Black Friday

Yes, it's Black Friday. I am safe at home, nice and warm, comfortable with that the fact that by the minute, I am most certainly losing out on many "important" deals and doorbusters. What a nation we live in...

Anyways, let's get things rolling with another three tracks, shall we?

This first one is my second favorite techno cut of all-time, and coincidentally, Dubfire was called on to remix this thunderous, foundation-shaking Radio Slave track, "Grindhouse". Appropriately dubbed the "Terror Planet" remix, Dubfire deftly handles this track while not really seemingly adding that much to it to begin with. While gaining a noticeably beefier low-end, the bass and kick literally bounce through the entirety of the track. It's the epitome of brooding, moody, paranoid, borderline-sadistic techno: particularly stressed screams pervade the track, with extremely eerie, disconcerting vocals courtesy of Danton Eeprom. While never really straying much from the basic formula of Dubfire's traditional brand of techno, the atmosphere and mood he creates is not only palpable, but equally menacing and frightening. If ever there was a track that was made to scare the pants off of you, this would be that track.

Radioslave & Danton Eeprom - Grindhouse (Dubfire Terror Planet Remix)


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Sebastien Leger is an undeniable genius. Every track he builds, everything track he touches, turns to gold. The French DJ/producer has a knack for atmospheric, rhythmic, jazzy, funky, completely danceable tech house. And nowhere does this shine better than on one of the cuts off his stellar, astrologically-thematic album "Planets". "Earth" is a nine-plus minute exercise in patience, natural, sonic growth, and possesses a breakdown that hits you straight in the face when you'd never expect it. Bird chirps, aquatic rushes and swells, earthen drums and synths, it all sounds so organic, and it really does sound like Earth! The synths continue to grow, warm, relaxing to both the body and the head, and although a bit circuitous, the eventual, wonderfully mellow breakdown is perfectly timed and perfectly positioned. Overall, a track that takes a bit to get going, but once it does, has plenty of steam and presence to stay heavy in both the mind and in the ears.

Sebastien Leger - Earth


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Recently, I've found myself searching for enjoying a collection of Radio Slave tracks. The British DJ, a.k.a. Matt Edwards, is no stranger to the electronic music scene, having racked up a number of amazing originals (Bell Clap Dance, Koma Koma, Grindhouse, Incognito) a solid set of killer remixes (DJ Hell's "The DJ", Dubfire's "Rabid" [forthcoming on SCI+TEC Digital], Len Faki's "My Black Sheep") and runs his own imprint as well, Rekids. I've highlighted a few of his tracks in the past, and in fact I'll soon take a look at his 28-minute (yep, you read correctly) remix of DJ Hell's collaboration with P. Diddy, "The DJ". But right now, I'd like to take a look at Steve Lawler's remix of Radio Slave's "Koma Koma". The first thing you notice right out of the gate are the very live-sounding, loose, tribal-esque drums. They shake and sound very natural, immediately danceable, and although repetitive, so damn catchy!! Things continue as such for about a minute and a half, before the bass drops and other sounds swirl through the cacophony of sound. Around three minutes, things get REAL tribal. The shouted vocals, the viscous rap of the clave, everything comes together in a very primitive, yet oddly enthralling sound, something very natural and organic. Sure, not much (if any) melodic elements here, but the rhythm alone and the eventually sonically-arresting mood give credence to why "notes" aren't always necessary in music.

Radio Slave - Koma Koma (Steve Lawler Remix)



And that's all! Notice I also posted MP3s this time, something I will try and continue to do from here on out. Enjoy the day and keep those ears open.
-NL