All I can say to describe my past few weeks is that I’m physically happy to be alive. I went to a local Toronto spot expecting some boring top 40 DJ to make all the high school girls with fake I.D.s lose their minds with every drop, but what I got was a gift from the clubbing gods. I walk into said establishment, paid a higher than usual cover, but found my head bobbing to some intoxicating bass lines. As I clear the coat check, I turn a corner and peep none other than the legendary Nic Fanciulli ripping the building apart. Few of the clubs patrons understood the magnitude of the musical events they were exposed to, but I was loving every second, and the eye candy there wasn’t too bad either.
After that exposure to some sketchy electro, the electroTO family hosted none other than the second coming of Producing 4 Presents with a nasty EP that took heavy-ness to a whole new level. Mekka Mekka, John Roman, RYNECOLOGIST, Meati & Meech, and the mysterious superduo Zuluhuupz (made up of Poupon and everyone’s favourite Vamp) dazzled a packed Wrongbar with some insane bass, drops, and the best looking group of DJs to grace the planet!
A parking ticket and possibly the worst ever case of influenza later, and we are now listening to Uner’s release entitled Day One. The track is a taste of chill, which is exactly what I’ve been needing since the insanity of the week’s events! Soothing organs, nice head bounce and a bit of flair make this track something fun to chill to and to recover with. Off the ever mysterious Paulatine Records, this fun track gives me the warm feelings I need to soothe my crippling loneliness this holiday season!
To whom it may concern, Merry Christmas!
Uner – Day One
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Uner | Beatport | myspace
This has been one of the biggest weeks in Kemosabe‘s musical life. For one, my favourite hip hop artist Mr. Kanye West released what I would consider to be the biggest contribution to pop culture to date, with his latest album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Next came the premiere of rap lioness Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday, and finally, the release of Kid Cudi’s second album Man on the Moon II. Along with all of this, Jay – Z decided to drop a best-of album, a massive cash grab, I might add.
As a delightful cherry on top of my musical sundae, my personal favourites at Highgrade decided to grace us with a minimal techno album from Berlin’s extremely active Daniel Dreier. Titled Black Madonna, Dreier uses unorthodox percussion and pounding bass lines on the entire LP to portray a very dark story. The title track uses some extremely creepy vocals I don’t particularly vibe with, but every note resonates very nicely with me.
The entire work is great, but it must be said that the standout is absolutely Last Dinner. The tune asks, “Scared, you should be!”. See for yourself, Punk! Oh, and regarding the above photo, I searched last supper because it is a play on the song title, the pic above was the fruit of my image-searching labour. Figure it out!
Daniel Dreier – Last Dinner
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Daniel Dreier | Highgrade
In the early 1990s, Berlin’s music scene was giving birth to an extremely heavy baby. This clash between East and West Berlin was the birth of an age of house music that saw many an abandoned warehouse or forgotten banquet hall become possessed by pulsating sounds emanating from speakers under the spell of DJs Daniel Paul and DJ Zky. These two heavyweights collaborate to form the supergroup Cab Drivers and under the impressive Highgrade label have released a gift to tech house fans in the form of Welcome To the Club.
The track Get It exemplifies all of the best parts of the duo. Their relentless attention to detail, constantly building sounds and vast range of musical influences allow for an immensely thick and rich track. Using organs, percussion of all families and some strange xylophone-esque sounds, Cab Drivers put listeners into a sedated state that is sure to cause hallucinations.
Listening to this track has set me up to have an extremely enjoyable day, leaving me with a sense of strange optimism that some aliens (hopefully from Berlin) will abduct me and show me a new world of music that has yet to be heard by human ears.
Cab Drivers – Get It
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Cab Drivers | Cabinet Records
If the most recent Boys Noize release wasn’t epic enough for you punks, the label has just released another hybrid electro-techno gem from German heavy weight D.I.M. This track entitled Kleine Traume has all the makings of something special. The distorted synth progressions and clean percussion phrasing give you a combination of bounce and groove that is typical of the Boys Noize impresario, but instead from his well-established, right-hand man. Rumour has it this track was the talk of Electric Zoo, where it made its most public debut. Since then, its popularity has spread like wildfire, and we’re sure that this well put-together EP will catapult BNR into top label contention at year’s end.
The track has potential in the car, on the subway, or any other scenario that would put you in a situation where you need a massive energy boost (assuming you dont have the $11 dollars necessary to buy a Booster Juice with an energy boost). Sadly, my producer senses are tingling and I feel like it is only a matter of time before someone slows down those synth loops and slaps a dubstep bass line on this puppy. I’m a closet fan of dubstep so I’m interested in said prophecy, but for the time being I’ll enjoy this one as it stands as I hope you will as well.
D.I.M. – Kleine Traume (Preview)
D.I.M. | MySpace
Something very important is occurring in my life. I’ve been listening to a lot of music. Some by the French, the Brits, the SWEDES… but never before have I profiled an artist with a very special distinction. My latest musical endeavour was created by a lovely, lovely female!
Nicole Moudaber, the Queen of England in my eyes, has released a new 3 track EP. This techno mega pack comes hard with some serious grooving vibes and with her UK/Ibiza breadth, Moudaber gives a richly diverse track in Stomp That. The stacks of melodies, harmonies and the clusterfuck in between make for a very highly dance-able experience.
Sadly, to me at least, the excitement the artist incites is somewhat overshadowed by the family of artists she is associated with. She released this EP on a label called Intec Digital. Most notably, the label is headed up by insanely popular and influential Carl Cox. The man, the myth, the LEGEND of techno renovated the label with Safehouse Management and have started a revolution with Moudaber’s sound.
