Author Archives: Matthew Bloss

[Electro-Pop/Dance] Tori Kelly – Should’ve Been Us (Lincoln Jesser Remix) [TMN Premiere]

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 16, 2015

Tori Kelly
Should've Been Us (Lincoln Jesser Remix)

For years now we’ve been falling head over heels for L.A. native Lincoln Jesser‘s smooth, saccharine-sweet brand of downtempo synth-pop. Whether we were gleefully consuming the majority of Jesser’s thoughtfully crafted singles & covers, or devouring his debut LP Modern Color with the careful listening precision it truly deserved; it’s safe to say the multifaceted producer has carved out a soft spot within our Ninja hearts.

After the recent release of his successful Ministry of Sound debut, “In My Place,” which echoed a club atmosphere more than we’d ever experienced with the production chameleon, he’s brandished the remixer hat for Tori Kelly’s “Should’ve Been Us” and we’ve got it before any other outlet. Again, we’ve become privy to yet another piece to Lincoln Jesser’s evolution as this time around the soundscape he’s crafted touches on numerous sonic aesthetics. Jesser imbues Tori Kelly’s boy-band hearkening original with a contemporary electronic hip-hop swing and pop sensibility that has us drawing up comparisons to pre-radio AlunaGeorge. Buzzy leads and pitched vocals give the tune’s strong melody all of the necessary breathing room to blossom into a blissed-out revision, and it delivers in spades. We’ve also gotten word that Lincoln Jesser’s already back in the studio working on more original material to follow on this latest angle to his rapidly developing sound.

Stream Lincoln Jesser’s “Should’ve Been Us” remix above.

[Denver Event Preview] Autre Ne Veut @ Lost Lake – 10/16/15

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 13, 2015

When Arthur Ashin’s Autre Ne Veut project announced its followup LP to 2013’s excellent Anxiety in the form of the gleefully frantic Age of Transparency (which you can listen to in all of its glory below via Spotify), we perked up in preparation to devour every last piece as it was revealed. In advance of Age of Transparency’s October 2nd release a few weeks back, we had the chance to hear singles “Panic Room” & “World War pt. 2” and even crafted an entertaining and lovely conversation with him last month, which all only served to stoke our flame for a live experience. Luckily for us, Autre Ne Veut’s just three dates into an album supporting North American tour, and for our Denver based Ninjas, TMN will be out in full force this Friday at Lost Lake Lounge for the show.

The night won’t be short of talent either, with an opening set provided by the talented, L.A. via DC duo of Lindsay Pitts and Clifford John Usher, known simply as GEMS. GEMS have been carving an impressive sonic niche over the last few years, and with their debut on Carpark Records slated for an October 30th release right around the corner (pre-order here) we’re urging our readers to get there early for an amazing night of music.

Stream Autre Ne Veut’s latest LP, Age of Transparency, below, and for the rest of our friends around the country, check out the remaining tour dates underneath the Spotify player.

Oct 13 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Oct 16 – Denver, CO @ Lost Lake
Oct 18 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
Oct 20 – Toronto, ON @ The Hoxton
Oct 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle
Oct 22 – Boston, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
Oct 23 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall
Oct 26 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

[Indie-Dance/Nu- Disco] PHASES – I’m In Love With My Life (Eau Claire Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 7, 2015

PHASES
I'm In Love With My Life (Eau Claire Remix)

Soundcloud

D.C. based Eau Claire has seen her star rise like very few other acts in the world of underground dance music in the last year. Between touring across the US and Mexico to releasing chart topping remixes including a groovy revision of Saint Motel’s “My Type” on Elektra Records and disco sprinkled take on Midnight Pool Party’s “Disease”; Eau Calire maintains a firm spot near the top of the hardest working up-and-comers list in 2015. Today, our favorite indie-dance and deep-disco purveyor brings out her major label debut in the form of a remix for L.A. pop-funk troupe PHASES’ (who you might know better individually as Jason Boesel (Rilo Kiley/Bright Eyes), Alex Greenwald (Phantom Planet), Z Berg (The Like) and Michael Runion) hit single “I’m In Love With My Life” on Warner Brothers Records. Eau Claire injects plenty of that expected disco shimmer into PHASES’ original, using a sterling set of glossy synths, and punchy kicks to push it closer to the dancefloor while keeping that signature feelgood atmosphere completely intact. Needless to say, she’s hit the mark yet again and we couldn’t wait to share it. Stream Eau Claire’s “I’m In Love With My Life” remix above.

