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Kompakt, the label for electronic big whigs like SuperMayer, SuperPitcher, and my personal favorite, Gui Boratto, has just released their 9th mix compilation titled Total 9. The tracks on this album seem to bit slower than some of their past compilations. Too slow for the big dance floors. Why expect that in the first place? Kompakt always give off a darker vibe than other popular labels. But, isn’t that what separates them from the more dance floor friendly labels, such as, Ed Banger and Kitsune. Whether Kompakt is better than the other two? That depends on what you are judging them on. If it is by the quality of their most recent mix compilations, then, Kompakt is clearly the winner. So, if you’re looking for an album to chill out to, this is it. Everyone needs some good night music to crash to every now and then. Peace & Beats
For a better review of the album check out RA’s HERE
TRACK LISTING:
01. Justus Koehncke – No Thanks For The Add
02. DJ Koze – Zou Zou
03. Superpitcher vs The Congosound – Say I’m Your Number One (Album Version Superpitcher Remix)
04. Juergen Paape – Come Into My Life (Feat. Alison Degbe)
05. Matias Aguayo – Minimal
06. Supermayer – Hey Hotties!
07. Joerg Burger – Modernism Begins At Home
08. Superpitcher – Disko! (You Don’t Care)
09. Partial Arts – Telescope (KOM CD 67 Version)
10. Thomas Fehlmann – With Wings
11. Burger & Voigt – Wand Aus Klang
12. Dubshape – Droplets (Early Night Mix)
13. Jonas Bering – Can’t Stop Loving You
14. Robert Babicz – Don’t Look Back
15. Nightguy – Pretty Face
16. Gui Boratto – Anunciacion
17. The Rice Twins – The Signifier
18. Nicolas Stefan – Time Is Over
19. Kaito – Everlasting Dub
20. SCSI 9 – Another Day Acid
21. Maxime Dangles – Tulipa
22. Freiland – Geduld
Maxime Dangles – Tulipa [Kompakt] Zshare
Great song. I used to listen to it when his EP was released earlier this year. Along with his other song “Firewire.”
RATING: 4 STARS
Matias Aguayo – Minimal (DJ Koze Remix) [Kompakt] Zshare
The DJ Koze version of “Minimal” isn’t on Kompakt’s Total 9 but it is a stellar remix and I could easily see it becoming huge on the Indie dancefloors across the globe. Check it out. If you don’t like it I will be amazed. The vocals are insanely catchy.
RATING: 5 STARS
Indie dance record label Ed Banger released a mixtape earlier this month. After listening to it I concluded it is absolute shit. Seriously, it is total garbage. Considering the incredible rise of Justice and other acts like DJ Mehdi, Mr. Oizo, and SebastiAn, you would think they could release a better album. Hopefully none of these tracks are fresh because they sound like tracks they could have made back in the day when they were trying to get their foot in the door. There were only two songs I found to be mediocre at best; “Stress” by Justice probably due to I saw that amazing show, “Pocket Piano” by DJ Mehdi, and “Decalcomania” by So Me. Sorry but due to the letdown caused by listening to this album earlier today I am not going to post any songs to download. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day with new music to share. Peace and Beats.
