Surfing the Andes with Antartek

So I recently found out about Antartek Records, and I'm so glad I did. The Amsterdam-based label's self-proclaimed mission is to find the best Southern talent and bring them to the Northern Hemisphere. Their artist often sample the pan flute, charangos, congas, timbales, and indigenous chants - naturally, I'm hooked. And even better, they offer 4 EPs for free download here. Do yourself a favor and pick them up. On a personal note the Apolinar and Aboriginal EPs are the strongest, but here are a few of the highlights of all of them.

Aboriginal - Daniel Klauser


La Conquista - Daniel Klauser


Aboriginal (Rodrigo Castro Remix) - Daniel Klauser (A deep, progressive refix)


Riberalta - Daniel Klauser


Temazcal - Matanza


Apolinar - Matanza


Chicha Sunrise - Makina

10 Over 10 - Naeto C

The great guys over at Ghetto Bassquake turned me on to this Nigerian gem.

And a dl:

Rumors of Daft Punk's Return

With Daft Punk, it is sincerely impossible to know whether any rumors are true. But here's this post, from VacayVitamins. They received the following letter earlier this week:

"Hey guys and girls <3 

My name’s Emma, ​​I’m 19 and i live in London UK! 

My dad works at Virgin Records in the UK and has access to the servers on Their Computers.He Came home Friday night with a USB stick, i use it from time to time for my files for Uni. I Had to put some photos from my computer to my dads so i used His USB on Sunday. 

When I know i did, i found something interesting... I found a file on the USB titled ‘Daft Punk – Sky Dive (2012) (Previews Promo) 

src: thedaftclub"

VacayVitamin's DJ T3RROR adds, "To add to the speculation, on November 11th, 2011 the logo of the official Facebook page, Myspace page and official website of Daft Punk changed to a red theme. Daft Punk’s logo has changed for every new album or tour: red-orange (Homework), chrome (Discovery), black (Human After All), blue (Alive 2007). At this point, I’m pretty desensitized to Daft Punk rumors and operate under the false until proven true policy."

Here are the files.  I'm hopeful, but I'm not quite convinced they're the right style or are refined enough to be Daft Punk.

LCD (LED) Promo



Taking Control Promo



Waiting Line (feat. Mr. Oizo) Promo

Taking it Down - Brenmar

This video is sex. So is the song. Out on Discobelle way earlier this year.

And a DL:

MORE ZOMBIES

I got hung up on the zombie theme, and figured that it was time to rock out to Portuguese (again?) Zombie Disco Squad (ZDS). This crew is signed to Mann Recordings, and they are too good. They tend to rock the deep house pulling in naturally round-sounding instruments like steel drums and saxophone.

Dança do Zumbi (feat. MC Oscar) - ZDS


Calypso (Zombie Disco Squad vs Miman Remix) - Round Table Knight vs Beauchamp


Endless - ZDS


Hobo - ZDS


Eurovision - ZDS

This pulls towards the Kuduro side of things, it's really just a matter of location. It seems like Portugal is the place to go.

ZOMBIIEESSS

Watch out, this is right about to get diirty. Zombies are coming for your brain (er, I mean money?) Zombies for Money are a Portuguese Kuduro/moombahton group that really strays towards the siren-y side of things, and damn can they drop a beat. Also, it should be no surprise that they are signed to Enchufada records.

Numbra One - Zombies for Money


This is the song that got me hooked on them. That drop is so sick, it would be just unreal in a big room at full volume. As a bonus, here's an awesome remix by Foamo - another person to definitely watch out for.

Numbra One (Foamo Remix) - Zombies for Money


Viva la Cumbia - Zombies for Money


Kolkata (dirty version) - Zombies for Money


Here is their latest EP, out on Trouble & Bass Records:
Zombies For Money - Oy Shaba EP by Trouble & Bass

R&B Break

Any time of day is appropriate for these songs. Morning, night, late night (wink wink) or whenever else you might have a hankering to listen to a song. I adore soul-ish/old R&B, something about people singing well pulls at the heart strings. Anyway, this isn't your typical R&B or soul - it's an eclectic mix of semi-related jams.

Feeling Good (Cover of Nina Simone) - My Brightest Diamond


My Brightest Diamond is a project led by British singer-songwriter Shara Warden. Her voice reminds me a little of Ellie Goulding, maybe that's why I'm hooked. This cover really does justice to the original, and that's saying a lot.

Tim Maia - Imunização Racional (Que Beleza) off Racional, Vol. 2 (1976)


Tim Maia - Imunização Racional (Que Beleza) off Racional, Vol. 1 (1975)


Tim Maia is considered by some the father of Brasilian soul. I believe it, this song is rapidly becoming one of my favorites ever. Both versions above are recorded by him; the first is funkier and the second leans a bit more to the soul side.

