Hottest Nu-Disco in the Funkin World, our first disco list from back in 2012, had Disco Stu as its mascot. I remember someone complained about how Stu was a shining example of our culture’s lack of respect for disco. As subtle and culturally ingrained as it may be.
Back in 1979, a protest dubbed Disco Demolition Night went on at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Most of us see it on the surface level as people disliking disco and its overt sexual acceptance. But a less apparent hate against homosexual and interracial relationships had stained its legacy even further.
Today is a point in time that’s going to stir up a lot more shit against minorities and the LGBT community, and destroy a lot of good things. But when disco died back in the early 80’s, something greater rose up. I wonder what will come after house music.
I’ve had a little “buyer’s remorse” while writing this post up. But I didn’t write it to highlight the pop shenanigans LMFAO. This praise once again goes to a masher with an ear like no other, Ellipsis. You may be sick as shit of these not-so sexy vocals, but Ellipsis mashed it up with Gartner’s ‘Girl on Girl’ to a precision that I rarely hear. For all you mashup artists out there, this is a well synced song. Love the other samples thrown in there too, it’s a nice touch.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/64323604" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Outside Lands 2012 has an eclectic set of artists to say the least. I’ll be covering it this year and even though my main goal is to see acts I’ve never heard before, there are a few I know who I’ve got to see! Check out my top picks for Outside Lands 2012 below and let me know who I should and shouldn’t see (here‘s the full line up). If you happen to be going as well, hit me up in the comments or on Twitter and we can meet up!
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/5711680" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" width="60%"]With the success of “Paddling Out” and its strange music video, now we get a Gartner take on it all. I can’t say it closes in on the original, but it’s nice to see two equally talented, yet quite different, artists pairing up for one kickin remix.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/37984034" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]There’s really not many electro producers who can go without vocals and pull it off. Tracks tend to get monotonous without at least a little vocal sampling thrown in (unless they have a killer melody). That said, Wolfgang Gartner pulls it off quite well.
In his latest beast, “There And Back” is six minutes of fist pumpin glory. It does go a bit long for my idle worship, but put me in a club setting and I’ll get lost in it for days.
[audio:There-And-Back.mp3|titles=There And Back]Just put up Xaphoon’s remix of “Marvin & Chardonnay” and now we get a mashup from The Hood Internet with instrumentals borrowed from Wolfgang Gartner’s “The Way It Was.” I can’t quite say which I like better yet, but damn does each have a sick beat to back up Sean & Kanye. Which one do you like better
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/26794973" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Weekend in America taught me a little more about Gartner’s sound. Before I gave him some criticism about his loose style, which almost seemed sloppy to me. But once you cozy on down with it, you begin to understand its headnodic appeal. Of all things this has done for me, it’s made me realize I gotta see him live.
My only major issue with the album is the featured artists, but since it’s really more to do with the politics in who he picked than their performance, I’ll leave it at that.
Overall, the album may not be up to par with the singles released earlier this year/late last year, but like I said before, this type of music ya gotta habituate before you castigate. ;p And, to be honest, a few are already starting to grow on me since the beginning of this post (“The Way It Was”).
[audio:Illmerica.mp3,Menage-A-Trois.mp3,Circus-Freaks.mp3,The-Way-It-Was.mp3|titles=Illmerica,Menage A Trois,Circus Freaks (ft Jim Jones & Cam’ron),The Way It Was]Gartner’s pre-track to his upcoming album is giving me a little “dissonance” in itself. At times I can appreciate what he’s doing with it, reminds me of that mau5 viiibe with those awe-inspiring synths. On the other hand, it’s not put together as well as his usual fashion. Guess that’s why it didn’t make the cut for the album. Until we get our hands on that, enjoy this :)
[audio:Cognitive-Dissonance.mp3|titles=Cognitive Dissonance]I’ve had my ups and downs with Gartner. The track that introduced me to him, “Wolfgang’s 5th Symphony,” fuckin rocked, but I had my doubts that it may just be an Amadeus kick. Next came “Illmerica“, which solidified my fan-ness (sooo illlll). After that, however, was his stint with Will.i.am. Was not a fan at all, but I still understood the move. Now comes his single, “Menage A Trois”, for his upcoming Weekend In America album.
I’ve got mixed feelings for “Menage A Trois”. On the one hand, it’s definitely a dance floor killer – gotta love those slick breaks. However, compared to his first couple singles that got me into him, doesn’t even compare. Nevertheless, I need more house bangers, so hear ya are. Just gotta wait for Weekend In America for more of my meaningless judgement.
[audio:Menage-A-Trois.mp3|titles=Menage A Trois (Original Mix)]With Mashup-Germany’s first instrumental-only mashup, we get a sexay saxophone mixed in with Wolfgang Gartner’s “Illmerica” and Avicii’s “Street Dancer”. And, really, if you put a saxophone up against anything I’m gonna love it – I’m a sucka for the sax.
I do, however, wish the saxophone was distorted or meshed in electro-ly a bit more. At times, it just seems out of the song, like a saxophonist just played to the beat, which could/should appeal, however. Still, love the track and that saxyphone in it.
[audio:Saxophomental.mp3|titles=Saxophomental]