Infiltration (Creeper Mix)

This little instrumental ditty is brought to you by the group known as Trifonic. I've been a fan of theirs since I first came across a song they did called Parks On Fire (which I highly recommend taking a listen too. It's here on this blog actually). After hearing Parks I made it my mission to hear everything these two brothers Brian and Lawrence had ever done which led me here.

Infiltration is the name of this masterpiece and when played loudly on those big boy speakers of yours, it shakes walls. The high end frequencies won't annoy your ears but the low end will definitely annoy your neighbors, but they'll thank you in the end for the introduction. Infiltration (Creeper Remix) is off of the groups 2008 Remergence EP.

The groove in this cut is unmistakable as you might cut detect a little Funky Drummer in the beat. And if you like this song then check out Transgenic (Rust Mix). It's a tad more mellow but just as cool. Now if you need to put some pep in your step and some stride in your glide, cue this monster up and hold on. Enjoy...and you're welcome.

A Nation Rejects

When I first heard this track by The Art of Noise I immediately became infatuated with it. It's entitled A Nation Rejects and it's on the B side of the 12" single Paranoimia that was released in 1986. Meaning if you didn't pick up that single, you missed out. Since I was and still am to this day a major fan of The Art of Noise I pretty much bought everything they released and I was routinely rewarded with such gems as Nation.

Nation is a dark, mournful song with a sweet hypnotic melody that rides on top of the track. It's a track I kept playing over and over again which drove my mother crazy. It's also a song that inspires hope, as if audibly telling you that while it may be dark today, the sun will shine tomorrow. It's arranged perfectly and it solidified me as a fan of theirs.

I don't need to say anymore, check the song out for  yourself and let me know what you think. It's a blast from the past from me but it may become your new favorite tune, who knows? If you enjoy this then you might want to listen to Legacy the 8+ minute version. It's absolutely incredible the way they layer the sounds one on top of the next never losing the soul of the track. There are two groups I miss from my childhood, the original line up of Pink Floyd and The Art of Noise. Enjoy!

Operate

This song is just flat out sexy, surprisingly that's the case for both the original and remixed versions. The song is Operate by ASTR and I can't get enough of it, particularly the drum remixed version of it. Operate is off ASTR's 2014 EP release entitled Varsity, which in itself is damn impressive collection of six songs, with Operate being the brilliant standout.

The first thing that catches you about the original version is the expansive sound and the barely there scratchy vocals. The drums are right out of the late eighties, and the song is very synth heavy, so much so that it lead me to believe this tune would have been amazing in a Miami Vice episode. That doesn't take away from the sexiness of it though, the melody and bass line rocks and the vocals float along over them nicely. The remix is another beast entirely. Immediately you hear the difference, the song is slowed down so much that the lead vocals sound like they are coming from a man, and the drums are stronger. It sounds like the Art of Noise got their hands on this song and flipped it, making it steamier.

If you like Operate then I suggest Blue Hawaii and We Fall Down, two tunes that are worthy of the time it takes to listen to them. I hope you enjoy this song in both it's incarnations as much as I do (I'm posting the original and remix cause I like ya). Oh, and if you didn't know by now, this is a big boy speaker song :) Enjoy!

Surin (Mixed)

Whenever I need to add a little speed to my pace, to put a little pep in my step, I dial up this piece of music by Quiver. The song is a groovy, melodic tune entitled Surin (Mixed). I enjoy the remixed version personally because to me the remix version just took the best parts of the original and emphasized them. Where the original is also almost ten minutes long, the remix is a little over seven.

Both versions are groove heavy but I feel the remix is a little brighter, the highs are higher and the lows aren't as muddy as they are in the original. I do however recommend using your big boy speakers to check this track out. This tune never fails to make me nod my head or tap my foot no matter how I'm feeling which is what makes it one of my favorites.

Surin (Mixed) is off Quiver's 2008 double CD Dirty Nails & Vapour Trails. A collection of mid and up tempo dark and light grooves and their remixes, Dirty Nails has something for everyone despite your mood or particular taste in music. If you like this track then let me recommend Two Notes 'n' a Beat, it's freaky...lol. Enjoy.

And The World Was Gone

I came upon this song by accident. I wasn't looking for it, it just happened to be in my facebook feed, suggested by a band that I like. They liked this song so I gave it a listen and it's absolutely beautiful. The name of the song is And The World Was Gone by the Snow Ghosts. It's off their debut release A Small Murmuration.

