Salacious Sound » Reviews

Vancouver Show Alert: Kaytranada + Kastle @ Fortune Sound Club, May 19th

Ziad Ramley — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:08:43 +0000

Two long-time Salacious Sound favourites are going to be playing at Fortune Sound Club in Vancouver along with local dood 8prn and I this holiday Sunday, and we want to see all of our Vancouver readers out and about. In the meantime, check out the exclusive mix that Kaytranada put together for Fortune Sound Club and Scion Sessions above.

Want to win a pair of tickets? All you have to do is tag yourself (or a friend) in this photo to be entered and we’ll pick a winner Saturday afternoon.

Event Info | Buy Tickets ($15) | Photo Contest

//Ziad Ramley

Toronto Show Alert: Feed Me DJ Set @ The Hoxton, May 17

SYDNEY J — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:01:54 +0000

If you didn’t already know, we’re big fans of Feed Me here at SalaciousSound. His ‘With Teeth’ set is a great example of branding across interconnected media, stretching from graphic design into a live show. His show this weekend in Toronto won’t be with giant LED panels, nor will it be with his giant animatronic Feed Me model, but it’ll be interesting to see how Jon Gooch’s post-Spor career has honed his stripped-down DJ skills.

Event Info

Feed Me | The Hoxton

Softwar – One Day/Believe

Ziad Ramley — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:30:58 +0000

If you’ve been following music for any length of time, chances are that you’re already familiar with Australian label, Modular People. It’s home to the likes of The Presets, Azari & III, Architecture In Helsinki, Cut Copy- the list of A-list acts just goes on and on. What you may not know is that they run an outstanding little imprint called Club Mod dedicated to underground house music in its purest form. Really. Anyone complaining about the state of house and EDM clearly hasn’t discovered this label yet.

But I digress.

Today I want to share the latest EP, One Day/Believe, from Sydney’s Softwar, a duo comprised of Myles du Chateau & Jeremy Lloyd. This release immediately resonates with the side of me that loves Montreal’s unique style of house and would feel right at home in any venue that values music over egos. From One Day‘s jazzy start/stop format to Believe‘s embellishment of classic deep house, I haven’t been able to get enough out of these two tracks.

You can (and should) buy it on Beatport here.

Softwar on:

SoundCloud | Facebook

Live in Australia? You can see Softwar live on the following dates:

May 10th – The Spice Cellar, Sydney

May 25th – Survivor!, Melbourne

May 31st – Elsewhere, Gold Coast

June 1st – Bowler Bar, Brisbane

June 9th – Parkside, Wollongong

June 30th – The Aviary, Perth

//Ziad Ramley

Touch Sensitive – Show Me/Pizza Guy

Ziad Ramley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:00:55 +0000

Australian producer Touch Sensitive has a ton of exciting stuff on the horizon, and after the release of an accompanying bonus download I thought now would be a great time to talk about his latest EP on Future Classic, Show Me/Pizza Guy. Now, I know that it’s technically the B side, but Show Me‘s clean, simple melodies, full synths, and low-and-slow progression really sells the whole release for me. Pizza Guy on the other hand is all about that doing that unmistakable Aussie synth-pop sound, and doing it well – it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a neat wee music video for it on the horizon, either

Touch Sensitive on:

SoundCloud | Facebook

//Ziad Ramley

Toronto Show Alert: Tommy Kruise & A$AP YAMS @ Wrongbar, May 10

SYDNEY J — Thu, 09 May 2013 21:49:23 +0000

A$AP Yams’ name sort of speaks for itself; as the mastermind behind the A$AP movement, his tumblr is a culture mash all its own and his music speaks for itself. The appeal of Tommy Kruise’s sound is a bit harder to describe. It’s weird. It’s dark, and I’m not quite sure what he’s doing in this video, but if you go to his show with A$AP Yams this Friday at Wrongbar you’ll probably find out. Hopefully. Maybe. If you’re into this sort of hip-hop (and even if you aren’t) it’s not a show to be missed.

