The Needle Drop

dj

Lotic - "From the Front" (ft. Dr. Luke, Rabit, Sugur Shane, DJ Karfox, Big Hud, Fat Pimp)

New TracksContributor JonesComment

https://soundcloud.com/lotic/front Lotic's self-released mini-album Damsel In Distress was named one of the best of 2014 by FACT Magazine, referring to it as a mixtape of "gothic club nightmares". Quite a description of the Berlin, Germany DJ/Producers' brand of dark yet satisfying, enrapturing club music. And "From The Front" only helps to add to Lotic's mystique: it's a grab bag of disturbingly distorted southern voices and lyrics that are paired with a production job that includes elements of trap, trance, gritty grime and crunchy, squeaky dubstep, all competing with each other for attention but still working seamlessly together. Lotic, along with his collaborators (Dr. Luke, Rabit, Sugur Shane, DJ Karfox, Big Hud and Fat Pimp) have created a song that's sure to be considered an eerie, almost ghostly but exciting and bouncy certified club/strip joint banger.

-Ron Grant

M.I.A. - Matangi

Reviewsadmin2 Comments

On M.I.A.'s latest record, the UK-based rapper, singer, and producer takes a small step away from the noisy production that made her last record so bombastic, but still manages to deliver a series of smart, infectious, and wild banger-style party tracks.

Baauer and RL Grime - "Infinite Daps"

New Tracksadmin1 Comment

While I've never been a huge fan of RL Grime, this new co-produced track he's released with Baauer is an outright banger extraordinaire. The reverbed, popping percussion matched with the massive hits of bass throughout this thing are a nice mix, and the groove is absolutely killer. Enjoy!!!

Also, here's a bit of a tour diary that's been released on the string of shows these two did recently with Ryan Hemsworth and Jim-E Stack:

Classixx - "All You're Waiting For"

VideostheneedledropComment

The LA-based DJ duo Classixx has a new music video out for Hanging Gardens cut, "All You're Waiting For." The video is produced by Urban Outfitters as part of its UO Music Video Series and features vocal guest Nancy Whang lounging about on a yacht, getting up at one point only to revile the crew. Fitting that the duo belongs to a label called "Innovative Leisure."

Watch a review for Classixx's debut album, Hanging Gardens, here:

Nicolas Jaar- Live at Sonar Lab (Barcelona)

New TracksDannySpitsComment

On record, Nicolas Jaar, to put it frankly, strikes me as one of the most interesting figures in electronic music to emerge throughout the past few years. His blend of elements of spacious house music, vivid sample collages, and sultry atmosphere, topped off with his own baritone vocals, hit home with both the Space is Only Noise LP and the Don't Break My Love EP in 2011, and despite being relatively quiet throughout this year, he has continued his winning streak with the excellent "With Just One Glance" single that featured Bruce Willis & Demi Moore's offspring Scout Larue.

In a live setting, however, Jaar takes his music to new levels, exploring the potential of his studio recordings to create an experience that feels largely singular. It's an experience I have yet to witness, but thankfully, Jaar stopped by Sonar Lab at Barcelona recently to play a live set, and it is available to stream via the SoundCloud widget above. Nearing one hour in length, the set showcases Jaar seamlessly mixing and remixing material into a cohesive journey, all without a single pause to puncture its continuously flowing nature. Jaar's studio work is already brimming with ideas, but his live performance shows just how expansive his creativity is, and it's a testament to what will hopefully be a bright future for the young producer.

D-Pulse- "Velocity of Love" ‡ STREAM

Uncategorizedadmin1 Comment

One of my faithful Needle Drops sent this track to me with little to no explanation. In retrospect, I guess it didn't really need one. Sexiness speaks for itself.

It comes from an up-and-coming Russian outfit, D-Pulse. "Velocity of Love" is their latest single, and plays music hopscotch with French house, 80s pop, and sensual light rock hits. It's not a meld you hear every day, but I can make a close comparison to CFCF's Continent. Dig on the single below, and look for it on THEOMATIC Russia.

-