The song has a creep factor (as well as the attached video), but I think that's what gives the song it's bite. Produced by Ross Tones and lead vocals supplied by Hannah Cartwright, World is such a lovely song to listen to. The bass rumbles through the bottom end of this song in almost a primal way. I recommend the big boy speakers for this tune.

The video is disturbing but amazing in it's own right and I felt this song needed to be shared. I am now a fan of Snow Ghosts, and if you like the sound of this song then you will love their album. It's dark and moody just like this song, every song is gripping and haunting. I hope you enjoy their work like I do, I'm almost sure you will :)

Crowd

The name of this commercial is Crowd. Close your eyes and pay no mind to the commercial. Listen instead to the music and let it's awesomeness wash over you, enjoy!

Evaporation

I was watching a movie the other day, one I am a big fan of and this song came on. I had forgotten all about it. The second it hit my ears again though, it was like running into an old friend, and this old friend reminded me that it was the reason I bought the soundtrack to the movie in the first place. The name of the movie is Manhunter, directed by Michael Mann and the song is Evaporation by the group Shriekback.

The vocals are so washed out they are really hard to make out. Yes, there are vocals in this song and it's those vocals that add that melody which rounds out the track. I love the bottom heavy ethereal groove this song contains, it will thump in your big boy speakers. The lyrics can be found online if you're curious about them, but I think not knowing them makes the song better. They come across as just another instrument.

The song was ahead of it's time in many regards. It paved the way for electronic music and it bridged the gap between electronic music and pop. It's a haunting song and it haunted me right up to the second where I finally bought the soundtrack. It's a favorite tune of mine and I won't lose touch with this old friend again.

Ember

Now for something a little different. This is definitely a relaxing, chill out tune, and I am in complete love with it. I don't know if it's the melodies that comprise it or the lilting echoing vocals that seem to have a definite message if you listen close. The song is entitled Ember and it's off the 2012 release Ghosting by Stumbleine.

This song is ridiculously addictive (which means I can't stop listening to it), and damn tasty. It's reminiscent of another song I blogged about awhile ago by Swarms entitled Flikr of Ur Eyes. Sonically, these two songs are cut from the same musical cloth though while Flikr breaks tempo and isn't as much a cool out song, Ember stays the same throughout, from beginning to end.

If you like this piece then may I also recommend you look into Cassette and Try To Remember Me by Stumbleine. The mood is the same and melodies are poignant. That's only if you can pull yourself away from this song long enough to do that, of course. Enjoy!

FML

There is only one way to describe FML by deadmau5, primal. This song could make a dead person want to get up and move. It's all forward motion and it only stops when the song is over. The way the drums relentlessly hit you over and over again inspires that forward motion, when you add in all the other instrumentation, it becomes primal.

Primal because there's no real song here. Initially there is no melody, there's absolutely no verses, no chorus, there's nothing "pop" about this. This was created for one goal and one place in mind, to get people on their feet and moving on the dance floor. Off of his 2009 album For Lack of a Better Name, FML stands out and is a great first song on the album.

If you like this cut, look into deadmau5's A City in Florida (another "primal" dance floor cut), Right This Second, and my all time favorite Faxing Berlin (put that one on repeat, it loops perfectly). Oh, and I don't think I need to mention this, but I will anyway, make SURE you put this on your big boy speakers. You'll thank me, seriously. Enjoy!

Sabelo

Today is my father's birthday and I had been wondering how I would commemorate his day. I had been scratching my head until I heard Sabelo by the amazingly talented group Bajofondo and all my head scratching ceased. Quite simply, I think my father would have really loved this beautiful piece of music. My dad was a huge classical music fan and he liked movement and fluidity in his music and the arrangement of Sabelo would have appealed to him.

Off of their 2013 release entitled Presente, Sabelo is just one of the few jewels on the album but when I first heard it, it stopped me cold. It has some serious darkness about it starting out, the beat and piano melody gives it that kick. Then the chord change gives it a mournful feel. The second movement, strings are added until the piano goes on a little rant with the beat. This song sounds like it would be great to drive too. Then the last movement comes at the 3:47 mark and the song opens up in a completely different way that would have made my dad smile.

I have been a fan of the group Bajofondo since they dropped their gem of an album, Mardulce back in 2008 (check out my favorite Pa' Bailar by them if you like this, which can be found on this blog). I think my father and I could have had some fun and lengthy discussions about music were he still with us, especially over this song. I really think he would have loved this. Happy Birthday Dad, enjoy!

