Music

Autograf – Dream

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

So, it’s nearly that summer season which means it’s time for those afternoons on the beach with a drink in one hand listening to some vibrant tracks; with this as no exception.

Immediately hitting you with an ambient steel drum/xylophonic riff, you are thrown into what feels a dream-like state with a soft vocal with a spongey bass line awakening you. A snare roll brings in the pre-drop, preparing you for something that unlike many songs of recent months seem to do, allows simplicity to drive the song.

With a catchy repetitive chorus and creating a summer evening ambience, it’s hard to see why many people could dislike this track.

This is the Chicago born outfits first original track and is sure to be a summer hit, racking up over 1,000,000 plays on their official Soundcloud page in just a month and have just finished their main support slot tour slot with Klingande across the US.

The track has no official release date as of this time, but expect it to be making waves sooner rather than later.

Twitter – @AutografMusic
Insta – autografmusic
Facebook – Autograf
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/autografmusic

Calvin Harris – Pray To God (Feat. HAIM)

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

A collaboration, if I’m 100% honest, I was slightly worried about. This track could have been terrible, but it’s turned out to be the complete opposite. The strong, distinctive tone of Danielle Haim’s voice fits the dance scene incredibly well, demonstrated in how Harris has produced the track.

Harris has anchored the track with riffs, and almost sounds like a new HAIM track at the start in a way and instead of taking a vocal, he has used the distinctive sound of HAIM and combined it with his work, rather than completely change it.

The key use of instrumentation will also allow HAIM to be able to perform the track live and expect the energy of a HAIM show to take off the roof when this enters the set list.

Calvin Harris – ‘Motion’ – Out Now.

Lupe Fiasco – Kick, Push

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

Personally, one of my favourite hip-hop tracks of all time, from the album and the man who really made me see the soulful side of the genre. ‘Kick, Push’ depicts the love story between a male and a female misfit pair of skateboarders. It has been referred to as “a needle in hip hop’s haystack of complacent songs”. The key to the backing track is built around a sample of the instrumental intro of the 1982 song “Bolero Medley” by Celeste Legaspi, which I feel is the pinhold to the classic soul sound carried by the track.

So, most people when told about Lupe Fiasco think about ‘Touch The Sky’ with Kanye West, ‘Superstar’ and ‘Words I Never Said’ with Skylar Grey, but when you look back and see how Fiasco landed on the scene, look no further than ‘Food and Liquor’. Released in 2006, with Jay Z being the lead producer, it was an instant hit, debuting at number eight on the Billboard 200. Although the album produced no top ten singles, the recognition didn’t vanish, an impressive four Grammy Award nominations. The album received huge praise, but with Pitchfork Media’s Sean Fennessey less impressed, but arguably correct, insisting the album’s major flaw was the “inability to write memorable hooks”, although Pitchfork went on to list ‘Kick, Push’ at #15 on their ‘Top 100 Tracks of 2006’ list. The track peaked at number 27 in the UK, failing to break the top 40 anywhere else.

Website – http://www.lupefiasco.com/
Twitter – @LupeFiasco

Childish Gambino – We Ain’t Them

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

Off the sixth mixtape from Childish Gambino, I feel a sense of annoyance that we haven’t seen this track released as a single yet, and probably never will. I feel ‘We Ain’t Them’ will forever be a hidden gem and think ‘Because the Internet’ would have been a stronger and better album with it. ‘We Ain’t Them’ is an important track; tackling current and relevant issues, decision making and the hard work involved in making it. The track signifies what Glover stands for, the way he lives life. For me, this track is big on a personal way – hence the informality of this post – if I need a track to lift me, to boost my productivity and get me fired up before a show, this is the one. But, the thing that for me makes this track are the dynamics. Dropping in and dropping out like a halfpipe, this for me is used perfectly, allowing you to focus in on the lyrics and the emotion of the track. A simple booming drum beat carries the track with ease.

