Vins, Replika, Onur Özman, Captain Futuro

Summertime has arrived. I am offloading and unlocking the past two years of focused study and learning, taking everything in with a fresh outlook. Looking for a place to practice  this new chapter in my design work and really establish the basis of my contribution to the professional field. It’s a tremendous feeling. It’s been aided by all the warmth, the lush, green scenery, the friends, and of course– the music. Having spent less and less time exploring for new tracks while focusing on music research for my thesis, , I am finally starting to get back into the rhythm. It got pretty scary, my Recently Added playlist was almost empty (never made it there, thankfully). Anyway, here are some sociable cuts for those hot summer outings.

Vins – Stoop Rap – Gimme The Loot EP 1

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I caught this new favorite track off the mix Todd Terje (say. Tair-yay, I think?) threw down for Tim Sweeney on Beats in Space. Although I’m totally into SE62, I likely would have missed out on this Vs. split single otherwise…so glad I didn’t miss it though. This sort of complete re-imagination and re-invigoration of an old tune is incredible to me. Producer incorporated the sample heard at the tracks astounding peak (starts around 2:00 in) from KK Rockwell & Rodney C’s Stoop Rap, which appeared in the iconic Wild Style documentary, a striking snapshot of a nascent urban street culture– hip hop, graffiti and turntablism. Fast forward more than 20 years to the present day, and Vins essentially puts a hulking, sub-bumping beat around the original a capella, like placing a little man into a gigantic mech robot in an anime film. Love this track.

A Few Dudes – Nice Trip (Replika’s Trippin’ Cut) – Nice Trip EP

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It’s been a while since I got into any of the cleaner, more progressive tones of house music, as I become more disco-centric each day…but I still know how to pick out sounds that I like, and this brilliant re-work by of the Russian duo ‘ track, Nice Trip, was full of them. I enjoy the soft, stringy stabs, as well as the dubby stabs, and how the two of them interconnect, I enjoy the fact that there aren’t any stupid unnecessary vocal breakdowns or vocal stabs, just some faint voice wishing me a “nice trip.” I enjoy that the bass doesn’t sound like half the deep house throwaways coming out today, even if it doesn’t knock my socks off. This isn’t a new track either, but it really caught my ear when I was browsing late night.

Onur Özman – People of Planet X – Dresden Codex EP

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On this blog, I’ve been an ardent Turkish deep house proponent, not only because I have many Turkish friends and I am fascinated by Turkish culture at the “crossroads of the world,” but because I’m pleasantly surprised quite often by the above-average quality of Turkish deep house as a whole. Enter , a producer I’ve been aware of, but hadn’t found a “gotta blog it” track of his yet as I had with other Turks like Onur Engin, Tolga Fidan, Evren Ulusoy, etc., that is until now. His catalogue, especially some of the more recent releases and appearances, is strong. Stronger than I would have thought, thus why I am often surprised, I mean it’s tough to go wrong with a little Marvin in your track, but the A-side of this recent release on Dutchie is equally tantalizing. Check him out if you haven’t yet.

Captain Futuro – Firehoes – The Captain Returns EP

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Finally, a little bit of disco hop for your sunday afternoon parties and BBQs, I guess the subject matter of the lyrics really clashes with the sentiment of disco itself, but it is catchy…especially when we hear Busta take the mic and stimulate our minds with the astute observation, “there’s some hoes in this house.” It’s just fun, and that’s what summer is all about folks: make sure you’re enjoying yourself at all times. Sometimes we may need a reminder. This one comes from Captain Futuro, aka BnC & Dj Butcher. It’s out now on Chopshop, more info on .

Kyson, Radere, Rhythm & Sound, Kyle Bobby Dunn

I am finally writing to you from the other side. Last week, I graduated from Parsons The New School for Design with a Master’s in Design & Technology. As I begin to decompress the last two years of hard work and neglecting other areas of my life (including this blog), I find myself standing at the beginning of a new chapter in life. Hoping to have more time to get back to blogging and sharing stuff around here. Starting with a selection of dub and ambient.