Outro

When I first heard this glorious piece in the Cloud Atlas movie trailer, it gave me goosebumps and my quest began. Initially all efforts and attempts to hear it (without queuing up the trailer) came up fruitless and I thought I would never hear it the way it should be heard, loudly. Then months later I was listening to a soundtrack for an upcoming movie and wondered about the artist behind the score. It was then, in my digging did I find the piece, THIS piece and the goosebumps returned.

The piece is entitled Outro and it's by the group M83. It's off their sixth studio album Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. It's a glorious sonic feast for your ears, it's full of melody, magnificence, and joy. I am completely enamored with it and can't stop listening to it. It starts off slowly, giving you a taste of the melody and then it fades to black, drifting away to a soft rumble. When it returns, it does so like the dawn of a new day. The vocals, the strings, the bombast, and the drums all come together to deliver pure beauty.

No matter how many times I hear this song I still get the goosebumps and I hope that feeling never goes away. I hope you get as much from Outro by M83 as I have and do. Maybe it'll give you goosebumps too. Enjoy!

...og lengra

This is a little different, even for me but for some reason this song touches me deep. The name of the song is ...og lengra and it's off the contemporary classical album Dyad 1909 by composer Olafur Arnalds. It's mournful and soulful at the same time. It comes across as experimental in it's structure and movements but it also sounds organic to me. I love this piece, and to think Olafur is just 26 years old. Enjoy!

First of the Year

This song should have been posted a long time ago because I really love it, it should have been shared by now. The name of the song is First Of The Year and the artist is Skrillex. This is the second time Skrillex has made an appearance on my blog and that's only because the songs have been worthy, this one especially.

First of the Year is explosive and hard not to enjoy, even if you don't like dub step. The song starts off all sweet and tender, not preparing you for what's to come. The melody is nice, the vocals almost child like and the song takes a playful rest. That is until that first scream for 911 comes in. The darkness and the madness descends on the song and the true talent of Skrillex is seen. The beat picks up after the second 911 request after a few measures and then falls back into the familiar groove.

First time I heard First of the Year, I couldn't turn it off (same thing for the video as well). This song didn't make me a Skrillex fan, I was already one by the time I heard this but it did make me a bigger one. Even if dub step is not your thing, take a listen, be open minded and it may just convert you. Enjoy!

Synapse Dynamics (Arty Remix)

Okay, so recently life has been kicking my ass lately. So much so that I haven't been inspired to write, that's just me being honest with you. New surroundings, new difficulties, uncharted waters, all that has taken a toll on my creativity, until today. Until this song came up on my playlist today. The name of the song is Synapse Dynamics (Arty Remix) by Mat Zo. It's a really fun, energizing song that needs to be heard as loud as you can stand. It's amazing when heard that way.

For those of you that don't know, the young Mat Zo is an English DJ who also produces drum and bass, trance, and house. The kid is all over the place and his orginal version of Synapse is nice. It's dark in some places, mellow and cool out in others, and as much as I like it (and I really do like it), it has NOTHING on the remix. Where the original is dark, the remix is ALL brightly lit up. Where the original feels like it rumbles along, the remix...simply soars.

When I need some pep in my step, I seek this song out. When I can use a smile on my face, I seek this song out. When I need to be reminded that life is meant to be enjoyed, I hunt this song down and play it as loud as I can. That's because a wise man said it was amazing to hear it that way. Enjoy!

Hang On To A Dream

From the moment I heard this song (and don't ask me where I heard it, I really can't remember), it has been playing on a continuous loop. The song is Hang On To A Dream by Kattoo. It is fascinating to me how this song is such an expression of sorrow at times and pure triumph at others. Kattoo aka Volker Kahl has created a piece of music that is certainly not for everyone, but for those who feel this song, for those that get it, it is a masterpiece.

Hang On has a sound that begs to be in a the movies. It's cinematic in both sound, scope, and grandeur. It is poignant and sad one moment, uplifting and inspiring the next and that's the true genius behind this piece. The vocals, the strings, the atmosphere created is hard to ignore and the melodies are so beautiful and yearning. This song speaks to me.

Released back on September 11th in 2007, Hang On acts almost as a soundtrack to the horrific events that took place on that day, and the end of the song, the static, the broken signal brings to mind the conversations cut short as the unthinkable unfolded. I know it's somber, but it's also magnificent and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Flikr of Ur Eyes

Now for something a little different. Okay, okay, a lot different but I think you will enjoy this. I've been beating you all about the head and ears with the funk lately, this is a complete 180 change in course so hold on tight. The song is entitled Flikr of Ur Eyes by the group Swarms. This is dub step in a way that's rarely heard. Gone is the rumbling bass, the hard driving beat, or the enveloping sound. All of that has been replaced with...

