Wednesday, December 31, 2014

My EDM Top Ten - Part 5

It's finally New Year's Eve and I wish you all the best entry into the new year, but before we get there I want to share what I think has been the greatest elements of the electronic world this year. 

2. Arkasia.
 Okay, I simply cannot express how talented this man is. He changes the game with EVERY release. January saw the release of the Impact EP, which featured Orbit - the mammoth second single which I can promise, will still drive as much emotion in ten years as it does now. His Electronic Symphony album released in May, continued to perpetuate his mastery of the genre. Listening to it in succession will always give me the greatest buzz, even with four albums with Heavy Artillery Records he still finds a way to bring something original to the floor. In my eyes he really is the best, and 2015 promises to be another big year for him. The preview of the title track from his next album, Ethereality, is now out on his soundcloud. Watch this space.
https://soundcloud.com/arkasiaconcept/ethereality-beta-preview


1. Kannibalen Records
 This position really must go without saying, if you've been aware of Kannibalen over the last twelve months then you have undoubtedly been supplied with the most diverse, most daring and sometimes the most downright terrifying songs to have been produced. ever. They have all been at it and they as a team have all been reaching heights that I don't believe have ever been seen before in this corner of the electronic world. They are quickly becoming an international name with international artists, and genre encompassing releases. I can't fault them; Black Tiger Sex Machine, Apashe, Dabin, Dead Battery, Karluv Klub, ALL OF THEM have raised the bar for themselves this year and have done so time after time, a round of applause is long overdue for these guys, but they appear to love what they do so much that the fame slips into less important matters.
It is Kai Wachi however who tops them all in my opinion, no single producer has made me fear for my sanity as much as he. Really, I don't know what fuels his menace, I think that'll be a secret left secret. However, for this year at least he really is number ONE.

Happy new year everyone, all the best for 2015!
https://soundcloud.com/kannibalenrecords
https://soundcloud.com/edm/kai-wachi-o-n-e-edmcom-premiere
Written by @Jiffursaurus

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

My EDM Top Ten - Part 4

4. Crywolf.
When it comes to my favourite new artist discovery of the year, Crywolf is absolutely, absolutely no. 1. I don't think any of his work this year can be discredited on any level, his work this year on the Angels EP and his collaborative works with Ianborg on the Runaway EP set new standards in their field. It's an incredible feat for an artist (or artists) to be so exposed through their work - I feel as though I can listen to Ribcage and see every intimate moment that led to it's creation, but I don't think anyone else does this nearly the same way he does, I feel it's made for me and for me alone, it's that closeness that wins him a spot on my list.
https://soundcloud.com/crywolf/sets/crywolf-ianborg-runaway-ep-1

3. Inspected Launch Event
On a completely different end of the spectrum, The Inspected Launch was such an eruptive, exhilarating experience. It was literally a completely free gig organised by the good people over at the Inspected label in honour of their pop-up store in Shoreditch, London. I traveled there with a good friend of mine, I met some of the producers I've longed to see live for years and then got to hear them play. Incredible.
I have so much respect for all of those who played that day, including XKore, Gemini, Asa & Sorrow, but it was Culprate's set that stole the show. It's still the single best live set I've ever heard.
Here's some footage from the event, it's not the best quality, but then live shows really can't be relived through video footage. But do enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XPlFStVznc

Monday, December 29, 2014

My EDM Top Ten - Part 3

6. Seven Lions - Worlds Apart EP
 I think I can say honestly say that this EP was up there with this year's best. It really is beautiful, otherworldly listening. Listening to the EP in order you begin somewhere on terrestrial ground with 'Don't Leave' but over the next three songs especially, you are emotionally catapulted into the sheer joy of the stars. No single track was given anything but total attention during production and you can feel how he [Seven Lions] really has given his all to each song: I must also applaud Kerli's efforts on 'World's Apart' and 'Keep It Close' her vocals are so haunting, so unadulterated. The two artists are so celestial in their work here that I really do feel humbled each time I see the titles. It will be a very long time before this EP will be matched, but it has already earned an eternal place in my mind at least.
https://soundcloud.com/seven-lions/sets/seven-lions-worlds-apart-ep


