Tag Archive for 'tech house'

Twisted Tech Tuners

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on July 16, 2010
in music
. 0 Comments

Been dying to share these two tech tunes, both released in the past few months and which I have had on repeat for a couple of weeks now.  German Rainer Weichhold simply killed it with his suspenseful banger Infernal, a song that incorporates beautifully gripping strings that make me want to witness a robbery simply so that I can chase someone down and make a citizen’s arrest.  Copped this tune off of Organic Techhouse Vol. 3, a compilation released by Great Stuff Recordings.  Oxia & Nicolas Masseyeff made a irritatingly catchy tune with their heater Keep the Drums, which was released on Tsuba back in April.  The funky bassline keeps me moving steady, and I am beginning to develop a neck ache from pumping my headpiece like a chicken on uppers. Cluck, cluck.

Rainer Weichhold – Infernal  (buy)

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Oxia & Nicolas Massayeff – Keep the Drums (buy)

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PNT @ Manchester Global Radio (UK)

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on July 6, 2010
in events and music
. 2 Comments

The past week has been a sweaty pit-stain of a work-hole here at the Plugged Not Thugged headquarters, and we have been working like dogs to bring our readers some new flavor to rattle the taste buds and energize the mind.  We have two very special bits of news that we are pumped to share with all you floor-stompers across the globe.  The first announcement is that today will be the official launch of our Exclusive Plugcast Series here at PNT, where we will share hot and fresh exclusive mixes by artists from across the world, including our hometown Toronto.  Keep your eyes open for the first PNT plugcast post on the site later today!

The second exciting announcement is that we are honored to have officially accepted an invitation to work with our friends Michael Godsmark and Daniel Gent (of upcoming Tech House duo Curious George & The Agent) on their bi-weekly “Curious George & The Agent” radio show on Manchester Global Radio.  Michael and Dan have said that the show will focus mainly on Tech / House / Minimal music and have asked us to provide them with three “PNT Picks of the Week” which they will feature on the program every fortnight (2 weeks).  I wanted to point out that this isn’t just another online radio-station, but rather a station put together by industry professionals aiming to promote the gnarly influence that is UK underground dance music.  The station boasts a heavily stacked contributor lineup consisting of some of Europe’s finest DJs, producers and labels such as David Dunno (Hed Kandi), Kevin Andrews (Hoxton Whores), Jenny Harrison (Twisted Sista), David Ellis (Funky House), Jeff Jefferson (Moneypenny’s Music), Steve Sinclair (Funky House), Manchester Underground Music (MUM) along with many others.  To learn more about these contributors and others at Manchester Global, click here.

I have put together a little mix n’ match loot-bag for our readers to commemorate this exciting occasion.  This lootie consists of a tech house remix of Dance Area’s AA 24/7, a chewy ‘09 summer jam by Demarco, Mr. Lexx’s heater Dem A Pree – released in the spring – and a little flashy bit from Blackstrobe that Hatchmatik burned the dance floor with during his set with Mandelephant this weekend.  Dust em off !!

Dance Area – AA 24/7 (Noob Tech Remix)

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Demarco – Love A Come Down (Radio Edit)

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Mr. Lex – Dem A Pree (Cosa Nostra Riddim)

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Blackstrobe – Italian Fireflies (Original Mix)

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On The Rage

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on July 3, 2010
in events, mixes and music
. 1 Comment

It’s the first Saturday of the month again and that can only mean one thing: disaster.  The monthly party hurricane MAJOR RAGER is back in Kensington for the eleventh time and things are going to be as sweaty as ever up in this bitch.  This month marks the return of the UK Connection (UKC), a group that brings down the warhammer hard on dancefloor party rockers with their reggae, dancehall, electro and UK funky heat.  Things are gonna get hectic tonight, so buckle up and arrive early!

For those looking to keep raging past Ontario’s ultra-soft 2am (actually 1:45) last call, there will be a sick jam afterward which is being organized by some friends who  know how to throw it down large.  We are super excited for this one because our longtime favorites Hatchmatik and A-Rock from Montreal’s Peer Pressure camp will be dropping stingers with PNT’s Mr. Mandelephant.  Mandelephant and I were corrupted by Peer Pressure’s parties back in 2007, where the dancing was out of control, the beats were furious and the sweltering human heat nearly unbearable.  If you need to get some pep in your step, hit this one-two party combo with us tonight – we have the deets and it will be epic.

This mix by A-Rock has been played into the ground by Dick and Deezy.  Shoulder leanin’ never sounded or looked as good as in ‘07.  This killer mix is undoubtedly one of my favorites of all time.

A-Rock – Day of the Rent Mix

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Hatchmatik got lots of blog love for his remixes.  I have been rinsing My Girls thoroughly for more than quite some time.  Here, pop these tunes into your speakers – everyone is doing it.

Animal Collective – My Girls (Hatchmatik Remix)

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M.I.A – Boyz (Hatchmatik Remix)

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Total Tempest

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on June 30, 2010
in music
. 1 Comment

I have totally relapsed and returned to my tech house and minimal addiction over the past month.  My addiction has been kicked back into high gear because I couldn’t help but dabble in heaters such as Ramon Tapia’s remix of Kaiser Souzai’s 2009 tune Hurry Caine.  While both the original and the Tapia’s remix kick ass, I really love how Ramon altered this tune by making it sound so eerie.  Through the addition of ambient sounds such as hollow drips and drops, the remix successfully took my imagination below the surface into a weird netherworld of never-ending dance.  Luckily, both tunes are available above ground on Germany’s Yellow Tail records.

Kaiser Souzai – Hurry Caine (Original  Mix) (Buy)

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Kaiser Souzai – Hurry Caine (Ramon Tapia Remix)   (Buy)

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Tech With Trox

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on June 15, 2010
in music
. 3 Comments

Minimal tech-house  producer Seth Troxler has been kicking the shit out of my ears for the past couple of days.  Originally from America’s tech-hub Detroit, Troxler has been living in  Berlin for the past couple of years producing shoulder shaking tech-tunage that keeps feet moving and brows sweatin’.  I have recently been bobbing to Each Step, a collaboration between Troxler and Switzerland’s techno-titan Deetron, released through Circus Company.  Deep synth bombs with scuttling high hats and vocal monotonicity create a desire for back alley chases and late night shakeups.  Also been loving Troxler’s collabo with Matthew Dear on Hurt, an aural street sweeper that keeps night clubbers poppin’ and dripping like cave-creeping stalagmites.  This music is out of this world.

Seth Troxler & Deetron – Each Step (buy)

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Seth Troxler & Matthew Dear -”Hurt” (buy)

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Stacked Burners

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on June 14, 2010
in music
. 2 Comments

Pupkulies & Rebecca is a fantastic group out of Berlin which produces experimental pop, tech-house and dub infused ear burners which give me goosebumps and keep my body and mind pure.  I just ran into this succulent remix of their ultra-catchy tune Burning Boats, by funky psych-house duo Masomenos out of Paris.  Beautiful female vocals, slow piano keystrokes and constant kicks make for a great Sunday afternoon tune that will sooth the soul and mind.  Too bad it is Monday.

Pupkulies & Rebecca – Burning Boats (Masomenos Remix) (buy)

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Baba Black is Heavy

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on June 8, 2010
in mixes and music
. 0 Comments

Baa-baa black sheep, have you any wool?  I am not sure about wool, but Baba Black — a dark tech house tag-team from Denmark — definitely has more than three bags full of heavy production coming your way.  Dj T.O.M and Dj BUDA, the two Danish masterminds behind Baba Black, chopped their first release — The Sheep EP — in January on Palms Out and have tons of new banging artillery on the way.  My personal favorite is Dirty Sheep, check out this bad little chunklet along with a tight little mini-mix and two unreleased edits of tracks by Depeche Mode and Modeselektor.

Baba Black – Dirty Sheep (Buy)

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Baba Black – 9 Min of Evil Mini-mix

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Modeselektor – Cash (Baba Black Edit)

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Depeche Mode – Wrong (Baba Black Edit)

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Lucifer’s Dance Party

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on May 29, 2010
in music
. 1 Comment

Mark Knight has just rode into town pumping some nasty new tracks that are nothing less than pure fire — the kind of heat that even makes the Devil leave the kitchen.  The Toolroom don just squeezed out his latest Bullets Vol 1 EP earlier this month to much fanfare — and rightfully so.  The two-song EP is short but incredibly sweet and dropped just in time to springboard pool-parties and summer shakers into overdrive.  Devil Walking is a hard hitting dance floor blaster with a galloping 80’s feel that will  put you in a hypnotic trance and your best dancing shoes in the fucking garbage.  

Mark Knight – Devil Walking (Buy)

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Jazzy Avacados

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on May 23, 2010
in music
. 2 Comments

It has been a hot minute since my last post, but I return with a couple of jazzy bits by Belgian tech house producer Rodriguez Jr. to get things moving again. Rodriguez packs a flavorful and energetic punch in his highly anticipated EP release Princess Guacamole which dropped on Mobilee Records just last week.  Princess Guacamole displays Rodriguez’s tendency to create melodic tunes that catch one’s ear with jazzy hooks and percussive bass.  While you are at it, have a sip of his Pina Colada – it’s fresh.

Rodriguez Jr. – Guacamole Princess (Original Mix) (Buy)

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Rodriguez Jr. – Pina Colada (Original Mix) (Buy)

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Minimal, Yet Robust in Flavor

Published
by
Dick Diamonds
on March 8, 2010
in music
. 3 Comments

Markus Ferdinand is an extremely talented Tech House DJ/producer from Frankfurt, Germany who has recently dropped an EP which is making serious waves across the world’s dancefloors and causing considerable buzz in the Tech House community.  The producer—commonly referred to as M.in—has once again produced a tune that has left my ears and feet dancing for days.  I woke up this morning with an immediate—and borderline uncomfortable—desire to hear “Sing And Blow At The Same Time”, the title track on M.in’s EP of the same name, released just a few days ago on Loco Dice and Martin Buttrichs’ indie label Desolat .  M.in’s personal brand of Tech House is unquestionably unique.  While most of his beats are undeniably minimal in nature, M.in always manages to skillfully blend together a complex and spicy mix of jazz, soul and afrobeat elements into his productions—ensuring that his creations are never bland.  With an infectious mix of thumping bass, rolling cowbells and brass, M.in’s latest heater had no trouble eliciting a big smile and two thumbs up from me.  Mandeezy agrees.

Another greasy track from the Sing & Blow EP which got my head pumping back and forth like an over-excited and exceptionally curious rooster was “Ponte Real” featuring Jonas, with whom M.in collabotated to create 2009’s trumpet-laden gear greaser “Balkan Style” on weplayminimal.  After listening to both Ponte Real and Balkan Style, one can only wonder why these two would ever separate from each other.  Ponte Real kicks off with deep looping drums and high hats which together give the track a toe-tapping, swing-like feel while other sounds resembling things like submarine radar blips and chemical sprays bring listeners back to the future…but definitely not back to reality.  While Sing And Blow At The Same Time may get to enjoy the lion’s share of attention associated with this release, I personally think that Ponte Real is the diamond with the most glitter and shine on this 4-track gem.  Check it out.

M.in – Sing and Blow at the Same Time (buy 320 @ beatport / Whatpeopleplay)

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M.in featuring Jonas – Ponte Real (buy 320 @ beatport / Whatpeopleplay)

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M.in featuring Jonas – Balkan Style (buy 320 @ beatport)

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