Kyson – Washed Out – Patience

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I was fortunate to be able to find the time to do the album art for Moodgadget’s latest release from new signing Kyson. I fell in love with the EP as I worked on it, you can stream the entire thing and download the opening track for free over on the Kyson – Patience mini-site. I really dig the classic strains of dub techno and garage in this bite-sized track.

Radere – Chimes Loop – Good Evening, Ghosts

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Between taking excellent photos on instagr.am and collaborating with friends on a plethora of projects and releases, Radere seems to be settling well into his new habitat in Colorado. He recently sent me Good Evening, Ghosts, an EP centered around this Chime Loop with approaches by Anduin, Benoît “Honore” Pioulard, Sun Hammer (a dark project of A Setting Sun), and Jannick. The raw, lo-fi qualities of this track make for some lush ambiance.

Rhythm & Sound – Ruff Way ft. Tikiman – Showcase

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While shopping for a birthday present for my girlfriend, I heard this classic material from Rhythm & Sound (aka dub pioneers Basic Channel) at Meme Antenna (on Bedford Ave) and immediately had to pick up the CD… can’t believe this track is from 1997. You really can’t get much better than this when it comes to dub techno, something I think most dub heads will agree with a hint of sadness. Can’t wait to dive deeper into the Burial Mix catalogue soon, thankfully much of it is listed in the CD packaging.

Kyle Bobby Dunn always keeps me in the loop as to what he’s up to. Earlier today, he sent me a link to this new music video for his track, . Filmed in Australia, it puts a really fascinating glimpse into possible pairings of Dunn’s undeniably cinematic soundscapes with a visual accompaniment. The result tells a story that rewards the patient observer and should get those who are familiar with Kyle’s work excited for future video projects and releases.

New Project: Collage Studies

I’ve always been fascinated by collage. It’s a visceral technique that emerged in the early 20th century as a form of pop art, involving the assemblage of a variety of different sources of color and texture. Inspired by a few recent projects, I set out to experiment and develop my own technique for collage. These collage/number studies are the result of my first concerted effort, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. What excites me even more is the potential to apply this technique in future projects, using different color and texture palettes, and new layout techniques. I learned about how layout and order of placement dictate the motion and flow of the collage, which can be especially noted viewing the piece at a small size, or from far-away. It’s especially interesting to think about collage in this case as a digital approach to replicating a technique that traditionally relied on the physical sourcing, cutting and gluing of materials. The affordances of applications like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and the abundance of pixels to source from the internet allow us to replicate these processes without all the mess, but is this still giving us the experience of bonding with the materials as we combine and re-contextualize them to form something new, expressive, and ultimately our own? I can say I did get a taste of this feeling, but there is still a barrier that existed between me and this final result that beckons me to somehow bring this sort of technique into the material world.

At any rate, the entire project was the result of an interview I did with my friend Erik, who designs under the Norik moniker and who founded Typcut. I got some good insight into his process and attempted to use a case study of that process (all completed for a class in Iterative Research & Design) to explore this new collage technique. In the end, I found that Erik achieved a sense of creative synergy in his life by balancing his professional design work with personal and clandestine creative output. I myself was surprised to find that I was more creative (despite heavy design fatigue) during subsequent “hard work phases” when I took the time to stimulate my natural creative urges by doing self-guided design. The bottom line is that it’s important to keep in touch with your inner-creative, to stimulate the imagination, and to strive for a sense of balance in your professional and personal life.

Free Wallpapers – 1680 x 1050 (click to download):

Fort Romeau, Jacques Renault, Evren Furtuna, Joyce Muniz

Seriously guys, so sorry for the downtime around here. While activity on Blog.H34 has been waning slowly over the past 2 years as I’ve focused the vast majority of my time and energy on my graduate work, that chapter of my life has reached it’s fever pitch, and a few months from now, I’ll have re-entered the world outside of the vacuum of academia once again…which I hope means that the content will start flowing anew, maybe even a redesign to reflect all that I know now about design & technology could lie in H34’s future.

