Etherwood - In The Moment

Merry Christmas to everyone, it's been a great day and now it's time to wind down and enjoy with the gift that just keeps on giving - music. 

Hospital Records saved the best until last in terms of their online advent calendar which saw the release of the free 'Christmas Cracker EP' given out yesterday, featuring four outstanding tunes from Etherwood, Fred V & Grafix, Metrik and Royalston. Hotly tipped producer for 2014, Etherwood, has done a stunning production titled 'In The Moment' which couldn't be more suitable for this time of year - piano melodies and liquified drums that are impossible to not tug at the heart-strings. Would be rude not to accept a free EP from one of D&B's leading labels. Grab the Christmas Cracker EP for free here.

All About She - Higher (Preditah Remix)

When I first heard original debut track 'Higher' from new London-based production trio All About She, firstly it immediately put a smile on my face - an uplifting, catchy tune that balances itself nicely on the fence between UK garage and commercial pop. I expected big things for the track released at the beginning of the month, assuming it would get huge amounts of radio play and be a high climber on the UK top 40 chart. But it still seems to be bubbling under the surface and doesn't seem to be getting the recognition I predicted - a late bloomer possibly?

Anyway, enter Preditah - The grime/garage pioneer takes the track to another place - keeping the addictive vocal work in tact whilst adding a deeper, grittier bassline to pull the track into the grime sphere. Preditah's remix makes it an overall more dancefloor-ready track that I reckon could be a huge success in the club-scene.

https://www.facebook.com/allaboutsheofficial

Jubei - State Of The Art (ft. SP:MC)

I'm disappointed in myself for not being quicker off the mark with this track, just because it is so, so good - I wasn't even aware of Jubei having a new album released as of recently until being introduced to this banger, and after downloading the whole album 'To Have & Have Not', I can safely say that it is one of many from the album that had its release late October via Metalheadz. Production is dark and smooth rolling and SP:MC's lyrical flow is at its finest that makes this a rave-ready track that would act as the cherry on top of any drum set.

Couldn't be more impressed with this really - DnB fanatics, I highly recommend downloading the whole album available by following the link HERE

Grizzly Bear - Will Calls (Diplo Remix)

Who would've thought that two artists whose music seemingly contradict each other so much would work so well when put into production together. Grizzly Bear, a band whose music prides itself on raw emotion, live instruments and pure melodies gets the remix treatment from dance/electro heavyweight Diplo. Completely twisting the track 'Will Calls', taken from the extended version of the chart topping 2012 album 'Shields', on it's head whilst still maintaining the originals musical integrity. When it comes to Diplo you always have to expect the unexpected, and he somehow manages to pull it out of the bag every time - I suppose this is what gives him the status amongst the industry that he has.

Generosity goes a long way too - Download is free.

Mac Miller - Eggs Aisle

Just in time for Christmas, Pittsburgh rapper and wordsmith Mac Miller is prompting for his latest album 'Live From Space' to be dropped tomorrow - as the title suggests most of the tracks featured on the album are live renditions taken from his recent Space Migration tour. Five of these fourteen tracks featured however are exclusive and unheard (until now). Mac has now dropped all tracks online for our listening pleasure, and being a huge fan of his, i'm obliged to share.

'Eggs Aisle' has to be a personal favourite of mine from the new tracks - the production is on point and Mac's lyrical flow is undeniable. Sit back, drift away.

'Live From Space' available tomorrow - view in iTunes HERE

TC - Get Down Low

Might be a bit late off the ball with this one.
 latest single from TC - 'Get Down Low' and title track from the new EP. I know there's been some criticisms of TC's latest work roaming around the web but I personally love the direction he's taken with his productions and remixes as of recently - this track would definitely get me hyped up on a night out. TC takes his knowledge of D&B productions and adds a trap influence, fusing the two genres together like never before. And he's doing something right, because this has been climbing up the iTunes dance chart. Great video too.
Everybody get down low.

'Get Down Low' EP available to purchase now:
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/get-down-low-ep/id741256354

Great Good Fine OK - Your'e The One For Me (Option4 Remix)

I think the original of 'Your'e The One For Me' is a really great song and Colorado-based producer option4 does it justice here, bringing a bouncy baseline and an all round kick-back, feel-good house vibe to the tune.

Download is free.

https://soundcloud.com/option4
https://www.facebook.com/option4music

Zinc - Show Me

Zinc does no wrong.

 Another huge release from dance-music kingpin DJ Zinc, a big bouncy beat that will stick in your head, get your hands in the air and feet shuffling all over the shop. No doubt a future hit.

Forthcoming on Rinse 2014, no more specific info - but be sure to keep posted.
https://www.facebook.com/djzinc

Maztek - iMaz

Maztek smashes it out of the park with this production. 'iMaz' taken from his 'M-Theory' EP is easily my favourite off the 4-track EP, and possibly even from Maztek's back catalogue. 

Glitchy, tight and bass-heavy this track is one that'll be a big one to hear drop in drum sets in the future.

