Author Archives: Matthew Bloss

[Chill/Dance] Fatboy Slim – Mad Flava (Autograf Remix)

Fatboy Slim
Mad Flava (Autograf Remix)

As Autograf has shifted more steadily out of the underground and into mainstream consciousness, so too has the way in which one of our favorite groove-heavy acts are able to craft melodies. The latest from Autograf sees the trio riffing on one of dance music’s original wisemen, Fatboy Slim, and his classic single “Mad Flava”. As part of Fatboy Slim’s re-release for platinum selling album Halfway Between The Gutter And The Stars, the Autograf boys have been tapped to offer their uniquely flavored dance groove, and have delivered another stellar piece to a constantly expanding palate. Rather than take the easy way out by sprinkling in a four-four kick and painting on a deeper, analog bassline as so many contemporary dance acts are wont to do these days, Autograf takes a much more fluid approach for their rework. Throughout its first half, Autograf toys with the original’s vocal chops, and breakbeat influenced two-step drums topped with an extremely danceable topline before unloading perhaps one of the most distinct and powerful basslines we’ve heard in any music genre this year. This one has us feeling somewhere between the House club and Hip-Hop dancefloor; which is one of the most welcome feelings we’ve had in quite some time. About the remix opportunity, Autograf told us: “We’re huge fans of breaks so when one of the legends hit us up for a remix, we were super honored. Here’s our break beat tribute to one of the pioneers..” while Fatboy kept his side a bit more ambiguous, stating: “Autograf got the finesse, they got the funk, they got the flava. The three F’s right there…” They certainly do. Check out Autograf’s “Mad Flava” remix above, and if you missed their last remix for Alesso’s “Cool”, do your ears a favor and listen here.

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[Deep/Tech-House] Brodanse – Train of Thought (Need & Necessity Remix)

Brodanse
Train Of Thought (Need & Necessity Remix)

House and Techno savants Need & Necessity have been steadily supplying us with some of the most tasteful underground dance tunes to grace our pages for the past couple of years. The last time we had the pleasure of featuring the Denver based pair was through “So Listen”, the succinctly groovy tech burner on their co-founded Night Supply Records imprint, and while we’ve grown used to a heaping dose of soulful backbone on most of their releases, their latest remix for London brotherly duo Brodanse’s “Train of Thought” dips its toes into a number of aural aesthetics. From a smattering of techno influenced percussive elements including a whirring kick-clap pattern and fractured pads, to shuffled hi-hats in the same vein as the most classic of U.K. Garage and a very Phuture tipping acid-house synth line; Need & Necessity have filled a dancefloor sized hole in our hearts with their Brodanse revision. And the perks don’t stop there either, as Need & Necessity are giving this one away on the House (get it?) via their Soundcloud page. We’ve made it through another Monday Ninjas, round yours out with some bounce inducing dance music.

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[Deep-Disco] Miguel Campbell – Into You

Miguel Campbell
Into You

Miguel Campbell, the Leeds based Outcross Records founder and Hot Creations darling made our Monday just a little more bearable with this latest free gift to the blogosphere: “Into You”.  Over the past few years, Campbell has set the benchmark for a signature, and club ruling deep-house/nu-disco hybrid sound, and his latest single fits nicely into that aforementioned niche. “Into You” builds its groove upon a rolling bed of deep bass progression played against an airy backdrop of delicate piano stabs before delving into Campbell’s lush use of reverb steeped vocals. Furthering this one up our list of “must hear” tunes today, “Into You” is being given away absolutely for free on his diamond strewn Soundcloud here, so for our dance fans, hop to it and add this one to your diverse Ninja library. Now.

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[Festival Preview & Playlist] Movement Electronic Music Festival – 5/23-5/25 – Detroit, MI

Once a year, the best and brightest names in Techno, House (and its many iterations) and Disko converge on the city of Detroit for underground dance’s own version of a 3-day Happy Hour, and also one of the most important festivals within dance music’s rich history: the Movement Electronic Music Festival. This year’s lineup continues to set the bar globally for dance tastemakers, and with the full unveiling of their ‘Phase 2’ lineup, it’s clear to see how over the years Movement has been globally recognized for its unique talent curation and programming, showcasing artists from a wide-spectrum of up-and-comers, local luminaries, pioneers and trailblazers, and also the reason so many true dance fans treasure Movement above all other multi-day parties. Featuring some of today’s most notable names in dance music including Disclosure, KiNK (Live), Dixon, Soul Clap, Dog Blood, MK, Hot Since 82, Maya Jane Coles, Ten Walls (Live), Route 94, Tuskegee (Seth Troxler & The Martinez Brothers), Classixx,  Eats Everything, Maceo Plex & GRiZ to some of dance music’s literal genre architects, namely Kerri Chandler, Kevin Saunderson & Derrick May; and some incredibly choice lyricism from the likes of Danny Brown, Method Man, and People Under the Stairs, Movement 2015 looks to be the finest installment in its illustrious history.

