New Tune Tuesday (3/31/15)
–Written by Kevin Madert
Nero – The Thrill (Fawks Flip)
Firing it up this week is Fawks, a multi-talented producer who’s quietly carved a home for himself in genres ranging from future house to liquid drum ‘n’ bass. This tune is a beautiful exercise in the latter, making the most of the uplifting synths and massive kicks of Nero’s original tune and augmenting them with skilled subtlety. The original vocals are kept intact, a choice that works to both connect the listener back to the original and pairs perfectly with the tempo shift. Grab this one as a free download and show support for a rapid riser who you’ll be hearing plenty more from in the near future.
GRiZ – Say It Loud
Funky see, funky do: The long-awaited follow-up to Rebel Era is finally here, and it’s a statement from the Detroit-based sax symbol. The message? “I’m here to stay and I’m ready to play.” The formula remains relatively unchanged, as Grant brings his tenured ear for funked-out productions and his laudable skills on the saxaphone (Big Gigantic who?) to bear on eleven new tracks. Where the producer’s fourth album differs is in the details. Say It Loud gives us a wider range of genres and production elements than its predecessors, a testament to GRiZ’s maturity as an artist. Check back soon for a full-length review!
Minnesota & G. Jones – Thunderdome (ill.Gates Remix)
When released, Minnesota’s Voyager EP was one that made me take pause and marvel at the young producer’s versatile sonic palate. “Thunderdome” was the clear highlight for me, and when I saw it was being remixed I had a moment of nagging doubt that anyone could riff off the original with success. Of course, ill.Gates isn’t just anyone, and once I hit play all doubts evaporated. This is a hair-tossing, head-thrashing affair that ups the ante without overdoing it, complete with minimal drops and occasional vocal input from Mayor Apeshit.
The Prodigy – The Day Is My Enemy
From the first notes of the opening title track on The Day Is My Enemy, it’s clear The Prodigy’s artistic direction hasn’t changed a bit in the six years since their last record. The track overflows with the grating rhythms, heavily modified riffs and raspy scream-sung vocals that saw the group make a name for themselves throughout the ’90s and ’00s. There’s no shortage of big-beat drum patterns and sinister synths as the album progresses, and you may need to stop once or twice to catch your breath as the pace rarely lets up for the duration of the album. It won’t garner them any praise for breaking new ground, but when you have as successful a formula as The Prodigy the ground you’re already standing on works just fine.
Madeon – Adventure
Closing it out is an artist who epitomizes the term “wunderkind.” Adventure, Madeon’s highly anticipated debut, is a deft synthesis of pop and electronic that should surprise but doesn’t, thanks to the young Frenchman’s already remarkable contributions in both areas. Epic without devolving too often into the cookie-cutter, hands-in-the-air formula that plagues most house music today, Adventure listens like a Daft Punk/M83 lovechild on happy sterorids. That’s not to say it doesn’t switch up occasionally – “Imperium,” for example, is a darker tune that evokes Metropolis-era M Machine – but most often it’s an unceasingly upbeat jaunt through a 21st century update of your inner child’s favorite Nintendo romps. Madeon possesses savvy and self-awareness of someone twice his age, a sure indicator his adventure is just beginning.