M-Theory EP released via Renegade Hardware - purchase here

Maztek FB: https://www.facebook.com/MaztekHQ

Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/maztek

Etherwood - Spoken (S.P.Y Remix)

[UPDATE; Hospital have released the official audio, taken from the 18 Years compilation]
 - a stunning remix from S.P.Y, the original of 'Spoken' from Etherwood is a track I hold dearly; one of those tunes I fell in love with at the first listen. Naturally, I didn't know what to expect from the remix as I didn't think any rework could do the track justice, but for a track like this theres no better man for the job than S.P.Y - i've fallen in love all over again with this version.

Track is taken from Hospital Records 18 Years compilation album that will be available at the end of January.

Also huge congratulations to Etherwood winning both best newcomer DJ and newcomer producer - fully deserved.

DJ Fresh vs. Jay Fay - Dibby Sound (Sigma Remix)

A lot of big industry names lending themselves to the production of this track - this is 'Dibby Sound', the forthcoming DJ Fresh single in which he's collaborated with St. Louis producer Jay Fay and even invited along the legendary garage vocalist Ms Dynamite to create a flavoursome, big-beat tune that sounds as if it has quite possibly taken some influence from DJ Fresh's previous collab partner Diplo.

Anyway, as if there weren't enough names on the track - London-duo Sigma have lent their remixing skills to give it their signature drum and bass sound. These two haven't been keeping quiet in the scene at the moment, with the success of their latest single 'Rudeboy' which I featured not too long ago still rumbling on, this latest remix should keep the hype surrounding them well and truly alive - as well as getting dance floors packed with happy ravers.

Remix is released alongside the original 02.02.14

Shift K3Y - Make It Good

London-based and hugely under-rated producer Shift K3Y is back with his latest production 'Make It Good', a hedonistic dance track with a catchy chorus and a funky house piano-loop which raises all the signals for it to become a huge hit in the dance clubs over the coming months, as well as a tune thats going to be swilling around in your head for hours after listening.

Once again, download is free for those willing to head on over to the official Shift K3Y website, linked below;

http://www.shiftk3y.com/

TEEMID & Joie Tan - Crazy

Pop-production remixer TEEMID teams up with youtube cover songstress Joie Tan to deliver a renewed version of a past chart-topper.

A real kick-back tune this one -
as soon as that play button was hit I could feel myself sinking into my chair whilst I indulged in this astounding and delicate cover of Gnarls Barkleys smash-hit 'Crazy'.

A familiar song to most, but covered in a way which puts it in a league of its own.

Pure bliss on the ears, and it seems like I'm not the only one that thinks so - this cover has put the viral music scene into a spin and is currently sitting on top of the hype machine chart.
And if the track alone isn't enough to sweeten your tastebuds, it's been given out as a free download. Spoilt.

KAASI - Where We Started

Silky vocals from Jessica Sophie accompanies the smooth, progressive and smothering production from  Kaasi's latest release 'Where We Started'. The kind of music that will make you feel warm inside even on the coldest days of these winter months.

This track has been getting a whole bunch of recognition amongst the house scene since its unveiling back in September - the fact that it's been given out as a free download almost feels like a robbery, but I don't hear anyone complaining. Love it.

If you wanna hear more beats like this check out the KAASI soundcloud page:

https://soundcloud.com/itskaasi

Mapei - Don't Wait

This is the pop music of the future - an incredible and underrated vocal piece from upcoming artist Mapei that has been coated in a delicate electronic production, heavily infused with repetitive kick-drums and finger-snap patterns that give the track its stand-out edge and catchiness; persuading its listeners to keep their fingers on the replay. Standing firmly on the fence between an upbeat jam and a down-tempo ballad, the track is versatile and thus appropriate for any circumstance, another attribute that makes it a strong contender to be a big hit in the pop industry.

Really looking forward to seeing how this track progresses and what that means for Mapei's career.

The yet-to-be-titled album will be out next year on Downtown Records, but 'Don't Wait' is available to purchase now (grab it here)

And if this isn't enough; the Kingdom remix is an equally pleasing experience for the ears - give it a listen HERE

Hybrid Minds - Music Talks

For anyone who knows me personally, or who is a regular follower of the blog, it's not a challenge to realise that i'm a humungous supporter of Hybrid Minds - deservedly one of the biggest drum and bass acts emerging into the scene at the moment. It's been just over a week since their debut album 'Mountains' was released to the public (available to purchase HERE) and the feedback i've seen people giving has been nothing but positive.

We'd already been graced with a bunch of tasters prior to the albums release, but giving the album the full indulgence it deserves made me realise that there isn't one track that I wouldn't want to showcase; however, i've decided to go for 'Music Talks' - a liquid masterpiece that touches on what Hybrid Minds are all about - gentle, atmospheric D&B which makes you want to lay back and let all those worries you may have melt away. Anyway as the track recommends, i'll let the music do the talking.

Justin Timberlake - TKO (Black Friday Remix)

It's Black Friday weekend and it seems as good a time as any for Justin Timberlake to go ahead and share this exclusive remix of his latest track 'TKO' and I can safely say I don't think any of us were expecting to hear a version like this - i'm not a huge fan of the original, but calling forth on the help of current rap dons A$AP, J. Cole and Pusha T, who all go in on their respective verses - along with a production re-work from the big man Timbaland himself, this track is transformed. Hard tune.