Fort Romeau – Nights Bridge – Kingdoms

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This track by Fort Romeau caught me by surprise, and has been on heavy rotation ever since. The producer, Mike Norris, who plays for La Roux when he’s not exploring more interesting realms of electronic music, recently released Kingdoms, which has already been spreading like wildfire across various deep house circles of the internet. This beat is so catchy, is it two-on-the-floor? Halfstep? Whatever, give me more…it sounds like an entirely new sub-genre waiting to be explored. Kingdoms is most certainly a worthwhile listen, though many old school house heads may react with a measure of dismay to Norris’ shameless sampling. His referencing of Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers) in the track Jack Rollin’ is playful enough not to be insulting, but it doesn’t come close to the full-fledged exploration of the sound’s underlying themes, like what DJ Sprinkles did with Grand Central, Pt. I (Deep Into The Bowel Of House) on the new classic, Midtown 120 Blues (can we blame Norris if he wasn’t there at that time wearing drag? Who of us would have been brave enough to venture into the Bowel of the deep house when it was born?). At any rate, Nights Bridge, which unavoidably conjures up memories of the two times I’ve been to Knightsbridge, London, is an exciting track that has me hungry for more.

Roberto Rodriguez – Tell Me Feat. Kholi (Jacques Renault Remix) – (single)

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I started watching Twin Peaks recently, part of my 2012 resolution to get caught up on all the David Lynch I never got exposed to when I was younger. I knew of the disco/house mainstay Jacques Renault for a year or two before I knew of the Twin Peaks character. If you know both, you can imagine my disbelief when I found out that there are two Jacques Renaults in the world, and then double it when I learned that Jacques Renault may indeed be Jacques Renault’s real name. OK I’m starting to get dizzy, so let’s have a listen to an edit he did for Roberto Rodriguez‘s newest single, Tell Me. Rodriguez gives me something new every time he releases an EP, but Renault can always be relied upon for a specific, funked out, electro-tinged take on any track he touches. It makes for a really interesting combination when you put these two guys together. If you’ve never been to a party being DJ’ed by Jacques Renault, you should do yourself a huge favor and get to the next one!

Evren Furtuna – My Miracle Baby – My Miracle Baby EP

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I’ve got a perfect example here of how easy it can be to pass over a solid track when you judge a release by its album artwork. I won’t post or link it, you can Google it yourself if you’re interested enough, but let’s just say that in Evren Furtuna‘s case, there was a design that, while not sloppy or low-res, did less than nothing to convey the vibes of the sounds it signified. Rather, it’s a big turn off to anyone who doesn’t associate babies or greeting card aesthetics with underground house music. Anyway, since you aren’t seeing the album art and you have no reason to press play to this track besides your inquisitive nature, and my poorly-worded suggestions, you’ll have nothing to get in the way of your enjoyment. There’s a lot to like here, I’m curious to know who the vocal is, whether it’s a sample (my guess, since no other artist was credited in the track name) or if it was recorded, which would be impressive.

Joyce Muniz ft. Taliwa – Messin’ With My Mind (Original Vocal Mix) – (single)

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Last but not least, another solid offering from Joyce Muniz, holdin’ it down for the female deep house producers. While Maya Jane Coles has blown up in some circles, she hasn’t stolen the spotlight from other deep vixens like Nina Kraviz, Maayan Nidam, Kate Simko, who have each found comfortable places in respectable scenes. Joyce Muniz doesn’t seem to have hung her hat anywhere yet, with releases on Lo:Rise, Defected, and Exploited, among others, but you can tell by her poise that she will the moment she feels like it. You can also tell by her production that she is an acute purveyor of driving, slightly progressive but never plastic, and often eclectic house music that ranges from deep and dubby to bright and soulful, but always dope. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Deep Disco Mix – Order in the Court – Recorded Exclusively for Old Gold Boutique



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Recorded exclusively for Old Gold Boutique — http://oldgoldboutique.com
Original post: http://oldgoldboutique.com/news/transmissionoldgold22

