My latest mixtape titled fuckmusic celebrates a number of changes in my life recently which have affected a shift in my musical taste. It’s a highly curated hour of deep house music that I hope you’ll pop on during your most personal moments by yourself, with your partner, and with your friends.

There are several events, artists, and groups of people which inspired me to make this mixtape who I’d like to give a shout out to:
-The Monarch, Alex Charlton, my fuckmusic homies, especially Lunney and cbot, Mark Hinnen, and The Faktory.

Tracklist:
Danny Daze – Your Everything (Feat. Lousahh!)
Julio Bashmore – Battle for Middle You
Maceo Plex – Can’t Leave You
Miguel Campbell – Baby I Got It
Subb-an feat Beckford – The Lovers Night
Jacques Greene – The Look (Koreless Remix)
Guti – All the Girls (Original Mix)
Infinity Ink – Games (Original Mix)
Jamie Woon – Night Air (Solomun Edit)
Lovebirds feat. Stee Downes – Want You In My Soul
Cassius – The Sound of Violence (Franco Cinelli Remix)
Jamie Woon – Luciano’s Lady Luck (Kenny Ground Reconstruction Bootleg)
Girl Unit – Wut (Claude Von Stroke Butt Naked Mix)
Joris Voorn & Moby – After the After

Boddika uploaded a couple tracks to his Soundcloud channel today which are being released on a series of 12″ collabs with Joy O, due out on February 21 through Sunklowun. You can preorder now via Rubadub.

Remember, until Jan 31 every “Like” on my Fb page results in a .50cent donation divided between Oxfam, Save The Children & The Salvation Army. Change the world!
Cheers,
Corey

It always seemed natural to me that Major Lazer would, on account of the stylistic debt Diplo and Switch owe to reggae, eventually go hip hop. Noted Chicago dirtifiers, Flosstradamus (J2K and Autobot) are probably the perfect men to turn Original Don street.

This song, which dropped a day ago, is the kind of thing that takes a few listens to appreciate — after the spontaneous sex-inducing bass-kick at second 42 of the original, you come into the Flossy-D remix expecting more of the same. Instead of an excuse to throw a deuce, though, you’re treated to a smooth hip-hop break, and you’re asked “Damn, son, where’d you find this?”

The new elements added by the Chicago duo, the broken bass and the snare, make the song more at home in a hip-hop club, a place where you groove, you don’t rage. And that’s what this song does — it grooves.

It grooves all the way to the fucking bank.

Give it three listens and tell me I’m wrong.

Miike Snow are the type of sensation everyone loves to feel. Its good music that you can play for your parents parents. Top notch production quality polishes the combination of powerful vocals and paired with amazing musicality. Miike Snow may be infectious pop music on the surface but it comes from the mixing of musical masterminds at the groups core

Objekt’s brooding soundscapes are best suited for dark rooms with just enough bass bins too many. Porcupine is the most accessible track and features a brooding acid line and pulsating percussive elements. Cactus is the type of song reserved for earl in the night or earlier in the morning. Simple in its complexity.

stream the album here

This ‘remix’ by Trunkz, a Calgary-native Producer/DJ, is worth some discussion. Does the 140bpm tempo and 4/4 timing make it dubstep? What about the absence of any sub-bass? Do the climbing synths, sparkling arpeggio and melodic piano piece, replayed deftly by Trunkz, exclude it from a realm owned almost exclusively in 2011 by squelching robots, lazer beams, and growling talking bass synths?

And one more question for you all – is it a remix? Trunkz hasn’t sampled a single note from the original piece – everything including the original melody was replayed.

Whatever you guys think, I think it’s cool!

