bear toons

Frequent readers among you might comment that I use the word “spacious” too much when describing music. I mean, what does “spacious” music actually refer to? Well, quite triumphantly, I refer you to this remix from Fort Romeau. Beginning with casual kicks and distorted vocals, the London producer expands gradually yet steadily outward. All the components are simple from the vocals to the snare yet together they form a House sound that is truly large and expansive; one might even say, erm, spacious.

Jorge Takei is one half of Colegne producing duo JTRP. This solo endeavor is built around, yes you guess it, a stirring Aretha Franklin vocal sample. This track embodies pretty much everything I love about House music at moment - classic vocal sample, retro feel, pounding bass, smooth hi-hats and a touch of something different to keep it fresh. The vocals will get your hands in the other but the perfectly executed bassline will prompt involuntary movement in your feet. Download for free from XLR8R.

When it pops up in my feed that Bit Funk has a new track, I invariably know that its gonna be a good listen. The Brooklyn native is probably one of the most consistent House producers working today. Here he remixes yet another track I’ve never heard of and makes it his own with just the right amount of percussion and funky bass.

Paris duo Hot Steppa certainly have talent to match their overly indulgent moniker. “Kids Of Today” is a House track that brings together such a varied array of sounds, clicks and claps that one would think could never work together in harmony. Under the guise of a run-of-the-mill House track, the Parisian producing duo meander freely between techno and deep house playing with chopped vocals,  shuddering basslines and a hypnotic synth melody.

Sheffield’s Oliver Ledger aka Squarehead has just given my monday routine an old skool kick. This remix of “Aint Got Time” is exactly what you need to shake off the relentless dullness of Monday, or any day this month, for that matter, in the UK’s sick joke of a spring season. Squarehead clearly has an affinity and understanding of old school house and its shows through his catalog of 90s-inspired tracks.

Bonus DL

Justin Jay is 19 year old producer that hails from LA and unlike most of his young countrymen he has ignored the path of dubstep, Bigroom and EDM sounds to follow a more traditional House sound by signing to London’s Southern Fried Records. His two original tracks on this EP, “Everything” and “Into the Night” are two of the most accomplished and polished works I’ve heard from an American producer in a long while. Tapping into a more chilled out vibe while simultaneously providing dancefloor-ready music, is not an easy tightrope to walk but he does it with aplomb. The EP came out last week and I seriously can’t stop listening to it.

Have you worn out your ears and speakers with Disclosure, Bondax or T.E.E.D? Well good because I’ve got a new track to put up in the same pop/house/dancefloor category. ETML aka Elliot Marshall from London shows of his pipes over Taneli produced beat that you can’t help but nod your head to. This is the first track from this young man to get attention, and hopefully he’ll continue at the same level going forward.