Martin Beume – Solid Rubber
Nebraska – Time Has Come
Andy Hart – Tell Her You Know
Fantastic Man – Groove With You
Chet Faker – Love and Feeling (Sleep D Mix)
Iron Curtis – You, On a Friday Night
Francis Inferno Orchestra – Meet Me In Salt Lake City (Soul Clap Remix)
Kitano – Going Home
The Soul Renegades – Darlin’
Genius of Time – Drifting Back
Mario & Vidis – Loove Wars
SE62 – Wax Pencils
Telma & Luisa – My Luv
James Teej – Fame

Tolga Fidan, Taylor&Costes, Hall&Oates, Soul Clap

The fourth and final semester of my graduate work in Design & Technology at Parsons here in NYC has commenced, and the greatest challenge of my fledgling career is now upon me. In advance, there isn’t much hope for weekly activity around here, but I’ll be back to normal by May. I have continued to explore and collect, and will share the best of my explorations as often as possible.

Tolga Fidan – Double Edge Sword – (single)

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I just posted about at the end of 2011, and he’s already stepping up to the plate in 2012 with this fantastic track. Gotta love the tone of those keys, I am thoroughly enjoying Fidan’s approach to infusing pop in some form into each of his compositions. The EP features a solid remix from deep/tech house veteran, . Tolga Fidan is shaping up to be one worth keeping an eye on this year.

Taylor & Costes – Spank It (Things Happen Remix) – (single)

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Not sure if Things Happen is the name of this Taylor & Costes remix, or the name of an actual DJ/producer (enough of the ambiguous google-proof naming conventions, guys!), but this is some funky shit. I love the build and release of this track, and the authentic, well-executed flavors of electrofunk. Strictly Groove is on-point as usual.

Jersey Shore Guido – For That (Pauly D’s Fist Pumping Mix) – Doz Go Tak EP

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Speaking of ambiguous naming conventions, this absolutely killer edit of Hall & Oates has to take the cake. Check the name of the track above and try to find anything about a DJ other than the guy from Jersey Shore who calls being a “Guido” a “way’a life.” The only hints of the identity of the editor was D-Sounds, who also was ungoogleable, and a reference to this balearic edit’s popularity for a time in Ibiza clubs. A perfect example of how well-composed choice classics from pop masters like Daryl Hall and John Oates can be revitalized with minimal additions.

Soul Clap – Dreams of Tomorrow – R&B Edits

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While on the topic of edits, Soul Clap released this edit of Lonnie Liston Smith on the limited Wolf + Label Black label, which is generally a vinyl-only affair, likely the reason it passed under my radar until now. I was obsessed with this track when I heard my friends Lock & Kirk, who DJ fun, deep, low-key all-vinyl sets as Half-Handed. Through this obsession, I discovered via YouTube comments on the track that it incorporates the kick from the Lee Curtiss track Smoking Mirrors…so technically it’s a mashup edit with almost no additions, but the edit, like the dub, begs a question of original composition– is it a new track or is the edit simply an outsider’s after-thought of the original production process?

Brenda Russell, Sandra Feva, The McCrarys, Nigel Martinez

Get ready for some essential classics. This past year I’ve been trying to uncover the roots of all my favorite modern genres– especially focused on the realms of disco, funk, soul, and R&B. Tragically, the sort of craftsmanship that went into music in the days before the advent of the personal computer and the drum machine is largely absent from mainstream popular music today, and much of the independent and underground scenes as well. Think of how much incredible music is out there waiting for you to happen upon it and hear it. For me, it’s a constant need– new tracks and new influences lead to new ideas and new insights. Amazingly, as challenging as it is to locate gems of disco like these, when you know an artist name, or a track or album title, or even just part of a lyric, there’s a good chance it’s out there on the blog of some hyper-focused music scholar. We need to strengthen this network somehow. My thesis work on GenreCodex, the main reason things have been so slow around here, attempts to answer the question of how we can help each other fill in the blanks and start discovering things we actually like to listen to again.

