While I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a “Bl3nder” (an obsessesed fan of DJ Bl3nd),? I have been enjoying watching videos of the gruesomely-masked guy as he unleashes sick electro DJ mixes with him dancing.? His “Berserk” video was perfectly-timed for Halloween and just as twisted as you imagine.? Imagine a guy wearing a twisted Chuckie (evil doll, not Dirty Dutch DJ) mask with the frenetic energy of Insane Clown Posse and Steve Aoki making tracks like Wolfgang Gartner and R3hab to get an idea. The new track “Xception,” with Starkillers, manages to keep that intense and aggressive electro edge while smoothing it out with a few progressive breaks.? Don’t worry, the frantic bleeps and sick chainsaw energy is still there but made a little bit more palatable for bigger club crowds. ? If you haven’t already discovered DJ Bl3nd, definitely check out his YouTube page.
Image Courtesy of Spinnin.
2013 Dance Grammy Nominees
Best Dance Recording
Avicii – “Levels” (Interscope)
Calvin Harris ft Ne-Yo – “Let’s Go” (Ultra Music)
Skrillex ft Sirah – “Bangarang” (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Swedish House Mafia ft John Martin – “Don’t You Worry Child” (Astralwerks)
Al Walser – “I Can’t Live Without You” (Cut the Bull)
I am going to steal a quote from Chicago producer/DJ Dani Deahl – “we’ve been Rick-Rolled.” Al Walser? His nomination for Best Dance Recording is so wrong that it is offensive. Mind you, I am a big fan of europop and even loved Fun Factory back in the 90s (the band that Al Walser was part of). “I Can’t Live Without You” is one of the worst songs I have ever heard and has no place in this category, much less receiving a Grammy nomination. Its inclusion is inappropriate? and I challenge you to find any DJ or EDM lover who supported this record in any way this year. Heck, I wonder if anyone had even heard of this record before it got the nomination. Al Walser runs Cut The Bull entertainment, a company similar to Ark Music Factory (which was behind Rebecca Black’s “Friday”).? Spin Magazine showcased his site, which accepts money for artist consultations. Speaking to people in the industry confirmed my suspicion that he is quite well-connected (and probably a member of the nominating committee.) It’s incredible that the Grammy committee would nominate such an inappropriate record and it is a slap in the face to every fan of electronic dance music.
SONG OF THE DAY: NERVO & Hook N Sling – “Reason”
Aussie EDM producers/DJs/artists/sisters Nervo have had an amazing year thanks to some incredible collaborations – “You’re Gonna Love Again” with Avicii, and “Something to Believe In” with Norman Doray.? Since “Reason,” their track with Hook N Sling, was released back in September on Spinnin Records – it has been gaining quite a buzz.? The big room stadium house track is the perfect mix of progressive-sounding club beats and aggressive electro noises, with a measured dose of meaningful pop lyrics.? The breakdown in the middle is quite gorgeous with the gradual keyboard build into the drum fill leading to an explosion of energy. It’s also quite refreshing to see the focus of the song is on the strong original remix, rather than a large set of remixes which have little to do with the original song.? The only negative is the video treatment which showcases three random girls on a crime and party spree.? Yeah, there is probably some allusion to the song’s meaning in there somewhere, but the emotional nature of the lyrics would be much better translated via a performance by Olivia and Mim.? I mean, come on, when you are gorgeous Covergirl models, why waste video time on unrelated girls?
Image Courtesy of Big Beat/Spinnin.