[Video] Moody Good: "MusicBx" (Feat. Eryn Allen Kane)
Moody Good is the English producer, formerly a part of production team 16Bit that helped craft Bjork's 2011 album, Biophilia responsible for the latest track to come out of the always popping UK dance music scene with his track, "Musicbx" that came complete with a visual rendering today with a premier on NME.com. The video traces what seems like one man's stumbling post-trip experience as he wanders, looking for something and finding a lot of what he doesn't need. Vocals for the track are supplied by one of our artists to watch out of Chicago, Eryn Allen Kane, who shows her full flexibility with this latest offering by taking a step outside the soul/r&b vibes that she has been linked to thus far. She continues to impress as she heads toward her own album release soon. Moody Good keeps the song going and lays out a solid canvas from which Kane can work with his expert production and playfulness throughout. Check out the full video for the song, streaming now below.
[Album Stream] Major Lazer: "Apocalypse Soon"
Major Lazer has been teasing his latest project, Apocalypse Soon for a minute now, and over the weekend the moombahton king dropped a stream of the album on his Soundcloud. In the past couple of weeks, the side project of mega-producer Diplo offered up "Aerosol Can" with Pharrell and the revival of dancehall singer Sean Paul who seems to have been gone from the spotlight since MTV stopped broadcasting 'TRL'. The project is a continuation of the kind of back-side wobbling production that lead Major Lazer to host a 'twerk wall' at last year's Electric Zoo festival. Top to bottom, the project shows Diplo can launch a variety of bass-infused attacks under whatever moniker works. Check out the project, streaming below.
[Album] Big Gigantic: "The Night Is Young"
Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken make up the eclectic electronic dance music duo Big Gigantic. The pair have made name for themselves over the better part of the last five years since entering the national scene on the back of their talented, yet still developing aesthetic of mixing Jazz and Electronic sensibilities coherently into a single production. Where the pair's debut project, Fire It Up comes with glitchy electronic hits and seemingly forced horn runs, their latest project is anything but. Polished over incessant touring schedules and packed festival lineups every year, Big Gigantic has evolved into one of the most entertaining live electronic acts in the world. Forget the smoke, light stick cannons and 3D renderings of acts like Excision, Datsik and the like; what sets Big Gigantic apart and allows them to live up to their name is the innate ability to be different through instrumentation.
The first time seeing Lalli induce a drop with his saxophone, accented by Salken on drums live is an almost truly out of body experience. The Night Is Young very well may be the duo's best offering to date. Building on production lines established on the last project, Nocturnal, it is a full step up from where they were a year ago at this time. On "Blue Dream" you can hear pieces of "Rise and Shine", but with a distinctly different play on notes that takes it to a different place sonically. Sounds are tighter, the horns and electronic hits feel in tune with one another. If their debut project was electronic with a sprinkle of Jazz, this latest offering is a more equal split of tendencies. Adding Cherub on the first single off the project, aptly titled "The Night is Young" is the perfect collaboration for the pair and one that I am personally glad is out in the world. The project was released both as a free download via their website and on iTunes and Lalli and Salken announced a nationwide tour (Tickets) in tune with the project's release. Check it all out below.
(Check the Kanye sample on "Clvdbvrst")
Disclosure Announce 'Wild Life' Series
Disclosure has been on a tear as of late. Having just stepped off tour earlier this week from a monster world journey of shows across the globe that saw them appear on almost every late night show stage there is and raise their profile ten-fold across the board. Not ones to be satisfied, the Lawrence brothers announced plans to continue the party this summer with their 'Wild Life' series that will take place across two dates so far that have been announced with acts that they enjoy. The first event will take place on April 18 in Berkeley, Ca., at the Greek Theatre and will feature the likes of Kaytranda, Claude Von Stroke and Bishop Nehru. The second date is slated for June 11 in Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo and is expected to have New York City artist Joey Bada$$, Green Velvet and George Fitzgerald in attendance. Keep it locked for ongoing news from the talented pair.
April 18
Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre
Disclosure LIVE
Claude VonStroke vs Justin Martin
Kaytranada
Bishop Nehru
June 11
Chicago, IL -Lincoln Park Zoo
Disclosure LIVE
Joey Bada$$
Green Velvet
George Fitzgerald
[Video] Disclosure: "F For You Remix" (Feat. Mary J Blige)
Disclosure has spent 2014 touring the world, and expect to do so throughout much of the year. The other day, while in New York, the UK dance duo responsible for one of 2013's hottest albums in Settle, unveiled their latest collaboration, teaming up with R&B great Mary J. Blige for a remix of their track "F For You" The duo of Guy and Howard Lawrence did a three night layover in NYC, playing Terminal 5 on successive nights with openers Vic Mensa and Samo Sound Boy. On the final night of the three-night run, the brothers brought out none other than Mary J to perform the remix, unveiling it live at the performance. Proving we are most certainly in the Internet age, Disclosure made the remix available the other day, Beyonce-style, with full video treatment from the jump. The visual plays on the artistic aesthetic that Disclosure has created for itself in photos and artwork. Check it out, below.
[Video] Disclosure & Sam Smith Perform "Latch" Live on Fallon
English dance music duo Disclosure made their North American television debut last night, performing their song "Latch" with crooner Sam Smith on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon while in New York City as part of their current tour. The pair proved why they have been vaulted to the forefront of the new music scene in America over the past year, performing with a uniquely interesting stage set-up that I haven't seen on Late Night before, complete with a laser face that mimicked Smith's facial movements as he sang. Disclosure is just the latest in a long line of talented British dance acts and shows why in the video below. Sam Smith absolutely kills on the live vocals, taking the typical electronic set up a notch with the decidedly live addition. Check it all out below.
[Mixtape] Kaytranada: "Instrumental Hip-hop Is Dead"
Today, Hypetrak released its latest artist-rendered mix from the ever-eclectic Kaytranada. Instrumental Hip-Hop Is Dead is described by Hypetrak as "an intriguing selection of hard-hitting unreleased production. Much closer to Dilla's Donuts than a DJ mix". Apparently, Kaytranada is declaring the end of instrumental hip-hop, just when it seemed to be making a comeback. His mix is a compilation of what he characterized as "some old hip hop beats" of his. It is a smattering of trap drums, heavy bass, and sample-laden interludes, all sandwiched inside of a comfortable synth sandwich that can carry you through the day with it's smooth transitions to airily different areas. Check out the full mix from Kaytranda streaming down below!
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Grimes Signs to Roc Nation
Canadian electro-pop sensation Grimes announced today that she has signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation imprint. It's becoming the chic thing to do lately, as Grimes joins a roster that already boasts M.I.A., Santigold, and HAIM, alongside his stable of superstar producers and athletes which include Robinson Cano who signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners last week at Jay's behest.
Few artists have been as prepared for a second act as the man who brought us "Encore". Already wealthy and powerful beyond his wildest dreams growing up in the Marcy Projects of Brookyln, Jay-Z is establishing himself as much more than just a businessman, entertainer or talent scout-he's all of that and more. While his rapping has certainly gotten less poignant since his "retirement" with The Black Album. Beyonce proved earlier this month that they are easily the most powerful couple in music today, if Jay keeps signing up all the talent he may not relinquish that throne soon.