Comptine D’un Autre été – Yann Tiersen (Trunkz Remix) *Free 320kbs Download** by Trunkz

Yann Tiersen - Comptine D un Autre ete (Trunkz Remix).mp3

SBTRKT put this track up on his Soundcoud today. Originally produced in 2009 it features samples that were never cleared and the track was never given an official release. It aired on Marry Ann Hobbes BBC Radio 1 show (RIP), which is also embedded here. SBTRKT will be performing live at both Coachella and Ultra Music Festival. Significant critical praise has followed him this past year since the release of self titled full length album in 2011.

sbtrkt – atomic peace (2009) by sbtrkt

Sbtrkt Mary Anne Hobbs Guest Mix by sbtrkt

 
Christian & Leight, these kids are all over the map these days – literally! This dynamic duo have made it through the mid-way mark of their North American tour and they don’t seem to be running out of go-go juice anytime soon. Having just crafted a fresh original piece it’s easy to notice where the remainder of their steam is going. The proof is in the beats, beats, beats! Enjoy my friends…
 

Remember, until Jan 31 every “Like” on my Fb page results in a .50cent donation divided between Oxfam, Save The Children & The Salvation Army. Change the world!
Cheers,
Corey

Toronto producer Meech leaked a fine remix of his Ashanti-sampling single ‘I Want‘ via XLR8R today. The remix by Frenchman Raziek is one of three others on the upcoming EP, due out February 6 via Demento Mori.

Raziek on Soundcloud
Meech on Facebook
 
Meech - I Want (Raziek Remix).mp3

Still riding the success of last year’s magnificent LP ‘No Plans‘, Halifax native and progressive hip-hop producer Ryan Hemsworth has generously released upon us a brand new EP entitled ‘Kitsch Genius‘.

2011 was a big year for Mr. Hemsworth to say the least. He produced several tracks for the up-and-coming Green Ova rapper Shady Blaze, remixed the legendary ‘BasedGod’, and his instrumental LP ‘No Plans‘ even earned him a spot on Spin Magazine’s 20 Best R&B Albums of 2011 Feature (It’s described as electro-soul with an 8-bit Castlevania twist).

With the release of this new EP, 2012 is shaping up to be an extraordinary year for Hemsworth, quite possibly even more so than 2011. ‘Kitsch Genius‘ is a remarkable step forward for Hemsworth and his distinguished avant-hip hop production.

“Gucci Anthem” enters into some new territory with its house-like piano loop and stuttering beat centred around a Gucci Mane vocal sample. Similarly, “Faith In Something” lays a wash of gauzy synths overtop a Rick Ross vocal sample. It all makes for an intriguing listen and an oddly fascinating contrast between delicate kitsch and hip-hop swagger. As far as I’m concerned, Ryan Hemsworth is making some of the most innovative hip-hop this side of Clams Casino.

‘Kitsch Genius’ is available on Bandcamp as a ‘pay what you want’ download:

Bonus: if you haven’t heard these Shady Blaze tracks, they’re killer…

Shady Blaze – Dreamin’ (prod. by Ryan Hemsworth) by Ryan Hemsworth

Shady Blaze – No Fear (prod. Ryan Hemsworth) by Ryan Hemsworth

Shady Blaze – Celebration (prod. Ryan Hemsworth) by Ryan Hemsworth

If you’re from London, ON or surrounding area you’ve probably heard what is the laughing stock of the town right now. If not, our mayor has decreed a cheesier than Twlight melodic piece of shit titled ‘London is the City of Opportunity‘ “words to live by”.

That said, I recently discovered a remix of the song by an artist named Under_Skörs; when you make something so ridiculous in today’s time, you’re simply asking for it to be remixed.

Under_Skörs’ remix is a dubstep nightmare, which has all the filth and grime you could ever need. It starts with the original slow melody which works its way to the drop, where a deep + darkened voice swing and the lyrics are suddenly flipped in to a dubstep grinder.

It’s a hilarious remix of a terrible song, which turned a disgrace into something in rotation on my iPod.

London is the City of Opportunity (Under_Skör Remix)

After searching Under_Skörs soundcloud page I found several other chaotic Dubstep tracks and even a softer Electro House that are defiantly worth listening too and worth checking out Under_Skörs soundcoud page which you can do here.

