Recent releases reviews pt. 1

I've realized I have no chance to write proper reviews of all the recent releases I really like due to the lack of time. And in blogosphere things become old quite fast, thus I decided to draw the attention of my readers to the bass-heavy / beat music YOU MUST NOT MISS which has been released recently. I'll try to write at least a few words about each of them, while being fully aware these artists deserve much more than that.

Swede:art - Emotional Colors Remixes
DrKrank's rating: 8/10

Let's start from Swede:art and the remix compilation of my personal record of the year, i.e. Emotional Colors. This is still top-3 album of the year next to Lorn's Nothing Else and probably only Lazer Sword's full-length has a chance to beat it. Since the first time I came across the work of Joachim Pruegl at the end of 2009, I really felt his potential, but I've still been surprised with his stellar debut. He has instantly catapulted himself to my personal top German producers league next to the mighty Robot Koch. Tokyo Dawn Records did a right thing and released a fantastic Emotional Colors Remixes featuring a few absolutely fantastic remixes. All in all this is one of the best comps of this type I've heard in ages. Nearly as good as the original. TOKiMONSTA from Brainfeeder's roster delivered the most contagious, addictive and perfect rework, closely followed by Kidkanevil's rainy, downtempo improvisations, Sam Irl's banging, dark neon synth-driven remix of my personal best track by Swede:art, namely Linquistics or Devonwho's deconstructions of Mosambique. I also extremely liked the jazzy remix of Embrace by Waxolutionists and Edizione Crumar's electric refix of A Room of Prayers. Actually, you wouldn't find a weak remix on this compilation. Grab the entire release on Tokyo Dawn site. It's worth every penny.

Listen to my personal-best remix by TOKiMONSTA:

Swede:art - I'm A R.O.B.O.T. feat. Blaktroniks (TOKiMONSTA Remix) by Swede:art

The Great Mundane - This is So You EP
Dr. Krank's rating: 9/10

We remain in a slightly similar area with another release. The Great Mundane is one the Portland's (Oregon) premiere beatsmakers and in his free EP - This is So You he shows the real depth of his talent, which is immense to say the least. He offers super-tight samples, impeccable production skills, great button work and a kind of jazzy, spacey feel to music I like so much recently. Associated with STS9 and 1320 Records, he also has been releasing records and collaborations since 2007 (psymbolic, mush, runriots records). This EP is perfect from the first to the last note. It's even difficult for me to point to some highlights - this is a kind of work that needs to be digested in full. The great news is that we should expect remixes for SPL, Lorn, KiloWatts & Bluetech as well as his next full length in May 2011 on 1320 Records. Can't wait.

The Great Mundane - This is So You (free download via bandcamp)




Bassnectar - Wildstyle EP
Dr. Krank's rating: 7/10

The last one for today's wrap-up is Bassnectar, the weekend is coming and there is no better tool to pump up your party attitude than to listen to a few ultra bass-heavy tunes from his new EP - Wildstyle. Already the first track - Bassnectar's remix of Hot Right Now will seriously burn your speakers or internal brain circuitry (if you listen to this EP via your headphones - thus beware!). The sonic onslought continues unwavaring with the highlights being: gnashing dubstep bomb of the title track, The 808 Track with baile-funk drums turning into drilling wobbley affair, and a sick, filthy collab with ill-gates in Encore. Kudos go to Lorin for including more experimental stuff (Fun with Synthesizers) on this EP. All in all, the release did not left me jaw-dropped but it's a solid block of your best bass-heavy music doing wonders on any dancefloor across the globe or using the full potential of your sub-woofer. BTW - peeps in Europe should start their preperations already - Bassnectar will visit and old contintent in November. Check Bassnectar's site for details.

ROBOT KOCH - DEATH STAR DROID REMIX EP

I'm a big fan of Robot Koch and his Death Star Droid was the best album of 2009 in Doktor Krank's ranking. Some time ago Robot Koch released an EP with remixes of the tracks from that album, plus one new tune - Blind again featuring Grace who was a guest vocalist on DSD. A powerful, yet fragile, voice of Grace laced with the Robert's fluid beat and a few layers of synths builds up to heavy bass culmination in this much-too-short journey. Another new work is Robot Koch's remix  of New Day, by the Brooklyn-based Body Language (they release stuff on Machine Drum's Normrex). I don't know the original but this remix has a peculiar neon quality, reminding me strongly of sunny LuckyMe stuff.

