This is going to be somewhat of a different entry, in a few different ways. For the foreseeable future, this will be my (rc's) final entry. As of late, my activity here has began to slip, but not for a non legitimate reason. For the past few months, I've been in the process of joining the Canadian Forces, and tomorrow I'm leaving for my basic training course. I decided instead of writing about myself, and what's going to happen with me, I'd write about a true friend of mine.
If you're an active reader of this blog, you're aware of who makes the magic happen. Matt has been a true bro of mine for nearly 8 years, and I'm truly glad that we decided to combine our efforts and produce electrodroid. When we first started chatting about music, it was pretty much entirely about our favorite band - Death From Above 1979. From there, Matt threw some tracks from some crazy group called "MSTRKRFT" at me. I wasn't a huge fan. I was knee deep into my "indie rock" phase, blaring tracks from Wolfmother, TAN!, Bloc Party and much more. However, between the sharing of DFA remixes, and MSTRKRFT tracks, I started to enjoy it. Every time I signed on my computer, I'd have a fresh set of tracks from MG, and nearly every track was a beauty. I'm telling you, I've discussed music with many, many people in my life, but no one quite gets the quality of a track like MG.
For a few months, we spent out time trying to "DJ" on VirtualDJ, until we started trying to produce some tracks together under the name "big north". Funny enough, that's what inspired us to create this blog, our mutual love for awesome fucking music. We're still trying to produce today, and hopefully we'll have something soon to show all the readers, but until then, electrodroid will be the prime public venue to find the freshest, addicting tracks.
It's needless to say that I consider MG one of my best friends, and I'm going to miss him and this blog dearly. However, everyone here is in very capable hands. I'd just like to thank Matt once again though. Thanks for being an inspiration (music and life), and one of the most genuine, loyal, talented dudes I've ever had the honor of knowing. Cheers buddy.
Now, let's check some fucking huge tracks out before I depart!
This has been one of my favorite bangers I've heard in ages. I stumbled upon it while jamming to a Dada Life mix, and I instantly fell in love. It's simplistic in design, but it's so damn catchy that it will bring even the most awkward of dancers to the middle of the floor. I wasn't too huge on the appearance of the tenor sax in most "pop" dance music these days (Mr. Saxo Beat, etc), but this track changed that totally. The build, the drop, all of it accounts to one of the biggest tracks of 2011/2012. I promise this isn't the first time you'll hear this, as it's sure to make even bigger waves this coming spring break.
MSTRKRFT - Community Revolution In Progress
If I didn't quite praise MG enough in my opening rant, then this will add to it. One of the first dance tracks Matt ever introduced to me was this somewhat unknown MSTRKRFT tune. It's quite an interesting track if you think about it, fusing the best of prog house with some classic MSTRKRFT synths, it surely brings together the best of the two genres I love the most. Throughout the entire 10 minutes of this tune, it evolves from gnarly bassline, to another unreal hook. If you can sit through the entirety of this song and not even tap your foot, you're not human. Despite it's 2007 release, this track is still a contender for one of my top 50 electro tracks of all time.
The Bloody Beetroots - Cornelius (Mix Oi!)
Another trip back to the glory days of when I was just a young 16 year old kid, discovering dance music. The Bloody Beetroots have gone through many musical changes from their formation to their present setup as Death Crew. If you're a DJ looking at this track information, you might look at the BPM and feel that it's rather slow, but I promise, this is going to be one of the biggest tracks of the night if played. Before all the brostep kids showed up and tried defining what a "raging" track was, THIS was the track you'd see people raging to in clubs. Fidget house never really made it huge in North America, but Bob Rifo sure did something right when he produced this banger.
Goose - Synrise (Mumbai Science Remix)
When I first heard the track "Synrise" by Goose, I thought it was a fantastic tune, but once I heard what Mumbai Science did to it, I was totally blown away. Plug in some quality headphones, and sit back and listen. The layered synths, the chord progressions, all the makings of a massive tune. The progressive build, paired with the wild drop, makes this yet another electro track that flew somewhat under the radar.