Runaway (Under_Skör Remix)

In A Dream (Under_Skör Remix)

Make sure you check out

• Under_Skör on Soundcloud
• Under_Skör on Facebook
• Salacious Sound on Facebook

12th Planet’s ‘The End Is Near’ presented by Scion A/V heats the airwaves tomorrow! The EP features tracks with Skrillex, Antiserum, and Flinch and is available for free! Preview and download one of the heaters down below! Simply click on the ‘buy’ SoundClound button to be redirected to the download site. Enjoy friends
 

Remember, until Jan 31 every “Like” on my Fb page results in a .50cent donation divided between Oxfam, Save The Children & The Salvation Army. Change the world!
Cheers,
Corey

Big news from Moguai and Mau5trap – the teams’ collective efforts have resulted in the release today of the lead single ‘Mpire‘, off German super producer/DJ André Tegeler’s upcoming full-length effort under the same name, due to be released January 30th.

This LP will be his second – a follow up to 2010′s acclaimed ‘We Ar Lyve‘, which was also released on Mau5trap.

The single is available NOW, on Beatport.

Check the artwork!

Moguai is embarking on a massive world tour over the next four months, with many dates still to be announced.

Tour Dates:

January 2012

19.01. San Francisco (US) / Ruby Skye
20.01. Kelowna (CA) / Level
21.01. Vancouver (CA) / Ginger 62
23.01. Los Angeles (US) / Playhouse
26.01. Sacramento (US) / District 30
27.01. Orange County (US) / Sutra
28.01. Miami (US) / Mansion

February 2012

04.02. Bremen / NFF
10.02. Frankfurt a. M. / Cocoon Club
11.02. Dublin (IE) / The Kitchen
17.02. Dortmund / View
18.02. Basel (CH) / Borderline Club
18.02. Lahr / Universal D.O.G.
23.02. London (UK) / be-at.tv Showcase
25.02. Tarnowskie Gory (PL) / Onyx

March 2012

02.03. Herford / AtomiX
03.03. Utrecht (NL) / Energy Festival
09.03. Munich / Pacha
10.03. Hall in Tirol (AT) / Electric City
13.03. – 25.03. North America Tour – Part II
31.03. Lausanne (CH) / d! Club

April 2012

06.04. Oldenburg / Furys
08.04. Toulouse (FR) / Opium Club
14.04. Fuerstenfeldbruck / Buck Rogers
20.04. Koblenz / Agostea
21.04. Augsburg / Kesselhaus
30.04. Dortmund / Mayday Festival

Moguai – Mpire (Snippet) by djmoguai

After living in London for 2 years, I’ve noticed that unless it’s a big name act, DJ sets for the most part don’t get nearly as wild as the ones in North America, and crowds are often much more subdued. It feels like DJs take their forever building the energy, and by the time they drop it big, it’s too little, too late.

This of course isn’t all the time, nor is it every DJ – or maybe I just spend too much time partying in West London. Either way, I wanted to create a mixtape that encompasses my favourite electro DJs in the world right now just to show everyone what I’ve been talking about when I say “Man, when is he gonna drop the BEAT?” I hope you like it.

Europe Needs More Electro by StatusDisko

Tracklist:
Drop The Lime – Hot as Hell (Club Mix)
The Smashing Pumpkins – Zero (Le Castle Vania Zero Machine Mix)
Autoerotique – Turn Up the Volume
Mustard Pimp – Money Shot ft. Jimmy Urine
R3hab – The Bottle Song
Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks (Skeet Skeet Show Edit)
Nervo Feat. Afrojack & Steve Aoki – We’re All Noone (Hook N Sling Remix)
Tim Berg – Alcoholic (Dada Life Reimx)
Dada Life – White Noise Red Meat
Michael Jackson – Hollywood Tonight (DJ Chuckie Extended Remix)
Justice – Audio, Video, Disco (Para One Remix)
Far Too Loud – Wake Up LA
Afrojack & Steve Aoki feat. Alyssa Palmer – No Beef (Vocal Mix)
Porter Robinson – Unison
Wiz Khalifa – No Sleep (It’s the DJ Kue Remix)
Wolfgang Gartner feat. Jim Jones & Cam’ron – Circus Freaks
Flo Rida – Good Feeling-8barz (David A Remix) (TB1!)
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Who Gon Stop Me

The following list is my humble attempt to create an all-encompassing, comprehensive list of the best electronic full-length albums of the past year. I tried to include all genres as best I could: everything from the avant-garde to synth pop/indie dance is covered.

