Breakbeat
Enveloping Insanity – Hard Hop Tricked Out
I was lieing in bed, listening to my iRiver, one of my favourite songs came on and I just HAD to get up and post about it.
I think I’ve written about this song/style before – if I haven’t, I’ve most certainly meant to!
If you like heavy, broken beats, the feeling of utterly absorbing insanity but with a driving rhythm, you NEED the Wizard of Oh’s mix of Bronco by Tanith.
If you like Tipper (his old rave-ey stuff) you’ll LARV this.
I start listening to this song and the rhythm just gets me straight away. Then there’s a couple of synthy space sounds, the vocal sample and then… *shudder* the deep crumply whiney run and then… *holds breath* the drop in to the main body of the song.
The sound literally pours in to your ears, runs down the back of your throat, down your spine and makes the hair on your arms and legs stand on end.
I’m going to have to post about this style (and this specific album) again soon.
Though right now I’m going to get back in bed, let my eyes water and roll with it.
Track details: Tanith – Bronco (Wizard of Oh Mix)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )Dance Music Streams
Listening to radio streams of the latest music is a great way to discover new songs and artists. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be a little difficult to figure out the name of a song in a big stream, particularly when there is no compere involved.
Well, to solve that problem, I recently came across a site that streams radio stations from around the world AND provides a full listing of all the tracks – it’s called 3FL Radio.
The section I am most interested in at the moment is the list of Digitally Imported streams. Digitally Imported is a site that streams electronic dance radio music from around the world. It has different streams for different styles, which makes it great for both getting to know a style and for listening to what’s currently happening with a particular style. Some of their streams include:
- Breaks
- Chillout
- DJ Mixes
- Drum and Bass
- Electro House
- Eurodance
- Funky House
- Goa Psy Trance
- Hardcore
- Hard Dance
- Hardstyle
- House
- Lounge
- Minimal
- Progressive
- Trance
- Tribal House
- Vocal Trance
Conversion through Remix
One way alot of people seem to get in to electronic music is through hearing dance remixes of songs they already like. I remember aaaages ago when Shanks and Bigfoot brought out their infamous ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’. One of my friends had bought the single and had it at a party.
Ofcourse, Track 1 got played over and over (insanity of youth, I know), but at one stage someone let the CD keep playing and all the remix versions started up. It was great. At this stage in life, not alot of my friends were familiar with dance music, and some found it a little intimidating. As far as they were aware, dance music was just loud doof-doof, whistles and disconcerting chipmunk-sounding vocals.
It was this sort of remix that moved dance music in to their (and my) domain, and allowed them to get to know (and in most cases, love) the different styles of it. Remixes gave them the music they already loved, recognised and felt comfortable with. They didn’t have to move completely out of their comfort zone to get a little taste.
So next time you come across someone who would really benefit from getting to know a particular style, but they’re having trouble seeing the light, maybe work them around with a couple of remixes. It’s worked for me.
Track details: Shanks & Bigfoot– Sweet Like Chocolate (Ruff Driverz Vocal)
If you like that, have a listen to: Ruff Driverz – Shame
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )The GodMOTHER of drum & bass?
You know, the more you delve in to the history of different electronic genres, the more suprises you’re likely to find. I love it!
As with most things, electronic music genres are dominated by male artists. I can think of only 4 female’s right off the top of my head, and only 1 of those is probably known throughout the majority of dance music circles (excluding hip hop, rap etc, not that I’d class those as dance).
But I would just like to make special mention here of one. One that has had much more of an impact on electronic music (particularly jungle, drum’n’bass, breaks) than most realise.
The thing with DJs is that they can be hard to keep track of. Particularly in jungle and drum’n’bass, few DJs use their real names. And if they happen to partner up with someone else or enter a new genre, they’ll use a new name (check out the AKA’s for Roni Size and Dillinja, for example).
ANYWAY! The person I want to mention is none other than DJ Rap (aka. Charissa Saverio). If I could be anyone, this is who I’d pick.
Not only is she beautiful (so much so she was approached by CK), but she’s also a fantastic muso, is quite intelligent (almost became a lawyer) AND can sing!
Under her own name (well, the DJ Rap name) she’s produced lots of fantastic music. But under OTHER names, she has produced some tunes that have come to represent a genre and an era.
Anyone who’s had any contact with jungle or oldskool will recognise the tune ‘Spiritual Aura’ (if the name doesn’t ring a bell, the tune certainly will). Remember ‘Tibetan Jungle’? ‘Digable Bass’?
All of these songs are seminal works within their genre, all produced under DJ Rap or the artist name of Engineers Without Fears, of which DJ Rap was half of.
Who was the other half? Well, it was another top talent in their field, Aston Harvey (half of what is otherwise known as The Freestylers).
So next time you’re listening to a track, and something about it reminds you of some other artist, take a squiz at who actually wrote it, and you might just discover yet another alter ego for your hero.
Track Details: Engineers without Fears – Spiritual Aura
If you like that, have a listen to: DJ Rap – Tibetan Jungle
Also try: DJ Rap – Good to be Alive
Come to Aphex Twin!
Have you ever had one of those days, where everything that comes up on your playlist reminds you of one particular artist? Like…
“oh, that beat reminds me of artist X”.
“Hey that sound reminds me of artist X”.
“Wait, I’m sure artist X has a few tunes like that”.
Well, over this last weekend alot of the tunes I’ve been listening to seem to remind me of (that wacky Irish camper himself) Aphex Twin. Yet I haven’t listened to one actual Aphex Twin song in months!
What I have been listening to though is a variety of jungle, hardcore, drum’n’bass, ambient and psytrance. Could it really be that Aphex Twin sounds like all of these?