And........ here I come with a followup rant that can't even come close to the kind words posted by my fellow electro lover. As previously mentioned, for the past 8 years we have shared interests like a couple of brothers would. As his interests evolved, so did mine. As a certain hatred grew on his end, so did mine. As our addiction to certain hobbies increased, well you guessed it, so did mine. Ryan has pretty much described my side of the story as well. Nearly every word, phrase, and sentence that he gave the internet, I have no regrets in reiterating them word by word.
The aspirations to headline Coachella as the duo of Big North may be a dream not worth dreaming. But fun thoughts like those are what get you through the day. RC was always one to randomly message me, hyped up like a little school girl, ready to tell me something amazing, or show me a new track he was working on, or tell me he is finally going to basic training for the Canadian Forces. Now that last one is of special importance because I've seen his battle towards this day for a few years now. The highs, the lows and he is finally fucking going to be in the military. That's called taking the next huge step in your life. You could even say he has reached Phase 2. So I say, when all you go out tonight, give a little self cheers to this mystery man behind the scenes of ElectroDroid.
You all know by now one of the primary purposes of the post. The second (not nearly as monumental purpose) being that is my Champagne birthday tomorrow. Meaning that I am turning as old as the day that I was born (turning 21 on January 21st). Now this is obviously a one in a life time experience and it falls on a Saturday so I'm pretty stoked. Plus its my 21st birthday which is probably the last great celebratory age until 40. Big plans this weekend and hopefully I can pass my love out to as many people as possible.
I finish by saying good luck and farewell to my friend RC. The driving, unseen catalyst to this blog and one of my most underestimated best friends. Huge ups. So enough with the damn melodrama and enjoy this motherfreaking tracks. We gave you 8 of them so you better find something to love or you are positively screwed.
Blatta & Inesha - My Lady Don't Mind (Modek Remix)
Well now I have to write about all these tracks and I've nearly exhausted my entire literary ability. But I must go on. This Modek remix has been sitting in the "to post" pile for a long ass time. And what a fitting time to unleash it on the world. This one has gotten better with age because the first time I heard it, the track was a certified banger and now I add with confidence an adjective and bump it up to a certified fucking banger.
Afrojack - Show Me Your Rage
A little back story to this one. Stumbled across it as a live rip from Afrojack's Ultra mix. I was literally intoxicated by it. It prevented me from working an entire afternoon at work because I had it on repeat and I was doing mental fist pumps and mental raging. The title of the track (once revealed in Afrojack's Lost and Found release) is perfect. Honestly perfect, because that is what the tune makes you do. Yes, the drop is magnificent but as always after the incredibly bouncy breakdown leads you into an orchestral finale, you will be a raving lunatic.
Justice - Stress (Auto Remix)
Shout out to my roommate Krawbs (real name hidden for identity) who follows this blog like his bible and the fact that he is the one that introduced me to this song at least 2 years ago. I always thought Stress was evil and this remix adds about 15 points of villainy to it. As famous as the Jaws theme song is for suspense, this nearly resembles it. Now its time for mental video imaging: a group of 5 kids, dressed in leather blazers, walking through the streets of an urban area, terrorizing everyone in their way; beating up the elderly, spray painting people in the chest, stealing money from the homeless. Ok, that's not something I thought up on my own. Go to Youtube and check out the video for it. Pure evil.
Wolfgang Gartner - Cognitive Dissonance
We finish off this monumental post with a bonus track from the all loving Weekend In America album. I actually had the privelege to preview this track a couple days before the album was officially released. And boy did it get me hype for the album. I figured if this was a a bonus track then what would the full LP be like. So we have it here; a beautiful fusion of mind numbing piano chords, grooving bass riffs, and anthemic synths. The definition of the track means discomfort in holding ones ideas, beliefs, values, etc. Well after this massive tune, you'll definitely begin to question the standards you have when it comes to electronic music.