We Almost Lost Detroit - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.


Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. is a Detroit-based indie band. This isn't strictly R&B, but it's a cover of Gil Scott-Heron and it's really good so I wanted to include it.

Sometimes (Remix) feat. the Brand New Heavies - J Dilla


And last, I found this because I've been on a Dilla kick recently. So yeah. The beat is hot, the singing is hotter.

Goin' deeper

I've been sitting on these for a while and realized they deserved some attention, a few deep house grooves that I really like. This is inspired because I've lately really been digging Italian house-legend Riva Starr's remix of Manu Chao's Clandestino. Check it below.

Clandestino (Riva Starr Remix) - Manu Chao


Coupled with the original, Clandestino - Manu Chao


And a couple of other tracks, some of which I pulled from Riva Starr's essential mix and some of which I just stumbled upon somehow somewhere.

Ostalgia - Frivolous


Psalm - Style of Eye


In Nightclubs (Camel Remix) - Malente & Dex


And the fantastic Adam Port.

Symphony (Original Mix) - Adam Port


The American Dream - Adam Port

Shy FridayX was a raver

That Shy FX was a raver, I can believe. Here's his EP that he released last year to get ready for his upcoming album. I really want that to come out as soon as it can, but in the meantime I'll just have to content myself with this awesomeness. I was going to pick one, but I couldn't... Oh. And pick up his last CD, Diary of a Digital Soundboy - its incredible.

Raver (Original Mix) - Shy FX feat. Kano, Donae'o, & Roses Gabor)


Raver (MJ Cole Remix)

This is HEAVY - in the same way that Sweet Shop or Subfocus' remix of Hold on is heavy. When I first heard this drop, my head started lolling - good speakers are a must. If you listen closely enough, time actually slows down.

Raver (Breake's Pattern Moschino Mix)

Rockin' the more DnB, Jungle vibe

Raver (Shy's Guinness Punch Mix)

Taking the dub route, also fantastic

Feeding Me Hummus

First up, one of the more entertaining music videos I've seen in a while. The video makes the song like ten times better - the build is the best part of the song but the video picks up the slack of the drop. Watch this.

Crookers - Hummus

And a dl:


And here's someone who I can imagine would take out the bird for the hummus, Feed Me. I bet he wants some Hummus. He's got a diirty dubstep/electro house vibe and amusingly enough his name is actually Jon Gooch.

Anyways... Here's a recent cover of Two Door Cinema Club's What You Know, courtesy of Vacay Vitamins, and another couple of hits.

What You Know (Feed Me Cover) - Feed Me


Pink Lady - Feed Me


Melancholy Hill (Feed Me Remix) - Gorillaz (more chill)


Chase & Status - Let You Go (Feed Me Remix) by youfeedme. Uploaded with BandPage by RootMusic

Porter Robinson's Trade Secret

I've seen a million youtube videos of Porter Robinson playing this song, and every time I'm jealous that I'm not in the room. Because while I'm usually very skeptical of Daft Punk remixes, there is always an exception to the rule. This is perfect festival music, and Porter Robinson deserves mad props for finding it.

One More Time (Original Mix) - Mike Candys & Jack Holiday

New Yasmin and Ms. Dynamite w/Shy FX

You know when you hear a tune for the first time and you know it's gonna be big? Well, yeah.

Holy shit is all I have to say massive track.  Yasmin and Ms. Dynamite provide vocals for a track produced by jungle legend Shy FX, with elements of ragga, DnB, and dub.  Fire.

Here's a dl, you'll want it:

Sonora (aka soundtrack)

I'm sad I'm just finding out about this guy so late, but better late than never, right? This dude's awesome at Moombahton, a more chill, floating version that really emphasizes the latin side of things rather than the dutch house side. I spent a bit of time hunting around his soundcloud, and here are some of the gems that I found.

Amor de Alicia

I mean... goddamn. Do check the Alica Keys original, it's fantastic.

Motivation


La Isla Bonita


Pitchito (Sonora remix of Frente Cumbiero)

La Bombacion

Here's a few songs that I picked up from a local Rio de Janeiro DJ the other day with a very interesting sound. They were at a party that I went to. The Moombahton Remix really keeps the salsa feel of the original song strong, while adding that reggaeton beat we've come to love. Favela Robot is a very interesting mix of a Carioca funk beat with wide festival-style synths and some heavy bass/electro house influences. And last, African Game Boy has an almost Kuduro-like beat, with Cumbia and latin house overtones.

