Enter the house

First up I present to you: "Thinking About It". Go ahead, hit the play button below and get ready to dance! This song is seriously infectious house music, plain and simple. I discovered it a few months ago and uploaded it to my SoundCloud page, but never got round to posting it. Since then I have received dozens of daily notifications of others people playing and reposting it, so clearly it is very popular. Haven't heard much else by this duo, named Just Kiddin - but let's hope future releases are just as addictive!  If you like them check out some free downloads from their official SoundCloud page here.

Second up we have "Everywhere You Go", by Eric Prydz label mate Fehrplay, who has produced another catchy (progressive) house number. I love listening to the piano chords build up with the haunting ghost-like vocals in the chorus.

Thirdly, check out Avicii's remix of "Miami 82" by Syn Cole. This one is by no means new but still a great track. Very appropriately named because it has a real 80s vibe to it IMO.

Fourthly is a song by DJ and producer EDX. I know him mostly for his upbeat remixes of trance songs, such as "Road Kill (EDX Acapulco at Night Remix)" by Dubfire. This one however, is straight house. Called "Make me feel good", it's a very simple and happy song.

Fifth and finally (saving the best for last), here is "Liberate" by Eric Prydz, a.k.a. Pryda.  Indisputably my favourite producer of EDM out there, he seems to have the Midas touch for making house music. His songs are full of hypnotic melodies, pulsating beats and amazing crescendos. This one is no exception. Unusually for a Pryda release, the song includes vocals, which actually accompany the music quite nicely, kicking in just after the awesome drop. Enjoy!

Love me lights out

I've never been a huge fan of Beyonce, mainly because her "independent woman" position is a bit too in your face for my liking. I'm sure she is a great role model for millions of young girls, and I applaud that - but her music has never interested me much. Until now. As a previous hater, even I have to admit, her latest self-titled album really is outstanding.

Interestingly, the album was released earlier this year with minimum promotion or publicity. It simply appeared for sale on iTunes (exclusively, no physical release) and has sold remarkably well - for good reason. The album was recorded in an unconventional manner, with Beyonce inviting producers to a rented studio in New York called Jungle City (see photo below), who often stayed for dinner - living "like a family". She would spend most of the day with her newborn daughter Blue Ivy Carter, taking a few hours off to record music. The list of producers is impressive and includes Sia, Justin Timberlake, the Dream, Timbaland and a previously unknown musician named Boots. Although 80 songs were recorded for the album (!), only 14 made the final track list.

The "Jungle City" studio in NYC, where most of this album was recorded.

In my opinion, Beyonce did not set out to make a pop record here. The album's content is much darker and grittier than other her other work. Themes range from love, marriage, female empowerment (as you'd expect), jealousy, motherhood, the pressure on women to be beautiful... and sex. Lots of it. I think this is actually one of the most sexual albums I've heard from a female artist. The difference is here it's really quite sweet as she reveals details of what seems like a very passionate relationship with her husband, Brooklyn rapper and legend Jay-Z. Compare that to the way Nikki Minaj raises the topic, for example.

"Drunk in Love" is a huge standout, featuring Jigga Man himself, and is basically a celebration of their monogamous love. What's cool is you get to see a different side of Beyonce. She raps! And believe it or not, she doesn't sound half bad. Can't hurt to have the self-proclaimed "best rapper alive!" as your partner, but nevertheless it is impressive. Apparently they each free-styled their verses during the recording. The lyrics are both raunchy and sexy, yet loving and romantic - making for a great collaboration between Beyonce and her husband.

Drake stops by to feature on "Be Mine", where she discusses having doubts about her marriage. He got some criticism for his guest spot here, but I think his contribution isn't bad, both singing and rapping. Beyonce croons:

You're mine, you're mine
Fuck what you heard, you're mine you're mine
All I'm really asking for is yooooou
Just so long as you know who you belong to...

Also check out "XO", another jam (origin of the post's title). If you want to laugh listen to the poppy "Blow" for a sexual topic few are brave enough to discuss and if you want to be shocked listen to "Partition". Interestingly, the beat for this song was apparently built by Justin Timberlake merely banging on buckets in the studio. Beyonce reminds us that she ain't just Jay-Z's wife on "Flawless", telling other women "bow down bitches", which made me laugh. On a more serious note, the song also features sensible commentary on the importance of feminism from a lecture by the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

All in all, Beyonce a great album from start to finish. Check it out, whether or not you think you like the half-American / half-Bahamian pop diva (where you think the surname Knowles came from? :P). Highly recommended!