Event Info

A$AP Yams | Tommy Kruise | Wrongbar

Candyland – Bring the Rain EP [EP Review]

Xaos — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:18:52 +0000

Even after winning back-to-back Beatport remix contests for Skrillex’s Make it Bun Dem, and Bingo Players’ Rattle, Candyland really didn’t get the response they deserved. They have countless other great records on their Soundcloud that you should check out with time… but on to the main event. However, the EP that these Santa Barbara natives produced recently will help them make the waves they need. Let’s get to it:

The first song is called, “It’s a Shark!” which must be a Santa Barbara thing, but with some rather panic inducing dialogue, the EP begins with a solid, bouncing drop, sampling fear stricken voices. Always a recipe for success.

Following what I will henceforth refer to as “the shark song”, is the title track, “Bring the Rain.” Using a beautiful melody, sung by Lexi Forche, the duo lures you in, before they drop one of the funkiest drops I’ve ever heard, that, in my opinion, was summed up eloquently by a Soundcloud user as, “the tits.” Well said that guy on Soundcloud who didn’t plug his own tracks. This one has potential to blow your speakers… just cause you’ll want to turn it up loud.

Next, the EP takes a turn towards Drumstep. “Beneath Myself,” like the previous track is real funky, but slower so it really grooves. This song isn’t worth drooling over, but boy is it satisfying!

The 4th track, “Get Wild,” is exactly what you’d expect from a track titled like this: fun, pulsing, and it makes you want to dance. The fun part of about this song is that it goes from being a tradtional club tempo 128 down to Moobahton at 110, making my DJ program confused. Poor Traktor.

Welcoming MakO to the EP, the fifth track, “All You Gotta Do,” is sweet; It’s equally worthy of the “the tits” description of the title track. After some satisfying rap-style vocals from Makism, the track dips into some more Dubstep that makes you want to do just as the track instructs: “Drop when you hear the kicks.” Tasty. Possibly my favorite track.

The final track of the EP is “Castle of Affair.” This is one of those dubstep tracks that doesn’t really know it’s supposed to be dubstep. Going in and out of fun upbeat vocal sections without any of that traditional growl, this track doesn’t go by the book, and it certainly packs a punch in its unexpected drop followed by its mellow (let’s call it) counter-drop. Dope track.

All in all, this a great EP from underrated producers. Do yourselves a favor and listen to the rest of the stuff they have on their Soundcloud, and support them on Beatport! They deserve it! Especially listen to their remix of Adventure Club’s Need Your Heart. If you’re a sucker for synths like I am, it’ll know your socks, and shoes, and all of your clothes off. Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you!

Candyland on:

Facebook | Beatport | Soundcloud | Twitter

^Xaos

Destroid – The Invasion [Album Review]

Filippo — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:00:33 +0000

We first got a taste of Destroid last year with the track Raise Your Fist. It was a stellar piece of Drumstep, but to be honest it didn’t sound so different from Excision’s solo stuff. Why would he make a new project? The months following the initial three singles we got some new info about what Destroid really was, a live electronic band. KJ Sawka, Downlink, and Excision himself are poised to change live electronic music. With that introduction out of the way lets get down to the music! The Invasion is a HEAVY album that never slows down.

What these ten tracks lack in variety, it makes up for it with intensity. Every song shows Excisions love for Metal and Hip-Hop. On the track, Flip The Switch, Messinian spits a couple verses that feature his signature flow. Flip The Switch is one of the standout tracks with it’s combination of speed and intricacy. Downlink has a solo track here, Activation, it’s a bouncy Electro House jam that keeps the style of this album intact. Bassnectar and Far Too Loud make excellent appearances as well, Bassnectar’s being the standout collaboration on the album.

This may not be “Avant Garde” but this album does what it sets out to do; be as heavy as possible and be fun. It’s that simple, this album is pure fun. If you’re looking for heart convulsing bass and fast drums, then this is for you!

