In this week's Round Up: G-House, Wolf + Lamb, and some Labor Day specials.
DIRTCAST #20 | Tigerskin Mix
First up, we have a top flight mix from Berlin-based Alex Kruger, a.k.a. Tigerskin. Kruger is a man of many aliases (Dub Taylor, Magic Soul Orchestra, and Retrotronic to name a few), and while all quality in their own right, Tigerskin seems to have been the one that has garnered him the most critical acclaim. His remixing skills in particular have been sought after heavily since 2010, which saw him release great reworkings off Tsuba and Suruba Records. His original releases are eccentric and varied – ranging anywhere from atmospheric techno to heavy deep house to bright, poppy disco. You have to respect an artist who releases exactly what they want to and doesn’t conform to any genre pigeonholing; Tigerskin does just that. This podcast covers a lot of ground in its hour and 15 minutes and features a couple of unreleased tracks by the man himself. I really dug that the mix was mostly composed of Tigerskin’s own originals – the other artists he decides to include compliment his style perfectly. If you don’t know, now you know.
Our next mix comes from one of the founding fathers of the Wolf + Lamb label: Zev. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Zev and fellow label boss Gadi Mizrahi have carved out one of the most loved and emulated record labels in the underground house community. Drawing from funk, soul, and R&B, the pair’s music is at once classic and pioneering; as forward-thinking as it is intrinsically rooted in the past. There’s a timeless quality to the Wolf + Lamb sound, something that has undoubtedly played a major role in their quick rise to the top of the New York house scene. Zev’s mix here is indelible Wolf + Lamb – sexy, vocal-driven house with deep undertones. Unlike most of the deep house you hear, this is stuff that would be as right at home playing poolside as it would be in a dance club. Zev leaves no doubt that the future of Wolf + Lamb is in great hands.
Miguel Campbell Essential Mix
AFTER THE JUMP...
Miguel Campbell Essential Mix
As a general policy, I'm going to try to shy away from reviewing Essential Mixes in this column. Everyone and their mother hears them, and they get so digested that it's really not worth the time. Yet, here I am, throwing you the latest Essential Mix by Hot Creations star Miguel Campbell. I'll tell you what, this guy is good. Like, really good. His Someone Special release - a brooding and violently beautiful track that's just insanely addicting - exposed the world to the genius of this U.K. native. He hasn't slowed down since. Releasing off the aforementioned Hot Creations and his own label, Outcross Records, Campbell specializes in simple yet devastating basslines that worm their way inside your brain and stay there. He doesn't reinvent the wheel with his sound - he just makes a far better and simpler version of yours. His Essential Mix is a great conglomeration of Campbell's personal favorites, those of his Hot Creations label mates, and his own originals (even an unreleased Maceo Plex track...see if you can catch it). It never feels too crowded or unfocused, a tendency that some artists have while trying to squeeze everything in to their Essential Mix. Campbell keeps his foot on the pedal for most of this mix, and it's a wonderful glimpse into where he's from, what he's doing, and where he's headed. I can't wait to see what this guy does in the last half of 2012 and into 2013. Truly a rising star.
Amine Edge, Live at Too Mucking Fuch, 8-26-2012
I’ve been waiting to feature the next artist in this column for some time, and this week I finally scratch that itch. U.K. native Amine Edge (along with his partner-in-crime DANCE and a host of others) has been ushering in a new, grimy sub-genre of deep house affectionately dubbed “G-house.” It’s pulsating, window-rattling, bass-driven house with a penchant for using rap and hip-hop lyrics to shattering effect. Coming from a similar background as these guys (a hip-hop head, not being from the U.K.), I can’t help but be in love with this sound. While rap lyrics interspersed with house music is nothing new, their combination with this hard hitting sound is a faithful electronic reimagining of a lot of these hip-hop tracks. Forget Pretty Lights. This is what rap melded with electronic music should sound like. Along with rock solid production, Amine Edge isn’t too shabby of a DJ either. Listen for the “Around”/”Flo Jam” combo around 1:23:00 in. Now get to mean-mugging.
Drippings:
Have an awesome Labor Day weekend everyone. Come see DPC head editor and all-around swell guy DJ Remote Ctrl this Saturday at U Street Music Hall.
Peace
Think we left out a mix? Have the low down on some freshness we need in our lives? Wanna talk Paris Hilton DJ skillz? Come chat with us!
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