The Round Up, Vol. 8

In this week's Round Up: Knights, Slovakians, and Chameleons! Let's goooo.

Andy Riley (of Inland Knights)

Live in San Antonio, Texas

Since I've started writing for DPC, I've wanted to somehow feature Inland Knights in some capacity. Problem is, these guys rarely release mixes, let alone live recordings. That patience paid off last week as a live set from Andy Riley popped up on their official Soundcloud. Color me giddy. Together with his partner-in-crime Laurence Ritchie, Riley has been a steady purveyor of groovy, unabashedly fun house music since the late 90's.  This experience, coupled with excellent track selection and a knack for whipping crowds into frenzies, makes these guys a must-see/hear whenever I see the name pop up. Inland Knights' approach to electronic music is not inclusive or needlessly emotive and complex. Instead, it seems like these two U.K. natives want everyone to join in on the party. This sense of warmth and barely-concealed joy gives their sets, productions, and remixes a levity that's exceedingly rare in House these days, and impossible to ignore.

Much more after the jump...

The Round Up, Vol. 7

It's been a long time, and I shouldn't have left you. Whether you're braving the I-95 corridor or waiting for the person in front of you to grasp the subtleties of airport security instructions, here's some tunes to shake you out of your tryptophan coma.

Noir Music Podcast November 2012: Tapesh

We start off this special Thanksgiving edition of the Round Up with an artist whose popularity has skyrocketed in the past few months - Germany's own Tapesh. Releasing off heavyweight labels like Defected, Noir, ALiVE, and Suara, Tapesh has garnered a sterling reputation for inventive, playful production that pulls from all corners of the musical spectrum. His taste for samples - from 90's hip-hop to funk and R&B - is second to none, making Tapesh's originals and remixes instantly accessibile and dangerously addictive. He's found kindred spirits lately in the form of Bunny Tiger's Sharam Jey and LouLou Records boss Kolombo. Their collaborations together have been shaking dance floors for the past couple of months with no signs of slowing down. This mix for Noir Music dips between heavy, industrial tracks and bouncy, upbeat house, punctuated by a fondness for hi-hat and percussive breakdowns. Head-bopping material for sure.

After the jump...

The Round Up, Vol. 5

In this week's Round Up: Manolo, more Karmon, and a nice side of Louche.


Tom Flynn - Junk Promo DJ Mix 


 Our first mix this week comes from Tom Flynn, a U.K. producer and DJ who’s been rapidly ascending into the house scene’s consciousness with stellar releases and remixes. After being named “Best Break Through Producer of 2010” by Pete Tong in 2010, things have not slowed down for Mr. Flynn. His releases off Dirtybird, Mobilee, Hypercolour, etc. have been, almost without exception, great; from churning, in-your-face house to melodic, complex soundscapes, Flynn does it all. This promo mix is a great encapsulation of his sound and his talents as a DJ. Flynn’s mixing and track selection borders on frantic at times as he regularly switches from techno to house to breakbeat to almost electro. He never dips his whole foot in any of these genres though, always pulling out right as the listener is getting comfortable with one sound or groove. It’s great to see a mix where the artist isn’t afraid to yank the listener by the ear, refuse to get stale, and be totally comfortable with taking risks.

Much more after the jump...

The Round Up, Vol. 4

In this week's Round Up: Slow weeks, the end of summer, and Scuba.

This week and a 1/2 has been a little slow in the mix world, so I’ll be sure to throw in some extra good stuff at the end.

Scuba b2b w/ Jimmy Edgar, live at the Boiler Room, Berlin.

First up, an absolutely blistering set of techno and house featuring Hotflush Records boss Scuba alongside K7 Records’ Jimmy Edgar. If you told me Scuba was the best DJ/producer in the world right now, I’d have a hard time trying to prove you wrong. A true musical chameleon, Scuba started his career focusing on the deeper, more subtle side of dubstep and U.K. bass, but has since begun to delve into the world of tech-house. It was a good decision. Bringing his ear for creeping, melodic basslines to the world of house has been a revelation not just for his fans, but for Scuba as well. He’s been on an absolute tear in ‘12 - his Essential Mix was mind-bendingly good, and his album Personality garnered heavy critical praise. Not only an excellent producer, Scuba is a true maestro behind the decks as well, effortlessly defying any attempt to put a neat label on his sound. In that regard, Jimmy Edgar is a kindred spirit. A Detroit native, Edgar has made a name for himself with his eccentric, off-the-wall remixing, producing, and live performances. The dude oozes talent, and his 2012 album Majenta is easily one of my favorite electronic albums of the year. Combined, these two are something to behold. This mix sees both of them at their best, weaving in and out of floor-shaking techno and spacey melodies. Simply fantastic.

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The Round Up, Vol. 2

In this week's Round Up: Romania, Noir Music, throwing things, drippings  and more Diynamic! Yay!

David August - Diynamic Neon Promo Mix

Surprise! Diynamic being featured again. You guys better get used to it, because I don’t think they’re going anywhere. Hailing from Berlin, David August is another example of Diynamic’s knack for scooping up young, insanely talented producers and giving them a platform to shine from. It’s always fun for me (and I hope for ya’ll) to listen to a mix that truly expresses an artist’s musical voice and character. The inside of David August’s head is a stormy place, and this mix is unequivocally David August. Unlike the majority of promo mixes, this one is borderline meditative – August has no problem slowing down the tempo and letting his tracks fully breathe. There’s a haunting, almost remorseful, edge to a good deal of his selections. Even some of the more upbeat tracks are underpinned with a melancholy bassline or vocal track. One gets the sense that every single one was picked with a purpose in mind, and August’s ability to convey that through his mixing is a testament to the youngster’s skill. Draw the blinds for this one.

Continued after the jump...

The Round Up, Vol. 1

Looking for a new mix to get you through the day? Need some inspiration to get up and get moving this weekend? More importantly, need more Dance Party? Starting this week, DPC will aim to highlight and disseminate some of our favorite mixtapes, podcasts, and EP releases from across the wide world of EDM, including our own backyard. Your personal curator for this intergalactic journey is new staff writer Sam Warren, a NY-to-D.C. transplant who listens to far too much of this stuff to be healthy. Each week, Sam will break down a handful of mixes in the hope that, somehow, somewhere, a booty will be shaken due to his efforts.

Continued after the jump...