Childish Gambino took off back in 2013 with the huge success of second studio album ‘Because the Internet’ and the release of ‘3005’. With the contacts to propel him to the masses, collaborating with the likes of Chance the Rapper, Ghostface Killah, Jhene Aiko and Azealia Banks, Donald Glover has been around the entertainment industry in a big way for years now. Executive story writer for NBC sitcom ’30 Rock’, featuring in a variety of TV shows and Films in various forms and a comedy career, if you haven’t come across Donald ‘Childish Gambino’ Glover in some form yet, you’re bound to in the coming years.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/iamdonald
Twitter – @donaldglover
Website – http://childishgambino.com/
Lyrics – http://rap.genius.com/Childish-gambino-we-aint-them-lyrics

David Harks – Open Arms

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

From humble Brighton beginnings, David Harks is ready to take off, and I see 2015 being a key year for the electronic author. Using an array of instruments, front man and writer David Sanderson tells a story, a journey. Through using synthscapes, an incredible sample from Preacher Jayden McKenzie and a distinctive voice, the song creates a ‘moment’, and image, something you know you could link a memory to. I think of ‘memory music’ (if you will) as ‘film music’, and the scene of boy meets girl in the classic American love story fits this song like a glove. Yet without a music video, the song goes hand in hand with Harks’ hometown, and mine for that matter, Brighton, UK. With incredible summer sunsets and often unforgettable nightscapes on Brighton beach, I feel the story of this track has more meaning than many will see for lead writer Sanderson.

After being featured on French electronic label Kitsuné’s annual ‘Kitsuné Maison Compilation’ in October 2013, Harks has hit 2014 with four brand new tracks. Now I see the vision of many readers thinking “That’s all?”, but for me, I prefer quality over quantity and as an upcoming artist, you need an audience hungry for more with anticipation and excitement for your next release, and Harks has this.

With each track offering something different, such as the incredible mellow and stripped back ‘We’ and the ‘Kitsuné Maison Compilation’ featured track ‘Sirens’ offering a more soulful and old school feel, Harks has the ability to hit a variety of audiences, with something for everyone. David Harks is definitely one to keep your eye on in the coming years.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Harksoh/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/davidharks

FMLYBND – Come Alive

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

Everybody loves an electro-indie anthem whilst the sun is still out… And this track is no exception. A collection of catchy synth riffs driving the song forward, in the same way as Empire of the Sun and Miami Horror, and the pounding hi-hat echoing in the background, the track has a chorus to make anyone stand up and take notice. Now, I’m far from the biggest fan of vocal effects on recordings, but the ‘mega-phone’ effect (as I will always know it) makes the track. Hailing from Isla Vista, CA, the track oozes dreamy imagery of Californian beach evenings – or those you know from the movies.

The native Californian band could also be on to a popularity winner, with the track being featured on one of the biggest video game releases each year, FIFA.

Having only been together less than two years, FMLYBND remain a slight mystery – with no sign of a record label, less than 10,000 Facebook likes and 1,000 Twitter followers – but a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Obviously in the minds of people, with nearly 500,000 plays on their year old track ‘Electricity’ on Soundcloud, people are listening, and liking what they hear.

The only issue I have with this track is the timing of release. The track’s official release date is October 7th, but perhaps if it was released in June and pushed hard, we could have a track heard all over the world, yet I still feel we could, and view 2015 as the year FMLYBND push up the ranks and into the mainstream.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FMLYBND/
Twitter – @fmlybnd
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/fmlybnd

Jupiter – Juicy Lucy (Crayon Remix)

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

A spacey intro is something I feel screams chillout track straight away and this is exactly what this is. A superbly built track that builds into itself in an effortless feel. As mentioned on pass posts, the term “pre-pre-drinks” genre that only appears in your head, has found a new disc to start spinning. The perfect track to get you in the mood to head out whilst your adjusting that one strand of hair that won’t fall into place, this ‘bassy’ track will have you dying to go out and get in the rum.