RATING: 1 STAR
Riva Starr’s EP was released a little over two months ago, a long time to many bloggers, but not me. Scratch N’ Itch is still one of the freshest Electro/Tech-House albums I have heard in a long time. Listening to it has encouraged me to check out more from Southern Fried Records. Riva Starr is right up there with Dusty Kid when it comes to my favorite artists from the label. I still think Crookers are overrated though. Im exited for Starr’s new EP War Drums which is scheduled to drop in June. Peace & Beat
(Love the bandana! I am one to rock them as well)
Duke Dumont’s Regality EP was released in July of last year but it still has a couple of real bangers on there. I first heard “Lean N Bounce” on one of Simian Mobile Disco’s mixtapes for Mix Mag(which is the best electronic music magazine I have come across just fyi). Everytime I hear that song I feel like lighting up a cig and nodding my head if you know what I mean. I made sure to include it in my recent set last week. Also, “When I Hear Mu’Sic” is another awesome upbeat track. I am too lazy to look up who did the vocals for the track, but even though it sounds Madona, I really like them. Tiga’s Turbo Recordings just keeps on impressing m
e. Peace & Beats
DL “Lean N Bounce” (Z Share)
DL “When I Hear Mu’Sic” (Z Share)
Both tracks thanks to another site, so don’t come yelling at me TURBO like you do all the other blogs 
I haven’t heard a good progressive house track in awhile. Well, since Pryda’s “Muryani.” That is why this EP was disappointing to me. I guess I had too high of hopes for Pryda (Eric Prydz & Cirez D). “Pjanoo” isn’t bad, but I don’t see myself playing it too often. Nothing too special about “F 12” either. They both sound like your standard progressive house. I suggest you save money, although I am sure die hard fans would tell you otherwise. Peace & Beats
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So I finally got my room booked for South by Southwest (SXSW) and I am totally excited. It is my first time to go and I have really high hopes for it to be a good festival. I’m thinking about doing a series of posts showcasing some of the artist I am looking forward to seeing there. Here it goes.
CRYSTAL CASTLES
Crystal Castles remix of Health’s “Crimewave” is my favorite song of the week. Sadly my blog hasn’t become popular enough for me to receive free promos yet, so I don’t know all there other good tracks, but “Magic Spells,” “Untrust Us” and “Air War” are really tight. Their remix of “Goodbooks” by Leni is splendid as well their remix of Divebomb “The Whip.” This simple Canadian duo of Ethan Kath and Alice Glass are in the midst of a tour right now with Health. I’m hoping to check them out in Phoenix on March 11th; if I do I will let you know how they are live, but if not I am just going to have to wait until SXSW, which they have still yet to announce where and what day they are playing. Their debut album is due to hit your local record stores shelves March 18th. Peace and Beats
TOUR DATES WITH HEALTH:
02-28 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
02-29 Winnipeg, Manitoba – Pyramid Cabaret
03-01 Regina, Saskatchewan – The Exchange
03-02 Calgary, Albert – The Warehouse
03-03 Edmonton, Alberta – The Starlite
03-05 Vancouver, British Columbia – Richard’s on Richards
03-06 Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
03-07 Portland, OR – Backspace
03-08 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
03-09 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre
03-10 San Diego, CA – Casbah
03-11 Phoenix, AZ – Brickhouse Theatre
03-12 Albuquerque, NM – Launch Pad
03-16 Denton, TX – Hailey’s
03-17 Springfield, MO – Randy Bacon Studio & Gallery
03-19 DeKalb, IL – House Café
03-21 Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
03-22 Philadelphia, PA – Transit
03-23 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
03-25 Brooklyn, NY – Studio B
03-26 New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
03-27 Montreal, Quebec – Musee Juste Pour Rire
03-28 Toronto, Ontario – Circa
Soulwax consists of the Dewaele brothers (aka 2 Many DJs) and a couple of other kick ass guys. They released Nite Versions way back in 2005. They really rock live. It is really fun to watch them all go at their instruments in perfect sync with one another instead of turntables for a change. As far as I know, they only play live (with instruments). Otherwise I believe it is just the Dewaele brothers spinning as 2 Many DJ’s. To bad neither of the groups ever seems to come over to the U.S. The album starts of with a re-work of Daft Punk’s “Teachers.” It then smoothly goes from there to the nice track “Accidents and Compliments,” and into the 3rdand kick ass track “E Talking.” No tracks on the album are a bust. They just keep the flowing going until the bangers like “Krack” come on. The album then proceeds to finish strong with last two tracks “NY Lipps” and “Another Excuse.” If you like electro, and even if you don’t, check this album out. Remember “Part of the Weekend Never Dies.” Peace & Beats
Top Tracks: “E Talking”, “I Love Techno”, “Krack”, “NY Lipps”, “Another Excuse”
So This isn’t the same version of “E Talking” from the album, but luckily I came across it because it is one of the coolest music videos I have ever seen.