[Deep-House] Dear David – Hypnotized (ANEVO Remix)

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 6, 2015

Dear David
Hypnotized (ANEVO Remix)

Buy

As it seems much of the weather stateside has officially shifted over into Autumn territory in the matter of a week, so too do our tastes towards the underground rumblings of dance music. Murkier, and more seductively soulful house rhythms creep into the forefront of this writer’s heavy rotation playlists as the weather transforms, and luckily, Stockholm based producer ANEVO got the memo with his latest remix of Dear David’s “Hypnotized”. We’ve already had the chance to hear this one touched by another artist with Chase’s version of “Hypnotized”; and on the heels of his massive remix for the Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding collaboration “Outside”, ANEVO turn things a shade darker on Dear David’s bouncy original. Thumping kick-drums pulse while atonal harmonies dart across ANEVO’s dreary yet highly accessible soundscape, while Dear David’s original vocal track gets touched up with a clever shot of reverb and effected synths. We couldn’t have asked for a better tune to pair with Denver’s rainy backdrop today, and we’ve not stopped grooving in the process.

Snag your self a copy of ANEVO’s “Hypnotized” through Beatport here, and stream it in its entirety above.

[Electro-Pop] A R I Z O N A – Where I Wanna Be

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 5, 2015

A R I Z O N A
Where I Wanna Be

Download

With only a smattering of singles to their name, the globe spanning trio founded in New Jersey known simply as A R I Z O N A wields a sonic fluency far beyond what their modest catalog would indicate. Taking much of their direction under the guise of pop structuring, A R I Z O N A have been measurably successful adding touches of soul, R&B, rock and disco groove into their evolving aesthetic, and latest single “Where I Wanna Be” marks another foot forward in their short sonic evolution. “Where I Wanna Be” pushes off with a four-four kick drum, bent guitar loop and the kind of vocal pitching that would make Sir Kanye tip his hat in approval before a buttery vocal track takes a welcome hold of the entire tune. If it wasn’t for Zach Hannah’s lush vocal we may have missed the rest of A R I Z O N A’s careful instrumentation, but we couldn’t help but get swept up in their carefully layered synth work which almost steal’s back the spotlight. There are a number of reasons to fall in love with this one, and while we only had time to delve into a few, we suggest you take the reigns and let A R I Z O N A sink their hooks into your listening rotation today. Stream “Where I Wanna Be” above.

[Deep-House] Dirty Secretz Ft. Rebe – Trippin’

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 2, 2015

Dirty Secretz Ft. Rebe
Trippin' (Original Mix) [Whartone Records]

Buy

Let’s be serious for a moment. Fridays are for dancing. For many of us, after a long week at work or in class, Friday’s arrival signals the chance to blow off some accumulated steam on the dancefloor of your choice, no doubt fueled with a little bit of liquid confidence, or whatever it is you kids are getting into these days. So to shift into that weekend state of mind, we like to bring out only the choicest of dance cuts for your listening pleasure. Falling in line with that ethos, we’ve got the latest single to drop from Richie Atkins’ Dirty Secretz project, “Trippin'”, which features the murkily soulful vocals of Rebe. “Trippin'” frames itself around the classic sense of house, with a simple, driving grand piano pattern and punchy four/four kick, but the tune really picks up steam with a perfectly swung rolling bassline that sits atop everything just wonderfully. Originally a bootleg of Jill Scott’s classic “It’s Love”, Dirty Secretz tapped Rebe to re-sing those lovely vocal chops and completely re-imagine the tune as a deeper and more seductive piece of house music.

“Trippin'” sees release via Sonny Wharton’s flagship label Whartone Records today, so hop to it and snag a copy on Traxsource here. We’ll be over here groovin’.

[Album Stream] Favored Nations – The Great Unknown

Posted by Matthew Bloss - October 2, 2015

We’ve been steadily supplying you Ninjas with bits of globe-spanning super electronic group Favored Nations’ looming LP, The Great Unknown, in the form of singles “Always” and “I Can See You” and as the LP sees the light of day today, we thought it was a perfect time to let our inquisitive readership get their full share. Quite the lengthy release, totaling a whopping 18 tracks, The Great Unknown more than satiates our listening passion for Favored Nations’ unique yet highly accessible sound. So, let’s start Friday with the complete vision of Morgan Phalen, James Curd and Surahn “Sid” Sidhu’s epic album project The Great Unknown below.

Purchase The Great Unknown on iTunes here, and for registered Spotify users, enjoy the full album stream below.