One of the artists I listened to was Boards of Canada. They have that kind of ambient, IDM, experimental feel to them. And they are all words that you can definately apply to Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works?).
I also listened to some of The Knife, that Swedish synthpop pair who have some pretty warped sounds, with hints of mainstreaminess. Hmm, also Aphex Twin-ey (Richard D. James?).
And finally, there was some good ol’ Infected Mushroom. To me, there are some very similar beats, rhythms and mix-ups between the two.
You know, I think I may even go so far as to say, a journey through Aphex Twin is a journey through a vast array of electronic music styles.
Track Details: Aphex Twin – Window Licker
Track Details: Boards of Canada – Dayvan Cowboy
Track Details: The Knife – Like a Pen
If you like those, try: Aphex Twin – Digeridoo
Aphex Twin – Polynomial-C
Boards of Canada – Music is Math
Boards of Canada – Kid for Today
The Knife – We Share Our Mother’s Health
The Knife – Heartbeats
Elgar Gets a Make-Over
On the weekend I went to a symphony with my Dad. The main attraction for me (apart from one of the cellists – teehee) was Vaughan Williams’ ‘Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis’.
The “headlining” piece was actually Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’. This was, ofcourse, towards the end of the concert, and by that stage I was getting a little drowsy. Well, did that change when they started this!
If any of you are familiar with the first movement of ‘Enigma Variations’, you’ll know why my interest was piqued.
If any of you are familiar with Rob Dougan’s ‘Clubbed to Death’, that’s why my interest was piqued!
The string theme used in the beginning of (and throughout) ‘Clubbed to Death’ is none other than the ‘Enigma Variation’ theme. Rob D just added some sexy bass lines and synthetic sounds.
Why I didn’t pick this up before the concert, I’ll never know. But I’m glad I didn’t, as it was a great suprise! I’m sure there were lots of other under 35yo (or Matrix fans) in the audience who agreed.
Anyway, hearing this piece got me thinking. Out of all my favourite classical pieces, which one would be most awesome to remix?
And how does one go about remixing an old song? Do you take out the theme from the original, think of a beat you like, then work it in? Or do you think about how you want the song to feel and then go from there?
Another question, is it harder to remix an established piece of music (particularly if it’s well written), than starting from scratch? The style and movement of it is already so intrenched by it’s genre, wouldn’t it be difficult to break away from that?
Track details: Edward Elgar – Enigma Variations
Track details: Rob Dougan – Clubbed to Death
If you like that, try: The Prodigy – Mozart Remix
Electronic Music Genre UPDATE 2
Just quickly letting you know that I have updated a few of the ‘Electronic Music Genre‘ pages, namely Ambient, Breakbeat, Disco, Downtempo, Electro, Electronic Art Music, Hardcore and House.
Some of the information on these pages is very brief, but I will be updating everything continuously. In the mean time, continue to check out all the related blog posts.
The rest of the genres will be covered shortly, so don’t forget to check up regularly!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )Calyx – Moving through the Shadows
If you were hanging around the drum’n’bass scene around 05-06, you more than likely heard a couple of songs by Calyx. If you were listening to the darker sounds in drum’n’bass, it’s even MORE likely that you heard some of his tunes.
Personally, I love the stuff this guy (Larry Cons) has been putting out. I don’t think I have found one song I don’t like. Sure some are better than others, but on a whole, it’s a hearty two thumbs up from me.
What I love even MORE though, is Moving Shadow. They are one of the record labels that have truly done a massive favour for the drum’n’bass and jungle collective. What I’m talking about are their MS sampler series. It is through these that I have discovered numerous new (and fantastic) drum’n’bass artists and been able revisit old ones. What makes them even better is that they’re SO CHEAP!! On average, you pay around AU$12 per CD, and they are top quality production-wise.
It was through MS05.2 that I came across Calyx. At the moment, I would say this album is one of my all time drum’n’bass favourites. It’s got everything I love about drum’n’bass in it. The sexy rhythms, the dark deep and grumbly bass lines, the occasional vocals, the industrial grunt that is still smooth and groovable. GAH! I’m gonna need a cold shower soon.
Track Details: Calyx – Tearing Us Apart
If you like that, try: Corrupt Souls – Trioxin
Or have a go of: Future Prophecies – Concrete Combat
Tipper-licious
Sometimes I wish I was a DJ. I find this feeling to be particularly strong when I go to a rave or a club and the DJ just keeps a song running and running and running… What I especially don’t like is when the MC goes “WHO WANTS A REWIIIIIND?!” And I’m like “NNNOOOOOOO!!!” But “reeooreeooreh!!!” and off the song goes again.
There has been one event, however, that was just incredible. I swear the DJ could read my emotions, ’cause just before I started to think “ok, I’m ready for a new song now”, he’d start working something even better in.
This DJ was none other than (the freakin’ amazing) Dave Tipper. He had me on the (good) proverbial edge his whooole set. Let’s just say that by the time I walked out of the club that night, I was ready to light-up then go to sleep!
Track Details: Tipper – Twister
If you like that, try: Grooverider – Where’s Jack the Ripper (Tipper rmx)
For something a little different, try: Tipper – Cable to Continue
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )De Ragga Meester!
Today I was listening to an old(ish) favourite by Aquasky and the Master Blasters. I’ve listened to this song tonnes in the past, but today I realised something. I know ragga (and reggae) are Jamaican sounding. But it’s always reminded me of something else. Or more accurately, someONE else… Who else do we all know that has a bouncey bouncey way of “talking”? A bamdamareggyfloombydoomby?
That’s right! The original Ragga Meester himself: The Swedish Chef!
Track Details: Aquasky vs Master Blaster – Loko (feat. The Ragga Twins)
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )« Previous Entries
Kickin' back with Kate 