Robot Koch vs Body Language - New Day by robot koch

Then, fLako steps in with a heavily glitched up edit of the title track Death Star Droid - for me the highlight of the entire release next to the Phon.o's remix. Loops Haunt mercilessly throws his sick drums, kicks, pads, bass or whatever he seems to have at hand into one boiling and twisting off-beat syncopation in his very unique vision of Gorom Sen.  Another remix of Gorom Sen by young, talanted beatmaker from LA - Shlohmo, has already made some rounds in the blogosphere before the release. Future beat par excellence!!

Blue Daisy takes the listener to a dreamy fairyland for a trippy ride through etheric sonic landscape which virtually desintegrates into nothingness 'in front of our ears'. TUNE!!

Robot Koch - While feat. Manya (Blue Daisy Remix) by robot koch

Gorom Sen's remixes by Body Language from NYC and Beat Laden from Portugal (props for the name!!!!) are more 'classic' joints for dancefloors, whereas Talen introduced quite a nice pumping, oldschool, electro vibe which reminds me of the late 90's parties. This track has some vintage quality it's really hard for me to verbalize :)

The successful release is crowned with fantastic Phon.o's remix of Gorom Sen. It's a great dancefloor-oriented roller with beautiful synths and pumping beats. You will be hooked up instantly with infectious '8-bit meets oldschool garage in Berlin' type of aesthetics. Cop it and blast it looouuud!

Robot Koch - Gorom Sen (Phon.o remix)

Grab the entire release here on at other online retailers:

Juno

Zero"

Robot Koch feat. Grace - Blind video

MOCHIPET - MASTER P ON ATARI TRANSFORMED VOL.1

Mochipet continues his Atari saga with another fantastic, heavy and sick release of remixes off the mighty Master P on Atari. As usual, he collected a motley crew of contributors delivering smashing and varied reworks of the crunky originals. All of them remained true to the turbo crunk spirit of Mochipet's tunes, while adding their distinctive features. Starting from the absolutely killing highlight of the entire release, namely a totally ridiculous heavy metal glitch Marshall Bass Smacks by Kraddy.  Baaaangerrrrrrr! I love these distorted guitars. And now thanks to the dudes from Daly City Records you can have this track for free - cop this mayhem you will not be disappointed:

Marshall Bass Smacks (Kraddy Remix)

All the artists did a great job on Transformed, but apart from the Kraddy's monster, my personal faves are Sub Swara's energetic and pumping cumbia drums with frenzy synths in Complex Cumbia Dub, Matt B's uber-lazer treatment in Master P on Obi One Kenobi, Decepticon's super tight and head-nodding roller of Master P on Chords and Coffee. I'd also throw in here a representative of turbo crunk Denver Bass Squadron - S.P.E.C.T.R.E. whose refix of Robot Basslab Juice virtually makes your speakers swet with bass.

This release also includes the complete Remix Parts for the tracks: Master P on Atari, Turbo Thizz Petnation, and Robot Crunk Juice off of Mochipet's Master P on Atari Release earlier this year. This is a special bundle for all you music producers out there.

Keep an eye out for Master P on Atari Transformed Vol. 2, coming later this year, with remixes by Jacob London, The Flying Skulls, Preshish Moments, Splatinum, Encarti, Layerz, and more

Buy this album here: Daily City Merch or at other retailers like addictech or juno. Believe me - it's worth every penny!