-Filippo

Destroid On:

Facebook | SoundCloud

Benga – Chapter 2 [Album Review]

Filippo — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:35:55 +0000

Eleven years ago Benga released his first single, Skanka. The years to follow he was one of the main forces behind the Dubstep phenomenon. Chapter 2 marks a huge point in Benga’s career, his first major label debut. While his latest album has suffered many setbacks, in the end this album turned out great. This being Benga’s third full length album and his most diverse, he stepped up everything for Chapter 2. Five years has passed since his record, during that time Benga seems to have truly found his defining sound. The moment you hear the albums opener, Yellow, you know you’re in for a great time.

On tracks like, Click & Tap, the quirky side of Benga shines through. But following that is Forefather, his first dip into Grime on this album. When listening to Chapter 2 you’ll notice the sound quality is remarkable, each synth is vibrant and every bass line is hefty. There are some vocal driven tracks here, Yongman’s lyrics on the track Choose 1 are cheesy and just plain awful I feared that the other vocal driven tracks would suffer the same way, I was wrong. Autumn Rowe, Same Frank, and Happiness offer some heartfelt vocals on top of Benga’s excellent production. But the two standout tracks are High Speed and Waiting. High Speed features Grime MC P Money, his verse is catchy and cut-throat. Waiting on the other hand is a beautiful album closer. Happiness vocals inspire and carry the album to a great finish.

Benga has done something that many artists strive to do; Reinvent themselves without jeopardizing their art. A mix of Garage, Dubstep, and Grime makes this album fantastic. Chapter 2 is more proof that Dubstep still has a few surprises left.

-Filippo

Benga On:

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Knife Party – Haunted House EP [Album Review]

Filippo — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:17:00 +0000

Eight months have passed since fans got confirmation that a new Knife Party EP was in the works. After months of delays, Haunted House is finally out and already it’s causing a ton of controversy. Originally planned were four new tracks, but before the release they switched Baghdad out for a VIP of Internet Friends. While I’ll admit that I am disappointed, this however did not hinder my opinions on the three new originals. We live in a era were we are constantly given new music at every moment, people forget how long it takes to make some really great tracks. Knife Party has done just that, the three new originals are stellar pieces of Electro House, all with a different flavor.

The EP kicks off with Power Glove. The intro in Power Glove is intense; a powerful choir sample combined with a commanding drum pattern had me hitting repeat a few times before I finished the song. The main melody might be the catchiest Knife Party has made thus far. The only downside to Power Glove is the lack of variation in drops but the midsections help keep things interesting.

LRAD is hands down my favorite Knife Party song. The slow building intro adds intensity while the main melody slowly creeps in. When the buildup came to a halt I was expecting a typical Knife Party drop. Instead we get this heart pounding minimal drop that is infectious. The second drop adds some tribal vocal samples, which adds a completely different atmosphere to it then the first. This song has so much dynamic to it, one their best tracks yet.

EDM Death Machine has one of the most grin inducing intros ever. Poking fun at Skrillex, Baauer, Borgore, and themselves, then it transitions into a robot coming to live. Soon we are hit by a flurry of spastic lazers and crunchy bass. The midsection features a warm synth that reminds me of Darude’s Sandstorm. EDM Death Machine will no doubt be played throughout the festival circuit.

The EP closes with a VIP of their hit, Internet Friends. The only major change is the second drop is changed to Dubstep. It’s a fun VIP but it would have been nice to get a fourth original.

This is a solid EP, not their best, but a solid effort. LRAD is the standout track here! For those wondering why there is a lack of variation in genres: The EP is titled Haunted HOUSE, get it? It’s all Electro House bangers, minus the change in Internet Friends. But in the end this EP was enjoyable, can’t wait to see whats next.

-Filippo

Knife Party On:

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Charli XCX – True Romance [Album Review]

tyesha — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:41:06 +0000

When you’re the co-writer of Icona Pop’s smash hit I Love It there are going to be high expectations placed on your solo album. A 20 year old, English artist Charlotte Aitchison a.k.a Charli XCX has exceed even the highest hopes with True Romance. Charli XCX cut her first album at age 14 and since then has released 4 free mixtapes via soundcloud all of which displace her diverse talent. True Romance eloquently showcases a blend a of musical influences from electronica to hip hop and in doing so gives it a sound all it’s own. For example, Cloud Aura featuring rapper Brooke Candy is a danceable hip hop breakup anthem while You’re the One is a love song with techno roots.
Each song it’s strong enough to stand on it’s own and could easily be marketed as a single but what truly impressive is how they complement each other like chapters in a highly personal novel. This is refreshing in an industry that doesn’t seem to value a body of work anymore. Make no mistake this is a up tempo dancepop album that is sure to be in heavy rotation on the radio and on the club scene but what’s truly impressive is the quality of the lyrics. So many other dance pop/ pop artist have no substance in their work and rely on a strong baseline to cover their lack of talent. Thankfully when it come to True Romance this could not be further from the truth. Charli XCX is clearly an artist to watch in 2013 and well beyond.

Buy True Romance on iTunes

Charli XCX on:

SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter

//tyesha

Vancouver Show Alert: Jerome LOL @ Fortune Sound Club, May 23rd

Ziad Ramley — Sun, 05 May 2013 20:09:40 +0000

Hoo-boy, the kids at Fortune Sound Club are kicking off a brand new monthly, ESC CTRL Shift, with one of The Internet’s finest minds, Jerome LOL. In my eyes, Jerome is right up there with Panteros666 in terms of creating engaging visual experiences with his live shows. It was a huge relief to learn that this will of course be a VIDEO SHOW – if you were hoping for a strictly CDJs event on the 23rd, you’ll have to keep on looking.

Event Info

Jerome LOL | Fortune Sound Club

The Upbeats – Primitive Technique [Album Review]

Filippo — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:13:54 +0000

This is the Upbeats fourth studio album and their best. This New Zealand duo pulled out all the stops on Primitive Technique. From the opening track to the last, this album is perfect. I don’t say that lightly. One thing that stands out is the menacing atmosphere that’s in every track. The fourteen tracks here feel like a journey, each provoking a different emotion. There are some fantastic bangers on here; but it’s the moody, more atmospheric tracks that standout. Songs like Alone , which features Tasha Baxter on vocals, is an emotional cut that feels short even though it runs over six minutes.

Tracks like Diffused and Again I are somewhat inspirational. Armanni Reign’s vocals on Again I are powerful, his flow fits perfectly with the beat. Thrasher and Falling Into Place are mellow and dreamy, the subtle breaks are infectious. I can’t say a negative thing about this album. From the sound design to the song progressions, this album is perfect. This could be contender for album of the year, listen below!

-Filippo

The Upbeats On:

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Caspa – Alpha Omega [Album Review]

Filippo — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 11:06:24 +0000

Legendary producer, Caspa, is back and better than ever. Slowly through the past year Dubstep has lost its spotlight, some even saying it’s dying. With the exception of some choice releases, Dubstep has felt bland for a while. Luckily Caspa is here to change that with his latest album, Alpha Omega. This album is fifteen tracks and I’ll be highlighting my favorites. The whole album is damn near perfect but some tracks really stand out.

Alpha Omega starts the album off in a cinematic style. A great string melody plays alongside a massive wall of bass. This track could easily be in a Michael Bay film. War features Prodigy front man Keith Flint. This song combines a heavy guitar riff with a pulsating beat that compliments Keith’s commanding vocal style. Sexy Beast and Techno Terry are straight bangers, these could easily have heavy rotation this summer. Smoke & Mirrors is a relaxing tune that features easy-going vocals from Geoff Smith. Smoke & Mirrors is easily my favorite song off this album. One By One & Reach for The Sky are amazing vocal driven tunes. Diane Charlemagne’s vocals on Reach for the Sky are breathtaking.

While I didn’t care that much for the two Hip-Hop tracks on this album, overall this record was fantastic. Caspa has showed that Dubstep still has a way to go! The album is Gripping at times and relaxing at others. This is a forward thinking album that you must hear.

-Filippo

Caspa On:

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

Mad Decent Block Party Tour Dates Announced

Ziad Ramley — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:00:13 +0000

It’s that time of year, Salacious Sound. Mad Decent Block Party 2013 is (hopefully) coming to a city near you and early bird tickets are now available. Each $20 purchase comes with a free one-month subscription to Mad Decent Premium so get ‘em while they’re hot.