I welcome any objections to the list, and I am sure there will be many. I listened to as many albums in 2011 as I humanly could, but I am sure that there are still quite a few which slipped past me. 50 albums may seem like a lot of material to cover but believe me, this past year had so much quality electronic music that 50 albums barely scratches the surface.

Let us begin:

50. The Flashbulb – Love as a Dark Hallway

49. Fletcher Pratt – Dub Sessions Vol. 1

48. Washed Out – Within and Without

47. Saturn Never Sleeps – Yesterday’s Machine

46. Sean McCann – The Capital

45. Mexicans With Guns – Ceremony

44. Holzkopf – Sober Materials # 2

43. Young Galaxy – Shapeshifting

Young Galaxy – “We Have Everything” by vinylandvodka

42. itsagamble! – Which House?

41. Umberto – Prophecy of the Black Widow

40. Cut Copy – Zonoscope

Cut Copy – Zonoscope by modularpeople

39. Wagon Christ – Toomorrow

Wagon Christ – ‘Toomorrow’ Album Minimix by Ninja Tune

38. Giant Claw - Midnight Murder / Tunnel Mind

37. SebastiAn – Total

SebastiAn – Arabest by FlexCloud

36. Handsome Furs – Sound Kapital

35. Physical Therapy – Therapy Sessions Vol. 1

Therapy Sessions Vol. 1 [TRACKLIST + DOWNLOAD LINK] by PHYSICAL THERAPY

34. Hyetal – Broadcast

The Chase by hyetal

33. Sun Araw – Ancient Romans

32. Nguzunguzu – The Perfect Lullaby

NGUZUNGUZU – The Perfect Lullaby by DISmagazine

31. Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years

30. KWJAZ - KWJAZ

KWJAZ – Once In Babylon (Excerpt) by Brunch Groupe

29. Young Montana? - Limerence

28. Various Artists – Blow Your Head Vol. 2: Dave Nada Presents Moombahton

Blow Your Head Vol. 2: Dave Nada Presents Moombahton Minimix by Mad Decent

27. Rene Hell – The Terminal Symphony

Rene Hell – The Terminal Symphony by _type

26. Pictureplane – Thee Physical

25. Nate Young – Stay Asleep (Regression Vol. 2)

nate young – stay asleep regression vol. 2 (album preview) by experimedia

24. Sepalcure – Sepalcure

23. Ryan Hemsworth – No Plans

22. Pinch & Shackleton – Pinch & Shackleton

pinch & shackleton – pinch & shackleton (album preview) by experimedia

21. Modeselektor – Monkeytown

Modeselektor “Monkeytown” (MONKEYTOWN015) OUT BETWEEN SEP27-OCT04 by Modeselektor

20. Oneohtrix Point Never - Replica

19.  Junior Boys - It’s All True

18. The Caretaker – An Empty Bliss Beyond This World

17. Kuedo – Severant

Kuedo – ‘Severant’ Sampler by Planet Mu Records

16. The Field – Looping State of Mind

15. AraabMuzik – Electronic Dream

14. A Winged Victory for the Sullen – A Winged Victory for the Sullen

13. Hecker - Speculative Solution

12. Gang Gang Dance - Eye Contact

11. Desolate – The Invisible Insurrection

10. Blu Mar Ten – Love is the Devil

And the #10 spot goes to….Blu Mar Ten! No, that is not supposed to be some lame joke. It is merely coincidence that Blu Mar TEN are number 10. However, it is no coincidence that these guys put out one of the best electronic albums, and quite possibly the best drum & bass album in 2011.

The duo of Leo Wyndham and Chris Marigold have been making music as Blu Mar Ten since the early 90′s, and it’s about time these guys got the recognition they deserve. Love is the Devil is some of their best work to date and of all the 18 tracks on the album not a one is filler.

For a more in-depth analysis of Love is the Devil see the review I did back in August: Love-is-the-Devil

9. Born Gold – Bodysongs

It’s astounding how far Born Gold have come. At the beginning of this year they were known as Gobble Gobble and only a choice few of their sugary sweet synth pop anthems were circulating on their Internet. If you were to listen to their earlier, lo-fi leaning releases you might not believe that the same group would make anything as catchy, ecstatic, and downright danceable as Bodysongs.

