampler Volume 1 [WOSTC001]

This is a little post for the vinyl collectors out there - This release is a triple vinyl pack (or CD if you aren't into vinyl).  I don't believe this is getting a digital release as far as I know - physical media only!

Waze & Odyssey's label W&O Street Tracks has released Volume 1 of their label sampler compilation, and the previews are up on Soundcloud, and I've attached the playlist below. The previews for the sampler have been floating around Soundcloud for a little while now, but the actual vinyl release was just on January 15th, and has some real stompers on it. Notable tracks on this for me would be Street Tracks - Don't You (Get Away), Ejeca - Bamp, Adrian & Sake - Midnight Swagger, and New Jack City - Feeling You Girl.

If you're looking to pad your house music vinyl releases, this is a great compilation to grab. Available from Juno Records right here for just £14.16 plus shipping.

- KJ

Friday Care Package - January 23rd

Little By Little - Bang The Box [DFTD449D]

Putting this out there right from the start - Defected is one of my all time favourite labels.  They've been around for years, and just keep putting out some of the top quality dance music in the world.  Their most recent release is no exception.

Little By Little combines the driving sounds of house music with a really funky garage style bassline that really gives Bang The Box serious dancefloor energy.  The chopped and edited vocal also adds interest in the breakdowns while allowing the bassline lots of solo room when it cuts in.  

Have a listen below and pick this one up from Beatport - it was just released on January 15th. This will definitely be going into my gig list to play out.

- KJ

Japanese Wallpaper - Shake It Off/Between Friends

"I stay out too late" it's true, but this time it was lucky that I did. I am pretty much speechless at this one - stumbled across this late night as I was writing and browsing music, and blew my mind. Japanese Wallpaper comes in with a supreme and unique remix of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off, and posted it under an alter-ego on Soundcloud, ?trap-anese?wallpaper?. This is likely not a vibe you've heard Taylor sing over, but it works magically. I really am lost for words at this one, but check it out and let me know what you think in the comments!

To loosely quote Taylor, you're going to love getting down to this sick beat.

- KJ

Templeton - Better Represent

All about the free downloads this week, and this is another one sure to please - Better Represent by Templeton. Better Represent utilizes the vocal sample from My Love Is The Shhh by Something For The People, released back in 1996 and reworks it into a heavy bassy deep house version. Templeton does some great work with this, getting the throwback points for both the vocal sample and bringing that old school dance vibe back with a contemporary deep house spin.

Don't sleep on this one, grab that free download - all you have to do is follow Templeton on Soundcloud to unlock the download.  Hit the shopping cart in the player below to get access.

- KJ

Amtrac - Truly

Amtrac tossed this track up on his Soundcloud page over the weekend as a free download, and it is a massive tech house roller.  Just back from BPM, he says this was produced while he was Playa Del Carmen for the festival. If this is the type of track inspired by the festival and surroundings, I may have to start looking into booking a trip next year.

In any case, just hit the shopping cart on the Soundcloud player below and put in your email address to add this one to your collection. Simple as that. How can you go wrong?

- KJ

Harrison & Seamus Hamilton - Mugen

I love it when I come across a track that I am enjoying, and then finding out it's also a Canadian producer's work. That was exactly the case when I stumbled across Mugen, by Harrison and Seamus Hamilton (a.k.a. Yung Child), two Toronto based producers.

This is a laid back chill house track, fitting for the title "Mugen" - which translates from Japanese to "Dream" as an english equivalent. The soundscape offered up in this work definitely shows the influence of a light dreamworld.

If you're looking for something to wake you up, this probably isn't the track for you at this moment. But if you're looking for something to chill out to, or to take your mind into a waking dreamspace, check this out.

As a bonus, I am also including a track from Harrison's back catalogue  - a funky free download from back in May of 2014 - Help Yourself To My Love.  