Purchase Tickets Here

Tour Dates:

7/19 Calgary, AB - Venue TBA
7/20 Las Vegas, NV – Encore Beach Club – 3121 Las Vegas Blvd. S
7/26 Toronto, ON – Fort York – 100 Garrison Rd.
7/27 Philadelphia, PA – Penn’s Landing – 601 N Columbus Blvd.
8/2 Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion – 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
8/3 Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Outdoors – 200 W. Broward Blvd.
8/9 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park – 695 North Avenue NE
8/10 Brooklyn, NY – Williamsburg Waterfront – 110 Kent Ave.
8/31 Dallas, TX – Club Zouk Outdoors – 703 McKinney Ave.
9/6 Detroit, MI – Elektricity Festival Grounds – 10 S. Saginaw St.
9/7 New Braunfels, TX – Whitewater Music Amphitheater – 11860 FM 306
9/14 Los Angeles, CA - Venue TBA
9/15 San Diego, CA – Petco Park Lot – 100 Park Blvd.

//Ziad Ramley

Indian Summer – No Use/1.01 My Heart Drops EP [Review]

Ziad Ramley — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 19:00:24 +0000

Aussie duo Indian Summer have finally delivered their highly-anticipated debut EP on Sweat It Out after a slew of successful remixes. No Use/1.01 My Heart Drops is a gorgeous extension of those deep, full synths that they first introduced in their remix of Caseno’s Sebastian. Starting things off on the lighter side, No Use’s hook is soulful and distinct, and compliments their poppy percussion beautifully. As the name implies, 1.01 My Heart Drops is a more somber affair that – thankfully – doesn’t lose any of the soul established early in the release, and makes use of a compliment of synths I’d describe as “galactic” if I didn’t hate that adjective so much.

Pre-order No Use/1.01 My Heart Drops on iTunes

Indian Summer on:

SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter

//Ziad Ramley

Coachella 2013: Don’t Miss The Do Lab for Weekend 2

Ziad Ramley — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 20:28:03 +0000

One of my favourite Coachella stages, The Do Lab, is back for its 9th year and now that the events from Weekend 1 have been documented, cut, and edited I can can share the result: This recap video looks like an absolute blast. Check out their lineup down below.

Vancouver Show Alert: Keys N Krates w. B. Traits @ Fortune, April 17th

Ziad Ramley — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:25:33 +0000

Fortune Sound Club are bringing our Toronto boys, Keys N Krates, along with B.Traits to Vancouver this Wednesday, April 17th and I’ll be damned if the Salacious Sound team won’t be there as well. On the fence about going? Listen to the two tracks above and then remind yourself that Fortune has a state-of-the-art Funktion One sound system.

Yaaaaaaaa, I’ll c u thurr.

RSVP on Facebook

Fortune Sound Club on:

SoundCloud | Facebook | Twitter

//Ziad Ramley

Tyler, The Creator – Wolf [Album Review]

Filippo — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:55:32 +0000

A lot of time has passed since Tyler’s last album; it’s been two years since Goblin and the hype building up to Wolf has almost reached Detox levels. Like many, I first became a fan of Tyler when he released the controversial Bastard, that album still gets heavy rotation from me. When his sophomore effort, Goblin, was released it seemed like the only person to love it from start to finish. People complained about how immature it was, but I was drawn in by the characters Tyler has created: Dr. TC, Ace, and Wolf Haley all show a different side of him.

While this is a continuation of the story he started with Bastard, it’s his production and lyrical abilities that steal the show. Lyrically Tyler has stepped up his game ten fold. Tracks like Answer and Ifhy really show a deep side to Tyler while still showing how well he can spit. Then on the flip side, tracks like Domo23 has more of a party flow. While I enjoy Domo23, it sticks out here, The rest of the album is mellow and that track is so in your face. Production wise Tyler has matured a lot. The overall album incorporates a lot of elements from Jazz, which only add to the intimate feel of the album. Lyrically and production wise, this is Tyler’s best work yet. Eighteen tracks may seem like a lot, but this album flows smoothly. Never once did I loose interest, this is entertaining from start to finish.