I knew she sounded familiar, without looking too much into her history, but then the names associated with the label came to light and the nail was in the coffin. I am a fan of the products they are selling. Kudos to Carl Cox for resurrecting a ghost and to Nicole Moudaber for a lovely EP!
Nicole Moudaber – Stomp That
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Nicole Moudaber | MySpace
Frosh week is complete. Many drinks and hallucinations were had, and I’m proud to say many were induced by electroTO related musical selections. With tons of tech house coursing through my veins, I stumbled on an absolutely stunning track that reminds me of my nights wandering home from the clubs. The track Ballad For the Sun from Filipotte off Italy’s Greelpound tech house label has a ghostly feel that puts it atop my list of tracks to play when winding down after a long night of “losing my shit”.
The song cuts right to the chase with a growing rhythmic progression. Throwback organs give the track elements that made the house scene so strong in the 1990′s, but the ghostly sensations that come with the house push back hard, reinforcing the techno background that Filipotte and Greelpound records typically broadcast.
The tune is worth a listen and can prove to be a powerful weapon to anyone trying to achieve an evening that will be heading in all the wrong directions.
Filipotte – Ballad For the Sun (Original Mix)
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Greelpound | MySpace
It has been a while, I know, but I’m back with a massive vengeance. This tech house track from mighty, mighty Germany is called Natas, created by the bright mind of Cologne’s Wollion. With a ton Berlin of experience, and the heavy influence of Ibiza, Wollion attacks tech house with some Carl Cox-esque flair. The track’s bumping bassline, jazz piano, growing organ riffs, and off-pitch melody, make for a lovely chill listening experience.
From Canadian label Monique Spéciale (a sub-label of Monique Musique — that allows for a lot more creative license), Wollion brings Natas. This up and coming Canadian label is once again the brainchild of Jimmy Savard, and with the shit load of talent on the ticket, many exciting releases are to be anticipated. They may be relatively new on the scene, having only started in 2009, but the releases thus far have been stellar. Many signed artists have been featured on other major labels, and I can guarantee this will not be the last you see from Kemosabe on this crew.
Wollion – Natas (Original Mix)
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Wollion | myspace | beatport
I’m currently listening to what is likely my favourite post of the month, and coincidentally, an electroTO veteran & favorite. Fresh from under Sebastien Leger’s wing, this pre back-to-school special features Frenchman Joachim Pastor’s track Heliose. This progressive-minimalesque piece has a certain quality in production that provides some overall comfort, and melodies that just won’t quit. (Yes I was raised in the 1970s). The hypnotic bass line off the bat has me hooked, same way with the organs and synths. The growing underscored melodies, along with the prominent keys make for a very enjoyable listening experience.
The many labels that back Pastor, including Boxer Recordings, have a long list of artists from a wide range of electronic genres. Pastor’s approach to techno is fresh to death, and I absolutely vibe with this track. Here’s hoping Boxer has many more artists with similar skill levels. More of Pastor’s work can be found on electroTO right here!
As I BLAST this track I reflect on what the summer has held; the tracks, the sun, the office I slaved away in. The great times are numerous, and with a new scholastic year ahead of me I hope those same emotions can be felt, and portrayed to you musically. Have a nice week folks!
Joachim Pastor – Heliose
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Joachim Pastor | MySpace
Sticking on the lovely house train, but drastically leaving the darkness of last post’s Soundspace track, the Greek heavyweight Nikola Gala is the approaching platform on this musical journey. His most recent release off Plastic City records is consistent with his catalogue, yet vastly different. On Luv Khord, he sticks to his guns with a track that conveys a strange optimism with throwback organ work and an overstated yet simple baseline, but has modern house elements where he uses the organs to give the track a semi-calypso feel.
Plastic City, a German label with a vast wealth of producers, has assembled a tech house empire. Nikola Gala, a veteran of 10 years on the scene has done well with this release, furthering tech house, trance and dabbling in the much sought after tropical feel that many prominent producers are still afraid to attack. Just thinking about tropical house is getting me upset because Gala could have easily let it drop, but stayed true to himself!
As I now switch over to some filthy Round Table Knights I’ll keep in mind the potential that is constantly emanating from Germany. Well done Nikola Gala on a solid EP, which is absolutely worth checking out below.
Nikola Gala – Luv Khord
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Nikola Gala | MySpace
After a quite pleasant first ride on my electroTO bike, I’m feeling more and more musically adventurous. My perceptions and understandings of electronic music are constantly changing, like the hilly terrain I decide to take my bike to. On my last foray, I found an absolute gem of a techno track from Berlin, but I think I’m nearly ready for some more challenging fare!
Switching not only continents, but also genres, Soundspace happened to stumble across my path this dreary Sunday afternoon. This Mexican act belongs to the mega adventurous label blaq records, which is home to dubstep, techno and tech house acts. Soundspace (Ivan Lopez) along with Signal Delux founded this label in 2008 on a mission to make Mexico relevant on a global electronic spectrum.
The title track of this latest Soundspace release, What I Like About You, is an immensely deep reflection by Lopez into some bizarre infatuation he has. The vocal on this track sends chills down my spine, describing elements of his infatuation that, as the title may suggest, he likes. The sinister feel of the voice makes me question how innocent his intentions are…
Musically, the vibe of the track, along with the other original We Are All Gods relies on a minimal baseline, growing organ progressions and intimidating vocals to set a very dark and deep tech house soundscape. Our boy Meech often refers to “Happy Tracks”, but kid… these AIN’T happy tracks.
Soundspace – What I Like About You
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Soundspace | myspace