5. The Glitch Mob - Love Death Immortality
If you've just read my post for Seven Lions at no.6, you must be wondering why he's so far away from the number One spot on my list, but then again, I cannot tell you how much The Mob have rocked my world over the past year. The LA-based trio announced their second album maybe this time last year with a February release. I could not contain my excitement. Days on end I could listen to nothing but 'Drink The Sea' (Their debut (outstanding) album) and their second album demolished every expectation I could have had. They used this album as a space to court with their darkness, dance with their wild natures and to really explore the depth and breadth of the sound they are still so greatly unchallenged in.
And this is how I felt BEFORE I went to see them in concert. They blew my mind. I stood with hundreds of other fans, reveling in raw emotion. It was the first time I had ever felt so much with so few words involved. It really was the best night of my life.

I even did a backflip in the final drop of the last song of the night. If something like that doesn't make you feel as if you've taken on a starship with your bare hands and won, I really don't think that anything will.

This video was taken from that show in London, which at the time was the greatest event I had ever been to live! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7SoQWTFJ_k

Sunday, December 28, 2014

My EDM Top Ten

Day 2 of my countdown. Here are my next two standouts from the world of EDM over 2014.

8. Techno Music
  I feel as though I was completely in the dark with techno sounds before this year. It was something I had never encountered
consciously, I probably imagined it to be nothing more than mid tempo basslines and overly predictable drum synths.
AND THEN I FOUND THE LIGHT.
Techno music (once I found it) has been a blast to listen to. It can have the effect of being dunked in a bucket of ice-cold coffee (its effect can be somewhat milder.) It gets you awake, gets your mind going. It just might get more of you out of before 11am if you're brave enough.
Check out the link below. If AM138 catches your fancy you can find a 2hour long mix that they made for IMFMag for your techo trial-by-fire..

https://soundcloud.com/am-138/towk


7. Witch House & Chilled Trap
  My number seven is another genre for you to overwhelm your senses with. If you're reading this, then Trap music, (and perhaps Chilled Trap) is something you've most likely come across before. The trusty 808s so firmly underpin those crisp, sincere vocals and melodies, and I'm still unable to find anyone who honestly dislikes this 'power peaceful' sound. Witch House on the other hand might best be described as the Demon cousin of the 'power peaceful,' the order is less predictable, the upper layers are a bit more distorted, the entire thing has been dipped into liquid chaos and it emerges with a form that provokes both awe and terror. It's something that I will be paying special attention to over the next year.

https://soundcloud.com/blvck-ceiling/death

Saturday, December 27, 2014

My EDM Top Ten

Now a couple days ago, my buddy Jeremiah asked me to list my favourite ten electronic songs from this year for him. It's a question we all ask each other as December slips away from us and January looms ever closer, and this year may well have been my best year to date for being involved with the music I love, even when I've only been a fan (I'll probably say this every time.) But instead of limiting the list to songs (that would require a heart wrenching amount of compromise) I'm going to list everything from new artist discoveries to live events that I was a part of over the last year.

I'll be posting two pegs from my top ten each day until the New Years' Day, so stick around and enjoy the ride.

10. Liquid Drum & Bass
 
  Now Liquid drum & bass has always been something I've loved, but somewhere over the course of the last three years the genre has taken a massive backseat for me. It wasn't until Liquicity announced their first London gig that I reconnected with my first electronic love. If liquid drum & bass isn't something you've encountered much then hit the link below, and give yourself an hour to dream away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKHmwmEGFqI


9. Orkidea - Unity (Orion & J. Shore Remix)

 Now, simply put. This song blew my mind. It is everything a song of this genre should be, it's calm and soothing and riveting all at the same time. Somewhere along the 8 minute long melody it holds the power to restore me to a peaceful place, always. I do believe this mix was finished long before 2014 began to be fair but it earns a place on my list regardless.
The final version of this song isn't actually up on Youtube, but earlier edits of are available for you to enjoy. The full version won't cost you much so do buy a download if you like what you hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi8daLYlmMI


Written by @Jiffursaurus
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