Tracklisting:
1. John Coltrane on Atari (Daniel Day Trio Remix)
2. Marshall Bass Smacks (Kraddy Remix)
3. Robot Dunk Juice (ill.gates vs. Little John Remix)
4. Master P on Obe One Kenobi (Matt B Remix)
5. Master P on Versace (Memory 9 Remix)
6. Vermin Bass Stacks (Vinyl Blight Remix)
7. Anticon on Atari (Restiform Bodies Remix)
8. Robot Basslab Juice (S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Remix)
9. Alien Crunk Dub (Audiovoid Remix)
10. Complex Cumbia Dub (Sub Swara Remix)
11. Master P on Chords and Coffee (Deceptikon Remix)
12. Remix Parts - Master P on Atari Drums (88bpm)
13. Remix Parts - Master P on Atari Lazers (88bpm)
14. Remix Parts - Master P on Atari Bass (88bpm)
15. Remix Parts - Master P on Atari Vocals (88bpm)
16. Remix Parts - Turbo Thizz Petnation Drums (90bpm)
17. Remix Parts - Turbo Thizz Petnation Lazers (90bpm)
18. Remix Parts - Turbo Thizz Petnation Hi-Hats (90bpm)
19. Remix Parts - Turbo Thizz Petnation Bass (90bpm)
20. Remix Parts - Robot Crunk Juice Drums (90bpm)
21. Remix Parts - Robot Crunk Juice Bass (90bpm)
22. Remix Parts - Robot Crunk Juice Keys (90bpm)

FREELAND COPE REMIXED PACK

It's a bit old story now, as this double pack CD was released at the turn of November / December 2009, but somehow I did not have time / mood to post it so far, but I still wanted to mention this album on my blog as I've listened to this a lot recently. The remixes of the highly acclaimed Freeland's Cope present a smashing selection of diverse beats by top-notch artists in the heavy bass or techno game. What is more - the best remix IMHO, i.e. Strange Things by High Rankin can be downloaded for free!!

On both CD's the first few tracks are my personal best. Apart from High Rankin super heavy roller on the first CD, Siriusmo (BoysNoize Records and Monkeytown Records) from Berlin in a quite restrained (for him) manner turns Rock On into nice and calm electro joint with interesting melody line. Zombie Nation from Munich successfully applies lots of lazers and drums, whereas UK-based Shadow Dancer drops a dancefloor bomb in the best of 2-Many DJ's styleee. Moving on, Brazilian, Gui Boratto builds minimal sonic textures creating the space typical for Cologne's Kompakt community and although I don't listen much to minimal techno any more, I still regularly play Kompakt stuff. I have so many great memories associated with Cologne as I spent 2 years there back in the 90's at the very peak of techno era and was buying lots of music by Juergen Pappe, The Modernist, Michael Mayer, Pentax, Reinhard Voigt and many others. Gui Boratto brings back all these memories with melancholic force.

The second CD starts from a slow but heavy dubstep remix of Rock On by Emalkay, with wobbly, talking bassline built around infectious vocals of the original. The man of the year - Joker uses again his famous purple wow neon synths of which I can never have enough. One of the best remixes in the pack. Then, IDM king Nosaj Thing steps up to deliver a short but very emotional, tight and twisted electronic journey full of delays, cut up vocals and heart-breaking loops. I love music produced by Jason Chung - he never falters, never fails and he attunes so well with my neural structure as hardly any other artist out there. PANTyRAiD offers their trademark wobbles and wide instrumentarium, whereas Dub-Tech star from Romania - TRG packs future garage beats into a soft groovy stomper. More Kompakt follows with Justus Kohncke and AC Slater, as usual, murders the public with heavy, pumping banger. A bit too repetitious and with silly beat, but don't all dancefloor smashers have such characteristic? The last remix worth mentioning is My Faust's electro-rocky refix of Strange Things, reminding me of Justice.

The entire release is not very consistent music-wise, but you know what - this is exactly what I like about Cope Remixed. I'm really fed up with releases including 10 remixes of the same track only slightly varying between themselves. Besides, I'd always rather face creative and surprising chaos where I can choose something for me than solid but boring and predictable stuff (if you know what I mean, ich don't think so).

