Safe With You

It's been quite a while since I have liked a song this much upon the first listen.  The three and a half minutes goes by far too fast, thus I'm guilty of playing this track on repeat since I discovered it. The high, the low, the middle, her voice, the energy, the selected sounds, the repetition, it's all just spot on. I always expect big things from two of my favorite musicians Alex and Jacques, not to mention Malin from Niki & The Dove. Boy did they deliver on this one! Enjoy!

Safe With You Feat Malin - Alex Metric & Jacques Lu Cont (right click to save as)
Alex Metric | Jacques Lu Cont | Malin

Girls Thoughts

Here's a track with a well sculpted aura. I love the melody created by the sped up and slowed down sample of that female vocal. The song is relaxing, like water flowing over rocky terrain. I could envision this song as the soundtrack to a drive home (or to work) so early in the morning that mid drive you're witnessing the sun rise. Enjoy!

Girls Thoughts - CIRC (right click to save as)
CIRC

If

How fun is this? The beat that Kaytranada throws down is huge, with those big floppy bass notes stomping all over the place I'm not sure what to think -and then Janet!! Simply awesome. The track is slower with a BPM in the low 100's, for a chill out session more than a dance floor shaking. But if you're feeling it, then you can groove to it. Enjoy!

If (Kaytranada Remix) - Janet Jackson (right click to save as)
Janet Jackson | Kaytranada

Hey Hey

This bit of dance floor attitude comes packing a powerful pop-y punch. "I heard you say" is a solid hook that awakens memories in all of us at one point in time, which may be the best formula for dance floor energy banks. Dance it out, with attitude. Enjoy!

Hey Hey (Madeaux Remix) - Dennis Ferrer (right click to save as)
Dennis Ferrer | Madeaux

Leaving You

This track hits you like a big tidal wave (hence the photo).  Usually my first thought of leaving someone includes sappy sad slow themes, this remix takes that first impression and tosses it in the trash. There's big sounds, heavy builds, and tons of energy mixed into this version. I especially enjoy the strings at the beginning of the track. Enjoy!

Leaving You (Sound Remedy Remix) - Wolf Alice (right click to save as)
Wolf Alice | Sound Remedy

Vinyl Saturdays: Samba Horizontal

This laid back tune has that classic west coast deep house sound. I like the standout keyboard that trickles down over the rocky pathway to meet up with the smooth long synth notes. The tune feels underground and like almost every other piece of music just sounds better the louder you can play it. Enjoy!

Samba Horizontal - Tasho (right click to save as)
Tasho

Cold Nights

I'm still unsure if the sample in this song says "cold nights" or "good times". I've never been one to excel at deciphering lyrics, but the title of the track is Cold Nights and the feeling of the song is Good Times. I'll take that.  This song has a great use of laser lights and bouncy fun sounds. Enjoy!

Cold Nights - Chordasian (right click to save as)
Chordashian

Gold Dayzz

I find this track to be incredibly shiny, the light just bounces off of every note.  I also find that this song promotes reflection of a different kind, reflection upon the past. Thinking about the Gold Days is something I usually associate with fond memories. This upbeat track would make a great addition to a summer DJ set. Enjoy!

Gold Dayzz (Maribou State Remix) - Ultraista (right click to save as)
Ultraista | Maribou

Love, Come Save Me

This rainy day melody has a slight electronic glitch to it, transforming a rather classic sounding song into a modern one. The warm sounds of acoustic guitar, record pops, and airy male vocals create a warm analog environment. Matched with the strategic digitalization sounds, precise cuts and stutters, this song rounds out as electronic and interesting. Enjoy!

Love, Come Save Me (Feverkin Remix) - Right Away, Great Captain! - (Right click to Save As)

Right Away, Great Captain! | Feverkin

Stepping Stones

There's so much emotions in these strings, I love the way the notes of the violin are bent to convey sadness. The other instruments call out to the violin, in hopes to cheer it up and tell it that life goes on. But sometimes you need to wallow in the now, and that's what the violin needs to do before moving on. This track captures that release. Enjoy!

Stepping Stones - SizzleBird (right click to save as)
SizzleBird

I Want You

I have been enamored with Rotkraft since the first note I ever heard by the magical team.  This track is extraordinary. Just listen to the use of those choir-like samples weaning over this confident and unruffled beat. Each note is precise, calculated, and comes off as organic and natural. The tempo is perfect for a glass of scotch. Enjoy!

I Want You - Rotkraft (right click to save as)
Rotkraft

Select Sundays: Aperture

Similar to xxyyxx, Photay seems to be a young musical prodigy. I mean, I can't tell because I can't find much biographical information about Evan Shornstein except that he's still in college. This track is just, well, it's just beautiful modern background music. Perfect for a little nuevo camping right?

Aperture - Photay (right click to save as)
Photay

Vinyl Saturdays: Dance To The Music

I remember buying this record brand new while venturing around Los Angeles with some fellow record junkies back in 2003. I was completely stoked to discover and buy this track. I'm not sure if I knew what it was about this track I liked so much then, was it the funky disco groove, the tidbits of brilliant electric guitar, or the perfectly clipped sample. Those are the reason I love this track now.
As I listen to songs that are coming out now, 10 years later, I see that this track is still current, in fact I could mix this right in our out of the legendary Daft Punk's new track Get Lucky in a set. Enjoy!

