Author Archives: Matthew Bloss

[Synth-Wave/Pop] Vanbot – The Way You Say It (Bremen4000 Remix) [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 9, 2016

Vanbot
The Way You Say It (Bremen4000 Remix)

Swedish pop upstart Vanbot‘s latest single “The Way You Say It” and its album counterpart Perfect Storm have been receiving quite the heavy dose of reputable support and buzz. From a Four-Star review in The Times, to a public Twitter endorsement from mega pop-stars Tegan and Sara; Vanbot’s syrupy and infectious sound has been finding its way into nearly every corner of the music bubble. Appropriately, it was only a matter of time until the burgeoning synth-starlet’s malleable pop stems began receiving the very welcome remix treatment.

First to take on official remix duties is the very mysterious Sebastian Forslund and his Bremen4000 project, who’s deft touch pulls “The Way You Say It” into headier pop territory. A rolling vintage synth and burbling bass lay the perfect groundwork for Vanbot’s vocal, which has been cased up within a slathering of reverb, to bob just above water. While the original plays like an effervescent kiss on the cheek, Bremen4000’s revision toys with darker atmospherics and 80’s leaning synth work to make its point. Unfortunately, not much is currently known about the enigmatic producer (who as of the time of this TMN Premiere’s publishing doesn’t have a Soundcloud, Facebook or Twitter page to his name) other than his slightly unorthodox and off-kilter pop production techniques, and tasteful work mostly within the Swedish indie community. But, you can be sure we’ll be staying in tune with everything else to bubble up out of Bremen4000’s catalog. Until then, enjoy the Bremen4000 remix of Vanbot’s “The Way You Say It” above.

[House] Grey Area – Burning

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 5, 2016

Grey Area
Burning

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As a writer for a popular music publication, just a week’s worth of press e-mails can leave your inbox inundated with enough music to spend weeks listening to. Which is why we’ve held a special place on Fridays for those rare slices of carefully crafted dance music for which we’ve personally mined the web for without any outside influence. The latest project to stop us dead in our tracks is the musical synthesis of M/F Denver duo Grey Area who have bubbled out of the ether to bestow upon us some of the most proper house cuts we’ve heard thus far in 2016. Mostly functioning as solo artists, genre-eschewing tastemaker MOSIS (whom our Ninja faithful may have come across more than once) and Denver via Detroit house slayer DESI (who’s received artist support from house heavyweights MK, Dantiez Saunderson and Anabel Englund), have brought their respective proper house games to another level as a pair.

After already pumping out their first EP on Heart of House, Grey Area’s latest record, “Burning”, dives deep into a pool of classic house influence, but executes it with a slickly polished contemporary edge that has us proper house heads swooning. Shuffled hi-hats, a craftily swung bassline and filtered vocal nuance coalesce straight into an addictively crafted melodic hook; and we’ve not been able to shake “Burning” from our collective psyche since first consumption. It’s Friday though, so we advise you to turn this one up and let Grey Area do the talking themselves. Enjoy “Burning” above.

[Deep-House] Bobby Nourmand – S M O K I N’ J O E (Radio Edit)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 5, 2016

Bobby Nourmand
S M O K I N' J O E (Radio Edit)

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The rapid evolution exhibited by burgeoning L.A. house producer Bobby Nourmand has been nothing short of mesmerizing. Over the course of a handful of releases, Nourmand’s entrenched his name firmly on the lips of both writers & critics and most importantly, other artists themselves through a steady stream of quality dance records. We first came across Nourmand’s first officially signed single back on uber-tastemaker The Magician’s 55th ‘Magic Tape’, when it was still floating around the webospheres with a simple “ID” tag, and we just had to find out what this mystery tune was. Luckily for us, The Magician shared the same sentiments and snapped up “S M O K I N’ J O E” for his Potion Records imprint, thus blessing our curious ears with one of the hottest deep-house gems we’ve heard in years. “S M O K I N’ J O E” remains rooted in what has become Nourmand’s signature, deep-club sound, but errs closer to melodic rhythm and structuring than we’ve previously heard in his sterling back catalog. Huge, pumping bass swells and effected synth swoops lay a perfectly dark atmosphere for “S M O K I N’ J O E” to unfurl on, gradually building with precise percussion and careful layering throughout its entire duration. And who can manage to get that hauntingly soulful vocal out of their heads after listening to this one either? With the kind of painstaking attention to detail displayed by Nourmand on his latest record, we’re salivating like on of Pavlov’s Terriers for the next step from the ascending beat maestro.