Tracklist:
CD #1
01 Strange Things (High Rankin Remix)
02 Rock On (Siriusmo Remix)
03 Under Control (Zombie Nation Remix)
04 Strange Things (Shadow Dancer Bleep Remix)
05 Borderline (Feat. Brody Dalle) (Grum Remix)
06 Under Control (Evil Nine Graveyard Smash Instrumental)
07 Do You (High Rankin Remix)
08 Borderline (Feat. Brody Dalle) (El Ten Eleven Remix)
09 Mancry (Gui Boratto Remix)
10 Under Control (Golden Bug Remix)
11 Bring It (Marc Romboy Remix)
12 Morning Sun (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)


CD #2
01 Rock On (Emalkay Remix)
02 Do You (Joker Remix)
03 Rock On (Nosaj Thing Remix)
04 Do You (Pantyraid Remix)
05 Wish I Was Here (TRG Remix)
06 Mancry (Justus Köhncke's Epic Diskokraut Version)
07 Wish I Was Here (Glimpse Remix)
08 Only A Fool [Can Die] (feat. Gerald V. Casale & Devo) (AC Slater Dub Remix)
09 Strange Things (My Faust Remix)
10 Wish I Was Here (Jenkinsound Remix)
11 Under Control (TC Remix)
12 Under Control (Alex Metric Remix)

Gouseion and Graintable remixes (Run Riot Records)

To celebrate the new decade and the forthcoming Gouseion's LP - Retcon, Run Riot Records delivered a heavy-weight package of the remixes of Let's Crush which can be downloaded for free from their site. Don't sleep on this, satisfaction guaranteed.

GOUSEION - LET'S CRUSH REMIXES

Goseion, hailing from Portland, has established a very solid presence on the electronic scene in US with a few very interesting releases in the past two years. The leading banger of the forthcoming album (I'm eagerly waiting this release!) received a heavy treatment from a bunch of talented artists from US and Canada and Gouseion himself. I'm really stoked to see here in particular the three producers who came to my attention in 2009 and who during that year became among the best young guns in the glich hop / crunk genre. I'm absolutely positive you'll hear more about them and from them in 2010. Starting from Denver-based Samples whose heavy, liquid crunk style attunes so well with my music sensitivity. Gouseion's remix is no exception to this - crunky, burning bassline brought the original to the next level. Freddy Todd from Detroit also offers a heavy glitchy trip, but with lots of synths and weird melodies embedded. Expect more releases from him Run Riot Records in 2010. Finally, Graintable from Portland shows a perfect combination of well-crafted and distorted beats and spacey synths - in his trademark style, which I really, really dig. A Canadian LSP aka Longshanks refixes Gouseion's track in an acqua-crunk meets dubstep style with very nice neon synths and talking, heavy bassline. CaBfRee from Vancouver is the roughest and toughest of all with the final result quite satisfying. Gouseion himself changed his track into even more banging shit, he he he.

2010 starts where 2009 ended, that is with quality music. Oh, boy, I'm so stoked to for this year!

I want more and I get more from Run Riot Records. Another package of fantastic remixes. This time of one of my favorite tracks of 2009 and the Motion Sickness Comp, namely Graintable's Lost Frost. Grab the original and remixes for free!! (read Motion Sickness review on my blog).

GRAINTABLE - LOST FROST REMIXES

Graintable is moving forward all the time and constantly developing his skills, he recently took Second Place at the Seattle Laptop Battle, has just released a remix of Gouseion and his other project Chip Chop (check this duo!) will drop a debut EP Launch Blank, Feb. 2nd on Run Riot Records. I wouldn't even like to start the list of big names of this scene who shared the stage with graintable during the gigs :)

This remix package is 'mellower and softer'than heavy crunk of the Gouseion Let's Crush but offers a wider variety of styles at the same time. From cut-up's of Gouseion or The Great Mundane's heavy synths through amen-based old-school flavored work by Samo Sound Boy,  to dreamy Devonwho's rework (my personal best in this package!). Highly recommended!

Big Dope P - Southside Anthem remix EP

1 - DJ HILTI Juke Remix
2 - THE CHEERZ Banger Remix
3 - EMMANUELLE Dope Remix
4 - DEEMAH Break It Down Remix


BIG DOPE P - SOUTHSIDE ANTHEM EP (JUNO)

Big Dope P - Southside Anthem Remixes EP (TEASER) [mediafire]

Bounce Bounce wiggle wiggle shake shake to the gangsta ghetto beats. Big Dope P is in da house. He is back with the new EP including 4 remixes of his Southside Anthem initially released on Dirty Geto Traxxx Volume 1 in May 2009 on moveltraxx. Big Dope P came to my radar thanks to absolutely smashing remix of Barely Evil by RQM. I really dig his uncompromised approach to music and juke house bouncy goodness he unleashes on the listening public. Great for resetting your mind after a tiresome day'n'nite of multi-tasking: browsing / listening / pretending-to-work / doing some other less important daily routines (like eating, talking to your girlfriend or playing with your kids). However, the main purpose of Big Dope P's music is quite obvious - he drops ill bombs to be activated in the clubs during hot ass-shaking manouvers at the dancefloor.