Las Caleñas (La Bombacion Moombahton Remix) - The Latin Brothers


Favela Robot - La Bombacion


African Game Boy - La Bombacion

Bob Marley Remixes

Like remixes of the Beatles, I am usually very suspecting of remixes of Bob Marley - there are somethings that really just shouldn't be touched. However, I was reminded that there are always exceptions to the rule when I was listening today to Logik's dubstep remix of Is This Love?, which does a fantastic job of keeping the original feel while laying down a suuper chill bassline underneath. It's my favorite of any Bob Marley Remixes that I've heard.

Is This Love (Logik Dubstep Remix)


I'm a little sad this second one hasn't been released yet, Wolfgang did a remix of Sun is Shining that just killed the dancefloor at Ultra. Actually, he released a copy without the Sun is Shining vocals but where's the fun in that?

And I just found this one today, it's a more dubby interpretation of Is This Love. Check it.

Is This Love (Dubmatix Re-version)

New Neon Indian

Neon Indian is a chillwave band from Texas behind the amazing Psychic Chasms. I remember listening to that one a lot a couple of years ago, and so I jumped at the chance to pick up their latest album, Era Extraña, which came out two months ago. It retains a little bit of their chaos, but ventures away from their underwater sound into more into floating melodies. Here's a little preview, I recommend you give it a listen. The hook on Polish Girl is really awesome, in some ways making it the Deadbeat Summer of this album.

Polish Girl - Neon Indian


Halogen (I Could Be A Shadow) - Neon Indian

I love the sunshine, you should too

Oh snap, this is a good one. This is what I'm talking about, light disco-y jams that embody summer and sun to me. Sampling Roy Ayers, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," breakbeat moguls A.Skillz (whom this blog is named after, remember) and Beatvandals collabed on this monster by the same name. I think it came out about a year ago, but I just picked it up this morning.

Sunshine - A. Skillz vs. Beatvandals


And a reminder of California, because it too is sunny...

California Soul (A. Skillz Remix) - Marlena Shaw


And what the hell, an interpretation of the same song by Diplo. It maintains more of the original feel, which is good because the original is awesome. To be honest, I think the original is better but it's worth a listen regardless.

California Soul (Diplo Remix) - Marlena Shaw


And last, a smooth DnB song from EZ-Rollers

Sunshine People - EZ-Rollers

Summer Indie Electronica

Whenever it starts getting hot I start searching for light, floating music. Today was miserably hot, and reminded me pull out some jams that were the essence of this past Spring for me.

Definitely one of my favorite Indie electronica bands out there, the Australian Miami Horror reminds me of old Cut Copy. See for yourself.

Summersun - Miami Horror


I Look to You (feat. Kimbra) - Miami Horror


Holidays (feat. Alan Polomo) - Miami Horror


And oh my oh my, oh Mylo. The dude is scottish and produced this after giving up on a PhD in Philosophy to pursue music dreams.

Zenophile - Mylo


Paris Four Hundred - Mylo


The third artist that I was jamming to a lot today was Linus Loves. My buddy Wishom turned me on to this British duo.

VH1 - Linus Loves


Stand Back (feat. Sam Obernik) - Linus Loves


And a new find, Friends - Sneaky Sound System

Soulwaxed

I have hella newfound respect for Radio Soulwax, they put out this mixtape recently.

Batuta Discos from Radio Soulwax on Vimeo.

Definitely give it a listen, and if you hunt around the internet a bit you might be able to find a download.

Thought process of an addict

So I found a new Colombian cumbia group today that I really dig. And here's how.

1. Start with an awesome cumbia song pulled from TBass.

Download:


2. Find who is collab'ing on said awesome song, and look them up.   El Remolón I know, an Argentinian cumbia star on ZZK records.  I'm less into Niña Dioz's hip hop, though she has a cool voice (she's the Mexico part).  Villa Diamante (Argentina) is more similar to El Remolón.  Li Saumet is from Bomba Estéreo (Colombia) ... ooh, there's something interesting.

First song on their myspace: El Fuego.  Pretty hot.

Download:


3. Find more music.  And stumble across this gem - now this is just pretty.  It's the first song off their first album.  They really do sound Colombian, né? I recommend checking them out more!

Download:


And one last one, again from their first album. It's called Huepajé

Fusion from Puerto Rico

My kinda music. Political, but danceable with some reggae, cumbia, and rock in the mix

La Quilombera - Robando al que me roba

It's sad how much music I get from Tropical Bass...

Brazilian Afrobeat

This is really beautiful stuff, check it out - Afrobeat with a touch of dub on the side. Reminds me of Fela Kuti, but that's in part because they are named after Africa 70, the band he played with. They're from the Bixiga neighborhood in São Paulo, and I really want them to come to Rio.

It's their first album, like them on Facebook or check out their website. The album can be downloaded song by song (or you can prelisten), or here's an album download.