Bobby Nourmand’s latest original record has already amassed a who’s who list of artist support from the likes of Martin Garrix, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Sander Van Doorn, Oliver Heldens, Afrojack, Bakermat, and Nora En Pure; and we’ve got our hands, and ears for that matter all over this one as well. Stream “S M O K I N’ J O E” above and shift into that Friday mindset a little early today.

[Chill/Disco] Tundran – Last Drive

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 4, 2016

Tundran
Last Drive

Soundcloud

Back in December we had the chance to premiere the incredibly smooth, disco-leaning pop single “Kimono” from Swedish duo Tundran, and it stopped us dead in our tracks. Even with its December release, “Kimono” managed to sneak its way into this writer’s “Honorable Mentions” section for best singles of 2015, and we’d been patiently waiting in the months since for their follow up. Luckily for us, that day has finally graced our ears, as Tundran returns with another expertly crafted slice of laid-back groove, “Last Drive”. A subdued electric piano leads into another buttery, legato melody which dominates most of the tune before a lush and balanced vocal steals the rest of Tundran’s latest record. “Last Drive” comes as part of a Double A-Side release through heavyweight tastemakers PRMD Music, and will see an official February 12th release. Until then, enjoy “Last Drive” above.

[House] Aprés – Prophet

Posted by Matthew Bloss - February 1, 2016

Après
Prophet

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We first ran our ears into U.K. club stalwart Après back in July when we featured his Annie Mac ‘Sunset Mix’ supported house gem “This Ain’t Love”. So, leave it to Miss Mac, who this time graced the Après cut with a full on BBC Radio 1 ‘First Play’ (along with plays on Danny Howard & Monki’s respective BBC Radio 1 programs this past weekend), to cause us house heads to perk up and take notice of the Kent based musician once again. Certainly an artist who’s already asserted himself at the foreground of 2015’s breakthrough house producers, fresh-faced beat-maestro Après returns to one of our favorite boutique electronic labels, Love & Other Records, with “Prophet”. Again, Après trots out his signature sound with an infectious classic house piano hook, steady but vibrant synth play and a thumping low-end to achieve a pulsing, yet subtle house cut. And one we simply just can’t stop rinsing either. Let’s take Mondays back, starting with a little proper house from Après. Stream “Prophet” above.

[Deep-Disco] Bon Volta – Higher (Original Mix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - January 31, 2016

Bon Volta
Higher (Original Mix)

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Upstart independent house & disco label French Press Records have demanded our listening attention through their brief, but deeply groovy output. We first heard label founder Allen French’s “Rosie”, the imprint’s debut release, back in November and after following up with a few more choice dance cuts, French Press are back again with a raucous deep-disco burner from L.A. based newcomer Bon Volta. “Higher”, Bon Volta’s debut release, wraps heavy synth lines, groovily swung analog bass progressions, and a pitched down vocal sample from queen Diana Ross inside a foundation of classic house sensibility. With its thumping club groove, it’s hard not to draw up comparisons to some of the earlier Nora En Pure & Croatia Squad records which rapidly swept through the underground, and we think that’s quite a good thing. Bon Volta’s already received early support from one of the most consistently tasteful artists in any corner of house music, Vanilla Ace, and he’s certainly received our full Ninja stamp of approval as well, marking what looks to be a pretty big 2016 for both Bon Volta and French Press. Stream “Higher” above.

[Dance/Chill] Seafret – Wildfire (Autograf Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - January 26, 2016

Seafret
Wildfire (Autograf Remix)

Soundcloud

One of the hottest acts in all of dance music, and a trio of gentlemen for whom we’ve been passionately consuming their uniquely invigorating dance sound since clear back in 2013, Autograf have returned to our hallowed pages armed with a tasteful flip of acoustic folk due Seafret‘s latest single “Wildfire”. The Chicago triumvirate craft another soothing electronic melody; pumping Seafret’s original vocal track with the deep mistiness of touchy reverb, while encasing them inside a foundation of two-step drum-machine patterning, flowing keys and buoyantly playful synths. It’s clear with each and every passing release the name Autograf finds itself sitting closer to the top of the mountain in regards to their rapid explosion, and it makes us crack a ninja smile to see the rest of the world begin to take notice of their immense talent.

Along with their latest remix, Autograf have simultaneously announced their impending Metaphysical tour which encompasses sixteen live dates across North America starting in early February, for which you can purchase tickets for here. Be sure to check out Autograf’s tour dates below, and enjoy their sterling remix of Seafret’s “Wildfire” above.