Grab the original track: Big Dope P - Southside Anthem (original mix) (highly recommended)
Yeah, great stuff from Big Dope P. Ghetto bounce in full force!!

The first remix on the release is from Moveltraxx' DJ HILTI. Juke house uptempo frenzy and fast drums will make you shake and jump like crazy. Copy that? Turbo Phenix & Wicked Fox aka THE CHEERZ (Ho-Ju Rec/Moveltraxx) go totally mental in a stomping B-More / Fidget Electro Banger. This one will be rinsed heavily by DJ's, I'm absolutely sure. The Cheerz has just drop their first EP on Ho-Ju Records which is supported by Kissy Sellout who spins their records every week on BBC1. More solid Baltimore comes from EMMANUELLE Crew. Brokenbeat based remix is very dancefloor-oriented and ghetto vocals spice up the shit properly. Finally, DEEMAH (OM Recordings/D'Lectable Rec) delivers classic house tune with chopped up samples which is rather not my cup of the tea.

One more remix of Southside Anthem which did not fit the release can be downloaded for free. Acid house remix by Doan (TV On Mars / Musique Moderne / Interferences / dBfX) is heavy!

BIG DOPE P - SOUTHSIDE ANTHEM (DOAN from TV on Mars ACID RMX) (highly recommended)

If you want more - listen to this bouncy, liquid, shaky and dirty mix by the Big Man! Don't try it at work - you won't be able to concentrate or sit at the desk for more than 2 minutes :)

THE BIG DOPE MIXTAPE (FALL 2009)

More banging goodies by Big Dope P:

Big Dope P - Chinagora Bloxxxx Bounce (Oliver$ remix) (highly recommended)
A typical pumping, 'silly' beat by Oliver$ plus some nice vocals and carnival air-horns and voila you have a ghetto banger.

Big Dope P - Back to Da Old Future (highly recommended)
Vocals simply kill!!

Big Dope P - Back to Da Old Future (Twist it! remix)
Broken beat amens and nice work with vocals. I like!

JAY WIKID - ON THE DOWN LOW REMIX PACK FOR FREE!!

ON THE DOWN LOW EP - JAY WIKID

More glitch crunk / liquid dancehall staff from Canada. Jay WIKID has just released a package consisting of 7 quite original remixes of classic tracks. Highlights include: Nancy Sinatra's beautiful Bang Bang turned into uptempo cut-up glitch-hop roller. Prodigy's all-time rave anthem Outaspace heavily mashed up in a dancehall manner. Collie Buddz riddim Come Around (one of my personal all-time faves) pulsating with liquid bass in a Bassnectar's style. WICKED! Jamaican punther Ward 21's Rudy of the Century received a surprising bleeps and beeps treatment from Jay Wikid with funktastic, weird drums and crazy melody. Beach Boys California Girls (!!!) remix is pure madness.

Pretty broad selection I would say. You'll definitely recognize the originals yet Jay Wikid managed to pitched them up adding his trademark heavy, distorted bassline all across creating one of the most interesting and diverse set of remixes that my headphones had a chance to acquaint with recently.

You can catch Jay Wikid on glitch.fm as co-host on Friday's, mega super dope BWAMP show powered by Canadian crew of Integrated Grime Unit and GlitchHop Forum Crew.