Thievery Corporation’s The Mirror Conspiracy (2000) is one of my favorite albums to listen to when I am relaxing. It is also one of my favorites to listen to when I am studying, which I am doing way too much of today. It keeps you chill and focused. Good stuff for being romantic as well, or at least from my experience. You probably know “Lebanese Blonde” from the Zach Braff movie Garden State. I am pretty sure the soundtrack won a grammy. Thievery Corporation is dub, acid jazz, down-tempo, chill out, lounge etc. Many songs have a great Indian/worldly vibe to it. I saw them live at Vegoose and their performance was magnificent. It was refreshing and something new for me to dance to. I was impressed by how ‘into’ them everyone got. It might be credited to the substances everyone was taking in preparation for Daft Punk’s final ‘Alive Tour’ show in the U.S., but regardless it was a classic performance. If you like Air, you should definitely give these guys a shot. Peace & Beats yall, I am off to study some more.
Top Tracks: “Lebanese Blonde,” “Shadows of Ourselves” and “Illumination”
So I am not sure about you guys, but when I think of DnB I think the metal heads of the rave scene and how crappy it is. I had pretty much given up all hope on DnB, but then Commix, George Levings and Guy Brewer, came along. However, I wouldn’t consider them traditional DnB even though they are signed to the label MetalHeadz. Their album Call To Mind is definitely not as hard as most other DnB albums, at least the ones I have listened to, and is actually soft around the edges. I’m predicting that Commix is going to do to DnB what Burial did for the dubstep & grime genre. It’s just going to take them awhile to do it because music sites like Pitchfork Media don’t review electronic albums until months after they have been out. Seriously, today they are just now getting around to reviewing that not so great Steve Aoki album I heard in October. On that side note, how is it that kids from California are so in to Aoki when California is one of the few places that all the major DJs go to? It must be his fashion sense or something. Anyways, Call To Mind starts out with the track “Be True.” After listening to it I think you will notice a Burial feel to it. “Call To Mind” and “How You Gonna Feel (Feat. Steve Spacek) are the same way. Both tracks contain vocals that actually accentuate the beat, unlike many other albums where vocals take away tracks freshness (aka Pinch’s Underwater Dancehall). “Change (feat. Nextmen)” and “Emiley’s Smile” have a more traditional, but toned down, DnB feel to it. “Satallie Underground (Resistance Remix)” is another cool track; Lindstrom’s “I Feel Space” meets DnB. This album is probably the first DnB album I can actually relax or dance to. By no means do I consider myself an expert on the genre though. It just seems to be composed of many different styles. It has the bleeps, the basslines, the synths and the production I look for in album. I hope this album lives up to its hype. It did to me. I can’t wait to hear more from this young and talented duo. Peace & Beats
Turbo Recordings is a Canadian record label run by the multi-talented Tiga. Don’t judge Tiga by his very 80’s glam looks. The guy is great at what he does. He also has a great podcast that I seriously recommend you to check out. He plays all types of music and seems to just be winging it. They are free to download, if you didn’t already know, and I’m sure they will give you some great new tunes. His momentary in between tracks is actually very entertaining and way better than any radio DJs you hear on ‘real radio.’ Anyways, I think Tiga has a great ear for good music. He further enhanced my belief after I listened to Tiga Presents 12 Great Moments In Turbo. This is definitely one of the best mix compilations out there. Many other labels usually stick to one or two genres, but like his podcasts, Tiga’s mix is very eclectic. It starts off with the smooth as silk “Crockett’s Theme” by FPU. I am especially fond of this track because I grew up watching Miami Vice. What is even more embarrassing is that sometimes I think my style is very 80’s Miami Vice like, or at least my Ray Bans. The mix then smoothly blends into “Ocean Drive,” also by FPU, but remixed by Tiga. The next half of the albums is just stellar; including Techo, Electro, Acid House, Tech-House and Electro House tracks. Is it just me, or are there not many Acid House tracks being put out these days? Luckily “Azid Life” is a really cool one. Check out the album and let me know what you think. Peace & Beats