Discover that jungle sound

A musical group named Jungle have recently come to my attention. Comprised of two members previously known merely as "J" and "T", this duo are long-time friends from Shepherd's Bush in London. Their rise in popularity last year was shrouded in mystery. From playing live shows hidden in the shadows on stage to revealing very little about themselves, they let their music speak for itself. Now you may think this could be a marketing tactic - after all think how popular anonymous graffiti artist Banksy has become. However, interviews reveal that the pair merely wanted honest opinions and reactions to the music they shared. 

To cut to the chase, earlier this summer Jungle released one of the most refreshing albums I've heard in a while. The genre is sort of laidback soul or funk, and has a really old school, 1970's feel to it. Some have compared them to a modern-day Daft Punk, probably due to their initial anonymity. After hearing their first single, the falsetto funky "The Heat", I instantly wanted more.

For a sample as you read, check out their follow-up singles, "Platoon" and "Busy Earnin" - both excellent!

Start to finish, the entire self-titled album is great. For me the highlights include "Accelerate", "Julia", "Crumbler" and "Lemonade Lake". Their unique style of music is a welcome change from the pop landscape of radio-friendly hits, all of which seem to have generic boring copycat electro-produced beats. 

Conversely, Jungle's sound is very original. It's exciting. From first listen their album required no time to grow on me. I instantly liked it. It is no wonder that they were signed to the label XL Recordings, home to a myriad of diverse talent such as Adele, Gil Scott-Heron, Jamie XX, M.I.A., Radiohead, Sampha, Sigur Ros and The [awesome] XX. For me, Jungle make music that is part psychedelic, part soul, part trip-hop, part jazz...but purely groovy. 

Don't forget to check out the retro music video for "The Heat". Featuring a superbly talented duo dancing on roller skates, it's no surprise that it instantly went viral!

When I'm in your light

"Wally" Andre de Backer is an awesome Belgian/Australian artist, otherwise known as Gotye. Most are familiar with "Somebody That I Used to Know", a very popular indie song which also fared very well on the club scene after a great remix which pumped it full of energy by none other than Tiesto. His third album Making Mirrors is quite a mixed bag, with some very different songs. Personally I really like this upbeat track "In Your Light". 

And it can settle the sadness
And the voices in my head
When I'm in the glow of the warmth you throw ♥
I can put all that to bed

(In your light, just when I'm in your light)

While you should obviously check out the album in its entirety, I suggest you also listen to this song "Giving Me a Chance" which is extremely different - with very laid-back and ambient vibe.  Enjoy!

Skizzy Mars

A number of years ago I heard a song named "Douchebag" by a young rapper from NY named Skizzy Mars. It's a catchy and comedic account of being perceived as an asshole and generally being misunderstood, but eventually giving in and embracing it.  ("They say that nice guys finish last? Well, thank God I'm a douchebag.")  I followed him for a while on Soundcloud and was impressed with each further release.

Things haven't changed a great deal in 2014. He's still an immature rapper in his young 20's who makes songs about partying and his relationships with girls - but there's something appealing about his laidback flow, funny lyrics and genre-exploring samples / production. He rejects being associated with the "college rap" wave of young rappers, but for me his style reminds me of Chiddy Bang.  I would call his music "pop rap".

Check out this song Numb. If you like it, head over to his website and download the whole mixtape / album for free:  http://skizzymars.com/

I don't think we're in love
That's just the drugs
Don't they make you feel numb?
You can't feel at all
Maybe if we loved ourselves
It wouldn't be so hard 
It wouldn't be so hard
To love each other

I ain't tryna do what everybody else doing

I heard this song on the radio this morning and instantly recognised it. Very catchy and upbeat pop song from a Norwegian duo called Nico & Vinz (previously known as Envy), who have roots in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. The tune was initially very popular in Scandinavia in 2013, before achieving international mainstream success in 2014. Interesting piece of trivia: "Am I Wrong" is apparently the most "Shazamed" song ever - what a title to hold!

All That I Want

You eyes, they did flutter again
And you mouth it did hang wide 
When you told me every little thing is going to be alright 



But we were younger then,

And now we're not
And if there was a plan made 
Then we forgot about it
And if there was time 
I could figure it out now
But life is short
And I don't care for most of it
I don't care for most of it
Because you're all that, all that I want
Because you're all that, all that I want
Because you're all that, all that I want
Because you're all that, all that I want

What a difference your love makes!

Haven't posted anything on this music blog in a while, but thought I'd give it another shot.  This song is in tribute to the woman I love, who has made me the happiest man on earth! ♥  Indeed, What a Difference Your Love Makes :)

I got hooked on this track a few weeks ago. Basement Jaxx have made some classic house jams over the years, e.g. Where's Your Head At, Red Alert, and one of my favourites back in 2009 Raindrops - all of which are still fun to dance to.

Next week, on 25 August they release their first new album in 5 years, entitled "Junto".  If you get a chance, check out the other singles from it: Never Say Never, and Mermaid of Salinas.