Grab a very solid mixtape from Jay Wikid which I posted on my blog some time ago: Jay Wikid - Stay Tuned Mix

Jay Wikid's crafty basslines will turn your insides out and have you grinding before you know it. His musical recipes blend infectious hiphop rhythms with light sprinkles of glitchy fun - smothered with a topping of bassline warfare. Three years ago, the Canadian producer was chosen by Bassnectar as his protege; their first collaborative release, "Select Frequency", was the #1 Hip Hop track on Beatport for over 3 weeks and subsequently licensed to MTV, where it continues to rack up international plays. Jay also works under the alias "Ghetto Blastaz" in collaboration with Colorado native Jantsen. Expect fast-paced hip hop and dancehall breaks, overdriven glitchy crunk and electrozested zipper basslines from this hard-hitting duo. Currently you can catch Jay as a Friday night co-host on Glitch.FM radio, a resident of "Whatever's Dope" at Vancouver's Shine Nightclub, and furiously locked in the studio preparing a dynamic live show for his first international tour. His enthusiasm immediately ignites any dancefloor - watch him throb and bob, energetically dancing along with his crowd, as he twists and warps his wompy style productions. Whatever genre he's playing, you can count on Jay to keep it squishy, glitchy and sexy all at the same time. Straight rowdy!

Peaceblaster: The New Orleans make it right remixes

Support the great cause boys and girls.

1320 RECORDS and STS9 are excited to announce the release of “PEACEBLASTER : THE NEW ORLEANS MAKE IT RIGHT REMIXES”. Grab it RIGHT HERE, or enjoy some sample tracks below. The more people can be hyped on this release the better. 100% of the proceeds go towards building a house in New Orleans - check Make It Right Foundation of New Orleans and see what YOU can do about rebuilding the city devastated by naughty Katrina .

The remix album includes the great work by 30 (yes, thirty!) artists, like Lazer Sword, Glitch Mob, Eskmo, Bluetech, Richad Devine, Nosaj Thing, Bass Science, Eliot Lipp, The Flying Skulls and many others.

THREE TEASER TRACKS FOR YOU HERE:
HIDDEN HAND, HIDDEN FIST (FLYING SKULLS feat. ABSTRACT RUDE REMIX)
SHOCK DOCTRINE (WELDER REMIX)
METAMEME (ALEX B ‘CONCEPTS REMIX’)


FULL LIST OF ARTISTS AFTER THE JUMP

Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist (Lazer Sword Remix) (2:58)
Shock Doctrine (Eskmo Remix) (4:06)
Empires (Big Gigantic Remix) (4:06)
Beyond Right Now (The Glitch Mob Remix) (5:55)
Shock Doctrine (Welder Remix) (4:36)
STS9 vs Prefuse 73 (Megaloid MPC Vet Mixxx) (7:43)
First Rays of the New Soma Sunrise (Calmer Remix) (4:25)
Oh Little Brain (Bluetech ‘Spaze Gaze Mix’) (4:33)
Metameme (Alex B ‘Concepts Remix’) (5:09)
Peaceblaster ‘68 (Telepath Remix) (6:37)
The Spectacle (Ott Remix) (5:58)
ReGeneration (John Hughes Remix) (5:57)
The Spectacle (Richard Devine Remix) (5:07)
Empires (Nosaj Thing Remix) (2:48)
The Last 50,000 Years (Deru Remix) (4:43)
Beyond Right Now (Pretty Lights Remix) (5:47)
Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist (The Flying Skulls Feat. Abstract Rude Remix) (5:05)
Peaceblaster (sub-ID ‘Stay Blastin ‘88 Remix’) (6:52)
Shock Doctrine (Eliot Lipp & Leo 123 ‘Dark Party Remix’) (4:03)
Late for Work (Count Bass D Remix) (2:17)
The New Soma (Daedelus Remix) (5:27)
Peaceblaster ‘08 (Captain Crunk Remix) (4:59)
The New Soma (Bass Science Remix) (5:08)
Oh Little Brain (Metrognome ‘On the Sea Remix’) (5:05)
Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist (Da Ticklah Remix) (5:01)
Shock Doctrine (Dharmatronix Remix) (5:14)
Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist (Lowpro Lounge Feat. Lateef & Souleye ‘$700 Billion Remix’) (3:40)
Hidden Hand, Hidden Fist/Beyond Right Now (GFE ‘Put it Back Together Remix’) (3:30)
Beyond Right Now (Ronald Jenkees Remix) (5:03)
Late for Work (Pnuma Trio Remix) (4:06)