I took a peak at the “Acid Wolfpack” preview, maybe a month back, and loved the shit out of it. It just had a flavor.. a finesse that when it comes down to it, is what I look for in all music. However, the final version, although it’s still miles beyond most of the music I come by, took an unexpected turn.
This version of “Acid Wolfpack” strays away from the simplicity of the first into a dirtier glitch viibe. As much as I love that glitch – and, by god, this track – their first version, simply, did it better. I will, however, hold back my final judgement ’til I get my hands on the preview again – I may just be putting the preview on a pedestal.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/22185684" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Going through Minnesota’s dubstep music, you start to see the progress in his work over the last year. His latest EP, Ancient Machines, puts Minnesota’s music on a whole ‘nother level. It kind of reminds me The Beatles, their first few hits were catchy, but it’s only ’til their later work does a whole new style of music emerge. I’m not saying he’s doing for dubstep what The Beatles did for rock, but he’s well on his way.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/19820127" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Pretty Lights is remixing the shit out of 2011 with some old-school rock classics. In today’s feature, PL splits up 7 Zeppelin classics into one electro mashup. In parts, Pretty Lights shines, however, in others I feel like it could’ve been a bit more Zeppelin’d out. I love the grimey, electroness PL always has to offer, but Zeppelin had much more to offer this remix.
[audio:Pretty-Lights-Zeppelin.mp3|titles=Pretty Lights vs. Led Zeppelin]There are many things to say about the music coming from DOSVEC, aka DJ Whatt, but what stands out the most is his ability to mash emerging styles. Mashup artists are the purveyors of what styles should already be working together, but haven’t quite gotten the clue, yet. DOSVEC takes many opposing styles and makes our ears’ adjust to something that’s a bit experimental now, but commonplace in a few years.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/3497781" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Really wanted to feature Kyprios as one of my first SoundKlouters, but there was one problem – he only has 6 tracks up on SoundCloud. I usually try to find artists with at least 20-30, so I can weed the better from the… not so better. But I knew how much I wanted him in a few weeks back, so I thought if all 6 tracks were solid he’d be up next. Let’s just say they were.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/20439001" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Most would think that melodic dubstep was an oxymoron. As much as I’d agree with them, Blackmill has made melodic dubstep a reality for me. Somehow, Blackmill puts grace on one of the grimiest styles around, dubstep. With a downtempo vibe with melodies more catchy than Jesus on Acid, he’s doing something I hope to see much more in dubstep’s future.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/12118129" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]Going through D.veloped’s first few songs, I was amazed to find the mashups he had whipped up. Usually I’m not into mashups with a lot of tracks, super mashups, but D.veloped’s cuts and slices are well beyond his years (unless he’s old). What I actually found most interesting was the progression I saw from his older tracks to his newer ones. In just over a year, D.veloped’s choice in music and flow between tracks has improved tremendously. Every time I see a new track posted up of his on SC, I know it’s gonna be better than the last.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/18218087" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]I was first introduced to K-Murdock through his stylings with Restoring Poetry in Music (RPM). He’s not technically a part of the band, but has contributed to it, as you’ll soon see. I’ve mostly gotten to know his work through Panacea and more recently his collaboration with Mega Ran, entitled Forever Famicom. But now going through his SoundCloud, I’m beginning to realize how much more he has to offer.
I’ll admit, I was a Raw Poetic fanatic and didn’t want to hear anything K would do without him. It took me long enough to listen to him and Mega Ran, but now hearing everything else, I realize how expansive his sound is. As much as I love his work in Panacea, I began to lose touch with them in their more recent albums. Going through all his other side projects on SC, from his work with rap artists I’ve admired for years to some absolutely gorgeous female vocals I’ve never heard, I’m pissed I didn’t get to it til now.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/16281872" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]I gotta warn you, if you don’t like dubstep, this probably isn’t for you. I completely understand why people don’t like it, I’m not quite sure why I do. However, it’s one of the most experimental genres & anything that forward-thinking, at leasts get my attention.
Hooky is a little different than the dubstep I usually listen to. For the most part I listen to dubstep remixes, I find a lot of regular dubstep to be frivolous with no real aim, but remixes tend to focus on the original tune… or should! However, Hooky has created a lot of his own work that I very much appreciate and, although I’m sure it takes a certain crowd, is worth checking out.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/5450911" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18"]I have a feeling that just about every everyone I know is gonna be praising The Weeknd’s second mixtape, Thursday, which just released. And as much as I’m not here to fight or agree with them, I do have one thing that I’ve always wondered about Abel (The Weeknd) and his rise to fame.
I remember thinking to myself a while back, why the hell hasn’t The Weeknd (Weekend at the time) blown up, yet Now that it’s happened, I’m wondering what the hell happened Abel is no longer working with the original producer of “What You Need,” Jeremy Rose. The track was their kickstart and it’s sad, for whatever reason, to hear they’re no longer working together. I’m not saying Doc Mckinney or Illangelo haven’t created their own hot mess with Abel, but “What You Need” just had so much fucking chemistry.
Be as it may, House of Balloons was pretty amazing as a whole. So far my favorite thing about Thursday is, actually, the production. So I guess I’ll just have to see where Abel takes his voice in this one and wherever his heads gone now.
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