A remix that doesn’t just tweak the sides of the original, Crayon has taken the definition of ‘electro 80s’ and lifted it to a new dimension in his chillout vision for the song. The french DJ has taken the english-french duo’s track – inspired by the likes of Sly & Robbie, Beach House, Alan Parsons Project, Siriusmo – and turned what is supposed to be the classic dancefloor filler in a film set in Paris in 1984, to a whole new audience.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/crayonfr/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/le-crayon

[[Alternative Track of the Week]] House of Lions – Pair of Lights

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

OK, so verging away from House music for a minute and here is a brand new feature HemligDiskotek will feature every week, Alternative Track of the Week. With so much great music out there, I feel each week to verge away from the Electronic side of things and dish out something a bit more out there, in comes House of Lions. A band I had the privilege to meet at a small indie gig I shared the stage with, the Camden five piece made waves with ‘Uncruel’ released 6 months ago, racking up over 23,000 hits already and left fans begging for more.

Taking time to work on an EP, it’s finally time for fans to get excited as the Lions have finally released a teaser from the new EP ‘Perfect Fool’ (with release date still to be confirmed) with ‘Pair of Lights’

A melodic ballad with elements of a Coldplay structure but with the rawness of frontman Ed Vyvyan, similar to that of Tyler Glenn of the Neon Trees, adds a powerful dimension to this superbly well built track. Layered with keys, a catchy guitar lead line and a simple drum beat which drives the changes in dynamics subtly, but effectively throughout. For me the best part of the song is towards the end, the build into the final chorus with Vyvyan’s pure rawness is shown in plain view, sprinkled with grit and passion driving the song to it’s peak before finishing with a beautiful three chord keyboard section. Overall a well produced tracks, layered with fantastic ideas and meaning.

Very different to previous tracks released by House of Lions (Such as ‘Uncruel’, ‘Memo’ and the superb ‘On My Own), but something I’m confident fans will latch on to. Every band needs a slower song to mix up their portfolio and this is certainly the way to do it.

You can find ‘Uncruel’ on iTunes, and be sure to keep your eye out for this Camden five piece who are sure to make waves, not if, but when.

Website – http://www.houseoflions.co.uk
Twitter – @HouseofLionsHOL
Soundcloud – http://www.soundcloud.com/house-of-lions/

Rae Morris – Closer

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

So driving around today I forget my iPod, and when that’s the case, I naturally decide to stick on Radio 1 and hear this absolute chillout gem. Today’s ‘Track of the Day’ on BBC Radio 1 and something that led me into a state of relaxation. Drifting you away from your worries of the day, this beautiful piece begins in an effortless minimalist way, easing into the simple yet effective drum beat through finger clicks – drastically taking the song from the standard piano and vocal ballad that seems to be everywhere you turn these days, to a track with drive and thought. With a simple drum beat throughout though, this can become ‘samey’ and the producer has countered this well by dropping to a classic double bass riff, making your ears stand up and keep your interest there. A great track, ideal for when you want that down time alone.

Rae Morris is only 20, and after getting into music at aged 15, in the space of 5 years she’s gone from small local gigs in her hometown of Blackpool to capturing the attention of Atlantic and Warner records. Her previous track ‘Cold’ saw her work with a personal favourite of mine in Fryars and see’s her edging closer to the charts – clearly where the labels are pushing her.

You can catch Rae Morris live as she supports George Ezra on his UK tour next month.

Website – raemorris.co.uk
Twitter – @raemorrismusic
Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/raemorris

You can pre-order the new EP ‘Closer’ on iTunes now!

Durante (Feat. Chuck Ellis) – Slow Burn

Posted on by hemligdiskotek

This chillout track does exactly as the name suggests, a slow build into a hard-hitting, floorfilling riff. With the soft, easy tone of Chuck Ellis on vocals, the track slots together like a dream and takes your mind to an Ibiza beach party with a drink in your right hand, and your left hand firmly in the air.

Based in LA, California, the 21 year-old producer caused all sorts of fuss with his four track EP ‘Challenger’ this time last year, which he dropped out there whilst interning at the OWSLA label, founded by Skrillex. An electronic ride through various genres with an 80’s house beat persistently at the heart of it, it has received huge reviews from the likes of Earmilk and The Bass Collective and is sure to have helped him meet the right people to turn ‘Slow Burn’ into a future hit amongst Europe’s biggest dancefloors.

Website – durantemakesmusic.com
Twitter – @imdurante
Soundcloud – soundcloud.com/durante
Tumblr – stack.durantemakesmusic.com