I remember way back in the day when I first really started getting into the electronic/house music scene–I guess it was about four years ago now–I came across a live Crookers set from 2008 of them playing at an event called I LOVE TECHNO (download that set here). Having no clue what the hell I was getting myself into, it blew me the fuck away. 30-minutes of hard, brash house music reverberating at a sound level and pace that I had never experienced before. It was total euphoria. From then on out Crookers became the basis for what I considered “good” in house/electro music, leading me directly to other great artists such as Bloody Beetroots, Fake Blood, and Boys Noize. Looking back at that mix’s tracklist now, it reads out almost like a “Greatest Hits” collection–all the songs that basically initiated my attraction for more experimental, unconventional style music. This past weekend, Crookers played the legendary I LOVE TECHNO fest once again, becoming the fourth year in a row that the Italian duo has headlined the event. We have a stream of their set from this year below, and other than bringing back some very vivid memories, the mix shows that even after all these years, these guys still got it. Crookers @ I LOVE TECHNO 2011
Viceroy is back from his relatively brief absence with an EP that’s both celebratory and tropical in feel. Mr. Afridi is sticking to a signature sound, oscillating between his three primary influences – French house, techno, and disco. He just does it so well. The EP includes a killer remix of Rihanna’s “We Found Love”, but SoundCloud took it down. Viceroy’s given us permission to put it up for download; so this is us sticking out our tongue to SoundCloud. Grab the tunes below for free.
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Kingdom’s Fade to Mind label is back with it’s second release FADE002 aka Let It All Out by New Jersey-based MikeQ. Out on November 22nd, the seven track EP features 4 tracks from the DJ at the center of the NYC/NJ vogue/ballroom scene as well as three remixes by 3 other scene affiliates (DJ Sliink, Vjuan Allure and Nadus). As part of the release MikeQ has reworked one of his bigger tunes, “The Ha Dance 2010,” under the new moniker of “The Ha Dub Rewerk’d.” Stream the tune below and keep checking back with the Fade to Mind site to get ahold of FADE002 later in the month.
TRACKLIST:
1. MikeQ – The Master Blaster
2. MikeQ – The Ha Dub Rewerk’d
3. MikeQ – Feels Like (ft. Kevin JZ Prodigy)
4. MikeQ & Angel X – Let It All Out 2012 (ft. Jay Karan)
5. MikeQ – The Ha Dub Rewerk’d (DJ Sliink Remix)
6. MikeQ – The Master Blaster (Vjuan Allure Remix)
7. MikeQ – The Master Blaster (Nadus Remix)
We posted a preview of Ango‘s Another City Now EP a few weeks ago. Now “Better for You,” one of the EP’s tracks, has surfaced for free download over at Pitchfork. Ango’s house-tinged take on R&B is unique and definitely worth a listen. Stream/download the track below and purchase Ango’s debut EP over on iTunes.
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Last month French label Sound Pellegrino announced plans for their Crossover Series by “offer[ing] two artists, whom we know secretly share a great deal of mutual respect but have never worked together, to compose an EP for Sound Pellegrino. One week session, total experimentation, amazing results and happy surprises all around.” The first EP in the series comes from Night Slugs label head Bok Bok and Dutch house wizard Tom Trago and is titled Night Voyage Tool Kit. Preview a mix of the six track EP below before it hits stores on Halloween.
TRACKLIST:
1. Pathfinder
2. White Type R
3. Vector
4. Pom Clash
5. Time Master
6. Lil Ma Bonus Beat
Although he may have left us, the late great DJ Mehdi will always continue to inspire great music no matter where he is. Point in case, check out the incredible mini-mix by A-Trak dedicated to the memory of the French DJ. A-Trak, who was very close to Mehdi, packs in a whole lot of love into this mix, which runs just under four and a half minutes. Hit the play button bellow and reminisce.
Montreal seems to be the go to city for forward-thinking electronic music this year. Between Jacques Greene’s unique take on house and Lunice’s avant garde hip-hop beats we thought that Canada’s Francophone metropolis had all it’s bases covered….except for one. Enter Ango– this DJ/producer/singer/songwriter/part-time Jacques Greene live set contributor is bringing a more traditional R&B flavor to Glasgow label LuckyMe by releasing a 6 track EP with a, “lyrically polarised selection of girl songs expressing the way up and the way back down.” Titled Another City Now, the EP showcases Ango’s pulsating, electronic-inspired take on R&B. His style is unique while his music is, “upbeat and deep, vintage and yet totally modern, as heart aching as it is uplifting.” Stream a quick preview of the EP below before it hits stores and the internet (iTunes/Boomkat/Juno/Beatport/etc.) on November 1st.
TRACKLIST:
A1 – All That You Can Stand
A2 – Follow Me
A3- Love Me
B1 – Better For You
B2 – What You Lose
B3 – Love Me (Instrumental Dub)