It’s only looking better for the boys of Born Gold as we enter into 2012. Band member Corin Roddick doubles as one half of the up-and-coming electro-pop duo Purity Ring while Calvin McElroy leads a solo career as Kuhrye-oo. And we mustn’t forget Born Gold ringleader and vocalist Cecil Frena, a genius when it comes to putting on a live show.

No really, if you’ve been to a Born Gold show you will know what I’m talking about. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before.

8. Boy Better Know – Tropical 2

This overlooked compilation comes courtesy of legendary UK grime/funky collective Boy Better Know. Also functioning as a record label, Boy Better Know consists of: Skepta, JME, Wiley, Frisco, Jammer, DJ Maximum, Shorty, Solo 45, and C Gritz. The second release in the Tropical series is a masterfully blended showcase of BBK artists, and a unique exploration in UK funky, house, and rave.

From the blissed-out leadoff track “Tropical Oh” to the groovy finale “The Stranger (featuring Todd Edwards)” Tropical 2 never blinks an eye. The mix is fluid, the styles vary, and the funkiness is held to a maximum.

7. Rustie – Glass Swords

Critics really loved this album and really, who can blame them? There was nothing not to love about Glass Swords. From the Seinfeld-esque slap bass of “Flashback”, to the icy dubstep of “City Star”, to the utter grandiosity of “Ultra Thizz”, and on so on, this album had it all.

Check my man The Monarch‘s review right here.

6. Tim Hecker – Ravedeath, 1972

Absolutely the most beautiful ambient release of 2011. Tim Hecker’s emotive soundscapes encapsulate your mind and provoke deep introspection. This is meaningful music.

Listen to this on nights when you lie awake in your bed at 3am and you can’t sleep. Listen to this on a drive through the countryside in the dead of winter. Listen to this when you’re alone.

Ravedeath, 1972 can be very intimate and personal yet isolating and sterile at the same time. It’s something altogether wondrous and majestic but its deep-rooted mystery I am still trying to uncover.

5. Zomby – Dedication

On Dedication, the enigmatic UK producer known only as Zomby concocts a strange blend of UK funky, 2-step, and post-dub. The synth plinks eerily and the rhythms skitter along at a march-like pace, coming together to create a very sinister atmosphere.

Panda Bear guest spots on “Things Fall Apart”, slightly alleviating the darkness, although not much. Zomby seems to enjoy living in the shadows; he has no need for a public persona, instead he lets his music do the talking.

4. M83 – Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

Anthony Gonzalez really outdid himself this time. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming has not one but two discs, chock-full of soaring synth pop reverie. I mean, “Midnight City” was enough to blow me away; forget the other 22 tracks of superb quality.

But this is just the standard we’ve come to expect from M83 so I guess in that sense Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is really no surprise. I’m not the type to throw around the word “epic” lightly, but it feels appropriate here.

3. Above & Beyond – Group Therapy

British trio Above & Beyond have been pushing the boundaries of trance ever since their beginnings in 2000. Group Therapy is a landmark release for A&B, and one of the most solid electronic releases of 2011.

Here, their flawless production veers towards progressive trance and even IDM at times. The vocals of Zoe Johnston and Richard Bedford are commanding, and the variation between male and female vocals keeps each track refreshing.

However, some of the most astounding tracks on the album are the instrumentals. Opener “Filmic” is a gorgeous piano-led intro that sounds as if came straight out of a film score. Centrepiece “Sun In Your Eyes” captures the overwhelming glory of the sun itself and the last track “Eternal” closes out the album dramatically.

Group Therapy is just an all-around good album and leaves you feeling completely satisified.

2. Azari & III – Self-Titled

The magnificent debut from Toronto-based group Azair & III is essentially a throwback to gay 80s Chicago.

Now, I know what you may be thinking; “oh great, here’s another hipstafied retro-chic album that’s supposed to be ‘unique’ but just sounds like a bunch of wannabes.”

But don’t give up on me yet; Azari & III are different than most “throwback” artists. 80′s house is merely the medium Azari & III uses to create a stunning blend of brooding, soul-inflected vocals and nightclub-ready retro (with a contemporary twist) house production.

