Five Mile Town is a folk group from New Zealand that has been rising from the dust and into the spotlight of internet stardom. The video for their debut single “Saturated” has soared to about 29,000 views on YouTube within two days of being posted. The song itself reminds me almost of a folky The Kooks but I think that’s just the vocals. I really dig the banjo and the stand up bass though, check out the video for yourself below:
Trio Now, Now have a had a bit of a whirlwind journey so far – signing to various labels, touring with Paramore, etc – but they’ve found themselves a home with Death Cab For Cutie member Chris Walla’s Trans Records. Since they dropped their sophomore LP ‘Threads’ earlier this month, they’ve become increasingly popular, and with tunes like ‘Dead Oaks’, it’s easy to see why. Cache Dalager’s ethereal vocals complement the dreamy synths and guitars, creating a truly magical experience for listeners. Keep your ear to the ground for more from this exciting band.
It can easily be argued that nobody goes harder than Indiana native Figure. His production and performance skills in the realm of bass music are recognized as some of the best in the business and whenever you need some heavy artillery for your sets or listening destruction you know who to call upon. In his latest remix of obscure artists Fast Foot and MC Cyanide on the track “You’re Dead”, Figure yet again brings his heavy duty drumstep meets DnB meets dubstep tactics. Its always dope how many times he switches up the texture and rhythm on his tracks and this remix is a great example. Each phrase is different yet equally as dark and destructive as the last. We can’t wait until Figure sweeps through a town near us on his summer tour and don’t forget he always puts up tons of free music downloads on his website. Thanks for keeping keeping it harder than Doomsday’s knuckles Figure we appreciate it!
Detroit rapper Danny Brown begins the flux of summer jams with his new track “Grown Up”. The track is upbeat enough to lift your mood and nostalgic enough to get you thinking about “the good old days”- in Danny’s case the two equate to how much money he had verses how much he has- and the life those monetary standings could provide him. For me, though, it’s all about playing video games with my cousins because when you never really realize you’re poor until you’re all “grown up”. It’s a killer track, listen to it:
At times dubstep tracks can get a bit too harsh, monotonous and futuristic sounding while lacking direction and a sense of heritage, which is why it is so refreshing to hear Rusko‘s latest effort to break the mold. With his new full length album, “Songs”, released on Mad Decent/Downtown Recordings, he simultaneously pays homage to the roots of the dubstep movement while pushing things forward into new dimensions. His intro explains that his intention is to take what lives in his heart and use it to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds while still building on the foundation of it all. Perhaps the best example of this spirit is the track “Skanker” which we just so happen to have a free download of for you to enjoy. Utilizing reggae vocals and grooves as a foundation, Rusko then builds the new school dubstep sounds he has pioneered on top of the mix with some wobbles, some lazers and some very groovy percussion to keep it moving along. You can envision Rusko leading a futuristic reggae band with electronic instrumentation Bob Marley never imagined.
As the album progresses there is a feeling of linear movement from one track to the next, a rare but totally necessary touch in our post-modern world of endless singles and the ipod shuffle. “Pressure” and “Whistle Crew” explore a hip-hop-meets-jazz vibe with a pop lean while “Opium” and “Asda Car Park” move into the future rave sound with some odd samples (lions roaring and such) thrown in for color. “Love No More”, “Roll Da Beats” and “Mek More Green” take it back to the roots reggae style while “Dirty Sexy” has more of an electro pop feel to it. Finally, on “Thunder” and “M357″ Rusko even delves into a unique take on trance music with an uptempo dubstep twist. All in all I feel he achieved what he set out to do by creating a coherent body of work that explores new sounds while showcasing the many influences he draws inspiration from. Be sure to pick up your copy of “Songs” on iTunes here and show some support for one of the kings of the dubstep movement.
Download: Rusko – Skanker
Rusko – M357
Rusko Opium
It’s fitting that eclectic and often bizarre music from Icelandic musician Bjork would make the perfect canvas for a wicked dubby drum-n-bass song. German producer Current Value has done just that with his remix.
The original haunting vocals blend perfectly with the dark, industrial bass and synths created. The fast paced drums take it over the top to create a gritty, intense track. This one won’t be for everyone, but for all you bass heads out there – enjoy.
Canadians Metric have had ‘Twilight Galaxy’ reworked by MALO, an up-and-coming musician who hails from Florida. Taking the original and pumping it up with some killer beats, MALO has given’Twilight Galaxy’ added bite that will see it take dancefloors by storm. Definitely a producer to watch out for, watch this space for more from MALO. The original of ‘Twilight Galaxy’ is featured on Metric’s album ‘Fantasies’, available now.
Metric – Twilight Galaxy (MALO Remix)