Brenda Russell – Way Back When – Ultimate Collection: Brenda Russell

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I first heard an edit of this track on LCD Soundsystem frontman and DFA label head James Murphy’s Beats in Space Mix, and was instantly obsessed with tracking down the source, which of course, was not listed anywhere. Miraculously, the Shazam app did what Google searches could not, revealing singer/songwriter Brenda Russell as the source of this incredible find. The Underdog edit of Russell’s track takes just about every piece of the original mix that can be looped and expands it into a tantalizing study of what makes this track so appealing– the unconventional rhythm, the positive grooves of the bass, and of course, Brenda’s golden voice. Enjoy, and if you can find the Underdog edit than kudos to you.

Sandra Feva – If You Want It You Got It (Long Version) – 12″

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Another more recent unlisted Beats in Space find came from Junstin Vandervolgen (of TBD), who left a challenge in his tracklist to “Try and find me.” Well, the abundant lyrical reference made things a little bit easier (but not by much– sometimes it takes a serious effort of pragmatic Googling), eventually leading me to Boogie Palace, where Sandra Feva was identified as the artist. Now, I’m sure there are edits abound that bring the subtleties of modern dance into this classic disco tune, but for now, I am perfectly satisfied with the original mix. Gotta love a track that beckons the listener to “put your stuff in my direction.”

The McCrarys – Love On A Summer Night – 12″

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This past year couldn’t have seen more edits of this classic track by The McCrarys. Seriously. Not that I have an issue with good disco edits, but , Gazeebo, even (whose take on the track remains my favorite) couldn’t resist showing their love for the original, I’m sure there are enough now to make an entire mix of “Love On A Summer Night” edits. This track sounds excellent pitched down to around 100 BPM, Denys was onto something in his edit: let the echo resonate, and surrender yourself to a lazy groove vivid enough to taste the salty ocean air and detect the smell of sandy palm trees.

Nigel Martinez – Better Things to Come (Joey Negro Edit) – Backstreet Brit Funk

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Nigel Martinez may not have been one of the biggest names to arise out of his era, but one track of his, “Better Things To Come,” which appeared on Joey Negro’s essential Backstreet Brit Funk compilation, should be enough to remove any doubt of his talent and contribution. This edit by the compilation’s curator leaves much of the song untouched, while a re-edit by Ashley Beedles that appeared on Backstreet Brit Funk Remixed does the same thing as the Underdog edit of Brenda Russell– expanding on the initial brilliance to add more repetition and build/release, essential nuances between then and now that make tracks more floor-friendly. Regardless, the golden brass, the backing vocals, even the goddamn cowbell come together to create a brilliant melody that can’t be ignored. Dig it.

Great Weekend, Voices of Black, Tala\Anish, Deepchord

No time nor need for a lengthy introduction to today’s post, let’s get right into it and hit play without thinking twice. Today’s image comes via Designspiration; I’m actually surprised at how many designers I talk to who don’t know of the site. Well-curated, reliably amazing design inspiration.

Great Weekend – That’s The Thing (To Do) – The Wurst Music Ever

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Great Weekend, who apparently is related somehow to Chaka Khan, contributed this track to the recently-released label comp The Wurst Music Ever. I first heard it on Beg to Differ’s excellent session with Tim Sweeney on Beats in Space, and had been waiting eagerly for its release. For whatever reason, I’d heard of Nick Chacona but not about Beg to Differ (his collaborative DJ moniker with Wurst Music namesake Roy Wurst), I’m glad I’ve seen the light.

Voices of Black – Dry Ur Eyez ft. Rap Lisa & Greg Paulus – 7:30 Mixtape

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is Baba Ali and Jules Born representing Teaneck, NJ. They made their debut on Wolf + Lamb, the well-respected NYC deep house mainstay you read about here on Blog.H34 all the time, and have been turning heads with catchy R&B-flavored “milky” house vibes. This track definitely has me hitting repeat, it features regular VoB collaborator Rap Lisa, along with my man Greg Paulus on trumpet. It’s a version from their free 7:30 mixtape, check that if you want to hear more.

Anish – Feel Years Younger – Come Back Jealousy EP

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I caught this brand new split EP on Leftroom’s Left’d sub-imprint (?) by Tala and Anish, an elusive pair of young producers on the rise picked up by label boss Matt Tolfrey. Definitely digging the dark sub-heavy vibes combined with vocals that, for a change in house music, don’t sound like gospel singers but don’t sound creepy or anti-social either. Fans of Benoit & Sergio, Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts, Junior Boys, etc. should enjoy these two guys.

Deepchord – Sofitel – Hash Bar Loops

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Every few months for about a year now, I’ve complained about how few new high-quality dub techno records are released these days. While that still holds true, and it is a crying shame, we can at least take solace in knowing that when the modern stewards of dub techno release an LP, it will be enough to keep the genre alive. Rod Modell is imitated often, but perhaps not enough, because so few can even come close. Hash Bar Loops is a complex release, to say the least. It pulsates and cracks like alien technology weaving through frozen catacombs, and while I still feel more partial to his collaborations with Steve Hitchell, this marks a solid entry into his solo catalogue.

Re-designing the New York City Subway Map

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Autumn Park, Aeroc, Beacon, Mirko Loko

We’ve been treated to a very easy fall thus far (not counting the brief but intense Halloween weekend blizzard), filled with warm days and sunlight that illuminates the beautiful colors before the leaves fall and leave behind bare branches that only look good in a blanket of snow. I’ve been completely wrapped up in a wide range of sights, sounds and flavors, here is an eclectic selection for you to check out.

Autumn Park – Aldom – Old Oliver EP

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As we wait for Autumn Park’s forthcoming EP on the Spacebreaks imprint, I got into an EP of his released at the beginning of the year. It’s rare these days to find good dub house and techno, and most of it is released in the colder months, let’s hope this winter will bring more solid dubs than in weak winters past. I really think dub techno is best consumed in colder environments, there’s something about that sonorous echo of everything that keeps winter warm and beautiful (and bearable).

Aeroc – You Say That – R+B=?

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Since I’m getting a bit nostalgic, I figured I’d share this with the IDM heads out there– it’s a new (as in newly-released, apparently the material is over seven years old) LP from Aeroc that was released exclusively on Ghostly Music Service and is coming out on digital Dec 13th. I’m hazy on the specifics, but since I’m a GMS subscriber I got access to this gem of relaxing blip and guitar ambiance that reminded me of my days listening quietly to Merck Records, lots of Ilkae, and Limbik Frequencies Internet Radio (which if you have been following H/34 for a while now, you might be interested to know is what led me to Moodgadget and Ghostly).

Beacon – So Anxious – (single)

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Speaking of , here is the newest signing, R&B outfit Beacon, who has emerged this fall as one of Brooklyn’s most promising debuts. It’s tough to pinpoint the undeniable appeal of Thomas Mullarney III and Jacob Gossett if you just listen to their studio material– their live performance is what has gotten people talking. Mullarney demonstrates the fidelity of his voice with natural ease, moving like some kind of 21st-century Jim Morrison or Elvis, while Gossett controls the majority of the instrumental with razor-precision, managing to sound better live than on the album. The two have chemistry on stage, and when tracks peak and drop, they make sure the crowd is having as much fun as they are. Can’t wait to see where these guys take it from here.

Mirko Loko – Gloria – Visionquest Fall Winter Collection

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Was talking to someone yesterday about Wolf + Lamb, and how the musical/cultural statement they made in 2009 cascaded and hasn’t resided since then per se, but it’s like everyone went off and started to do their own thing. W+L hasn’t gone anywhere, it’s certainly more than just a label, but if you look at where many of their original producers are today, it’s like it crystalized and many have gone in their own directions and are now finding success. An example of this is the label, run by Seth Troxler, Ryan Crosson, Shaun Reeves and Lee Curtiss. Every release of VQ since founding has featured worthwhile tracks from relevant producers with solid art direction, and their new Compilation for this season is no exception. I really love a good beat that bumps along with that unconventional groove.