Just take lead single “Manic” for example. Beginning with a standard house rhythm, a snaky synth line works its way into the mix before vocalist Fritz Helder hums a melody atop the mix. Later, the refrain comes: “It’s a manic, It’s a manic world” and it’s obvious, this is definitely not from the 80′s.

1. James Blake – Self-Titled

I had a really tough time deciding between James Blake, Azari & III, and Above & Beyond for the top spot but I ultimately realized I just had to go with good ol’ Jimmy Blake on this one.

There was no other album this year that was as ground-breaking and awe-inspiring as James Blake’s eponymous debut. Using the core elements of dubstep as his foundation, Blake crafted a distinctive, seemingly genre-less masterpiece.

Can you call it dubstep? Soul? Post-dub? How many debates about “real dubstep” do you think were triggered by this album alone? I’m willing to bet quite a few.

Not only was Blake’s album brilliant musically, it was also brilliant because it blurred the boundaries between dubstep, post-dubstep, minimalism, and the singer/songwriter. It has changed how people think about electronic music and the theory behind it.

Blake himself, professed his distaste for the direction dubstep is heading in and condemned unnamed artists for exploiting the genre. Whether you agree with this or not is irrelevant; James Blake’ music is what it is and there’s no denying it’s influence.

As 2011 has come and gone, it is clear James Blake’s debut will always be remembered as a turning point for dubstep and electronic music.

Thanks for reading the ‘totem’ Pole! Hope you enjoyed the music and feel free to leave your feedback in the comment box below

Here’s to hoping 2012 is as kind to electronic music as 2011 was!!!!

On this week’s edition of the Mixcast we feature a rising star of the UK bass scene Aaron Jerome, aka SBTRKRT. In two short years, SBTRKT has racked up a discography of remixes and originals on Yong Turks and Brainmath which have grasped the attention of musicians from all walks, from Basement Jaxx to Drake.

His tracks draw inspiration from seemingly disparate sources: broken beat, 2-step, nu-jazz, RnB, and Chicago house. But to spend too much time talking about the personality that SBTKRT infuses his music with is to bely the projected image of the project, and what London musician Aaron Jerome would like us to pay attention to; he’d “rather not talk about myself as a person, and let the music speak for itself.”

SBTRKT on Facebook

Tracklist:
EL KID – MUD
FALTY DL – MY LIGHT MY LOVE
THE CHAIN – SUFFER FOR YOUR ART
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
MARTYN – TWICE AS
JAMES BLAKE – AT BIRTH
AZEALIA BANKS – LIQUORICE
FRENCH FIRES – CHAMPAGNE
DISCLOSURE – MY INTENTION IS WAR
MODESELEKTOR – EVIL TWIN
SBTRKT – HOLD ON (REMIX)
TOM BULWER – LONDON NIGHTS
RUSTIE – HOVER TRAPS
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
SBTRKT – LIVING LIKE I DO (LIL SILVA REMIX)
SBTRKT – RIDE TO FREEDOM
LITTLE DRAGON – SHUFFLE A DREAM
JAMES BLAKE – LOVE WHAT HAPPENED HERE
LOCKED GROOVE – ROOTED
NIGHTWAVE – NIGHT HEAT
DARK SKY – BE MYSELF
JON CONVEX – POP THAT P
FRENCH FRIES – HUGZ
SBTRKT – UNTITLED
SBTRKT – RIGHT THING TO DO
DARQWAN – CONFUSED
FRANK OCEAN – THINKING BOUT YOU (SBTRKT EDIT)
SBTRKT – WILDFIRE (OBJEKT MIX)
SBTRKT – WILDFIRE (DRAKE MIX)
AZEALIA BANKS – LIQUORICE
BODDIKA – JOY O – SWIMS
DISCLOSURE – CARNIVAL

Time for another edition of the Direct Connection Podcast. This week I selected some amazing new tracks by artists such as Sante, Cuartero, Ron Costa and many more. Hope you enjoy!