We’ll be sending at least one Music Ninja on assignment for this one (expect a full TMN review after Movement’s conclusion) and we can’t wait to join our many friends as well. Tickets for the entire three-day excursion are still available for only $150.00, with single day GA clocking in at $65.00 which you can purchase here. Check out Movement’s latest promo video, featuring Movement Detroit 2015 artist and Techno icon Carl Craig, as he talks about what makes Detroit a destination for those working to become something and waxes poetic about his special connection to Hart Plaza and enjoy our anticipatory and comprehensive playlist below, curated by our crotchety old resident voice of house and techno. We’ll be seeing you soon Detroit.

’Follow – Mary J. Blige / Disclosure’
Dixon – In Our Wilderness
’Rachel Row – L Square (KiNK Mix)’
’Classixx – All You’re Waiting For (Feat. Nancy Whang)’
’Danny Brown – 25 Bucks feat. Purity Ring’
’GRiZ – Gettin’ Live’
’Disclosure – F For You (Eats Everything Remix)’
’Ten Walls – Walking With Elephants’
’Sam Smith – “Lay Me Down” (Maya Jane Coles Remix)’
’Raleigh Ritchie – The Greatest (MK Remix II)’
’Dog Blood – Next Order’
’People Under The Stairs – Acid Raindrops’
’Chelsea Wolfe – “The Warden” (Maceo Plex Remix)’
’Route 94 ft Jess Glynne – My Love’
’Laid Back
Bakerman (Soul Clap Remix)’
’Hot Since 82 – Knee Deep In Louise’
’Seth Troxler – Junkyard Tool’
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[Deep-House/Future] Thee Cool Cats & Lee M. Kelsall – Thee Corner

Thee Cool Cats
“Thee Corner”
 Thee Cool Cats have quickly become one of the most coveted names to see on our weekly release calendar. With recent stellar releases on one of house’s most notable labels, Toolroom Records, including the deep G-stomper “Swerve” and the tech leaning house on “Percussive”, the Mexicali stationed duo haven’t shown any signs of slowing down since bubbling into underground dance consciousness some two years ago. This time around, Thee Cool Cats have teamed up all the way across the pond with Leeds based dance producer Lee M. Kelsall for “Thee Corner”; which will find a home as the first ever release on Thee Cool Cats, Lee M. Kelsall and Sean Roman‘s brand new Altus Project label. Featuring a classic vocal sample from a fine pop hit, Suzanne Vega’s “Tom’s Diner”, “Thee Corner” immediately sets the tone for deep and groovy listening; fusing a bulging analog bassline, and shuffling hi-hats for a contemporary take on what we would dub “Paradise Garage inspired house”. “Thee Corner” is available on Beatport now along with a choice remix from Vanilla Ace and Chad Tyson, so in the spirit of Cinco De Mayo, let’s boogie down to some Mexicali infused dance music.
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[Deep-House] Bobby Nourmand – Gimme Shelter

Bobby Nourmand
Gimme Shelter

Los Angeles based house maestro Bobby Nourmand‘s trek through re-imagined classic tunes has been nothing short of a house tinged earworm for much of the staff here at TMN. After already gracing the blogosphere with dance induced reboots of timeless staples from Simon & Garfunkel and The Doors, Nourmand’s turned his graceful attention to one of Mick Jagger and company’s most recognizable singles: “Gimme Shelter”. Nourmand weaves a sticky web of groove and soul through reduction rather than addition on this latest remix, instilling his focal point of a dingy and rolling 3:00 a.m. deep-house bassline and minimal percussion against Jagger’s unmistakable vocal track before crawling pads and a heavy top line synth bring each separate component crashing together. We’ve been hooked on this one since the first promo copy began circulating, and with “Gimme Shelter”‘s dreary setting played against a gloomy day for those of us Ninjas in Denver, today was the perfect day to share. Bobby Nourmand’s taking our admiration one step further as well, offering up “Gimme Shelter” as a free download here, so indulge yourself today, and tap into his altruistic nature on this most glorious of Cinco De Mayo’s.

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[House/Future] Jason Burns & Sarah Winters – Lightweight (Dr. Fresch Remix)

Jason Burns & Sarah Winters
Lightweight (Dr. Fresch Remix)

While many of our proverbial Ninjas out there may be familiar with house slinger Dr. Fresch‘s more directed style of blending the classic, future, deep and ghetto corners of house music into a cohesive and recognizable sound; most recently on tunes like his remix of Carmada’s “Maybe”, and Gucci Mane’s “Pillz”, today we rather find the So-Cal club shaker in the midst of revealing yet another aspect to an ongoing musical evolution. On this latest offering,  Dr. Fresch ushers Jason Burns & Sarah Winters‘ “Lightweight” towards a melodic sea of progressively tuned dance synths which resonate beautifully on the load-bearing backbone of deep-house foundation; but still manages to appeal to both our affinity for catchy pop and forward thinking tastemaking desires. When pressed about his latest remix, Dr. Fresch stated: “ …I wanted my remix to be representative of my dirty club house style, but also carry a similar vibe and feel to the original. This might be one of my favorite remixes of mine to date because of how I was able to contrast light and dark elements of my sound so well…” We could go on about those clashing melancholy aural electronic elements played against an upbeat, danceable background, but we’d rather just let you listen instead. And for our friends looking to expand their music libraries, be sure to grab a free download of Dr. Fresch’s “Lightweight” remix here through Love & Other and Echelon Artist Collective.

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