I could go on for days discussing every detail of this album, bottom line is you need to hear this. Sonically it’s a rich experience, and if you follow the story it’s even better. This could be a Hip-Hop album of the year contender.

Tyler On:

Twitter

-Filippo

Alex Metric – Ammunition Pt. 3 [Album Review]

Filippo — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 01:37:27 +0000

Alex Metric’s been turning out tunes for the last three years, but it wasn’t until he released part one of his Ammunition series that he really started to turn heads. The first single from that release, Rave Weapon, was a glorious progressive tech house record that grasped listeners from the get-go. Late last year he debuted on OWSLA with Ammunition Pt 2, which included two new originals and handful of remixes of Rave Weapon. Today he releases his third entry in the series and this is what he had to say: “The ammunition series is an opportunity for me to put out straight up club weapons and tracks for my DJ sets across genres. In Pt3 I’ve got full on rave action, house music, a festival sized emotional moment record and some French influenced disco vibes. I hope you all enjoy!”

The EP kicks off with Ilium, which starts with some groovy progressive vibes with a midsection leaning more towards Electro. The chunky bass mixed with the vocal sample is pure listening pleasure. Up next is Scandalism, which happens to be my personal favorite on the EP. It’s the French Disco track he described, and it’s excellent. The sound design is lush and vibrant, the vibes really go along with Spring. Sitting at six minute mark, Scandalism, is Alex’s best production to date. RW2 is next and is Alex’s most aggressive record yet. The build up melody is infectious and and the drop is grimy. Last is, Want Ya, which is straight up House with a small tinkling of Tech. It’s a strong way to end an EP, leaving me wanting more.

Ammunition Pt3 is an enjoyable time. I want to praise Alex for his beat design here. Each song features a little something I found myself loving, like the snare pattern on Want Ya. Alex has done a wonderful job, and I will be keeping an eye on him this year!

Alex On:

Facebook | Twitter | SoundCloud

-Filippo

Dillon Francis @ The Hoxton [Show Review]

Sasha — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:00:23 +0000

It’s a Thursday night in Toronto and the beginning of Easter Weekend as our lovely photographer, Kat Kwan and I head down to The Hoxton. It’s also, coincidentally, almost the end of Bass Week and ravers are lined up outside expecting a hell of a show.

The anticipation had been building inside and this sense of expectation was perfectly cultivated by the openers, Oliver.

The Los Angeles-based duo opened with a slew of French electro as original anthems by Justice and Daft Punk set the tone for the evening. Snapbacks and glowsticks were littered throughout the venue and The Hoxton was at seemingly at capacity midway through Oliver’s set.

U-tern and Oligee took turns on the CDJs and sent the crowd into a frenzy by ending their set with arguably the best Trap song at the moment, RL Grime’s remix of ‘Satisfaction.’

Chants of DILL-ON began to fill the room and blow up cats with red eyes appeared on either side of the stage. The acronym I.D.G.A.F.O.S appeared on the screen and Dillon Francis took to the platform.

He opened with a rendition of Forever Young and transitioned seamlessly into his recent remix of Justin Timberlake’s Suit and Tie. I also noticed that the ‘girl sitting on guy’s shoulder’ quota was relatively high for a show like this.

There were a bunch of cat faces and cutouts of Francis’ head throughout the crowd and it was obvious that people didn’t bring them from home. Whoever came up with this idea deserves a mention as it really elevated the whole experience.

He went through most of his back catalogue and seamlessly switched between Moombahton, Trap, Dubstep and Electro throughout the night. He departed the stage to a round of applause and duly came out and played an encore. He ended up closing with his new single, Messages, featuring Simon Lord.

Thursday night was yet another classic Dillon Francis performance in Toronto. His last two visits were as the opener for Nero and Rusko respectively, and he really rose to the occasion as a headliner.

Dillon Francis on Soundcloud | Facebook | Twitter

View all the photos on our Facebook

Check out more of Kat Kwan’s photography

Sasha Kalra