So it's Friday (music)

[drwex]

And I have these open tabs. There's not much coherent about them, so I'll just dump and let you guys pick and choose.

http://www.djsteveboy.com/funkwithoutborders.html
http://www.djsteveboy.com/slowlightning.html
Two very good but very different mixes from DJ Steveboy. The first is funk, funk, and more funk. It's the kind of thing that got me listening to Groovelectric in the first place - old funk, new-style funk, and funk-influenced things. I'm on my third listen-through and I still think my favorite is the 'regrooved' James Brown track.

The second mix, Slow Lightning, is a chill mix with a definite night-time feel. It's not, per se, slow - the BPM are high enough to keep things rocking along, but it has a lot of soft sound effects and sinuous beat lines.

https://soundcloud.com/drumcode/maceo-plex-conjure-floyd
This is a bit experimental for me and I'm still not 100% sure I like it. Maceo Plex brings in a deep, groovy house track that is at the same time urgent and understated. It's posted as a "techno" track and I can see why but what made me pull it out is the second half, which starts around 3:45 in. The track is called "Conjure Floyd" and this is where you really hear it. It reminds me of how creepy-as-hell I found The Wall to be when it first came out and how I liked listening to it with headphones so I could get all the stereo effects.

https://soundcloud.com/jenergy6/djenergy-are-made-of
OK, let's get back to more traditional A|B mashes. This one from DJ Energy mixes Rihanna and Marilyn Manson. It's an interesting concept and it mostly works. I like both of the original sources but I could've done without the long stutter build between the intro and main sections of the track.

https://soundcloud.com/djmayajakobson/maya-jakobson-how-deep-is-your-club-calvin-harris-disciples-vs-50-cent-vs-the-underdog-project-vs-maroon-5-and-more
I haven't heard anything new from Maya Jakobson in a little while despite adding her to my Soundcloud "following" list. This one popped out at me and now I share. It's an 8-way mash mostly built around two versions of "How Deep is Your Love" from Calvin Harris. I love the blend of the Harris track with 50 Cent's fast-talking rap even more than I love the base track which is my metric for a good mash.

https://soundcloud.com/trademarkvip/deep-talk-calvin-harris-x-kaskade-x-tove-lo-x-cuebrick
While we're on the Calvin Harris thing, here's another (very different) mix built around "How Deep". I particularly like the way DJ Trademark slams over to Tove Lo's "Talking Body". Sure, it's pop-on-pop and balancing the strong female vocals on both tracks is not easy but I think it mostly works.

I think we'll break here and pick up next week with some turbofunk. Yes, that's a tease, but it's a good one I promise.

Comments

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Speaking of music... If you haven't heard the musical "Hamilton", I'd suggest checking it out.

[drwex]

Thanks, I'm not a fan of musicals. People who do like such things have said it's a good one, but still not up my general alley.

What in particular do you thing was good about this one?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

Partly, the juxtaposition of it is fun - hip-hop meets the founding fathers. Cabinet debates done as rap battles! The creator has said that he thinks Alexander Hamilton embodies the spirit of hip-hop, which I can kind of see - it's all about writing your way out and changing your circumstances with your language.

But the language - some incredible turns of phrase, dense wordplay with good internal rhyming. A while back I remember commenting that if Sondheim (infamous for his wordplay) was born 50 years later he might be writing rap, and this is exactly the sort of thing I'd expect to result.

I’m a girl in a world in which
My only job is to marry rich
My father has no sons so I’m the one
Who has to social climb for one
So I’m the oldest and the wittiest and the gossip in
New York City is insidious...

And it has references both to classic musicals and to various hip-hop songs, for even more of a feeling of that American cultural melting pot.

[drwex]

Hurm. You make a convincing case. I'll keep it in mind, thank you!

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Hey, what's your username on Soundcloud? I'm using hte same name as here and I'd like to follow you.

[drwex]

My name there is the same as here.

[mizarchivist]

Maceo made me anxious.
One of the suggested tracks after DJ ENergy, Rihanna/MM - https://soundcloud.com/polatalican/queen-bohemian-rhapsody-sibling-remix
I found that entertaining, as was the Rihanna/MM track.
And then this... https://soundcloud.com/happy-cat-disco-archive52/adeie_vs_siaheiio-im-still-aiive-mashup Love Adele and Sia.