DJ Chart: B+B

I'm starting a weekly 10-track DJ Chart to give this blog a bit of consistency with DJ stuff. The tracks will be personally selected by yours truly and consist of new songs, songs I'm playing at the moment, and songs that tickle my fancy. The charts will have a bit of everything, because I'm interested in so many types of dance music. I'll also try to arrange them by genre, going from house towards techno. If there's dubstep or other stuff, I'll put it at the end. Eeeerewego:

1. Pryda vs. Oasis - Wonderwall 2Night (Ken Loi Bootup) // Progressive House

Normally, I'm not that into bootlegs and mashups but this one is really well done. It sounds so professional, unlike most of them out there. 2Night has, since its release, become one of my favorite Eric Prydz tracks. It's so uplifting; you can't listen to this and not be optimistic. The Oasis vocals over it are the perfect compliment. Can you say, "What should I close a set with?" How about this:


2. Arno Cost - Lise // Big Room House, Techno

OK, it's not brand spanking new, but came out in the summer, and it's a fucking BANGER TO END ALL BANGERS. Seriously, the last (relatively unknown) track I've heard set a place off like this one was Cirez D's On Off. Interestingly enough, the songs are actually very similar in how they're constructed and especially in how they build tension. Lise is more melodic though, and will appeal to a wider audience. This is a track that will take any DJ set up a gear. Be wary though, because it's hard to top in terms of energy, which is why Calvin Harris closed his EDC set with it. Well done, sir:


3. Avicii - Levels (Clockwork Remix) // Electro House

How do you remix a song with such an iconic sound that a remix could seriously fuck it up? Well, you keep that iconic sound intact for portions, then you commence auditory assault on listeners' ears. Clockwork gets it right here-give 'em what they want, then shoot them in the fucking face. Clockwork is a Los Angeles-based DJ and producer just emerging onto the scene via a string of solid remixes and productions. Definitely one to watch in the future. The kid's gonna do big things. See him at HARD Haunted Mansion, and get on board before the masses do:


4. Bassjackers - Mush Mush // Electro House

Drop beats not bombs. That famous quote doesn't apply to this track because, well, this track is more of a bomb than a beat. It's the kind of electro house people either love or hate, because it's so in-your-face. Think Congorock's Babylon or Bart B More's Brap!. Big, bold side-chained synths almost drown out the sleezy kick and near lack of percussion. The break is more melodic, which is a nice contrast to the maximal nature of the rest of the track. Moby dropped it at Electric Zoo. Enjoy:


5. Toddla T - Take It Back (Dillon Francis Remix) // Glitch Hop

I have only been introduced to Dillon Francis' music recently, but to put it plainly, his shit is fucking dope. It's not house music, even though it sounds like slowed down (100-110bpm) electro house; it's part of an emerging (maybe just getting trendier?) movement of what Beatport calls Glitch Hop. Though it doesn't really make sense to say that the genre has emerged from the combination of dubstep and electro house, when you listen to this kind of stuff, you kind of feel that IS somehow the demon child of both genres. The term makes sense, but I'm not particularly crazy about genres, though they can be useful, if not necessary, for categorization purposes. Dillon Francis is one to watch. I'd love to see him play-this shit rocks live. Friends, meet glitch hop:


6. Knife Party - Internet Friends // Electro House

Electro house has seen an arms race with regards to just how maximal it can get without literally turning into heavy metal. Knife Party is the embodiment of this notion. Formed by Pendulum's Rob Swire and Gareth McGrillen, Knife Party is a musical outlet for the duo's electro house interests. This song is fucking hilarious. The theme that runs throughout is stalking via social media. The idea is that there's a creepy woman that is clearly stalking you via Facebook. The climax comes following an almost scary bridge, hearing creepy noises and the iconic iphone ringtone. It lead's up to the woman saying, "you blocked me on Facebook, and now you're going to die." What commences is the filthiest of filth:


7. Stefano Noferini - Fact // Techno, Tech House

Enough electro house for now. I'm really into house's darker cousin too, and want to highlight that. Stefano Noferini makes groovy ass tech house and techno that makes you wanna move. Fact is no exception. It's not as melody-based as it is beat-driven, but there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot going on, but nothing overwhelms the other parts. Clearly meant for a real sound system, this song will bore the socks off even seasoned techno fans when heard from laptop speakers. If you have a fat sub tho, crank it and play this track, because, like all dance music, needs to be turned up. So do so:


8. Mark Fanciulli - The Tide (Joris Voorn Remix) // Tech house

Joris Voorn's been one of my absolute favorite producers and DJs for the last few years. His production is always on point-clean and powerful basslines, funky samples, and perfect percussion. Something about his productions just embodies the house sound so well, yet it doesn't sound like it's from the mid-90s. It's fresh as hell. This song is so groovy thanks to an infectious sample (sounds like "whawoooo"), clean production, and a strange but kinda funny vocal. Whawooooo, whawoooo:


9. Pleasurekraft - Tarantula // Tech House, minimal, WHA?

Oh gawdddd, that vocal sample! Ah-ah-ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah--TCHHEEERRRWWWWW. Not only is Pleasurekraft one of my favorite producers of dance music at the moment, their sound is unique and ORIGINAL. Seriously, I'd love to hear someone else that does what they do better, if at all. This song is not new by any means, but this simply points to the love I have for this song. Clean production, groovy beat, and quite possibly the greatest manipulated sample in recent dance music history (Yes. I said it). The twisted, demented vocal sample after the break emerges from total silence like someone or something walking up to you in complete darkness. It's just barely audible at first, then gets louder, and louder, until you're like what the fuck are my ears telling my brain right now? White noise begins shrouding the sound to build the tension, followed by a moment's silence, and finally all the parts come together so perfectly as the beat is reintroduced alongside the eerie vocal. Ah, turns out that person or thing creeping up on you in the blackness was just your friend-and you're REALLY glad to see him. What a track. In terms of longevity, this is definitely my favorite Pleasurekraft song, with Carny a close second.


10. Matthew Dear - Free to Ask (SIS Edit) // Techno, Tech House, minimal

I promise there are no typed out imitations of sounds in this one. Last, but certainly not least. I heard this on John Digweed's Transitions podcast featuring Pig & Dan, who did a guest mix. I was drawn to this track not only because it's so dark and eerie, but so well produced. The vocal is as strange as they come, but anyone who says there isn't a place for the weird in dance music is as ignorant as they are a noob. The production is a lesson in subtle techno. Dusty hi-hats perfectly compliment those creepy ass vocals and accompany a warm, rich bass stab every four beats. The glue that holds it all together? Those papery (by all means I encourage you to think of a better word), dry snares. This song is such an enigma to me, because I can't grasp what it is that keeps me coming back for more. The whole really is greater than the sum of its parts. Welcome to the dark side:

Restaurant Review - Fogo de Chao - Eating like Ronaldinho

Check out the Yelp box to the right-it has my review of Fogo de Chao, one of my all time favorite restaurants. Enjoy!

Restaurant Review - Talpa - a staple of my childhood

Many reviews to come. Keep an eye on the Yelp! app on the right. That's where my reviews will go. Eventually i'll cover every restaurant I've been to. Fogo de Chao next!