Bixiga 70 (2011) by bixiga70

Hat tip to my new favorite blog, Avalanche Tropical

Munchi'ng

Yeah, so Moombahton is getting a lot of play, as a reggaeton-based style of music with elements of dancehall, dutch house, hip hop, and latin influences. I'm not going to expound much on that, but it's worth commenting that Munchi is one of the best out there. He's gotten a lot of hype, deservedly so I think. The first song I found yesterday, a mellow song sampling Jay-Z that is sure to become one of my favorites. It's REAL good. The second song Laidback Luke regularly drops in his sets, a dancefloor banger if I've ever heard one. And a couple of others to sink your teeth into (get it?)

Me and My Bitch - Munchi (mellow, hip hop vibe)


And here's the sample

Pun Ain't Dead - Munchi (Represents for me the essence of Moombahton)


Andando - Munchi (latin vibe)


Esta Noche - Munchi (Munchi pulls an Afrojack, and it seems to come out of nowhere)


Mmmmm, tastes gooood.

Smorgasbord

This has no logic or particular theme, but instead a random assortment of gems that I've been collecting.

Zambezi (Mbira version) - Tinashé

Tinashé is a Zimbabwe-born, British singer who sounds in this song like an African-influenced Jason Mraz. Here he rocks the Mbira, I'm so jealous of people who can make music out of something so simple.

Kemo' yoo Keke - Anbuley

She was born in Austria to Ghanaian parents, and took up a love of their music. Some fusion of Afrobeat and house, this song is super fun. A free high-quality download can be found on the Seayou Records soundcloud here. Hat tip to Tropical Bass.

Walk This Land - EZ-Rollers

A jazzy DnB song relying heavily on the conga and related drums for its beat.  It reminds me a little bit of Chase and Status' Against All Odds.  I found this one on the Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack, it came on during the movie and I had to go hunting to find it.

Fill My Coffee - Arkist

A light dubstep tune released within the past couple of months, super chill bassline with a cascading high synth melody. Reminds me a little bit of Nosaj Thing, actually. Arkist is going big, keep your eyes peeled.

Coffee Break - Zed's Dead

This seemed to fit within the coffee theme, it was released earlier this year and got huge play on Hype. It's also very chill for Zed's Dead, centering around a soulful sample.

Born out of Luanda

No Kuduro doesn't have anything to do with this guy, though Kudu are pretty awesome.


Kuduro is a style of electronic music that arose in the 1980s incorporating Angolan and Caribbean traditional rhythms and samples into Western electronic beats. It is characterized by a very distinct 3 or 5 beat polyrhythm often mixed with a classic house beat, high-paced, energetic, and eminently danceable (look up semba to see some of the Angolan root rhythms). The Portuguese Buraka Som Sistema is in large part responsible for internationalizing the music - even still, it is predominantly produced in Angola and Portugal. Enchufada Records, Buraka's label, puts out some of my favorite music of this type.

Pandonga - Tataco Mendi


That drum beat is the essence of Kuduro. Now, for some slightly less frenetic examples, starting calmly and gradually getting rawer.

Humbe, Humbe - DJ Jesus


Township Funk (Diplo Remix) - DJ Mujava


And here it is, poppin' up in some of Diplo's work, a Kuduro remix of a South African house jam. No surprise there, he somehow seems have his dirty little paws in every pot.

Come to Me - Sabbo


Mastiksoul & Buraka Som Sistema - Sabalo


And this wouldn't be complete without Buraka's "Sound of Kuduro," a collab with DJ Znobia, MIA, Saborosa, and Puto Prata

And a download:

Neva say Neva

No, this isn't about Bieber.  And I lied about the Kuduro post, but I was just passed this by a good friend and wanted to share.  I found myself humming it in the shower this morning, and that's usually a good sign.  Ms. Dynamite is awesome, a super talented singer from London that blends elements of R&B, Grime, DnB, and some Dancehall to create her own, super-distinct flavour (see what I did there?) - no word describes her as well as raw.  Her sharp voice punctuates off-kilter beats that often leave me wondering how the next step is gonna hit, with R&B-style breaks.  Here's a video of her new single, Neva Soft, released on September 4 - did I mention that she is really pretty?

And a download (produced by Labyrinth):


While I'm at it, I thought I'd include a few older tracks of hers that are just fire:

What You Talkin' About?

And a download (produced by Redlight):


Wile Out (produced by DJ Zinc):


A hella bouncy, super danceable tune.  As she says, "wobble, wobble, wobble, wobble." Reminds me of Junior year.

And here's a bonus, totally unrelated but similarly bouncy jam with a great bassline:

Let Me See What U Working With (Addsoul Remix) - Rod Lee