Direct Connection Podcast #015 by Mark Hinnen
Mark Hinnen – Direct Connection Podcast #015

1. Luz (Original Mix) /// Cuartero
2. So Strong (Sante Dub) /// Terranova
3. Animales De La Manana (Stella Edit) ///
4. Wardance (Matthias Tanzmann Remix) ///
5. Crackhouz (Dub Mix) /// Ron Costa
6. Los Paseos (Original Mix) /// Cuartero
7. Un Monde Monochromatique (Original Mix) /// Gonzalo & Gonzalez
8. Mike Loves The Horn (Original Mix) /// Carlo Lio & Coyu
9. Its A Groove (Original MIx) /// Alex Costa
10. Pleasure Grip (Original Mix) /// Victor Calderone
11. Slight Needles (Original Mix) /// Lorenzo Bartoletti
12. Eastern Promise (Original Club Mix) /// Hauswerks and Gaz James

Thanks for checking out the mix!

UPDATE: HUGE news exclusive for you: you’ll soon be lucky enough to support Memorecks in upcoming collaborative productions AND on tour with a Toronto dubstep institution, whose own productions are heavily influenced by their strong roots in hip-hop, and whom have been strong supporters of Toronto rap. The duo also happens to be personal favourites and close friends to SalaciousSound: Zeds Dead.
 

Meet James Peck, aka Memorecks; singularly what’s missing from hip-hop AND music performance (irrespective of genre), as well as a positive, well respected, and extremely knowledgeable contributor to the online music community.

Peck has been running a website for a couple years now, and in that time he’s released a series of helpful + high quality Ableton live tutorial videos, a collection of performance videos, and also a pair of recorded works: his Camcorder EP, and most recently an instrumentals album titled Downtime (both at the bottom of this article). He’s also been making sick hip-hop beats in a style nearly lost to the ages: “chopping up breaks, and diggin’ in to crates.”

Crates here is, of course, a simplification of the wide-sampleable-world at Memorecks’ disposal in this current hip-hop epoch. And his style may throw back in some places with the use of classic rap samples, but make no mistake, his music is the future. The sonic landscapes Memorecks builds are comprised by instrumental jazz, traditional Japanese, odd ambient/soundscape, and even harpsichord chops as much as they are from classic arcade and console video game sounds, 808s, and vintage-sounding synths. Its as though he sits nicely at the nexus where electro and hip-hop split off from each other over thirty years ago.

And that description, while accurate, belies the subtle yet most important note about Memorecks beats; the underlying rawness isn’t some kitschy plugin, and its not a technique he copied by watching a youtube video. Peck does it all live.

That’s right – the complex drum arrangements and layering you’re hearing, and even the effects are done live. Peck loads his samples in a program called Ableton live, and connects a MIDI drumpad to his laptop which allows him to plays his eclectic selection of sounds as though they were an instrument. Once he’s done that he can create songs on the fly, freestyling, switching between sets of samples, and he can also apply effects combinations which he sets up before a performance.

My absolute favourite track is Cartridge, off the Camcorder EP. It samples the greatest single player RPG (nerd alert) ever made on a console gaming system: Final Fantasy 7. Here’s the sample

And his outrageously good flip:

Memorecks - Cartridge (Original Mix).mp3

Or if you prefer, watch him do it live!

And another couple favourites of mine:

Memorecks - Dead Robots.mp3
Memorecks - Deepest.mp3

Now that you’re a believer, go support him on Facebook.

Memorecks – Downtime (Instrumental Album)

Download link: Memorecks-Downtime(2011).zip

1. PHATBACK 2:08
2. BASEBALLBAT 1:08
3. TEXTURE 3:01
4. THIRSTY 2:03
5. BEDDY TEAR 2:58
6. NECK SNAP 2:15
7. NINTENDOE 3:07
8. DEAD ROBOTS 2:44
9. SPACEDRUMS 2:18
10 KICK ME 2:46
11. LESS DRUGS 1:45
12. NO ESSAY 2:13
13. EMPEESEE 2:29
14. CHERYL 1: 22
15. EMULATION 3:02
16. CLEAN ME 3:27
17. HADRON 2:07
18. SPRINGTIME 5:48
19. DEEPEST 2:59

Camcorder EP

Download link: Memorecks-Camcorder.zip

1. Waiting In The Lobby
2. Deepwaters
3. Passing By
4. Cartridge
5. Hovercraft
6. Ancient
7. Like This