Dance To The Music - Soularis (right click to save as)
Solaris

Changes

I recognized this track right away as it pulls some heavy inspiration from Pnau - 'Baby'. This rendition starts out much more organically, and selectively builds to quite the pinnacle. Check out that saxophone, I've listened to the track three times during the composition of this post and each time that sax starts jamming I can't keep still. Enjoy!

Changes Feat. Wad Ad - Faul (right click to save as)
Faul | Wad Ad

Fun Punch

This track pays homage to that earlier style of Daft Punk laced with banging bass lines, hard hitting beats, and an amazing electric guitar solo. I love the energy of this song, and how it brings so many colors and upbeat feelings. Enjoy!

Fun Punch (Calling In Sick Remix) - Bag Raiders (right click to save as)
Bag Raiders | Calling In Sick

Jasmine

I have a friend named Jasmine. This song is sometimes like my friend and sometimes not. This track as a dark and swampy bassline, which is un-Jasmine like. Though this song has an overall electronic feel to it, there is distinct R&B roots, with plenty of hand clapping. I love the meld of inspiration that shows through in this track, and how well it all comes together. Enjoy!

Jasmine - Jai Paul (right click to save as)
Jai Paul

All God's Love

This track is deep. I love the vocal filter, and how the standout of the track is the melody and not the lyrics. The bassline has a bit of the tech-house attitude without being too tech-y. I also enjoy the sharp synths that layer precisely over the aforementioned vocals.  The track gains a strong momentum and stays interesting all the way through. Enjoy!

All God's Love Feat. Antranita - MAD!(right click to save as)
MAD! | Antranita

Singing In The Rain

I'm not sure if this remix was made in order to create this commercial, but I am sure that this remix is awesome. There's a modern twist on an old classic, and it's done with great taste. Enjoy!

Singing In The Rain - Mint Royale (right click to save as)
Mint Royale

Vinyl Saturdays: I'm Feelin' High Tonite

This track has aged extremely well. The fact that this song is 11 years old and could still be played in a club today sure says something. I love the whispery vocals that start off the song, but I love it more when the seductive female vocal sample "I'm feeling high tonight" shows up. The song is over 10 minutes long, which means there's plenty of solos and jamming. Enjoy!

I'm Feelin' High Tonite Deep Mix - S.O.E. (South Of The Equator) (right click to save as)
Matthias Heilbronn presents S.O.E.

The Shining

Today marks 2 years of this blog. We've posted 615 posts, 7 mixtapes, and a few wordy posts about things that felt important enough to write about.  I love everything that has to do with this blog, the digging for music, writing my thoughts and feelings for a song, choosing a picture to share alongside the track, and most of all sharing songs that get me feeling good.

This track is heartfelt and beautiful. I'd probably play this song at the end of a powerful speech in a dramatic movie. You can see it now, main characters smiling in slow motion, everyone feeling the energy of something great all together, and it sounds real good too. Enjoy!

The Shining - Badly Drawn Boy (right click to save as)
Badly Drawn Boy

Too High

This track surpasses expectations at about the 2:30 mark. Have you been sitting on the side of the dance floor, head in your hands cause you were "too high to dance"? If so then you may have been the inspiration for this song! There's many elements to this song, painting a yin and yang picture of the chaos and beauty that internally occurs when nobody is watching on the dance floor.  There's darkness and light, the different tones used and the movements that the song roams through is a perfect descriptor of the perfect dance floor. Enjoy!

Too High (The 2 Bears Remix) - Gramme (right click to save as)
Gramme | The 2 Bears

Lesson 1

This track is so cute to me. I love the French language lesson sound byte about love, you are beautiful, you are nice. This track puts me in a fantastic mood when I hear it. The smooth and round synth combined with the progressive sound builds are perfectly spaced. Enjoy!

Lesson 1 (Original Mix) - L'Equipe du Son (right click to save as)
L'Equipe du Son

All You're Waiting For

There's an infectious up-down to this song, bob your head or raise your hand. I get excited when I hear the beginning of the chorus:

"Hey wait a minute, just a minute I was ready for the flight. Got my bags packed waiting on the driver curb side."

I also discovered this amazing music video mash up featuring this track and footage from Sedmikrasky (Daisies) by Vera Chytilova. I have never seen this movie, however I just may have to after this fantastic combination. This reminds me of the Phoenix Lisztomania mashed with footage of the 80's brat pack films, of which I must have logged over 1,000 views simply from my IP address. It's amazing that there were even spin offs of the mashup, this one with over 400k views! Enjoy!

All You're Waiting For Feat. Nancy Whang - CLASSIXX (right click to save as)
CLASSIXX | Nancy Whang

When U Love Somebody

One of my inspirations, and amazing mixtape composer Steph Lund closed her latest mixtape for ETMPT with this track.  I've admired Steph's ability to curate amazing tracks from different areas of the music world in a cohesive and interesting journey of sound. This track starts strong, has amazing hooks, and is strong enough to finish a 1hr set of equally amazing tracks. Enjoy!

When U Love Somebody - Fruit Bats (right click to save as)
Fruit Bats

Vinyl Saturdays: Chicken Dinner

This track walks a line, I'm not quite sure labeling it Drum and Bass is 100% appropriate. Though, the track does have elements of D&B. I enjoy the bassline a great deal. The drums may have been programmed, but I could imagine a talented drummer playing this piece live which is impossible in most Drum and Bass songs. There is a beautiful and colorful expedition that the song travels, that I find interesting and thought provoking. Enjoy!

Chicken Dinner - Ronnie And Clyde (right click to save as)
Ronnie And Clyde