- KJ

Cavalier - Flirt (Ft. DrewsThatDude)

This is a super fresh rework of the classic R Kelly song I'm A Flirt, and a perfect fit for a Mellow Monday post.  Cavalier and DrewsThatDude have taken the vocal from the original R Kelly track, pitched it and worked it in with some great instrumental work.  The piano work in this one really does it for me, but the whole piece overall is a really nice reworking of the track into a new style.  

This chill R&B Trap hybrid has really been growing on me for a while, and fresh tracks like this make me thankful I've been following artists like Cavalier.  Make sure you check out his Soundcloud, and pick this track up direct from Cavalier's Bandcamp page for a cool single USD.

- KJ

Future Classic - Teen Idols (Compilation)

This is a 2014 compilation from Future Classic, a great label based in Sydney, Australia.  There is a wide variety of genres in this one, but it's all feel good music.  Everything from indie folk influenced stuff to different subgenres of electronic music - this EP hits the mark on all accounts.

My Top 5 recommendations on this one would definitely be:

Touch Sensitive - Teen Idols

HWLS - 004 W/ Noah Breakfast

KOA - All of My Love

Hayden James - Something About You

Woolfy - City Lights

With the EP available on iTunes at $9.99 for the full 16 track release, it's hard to make a case to pick and choose tracks over getting the whole release.  Take your pick and grab the tunes here. The whole release is available to stream in full below.

- KJ

Friday Care Package - January 16th

- KJ

JackLNDN - Don't Forget

This JackLNDN track was released for free download back in late November, but it has been in rotation in my listening playlists ever since.  This one is a bit more progressive than his typical productions, but the lack of previous production in this style does not seem to have created any issues at all - this is a great house track with some real proggy elements.

This track has such a wide range of appeal - if you're a house head, if you enjoy epic trance breakdowns and buildups, or if you're really into progressive house, this has aspects of all of these styles, wrapped up neatly into a free download.  Actually, Jack LNDN has a fairly large body of work all available for free, so head over to his Soundcloud page and start downloading!

- KJ

Sam Padrul - Shine (feat. Chuck New)

Sam Padrul  brings a huge Chromeo vibe on this funky Nu Disco track.  There is very little that I can really say about Shine, other than it is an extremely catchy nu disco/funk tune.  If this sound is up your alley, there is much more available from the Chicago based artist on his Soundcloud page, both originals and remixes.

If you want to pick up Shine, you can buy it on its own, or as part of Epic Network Music's compilation Youngsters - ENM Happy, Vol. 1, available on iTunes.

- KJ

Howson's Groove - Chalk & Cheese [LOVE01801Z]

This low end focused house track has arguably one of the stranger titles I've seen in a while, but don't let the silliness of the name fool you - this is a serious dancefloor stomper.  Released on Love & Other Records as a part of Howson's Groove's larger EP Can't Explain on December 15th.

The track begins with an easy and soft percussive intro, and give just a taste of the kick before dropping into a breakdown and buildup, with the signature bassline kicking in at the 1:34 mark.  It's got a very Eats Everything/Dirtybird bassline vibe that carries on throughout. Don't let the initial four on the floor kick fool you either - this track has more broken beat percussive elements stacked in the bag to drop on you later. As C&C winds down into the second breakdown, we are slowly introduced to an interesting new melodic/percussive element in the buildup that is fully exposed with the last drop.

This track is possibly one of the unsung heroes of the DJ set.  Simple, understated, interesting, bass heavy and grooving.  I've added this to my gig crate for sure, and look forward to dropping it into a few sets soon.

- KJ

Mike Metro ft. Livingstone & Simon Milan - Start To Dance

Mike Metro hit a million plays on Soundcloud yesterday, and put out his collaboration with vocalist Livingstone and guitarist Simon Milan for free as a thank you to his fans. 

Start To Dance is fairly standard future house track, made more unique with the original guitar licks thrown in courtesy of Simon Milan around the synths and drums, with Livingstone's vocals wound throughout. Honestly, there's not much more that needs to be said about this track - it's quality new house music and it's free!

This one is simple - just hit the download button in the Soundcloud player below. While you're at it, why not check out Mike Metro's Soundcloud page for more like this?

- KJ

The Prodigy - Nasty

Stop the presses, the new single from The Prodigy is here! Nasty has been released along with the official music video. The track definitely holds on to some classic Prodigy sound and style, while there has obviously been some progression since their last release Invaders Must Die. This is still just the first single, with the full album The Day Is My Enemy slated for release March 30. What do you think of the new single? Listen below. 

 - KJ

UnderHeadz - All Crew [IM224]

This one is a straight up proper underground warehouse rave roller if I have ever heard one. I'm putting this up top, as the style isn't for everyone - but it would also be a shame to pass over this based on preconceived notions of a scene.

With that out of the way, UnderHeadz brings the warehouse rave sound back with All Crew. The deep gritty throwback sound comes in from the start and continues throughout.  This was released back in October on Immoral Music 2, but feels like a time warp back into the 90's.  Hit play and take a trip back in time to a dark cavernous space.   If you're feeling this, pick it up from Beatport here.

- KJ

Kry Wolf - DNA [YUMDNA01] (Compilation)

This is a compilation that I've been waiting on release since I heard the first few tracks Food Music teased on their SoundCloud account. I've been a big fan of both Kry Wolf and Food Music for a while, and this compilation simply solidifies that fanboyism in me.

From Food Music, "DNA is a new series of various artist albums on Food Music, each presented by some of the worlds most exciting DJ and production talent."  If the initial release is any indication, we're in for some big compilations coming from this series in the future.

The tracks I'm most excited about from this release would have to be:

Vhyce - Be The Same (This track honestly makes the whole EP for me, see my earlier post on this track for more Vhyce)

Kry Wolf - U Like (Waifs and Strays Rework) - That piano and low bassline just does it.

Aaron Snapes - Open - Heavy driving house drums, and that melodic breakdown!

Nuage - Soulfiction - Drums with a bit of swing, paired with the vocal - magic.

Stream the compilation previews below, and pick up your copy today!

- KJ

Shura - Touch (CANVAS Remix)

Those songs that tug at your heartstrings while still sounding so amazing that you can't get enough. You know the ones, that bring back memories or events from a while back - often with flashbacks of bittersweet thoughts attached, but still manages to leave you with a bit of a smile.  

This is a powerful track, full of emotion.  I came across it and loved it right away. Shura's vocals are still prominently featured for the most part, then chopped up by CANVAS in a way that somehow retains the emotional depth.  The overall track is stripped back from the original and enhanced with melodic and percussive elements to give it a really distinct feel from the original production.

This is one for the books. Get this into your ears as soon as possible.  You'll be glad you did.

- KJ

freshdrops Friday Care Package - Jan 9th

Friday - the generally accepted start of the weekend.  The first opportunity to go out and really let loose and get crazy after the work week.  Everyone loves Fridays, and freshdrops is no exception.  

With Fridays in mind, we are introducing the first freshdrops friday care package - a playlist of 8 tracks we've come across this week presented in playlist format to hopefully start your weekend off right.  No long descriptions, just a playlist (which may have some free downloads sprinkled in) to get into and hold you through the weekend.

We hope to continue this every Friday - enjoy the first installment!

-KJ

Cedric Zeyenne ft. Evelyn - Body Language (Selected Edit)

"We speak body language". The simple yet sexy vocals by Evelyn go along with the guitar licks and synth stabs perfectly in this house track by Cedric Zeyenne.  This is the edit that was created and put out specifically for Selected, house music taste makers based out of Berlin, Germany.

The simplicity of this track is really it's biggest strength for me.  No word on where or if this edit is available, but you can grab the original mix from Beatport here.

- KJ