After taking a week off to cover Shaky Beats, we’re back with another recap to talk about the new track from TWIIG, cover some tracks that brought up some great nostalgic feelings, and talk about some future house. As always, we’ll be partnering with The QR Network to compile a short recap of notable tracks that we didn’t have time to cover during the previous week. We hope you enjoy our selection and if you have any tracks you’d like to see here, please feel free to post your suggestions in the comments!
Bassjackers & TWIIG – Memento
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/618582708″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
After almost eight months, TWIIG has returned for another psy-influenced big room track – this time with Bassjackers. Memento marks the second track, after “Hoovela,” that takes after their ground-breaking track, “Tarantella.” While their collaboration with Steve Aoki felt a bit generic, “Memento” recaptures some of the playful spirit of “Tarantella” in the second half. The first half doesn’t have much to comment on with its basic psy structure revolving around a chanting sample. Overall, I’m conflicted about TWIIG as of late. It seems to mirror what VINAI did whenever they were pushing their bounce sound into the mainstream. They collaborated with huge names like R3HAB and Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike while the tracks sounded as if they could have been made by VINAI alone. For TWIIG, they haven’t quite abused their style quite yet, but I’ll be looking forward to seeing what else they have been hiding on their hard drive.
77/100
Mabel – Don’t Call Me Up (Jonth Remix)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/622231419″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
After his killer remix with RudeLies and Tom Wilson of Mabel’s other infectious track, “Ring Ring,” Jonth has come back to remix another one of her tracks on his own. While the original wasn’t as distinctive or catchy as “Ring Ring,” Jonth has greatly improved the breaks with light yet punchy percussion reminiscent of groove tracks. The drop of course is filled with funky, sporadic melodies that’ll get you up on your feet. It’s nothing but an improvement over the original and perfect for future house sets. The lack of quality source material leads me to wonder why he didn’t take the quality drop and turn it into an original, but for now I’ll enjoy the track for the coming weeks.
81/100
Retrovision – We Like to Party
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/622108983″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Watching Retrovision’s rise through the rankings through a plethora of fresh originals and remixes has been truly impressive to watch over the past year or so. His grind from the early days of future house with excellent tracks such as “Flash” and an evolving sense of signature sound is incredible. Here with “We Like to Party,” we get a future house break paired with a drop that builds off of “Get Up” and “Get Down” paired with a bit of bounce in a call and response structure. I was taken about by the surprise drop in the second breakdown. It takes the form of his more usual future house drops as of late, but it takes away the impact from the third drop which is a copy of the first. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the high-pitched, vocoded vocals that lead off the breakdowns. Regardless, “We Like to Party,” is another worthy addition to the Retrovision discography, albeit not the most memorable one.
79/100
Hywall – Storm Sailing
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/601115205″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Dharma remains to be one of the most diverse labels in terms of artists, signing new talent on the basis of single tracks instead of the producer’s clout. While many other producers have tried to capture a pirate’s life (usually by doing a variation of Pirates of the Caribbean) none have come as close to replicating the chaotic fun as close as Hywall. The militaristic percussion, the rallying vocals, and anxiety-inducing strings all come together to build the tension for the first hard-psy meets rawstyle drop. There is a melody in the first break that reminds me of the flute melody from Armin Van Buuren’s track, “Unity.” In terms of flow, the eight bars after the first drop don’t do a great job in maintaining the energy built up in the first half. The second half as a whole is someone lacking compared to the first and feels mostly just like chaos until the second drop. As a whole, the accomplishments in the first half are impressive while the second is serviceable enough to not tarnish those merits. While I wasn’t familiar with Hywall before, I’ll certainly be watching and paying attention now. Props to him as well as KSHMR and Dharma for continuing to bring new artists into the spotlight.