Off of their 2011 release Old Raves End, Swarms brings something to the table I like to call a "maturity" to dub step. Listening to this is like downing a refreshingly chilled glass of pinot grigio on a hot summers day. It's smooth, melodic, and it never gets stale. The songs true beauty, in my opinion are the "vocals", they bring in that important melodic content and make this song beautiful.

The video has it right, this is driving music if nothing else. The song will have you bopping your head and tapping your fingers on the steering wheel. It's haunting as well, you'll be thinking about it long after it's over. I don't know if Flikr of Ur Eyes will make anyone a Swarms fan but hopefully you'll enjoy this song as much as I do.

Redemption

I stumbled upon this little group on my honeymoon, many moons ago, in Vegas. Yes, I WAS married and no, not everything that happens in Vegas, stays there. Take this song for instance, it's by the group known as Conjure One and it's called Redemption. What I love about this song, outside of the vocal layering, are the drums. They are so powerful when played on the big boy speakers that they give me chills. They also inspire my neighbors to call the cops, but whatever.

Redemption is off their first album, Conjure One which dropped in 2002. As you can hear, the album definitely had a middle eastern feel to it. Funny thing is, Conjure One is from Canada. That's right, our neighbor from the Great White North, Rhys Fulber, produced this gem of a song (and album) that made me a bonafide fan. The vocals provided are sung, in Syrian Arabic by Chemda and her vocals are clearly an added instrument to this driving, bombastic track.

I suggest you give this beauty of a song a long, hard listen to, and if you can, play it on your big boy speakers. It may shake some things, it may give you chills, it may rattle your windows (as well as your neighbors). Believe me though, it is well worth it. Enjoy!

Goodbye

This piece of music is a new discovery by me (when I say new I mean, like just a few minutes ago)but I liked it enough to post it to my blog. It's by the talented Ulrich Schnauss and the song is Goodbye, off of his 2007 album of the same name. Ulrich is not new to me but Goodbye is and now I'm wondering where I was or what I was doing to have missed this back in 07. Probably fussing over some girl.

Goodbye is a mid tempo ethereal track over a steady beat. The "vocals" are hard to make out and that's probably because they either in German (Ulrich is from Germany if you were unaware) or just so processed that they're made out to be just another instrument. The sound of the track is produced in such a way that it sounds like it's surrounding you. It starts off a little weird but it finds its groove pretty quickly.

This song to me is great driving music in my opinion. It gets you bopping your head and could influence you to press a little harder on the accelerator. If you get a ticket though it is SO not my fault. Blame Ulrich! Enjoy!

Into Me

This is yet another song by 8Dawn that I can't seem to shake. It's called Into Me and it's a serious piece of music. The tempo languorous and deliberate while the melody is sweet and disarming. What drew me to it was it's dark undertones. This is another piece of music I can listen to until the cows come home and I am becoming an even bigger fan of Colin O'Malley and 8Dawn than I initially thought I'd be.

This music speaks to me on so many levels and it sets a fire up under my imagination. Not that my imagination needs any help mind you but help never hurts. The darkness of the song hits you right away and it slowly builds. The handclaps and slight percussion come in to pace the song and to give you something to nod your head to. The vocals are amazing as they soar over the music effortlessly giving the piece a lightness it needs but just as quick, the song goes dark again.

Into Me is off the 2011 album 2S3xy and it's just one of a few amazing cuts out of that collection. Might I also recommend The Bees, E-Lectric, and Free Form from that album, all amazing pieces of music. For the time being though, enjoy Into Me.

Last Drop Of Blood

So I was up trolling the internet for new music (oh like you don't do it, don't judge) and I came across this song entitled Last Drop of Blood. I thought the title sounded interesting so I gave it a listen and I'm glad I did or I would have never known the music offered up by 8Dawn. The music is orchestral, brooding, moving, inspiring, and flat out incredible. It takes you on a journey whether you want it to or not and who doesn't love that?

Off of the 2011 album Torn, Last Drop of Blood which is composed by Colin O'Malley, starts of rather guitar heavy. That is until the choir comes in and the song takes on a completely different vibe. It soars with the voices and the crunching guitar in the background, along with the orchestra. It rises until it reaches its crescendo and then it opens like a parachute and brings you softly back to the beginning of the song and then it fades out.

If you like Zack Hemsey's music like I do then you will love Colin O'Malley and 8Dawn. The styles are somewhat similar and both men deliver impressive pieces of art. I would also recommend by 8Dawn Gorgeous, The Bees, and Torn. You will NOT be sorry. Enjoy!