Sander Van Doorn is a Dutch house DJ that’s been mixing since 2004. A friend of mine introduced me to his highly popular “Koko,” and I’ve been hooked on his stuff ever since, and I’m damned excited for his BBC Essential mix. In addition to Van Doorn’s original mix, I’ve got the Time Takers’ remix which just picks up the tempo for a more upbeat rendition of an already stellar track.
A new mashup album came off the presses a few weeks ago by 3LAU, the LA DJ that’s pretty new to the scene. Sampling from Sander Van Doorn’s popular “Koko,” 3LAU deftly mixes it up with pop lyrics that just seem to meld perfectly. Give his stuff a listen and hit the jump for his new LP.
Click here to download | Click here to download Dance Floor Filth for free
If you’re fresh to the EDM scene, then look no further than Steve Aoki or Afrojack. Steve Aoki hails from California, but an odd fact that not a lot of people know about Steve is that he’s the son of the guy who started the Benihana chain of restaurants. Afrojack comes from across the Atlantic from the Netherlands (surprise surprise) and has been spinning records since 2006, so well so that he earned a grammy this year. Not much more to say than below there are stream and download links to the original plus a remix by Panic City & Supersede, both of which are exquisite on the ears, although I prefer the latter (I’m not huge on the waaa waaa waaa bit).
I’m not all that familiar with Edit Murphy other than he dabbles in deep house, funk, disco, and all forms of dance type music. “Mercy” comes off his free EP titled Motown Edits Vol. I. The track is a little forlorn but still struts a solid beat to keep you groovin’ until last call at the bar. Hit the jump for the stream and the d/l of his free EP
Click here to download | Click here to download Motown Edits Vol. I free!
Aaaand it’s been too long since I’ve posted, so I’ll start with a bit of a throwback with Busdriver’s “Imaginary Places.” Released back in 2002, “Imaginary Places” is one of Busdriver’s best known tracks. He’s said to spit an amazing 12 syllables in a second, stuff that’s hard to wrap your mind around. If you guys have ever played Tony Hawk’s Underground, then you’ll know the beat, which samples from esteemed classical composer Bach and his Minuet and Badinerie Orchestral Suite No 2 in B Minor. So if you’re like me and like fast lyrics over classical music, then yeah, this is for you.
Click here to download | Buy Busdriver’s music on iTunes
Hmmm…a complete collaborative album by Ye and Hova? Sounds like a recipe for aural bliss. That’s an understatement to the hype that was behind their recent LP titled immodestly Watch the Throne. Were the duo successful? At first glance, yes. In a nutshell? No, I don’t think so. That’s not to say that it’s bad, it’s just underwhelming compared to what the two emcees are capable of on their own. A prime example is “H.A.M.,” short for “Hard as a Motherfucker,” is an apt title for the Lex Luger-produced beat. The beat is gangster as 24″ rims on a baby blue scraper, but its the sort of sound that’s beneath the producing capabilities of Ye. In most circumstances, Ye is one of my favorite producers because of his ability to mix unorthodox samples that is borderline ridiculous, but does so with such talent that I applaud him for it as I listen to it. However when Kanye samples Cassius’ “I Love You So,” it just seems a little overdone, a bit half-baked. Don’t let my opinion of the LP ruin things for you, check below for a sampling of my favorite tracks on the album and use your own astute sense to be the judge of Hova and Ye’s latest musical creation. Oh, and be sure to check out their “Otis” music video where they part and chop a $400,000 Maybach simply because they can.
Jesus I have a soft spot of ukuleles. They’re just so small and yet, so amazing. Can such an instrument resonate the air with such uplifting sound waves? I think not. That’s why I was pretty pleased when I stumbled upon Crystal Fighters. While they’re guitarists by nature, the Spanish five member band is completely capable of transferring their sound to the guitar’s diminutive cousin. If you’re into ending your summer on a soundtrack with a high note, look no further than Crystal Fighters and their track “Plage” from their debut album Star of Love. Although the remainder of their album is more electronic than this indie track, I urge you to purchase it if you like what you hear!
Click here to download | Buy Crystal Fighters’ music on iTunes
In my lazy pursuit of expanding my music horizons, I both look for new artists, and delve into ones I’ve already heard. In the case of Temper Trap, it was more of rediscovering something I had already heard and to be honest, dismissed as so-so in my book. What a fool I was! Temper Trap is another Aussie indie rock band hailing from Melbourne. They’re arguably best known for their song “Sweet Disposition,” which has been showcased in many syndicated TV shows as well as movies such as “500 Days of Summer.” The four-man band released their first album in 2009 titled, rather benignly, Conditions. Due to the success of “Sweet Disposition,” it has been remixed by many artists, from acapella to electronic forms. One of the best of the lot in my opinion is a remix by Axwell and Dirty South, which has a good flow from slow and fast tempo that’ll keep you wanting more.
Martin Solveig is a DJ hailing from Paris who has been able to gain general acclaim in his own country. His hit “Hello” garnered greater international fame, and justly so. Some might argue it lacks technical aspects that EDM enthusiasts claim make him a standout DJ, but it has one aspect that is essential: it’s fun. I heard this song again recently at a friend’s 21st, and it is one of those tracks you just jam to when you’re one slurred syllable from black out because it’s just what you need. Get up, chug, and get funky!
Click here to download | Buy Martin Solveig’s music on iTunes
I was listening to Deadmau5′s iconic “Strobe” while on a 2 AM drive a couple of days ago and couldn’t help looking into what he’s been up to. Deadmau5 has been busy enjoying the summer, and actually released a hot new track just earlier today. It’s less frantic than his previous new song “Professional Griefers,” that first debuted at Lollapalooza. The heavy bass and hypnotic synth is nothing short of a great way to end the season, so without further ado I give you “Where My Keys.”
Click here to download | Buy Deadmau5′s music on iTunes