83/100
Aeden x HKLMR – Where To Be
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/622047477″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
“Where To Be” fantastically combines HKLMR’s heavy melodic future house sound with Aeden’s bass house spin. Appearing on the ever-present and underrated label, Menatoia Records, this track was one of the few of the tracks that resonated with me and truly made me want to dance. The drop had so many fun phrases and the breakdowns kept the good vibes flowing. While I’m sure these vocals came from a sample pack, they were a solid addition to the track and not any I’ve heard before. I say that with caution, of course, but it elevated the track for me personally. Overall, one of my favorite tracks from the week, reminding me of the glory days of future house with a fresh new bass house spin on it.
86/100
NEVERGLOW – Kamilla
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/619797867″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Continuing their hot streat, NEVERGLOW has taken a turn to purer house route with “Kamila.” Does it bear any of signature sounds from past tracks? Not really. There is a bit of their cleanness to it as seen in “Violent Valerian” but other than that, it’s just a solid house track. With house, producers can fall into the trap of looping their segments too many times, but this one is concise and doesn’t overstay its welcome. GOON has proven to be a label to watch with consistent releases and is one of the cases where the artist led me to the label instead of the other way around.
80/100
SCNDL – Our Scene
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/621434355″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
I will admit, I was a bit worried when I saw SCNDL release “Fallin’ Deep” but was slightly reassured when “Full Throttle” came out. Now with the free download, “Our Scene” I’m not worried in the slightest. The UK rap in addition to the festival breakdown brings back memories of when Melbourne Bounce dominated the scene. The psy samples add a more 2019 feel to it which makes this track feel like the bounce equivalent of “Big Room Never Dies.” My only complaint here is that the extended mix was uploaded to Spotify and the intro and outro don’t really add much to the track with the outro being excessively long. At any rate, this was another gem for me this week that reminded me of what made me a fan of EDM in the first place.
84/100
Gramatik & Big Gigantic – Better Believe It Now
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/622151577″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
I had the amazing opportunity to witness Big Gigantic premier this track live during an American music festival and it was incredible. Now that I have the full track in my library, I’ve had the chance to listen to it in a vacuum without the endorphins rushing around from just being at a live music event. For starters, I haven’t been a huge fan of Gramatik gravitating towards the bass scene as his dubstep tracks just aren’t up to par with some of the more established artists in the genre. That remains true here despite Big Gigantics unique spin on the bass music. The real star of the show here is the middle section with the Big Gigantic’s live sax performance over a lounge beat. This all leads into a surprise future bass drop which is simply glorious. It’s heavy, it’s euphoric, and with a wonderful conglomeration of live and electronic elements. The first and third drops are just too hard to ignore and have dropped the rating significantly. Otherwise this would have been a 90+ track.
78/100
Soroush Yarahmadi – Angry Jungle
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/618288297″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Let’s conclude this recap with bouncy vibes from Soroush Yarahmadi, creator of an exotic big room composition, released by Madox Records. The Iranian producer infused the breakdown of “Angry Jungle” with a dark, wild, aggressive atmosphere, suddenly interrupted by a brutal drop. I particularly appreciated the metallic lead used in there, quite particular, while the kick was slightly too loud for me. Not a bad song, it does keep a balanced dynamism through the whole duration.
73/100
We hope you enjoyed our recap of selected songs from last week. If there is a song that you felt should have been on here, be sure to leave it in the comments below and we’ll do our best to give our take on it. Certain songs were not included because they will be covered in more detail in the following days so make sure you’re following our social media pages to see all of our latest posts!
KAAZE feat. NEEN – Up In Smoke
Marc Benjamin & DNMKG – Hooked ft. F51
Brevis & RYVN – Old Town Road (ft. Kevin Stallone)
HIGHSOCIETY – Daydream (Feat. Sunnie Williams)
ASHWYN – New Life (ft. Gayathri)
Kosling & Blackcode – Supernova ft. Alessa
Herflex – Picture Frame (ft. George Gleeson)
WHAT IF? – Kygo & Curbi – Don’t Sleep
Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike & Paris Hilton – B.F.A. (Best Friend’s Ass)
Garmiani – BARRACA (feat. Mc Pikachu)
This recap was provided by The QR Network which is a site for interviews with producers and DJs. Check out their interviews with Tom & Jame, Maurice West, KAAZE, Nino Lucarelli (NEEN), and Magnificence.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment