This week, don’t sleep on Colorado’s finest: Pretty Lights. Consisting of Producer/DJ Derek Smith with Adam Deitch bangin’ the drums at live shows, Pretty Lights is one of the leaders in what’s quickly becoming one of my favorite genres: a fusion of electro and instrumental hip-hop. This perfectly welded sound comes from a seamless integration of hard electronic synths with the strong bass and snare elements of hip-hop. Throw in a myriad of other delightful sounds, including piano melodies, and his craft has succeeded in creating what you’d call groovy ear candy. If your head or body has no impulse to move/groove/shake/nod/whatever while listening to a track, I’d contact a physician ASAP because I think you might have mono. The best part of artists with this type of sound is it’s very easily enjoyed by anyone — it’s a great gateway style for those that are turned off by glitchy rough electro, especially those whose tastes lean in the hip hop direction. After performing at Coachella in 2010, the duo has gone on tour and pleased many crowds with what is apparently an amazing live show that features visually stimulating components (this has always been a no-brainer to me for artists). I still haven’t had the chance to catch a performance. (Skinny Genes went last year and forgot to hit me up about it… still harboring a good amount of hatred deep inside). If all this isn’t good enough, ALL his music is available for free on his website. You can catch him at Identity Festival in LA on September 4th, as well as Vegas, Northern California, and other cities across the country on the festival’s tour.

+jangbar

Pretty Lights – Fly Away Another Day
Pretty Lights – City of One
Pretty Lights – Chicago Bulls Theme Remix
+had to include this, since the Lakeshow crumbled I’m pullin for DRose and Co. Plus that theme has always been ‘epic,’ great spin on it.

BONUS

The latest offerings from Drake… seeing some maturity from Drizzy. A lot of people hate what he’s become but I’m still a fan.
Drake – Dreams Money Can Buy
SBTRKT – Wildfire Remix ft. Yukimi (Little Dragon) & Drake+++

Chris Kaeser is one of those producers that actually enjoy staying under the radar. He’s creeped into Beatport’s top 10 a couple times but he’s kept relatively quite over the years. His remix of ‘Move It 2 The Drum’ is one of my all time faves. It’s got a hard beat, dutch synths and best of all, a euphoric piano piece that keeps me smiling for days.

Romain G is an 18-year-old Swiss producer. Romain is recognized for his bootlegs, in which he fuses two or more tracks skillfully and harmoniously. ‘Strobe Together’ is an interesting track, Romain utilizes Deadmau5’s ‘Strobe’ as a build for Swanky Tune’s feel good house banger, ‘Together.’

Belgian DJ Basto got his name out there when teaming up with John Dahlback to create, “Out There”. Proving himself to the world, Basto went lone wolf and created ‘Gregory’s Theme’. This song is so beautiful, it makes rainbows and butterflies seem unpleasant.

No idea who Digital Mode or Layla Moore are, but my gawd, they know how to make a hell of a track.

Swanky Tunes have been churning out tracks left and right. This new one, XOXO, really pulls on the ol’ heartstrings. I picture Lassie saving lil Timmy from the well, and then they go to get ice-cream while XOXO plays in the background.

Chuckie – Move It 2 The Drum (Chris Kaeser Remix)
Swanky Tunes vs. Deadmau5 – Strobe Together (Romain G Reboot)
Basto – Gregory’s Theme (Original Mix)
Funkerman – Fallin In Love (Digital Mode & Layla Moore Remode)
Swanky Tunes – XOXO (Original Mix)

Kids at the Bar teamed up with their friend Kroyclub from KILLPOP to finally put out another remix! These guys are among my favorite remixers. I’ve been following them more closely recently, so I’m glad I caught this one early. They’ve taken a big step forward as far as their filthy synths go, but I can’t expect anything less than a banger from these guys. Only streamable at the moment, but should be released soon Cherrytree/Interscope Records. Check them out on facebook. They’re actually really interactive with their fans. Always down. Enjoy with caution:

Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner – Animal Rights (Kids At The Bar EDIT)
Daft Punk – Technologic (Kids at the Bar Remix)

YOLO Mentions bring attention to special
songs featured in that week’s YOLO List. Get the latest list here!

Calvin Harris better watch out, because this cold-blooded DJ/Producer/Singer is giving him a run for his money. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs is the solo project of yet another relevant DJ from the UK. There’s not much info to be found on the guy, but he’s quickly establishing his sound around the world with bangers like ‘Household Goods’ and just plain ol’ quality house tracks like ‘Garden.’ He’s got a style that encompasses laser-like synths and the voice of a love lost youth. His bass seems to cut through the track as he twists through tribal house rhythms that refuse to keep me still. I missed him at HARD 13 for some reason, and there’s no way in hell I’m letting that happen again. His dj sets are filled with the use of various instruments and even dancing dinosaurs. Plus deep house sets are a treat in themselves, so it’s a win win.

He’s got several EPs out that you can pick up on BeatPort. His first All in One Sixty Dancehalls has gotten him support from BeardyMan and BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac. It preceeds All in Two Sixty Dancehalls which features ‘Garden’ (video below), and could be the final push he needed to get some more deserved recognition. TEED’s latest single ‘Trouble,’ just proves his consistency as a producer. Keep an eye out for this kid.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs

^support him!
Household Goods ++
Garden
That One
Trouble FRESH!

It’s been awhile since I’ve had anything to say about Deadmau5, so I’m pretty pumped with this EP he released a couple weeks back. Not exactly sure how it slipped by my friends and me, but it’s now safely lodged in my library with two killer remixes. I was never really into the mau5’s second full length Lack of a Better Name. ‘Strobe’ and the like just didn’t do it for me. ‘The Reward is Cheese’ and ‘Ghosts n Stuff’ were more along the lines of the mau5 I wanted. Harder. Faster. Random Album Title was and still is one of the best progressive house albums of all time IMO, and “Fifths” seems to fit right in with that creative mindset. I was doing some research and it looks like this track has been out for a few years? Regardless, the remixes are delightful treats and Matt Zotti’s is clearly the superior. Can’t fucking wait to see Deadmau5 again at Outside Lands this year!

Fifths

^Pick up on BeatPort
1. Deadmau5 – Fifths (Original Mix)
2. Deadmau5 – Fifths (Matti Zotti Remix)
3. Deadmau5 – Fifths (Matteo Dimarr Remix)

With all the success that Foster the People has been having lately, remixes are inevitable. Good remixes on the other hand are not. Well, I can assure you that these remixes are definitely worth our time. RAC (Remix Artist Collective) have literally been tearing up the remix scene with all their remakes of popular indie songs and this one is no different. I’ve spent quality time on their soundcloud, so if you’re iTunes is fiending new music I suggest you mosey your way on over there. The Gigamesh remix is undoubtedly my favorite of the two. He Took ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ and made it even catchier..and we all thought it would be impossible.

Also, just a heads up but Foster the People’s first full length titled Torches is set to release May 23! I’ve been listening to it on repeat to try and make my mind up on how I feel and…you know what, it’s pretty damn good. You can preorder it on their website in the meantime.

Foster the People – Houdini (RAC Remix)
Foster the People – Pumped Up Kicks (Gigamesh Remix)
[audio:https://controlaltdelight.com/Music/FTP/Pumped%20Up%20Kicks%20%28Gigamesh%20Remix%29.mp3]

YOLO Mentions bring attention to special
songs featured in that week’s YOLO List. Get the latest list here!

A European fusion of Sweden born David Andersson and Londoner Joe Attard, Punks Jump Up is a concoction of electronic, dance, punk and rock. They don’t really GAF about what genre they’re labeled as, as long as it gets people going and has a hell-of-a-lot of energy. I first found these guys through their remix of Miike Snow’s “Animal,” which I put on the second YOLO List, and though overly remixed, it’s still my favorite version. They get synth-crazy and I’m all about it. Lately they’ve been producing their own electronic tracks with the release of their Blockhead EP that features remixes from Hey Today! and Zombie Nation.

Their second major release was “Dance to Our Disco,” and it showcases the range of sound they were looking for. Reminds me of 80s punk jams and has mysterious guest vocals rumored to be from The Hives’ Howling Pelle. I was big on The Hives, so the track strikes all the right chords with me. Check out their video of the song and have your way with the tracks below.

Punks Jump Up – Dance To Our Disco
Punks Jump Up – Blockhead (Original Mix)
In Flagranti – Worse For Wear (Punks Jump Up Remix) YOLO42
Miike Snow – Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix) Delightful Choice!