Author Archives: Ash El Gamal

[Chill] Barny B – Free Your Mind (Etched Remix)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 25, 2016

Barny B
Free Your Mind (Etched Remix)

The UK’s Barny B (fka Barny Rubble) first caught my attention nearly two years ago with “Sucrose,” an aggressive electro-house cut that normally wouldn’t fall into my wheelhouse. The following releases are what really cemented my fandom, though, displaying a versatility that combines elements of UK garage with melodic and bass-driven house music. “Free Your Mind,” which dropped a month ago, encapsulates his style with a catchy bass-line and entrancing vocals provided by himself.

Earlier today, London-based up ‘n comer Etched dropped an official remix for the single flipping its vibe from dance-floor anthem to downtempo-bass masterpiece. As the song kicks off with an atmospheric, future R&B vibe, the vocals remain hypnotizing but in an entirely different way. That Atu-esque serenity contrasts with trap percussion gaining a mind-altering layer courtesy a manipulated vocal sample. All the while the original’s lyrics glide above creating a psychedelic listening experience that crescendos in the final minute. Don’t miss this one and keep your eye out for new material from both budding producers.

[Electronic] Yung Wall Street – Baby

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 25, 2016

Yung Wall Street
Baby

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With the volume of dope Soundcloud releases on a daily basis, there’s bound to be a few tracks we love that don’t make it to the pages of TMN. Just like so many great tunes before it, Yung Wall Street‘s “Baby” may have fallen through the cracks if it weren’t my most played song for the last week. The Moving Castle affiliate has been a mainstay in various Dojos but his latest, Fool’s Gold-released single may be our favorite of his to date.

“Baby” features a lush soundscape accompanied by a vocal sample that absolutely explodes at the chorus. The track doesn’t do anything revolutionary from an arrangement standpoint, but it doesn’t need to. Yung Wall Street’s electro-feels are flawless bringing to mind the likes of Vindata‘s “Spirals” or Hudson Mohawke‘s “Shadows.” Peep above–if it’s your first listen, we doubt it’ll be your last.

[Electronic] Moderat – Reminder

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 5, 2016

Moderat
Reminder

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With sub-genres constantly rising and falling, the electronic music landscape sees a constant influx of producers with names exiting the limelight as quickly as they entered. The artists with true longevity are those who make themselves trend-resistant by displaying a musicianship above the rest. Berlin supergroup Moderat‘s debut and sophomore albums, which came out 6 and 3 years ago respectively, have aged phenomenally for exactly that reason. Right on time with that release schedule, the Berlin supergroup (Apparat + Modeselektor) officially announced their upcoming album III today along with the first single.

“Reminder” presents fans with a new evolution in the Moderat project without losing sight of the minimalist techno vibes that make their music so potent. The track leads with an entrancing percussive loop and the equally hypnotizing vocals of Apparat. Even as additional textures fill out the backdrop, the lyrics remain at the forefront–representing a new exploration for the trio. The emotional and personal nature of the songwriting, dealing with inner turmoil and finding change within oneself, adds a unique depth that crescendos into an eruption of sonic euphoria in the final minute. Vibe out to this one above. Moderat’s III is due out on April 1st via Mute/Monkeytown and is available for pre-order here.

Electronic

[Electronic] Jamie xx, Romy & Four Tet – Seesaw (Club Version)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 4, 2016

Jamie xx + Four Tet + Romy
Seesaw (club version)

Soundcloud

Jamie xx‘s 2015 album In Colour hasn’t even been out for a year yet and it’s already clear that it’ll have some serious staying power. I don’t think a week has passed since it’s release that I haven’t given it a cover-to-cover listen. Although it’s impossible to pick a favorite, “Seesaw,” one of two songs featuring The xx-collaborator Romy Croft, possesses a particularly hypnotizing aesthetic. The combination of a house sensibility, UK garage-influenced percussion and Romy’s soaring vocals creates a texture signature to Jamie xx.

Unsurprisingly, Four Tet, a pioneer in his own right, also contributed to the production of “Seesaw,” which apparently stemmed from sessions all the way back in 2013. This year, Four Tet slightly re-tooled the song with, in his own words, “different drums and mix and arrangement.” The result, as its suffix suggests, is a dance floor-ready version of the track released today that manages to bring a new energy without losing a touch of the original’s magic. This one will definitely be a regular in the weekend mix. It’s also rumored that Justin Martin has a remix of “Seesaw” in the works. We won’t hold our breathe but this should do just fine to hold us over regardless.

Uncategorized

[Future Bass] Point Point – F + L (“Flashing Lights” Cover)

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 4, 2016

Point Point
F+L

Soundcloud

You’d be hard-pressed to find any artist pushing the boundaries of electronic music as much as Point Point. Although often playful in style, the French production duo’s dynamic compositions ooze emotion creating sonic narratives along the way. Today, they presented their fans with “F + L,” an absolutely stunning future bass rendition of Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights.” Opening with a bolstered version of the original’s string section, the song quickly erupts into an irresistible bounce.

The song’s description reads “K, if you read this, please reply to our mail.” Given the quality of their work thus far, maybe Yeezy should consider giving Point Point a ring–much stranger things have happened. This is the type of track you’ve just got to hear for yourself. Give it a spin above.

[Hip-Hop] Rome Fortune – Love

Posted by Ash El Gamal - February 4, 2016

Rome Fortune
Love

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It’s always a dope feeling to see an artist you’ve been following for a while gain momentum and truly hit their stride. What proves even more rewarding, though, is those moments when an artist effectively paints that story from their perspective. Rome Fortune‘s “Love,” the second single off his upcoming Fool’s Gold debut, does just that while embodying the ultra-personal and experimental style that has brought him to this point.

Backed by airy production from oft-collaborator Cubby, Fortune serves up a detailed account of his struggles and triumphs over the last few years. Delving into the realities of making ends meet, being around for his kids and succeeding as a musician, “Love” provides an honest glimpse behind the curtains of an emerging talent. Around the 2:20 mark, Fortune’s vocals erupt into a celebratory auto-tuned croon. For some emcees that risk might not have panned out, but Rome’s comfort out of the norm makes for an endearing and emphatic conclusion. Peep this uplifting tune above–Jerome Raheem Fortune drops on February 26th and is available for pre-order here.

Hip/Hop

Three Years of Make It Funky: An Oral History [Event Preview + Interview]

Posted by Ash El Gamal - January 15, 2016

As we kick off 2016, San Francisco’s local music scene finds itself in an interesting and exciting place. While the city is a guaranteed stop on any tour, the shifting culture and demographics have made homegrown music movements somewhat rare. Thankfully, though, there are a number of local promoters, brands and general music enthusiasts dedicated to maintaining and evolving SF’s distinct nightlife. The Make It Funky collective are one of several such culture drivers who we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last year–SF Ninjas may remember our two collaborative showcases in 2015 at El Rio and Brick & Mortar Music Hall or our appearances on their BFF.fm radio show, which led to one of our own!

For the last three years, the collection of DJs and promoters have been bringing house, disco and funk vibes to San Francisco through their own sets and numerous renowned bookings from around the world.This Saturday (January 16th), the Make It Funky crew are celebrating their 3-year anniversary at Monarch with the help of UK-based disco connoisseur Ray Mang. To help you all prepare we’ve decided to revisit some of the most memorable moments of their run thus far. To get the scoop, we caught up with co-founders Michael Fortune (aka Fortune) and Mohit Kohli (OneMoHit). Flip through some epic and, at times hilarious, peaces of Make It Funky history and grab tickets for their upcoming show here.

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Event Preview