Camo & Krooked 'Zeitgeist' LP

Twenty months in the making, Camo & Krooked released their sophomore album - 'Zeitgeist.'

According to their Facebook page, the influences for this album include French house, disco, and minimal techno, and it really shows.

For a duo who are signed to Hospital Records, and who put out the monster 'Cross The Line' LP almost two years ago, I was expecting something a lot different. I'm still deciding what I really think of it.

It wouldn't be fair to compare 'Zeitgeist' with 'Torus' but bear with me for a second - both belong to notable Drum & Bass labels (Hospital Records and RAM Records, respectively [though Torus was released with Virgin Records]); and, both had major successes with their first albums, mostly consisting of Drum & Bass/Dubstep tracks. Now, both release their next album on the same day and people have certain expectations. Up until now, both have had fairly parallel careers in terms of production - maybe not touring.

'Zeitgeist' leaves me feeling the same way that 'Random Access Memories' did - a cherished production team putting out something different than what I wanted, or expected, and I have to learn to accept that. I still haven't gotten over 'RAM,' though.

After finishing the album, a few tracks stand out. Rock Paper Scissors, Journey Through Sound, Vice, and Dreamcatcher. These tracks alone represent to me what direction Camo & Krooked should have gone in, if it were up to me. They all have some similarities to 'Cross The Line,' which I like, but they are more sophisticated and show the depth of production that the Austrian duo possess. Journey especially stands out - it starts with some funky guitar and bass riffs, with a some rolling drums; then about a minute in, it starts to build... and build... and build... and it DROPS. My first impression was what the 'Tron' soundtrack would have sounded like if it was produced by Deadmau5 instead of Daft Punk - which I guess is where the French house influence comes in. Otherwise, most of the tracks are far too minimal for me. If you were expected a heavily laden, bassline-driven album with DnB breaks and crazy synths, I'm sorry. If you're in it purely for the music, then the album is not that bad. See for yourself - they've uploaded clips of each song to their soundcloud.

Sub Focus 'Torus' LP

Sub Focus's eponymous album was his first and last full-length album until today when 'Torus' finally became available. Letting singles trickle out for the past two years has created a substantial amount of hype for the London-born Nick Douwma, a.k.a. Sub Focus. 'Falling Down,' especially, was rinsed thoroughly in shows in the UK and US thanks to a huge remix by xKore and a VIP release, as well. Other singles, including 'Out The Blue' and 'Tidal Wave', featured remixes by the likes of TC, Xilent, and Fred V & Grafix among others.

According to Wikipedia, a torus "is a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three-dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle." Reflective of the album itself, its name denotes coming full circle and connotes a sense of completion. Amidst the myriad of featured artists, Douwma manages to craft a well-rounded LP that covers a wide range of genres while still being relevant to the overall theme of the piece.

'Torus' demonstrates how far Douwma has come since his 'Sub Focus' LP. It shows how much he has matured as a producer and creator. The snares are more crisp, the samples more diverse, the basslines more focused. Many of the songs have definitely acquired more of a pop element, in great part due to some of the featured artists, namely Alex Clare, Alice Gold, Kenzie May or Foxes.




With the rolling basslines in 'Close,' the poppy vocals in 'Endorphins' or 'Out The Blue,' the uplifting synths in 'Turn It Around' - this album is a culmination of everything that Douwma has accomplished until now and it is a shining testament to his talent as a producer. You can snag 'Torus' from iTunes right now - you won't regret it one bit.

Savant & DotEXE @ El Rey Theater

The El Rey Theater was one of the few venues left in SoCal that I haven't been to - the others being some in Pomona and Yost Theater (both of which I'll be going to later this year). It's a decent size, smaller than both the Fonda Theater and Avalon, and the steps leading to center stage are a bit of a drag.

But let's get to the star of the night - Savant. Hailing from Oslo, Norway, Aleksander Vinter aka Savant is an honest-to-God savant, living with a condition known as Asberger's Syndrome. According to the bio on his site, he has released over 10,000 songs spanning a wide range of genres and styles. In 2009, he was even nominated for a Grammy. Since his first album in 2011, 'Ninur,' under the Savant moniker, Vinter has released nine albums and is already at work on his tenth. His work is teeming with sophisticated basslines and melodies, often incorporating a jazz or classical element into his mostly electrohouse work.

Last night was headed up by SoCal-native Precept and Chicagoite DotEXE. Precept has residencies at a lot of other clubs in SoCal, but the Avalon had the night off, so he graced the stage at El Rey. Sticking to mostly house and trap, Precept showed his diversity by playing some choice tunes by Pendulum, even the classic 'Tarantula', which got the whole room jumping. DotEXE dominated the room as well. The Monstercat powerhouse also threw in a few trap tunes but also played some Pendulum, 'The Vulture', which got the crowd moshing. Both artists have managed to make a huge name for themselves in the short time span of just a couple years. It seems like so many producers have come out of the woodwork these past two years, it's important to remember that heavyweights like Rusko, Caspa, Skream, and Coki have been around for nearly a decade. That being said, if this new generation of producers, like Haywyre and Savant, is able to put out quality work, tunes with melody, with purpose, then there's nothing that they can't accomplish - even getting some of those non-believers onto our side.

@mnmedia13 haha fuck ya man glad you enjoyed it!
— djplurcept (@djprecept) September 28, 2013

Now on to the man himself - Savant. Much like the man dressed in purple on the cover of his album 'Alchemist', Savant strode onto stage dressed in a purple cape, purple pimp suit, purple 'pirate' hat and golden Guy Fawkes mask. "Eccentric" would be an understatement for this man. Dropping a slew of originals including 'No Time For Pussy', Savant continued to slay the dance floor. My only gripe with him - and it's not a very reasonable one - is that his tracklist seemed to lack a bit of variety. Of course, if you're going to see Savant, expect him to play within his wheelhouse; it's criminal to expect anything different (for example, to expect Heroes x Villains to play good music).

Krewella - 'Get Wet' LP

So much energy on this amazing release from Chicago-natives Krewella. Some re-releases including 'Come & Get It' and 'Alive' connect their full-length album to their roots and the time and effort they've put into their production.

They've really pushed themselves on this release, using the most of Jahan's and Yasmin's amazing vocals, and calling upon a whole slew of supporting artists - Pegboard Nerds, Gareth Emery and even Travis Barker. No matter what you like, you can find something on this album you're going to enjoy - dubstep/brostep, some DnB breaks, prog/electro house, even HARDSTYLE.

Krewella started out with their 'Play Hard EP' and have only been going harder since. After the release of their remix album 'Play Harder' - with heavyweights including Dirtyphonics, Chuckie and Pegboard Nerds - the concept of a full album started to come into view. 'Get Wet' is the culmination of months of dedication to a devoted fan base and it shows.

Krewella @ Hollywood Palladium

It took me a long time to realize that the best spot for a show isn't always front and center. Krewella's show last night at the Hollywood Palladium definitely reminded me of that fact. The show was completely sold out and the crowd definitely reflected that.

Candyland and then Seven Lions opened - with Candyland laying down a massive barrage filled with a variety of styles, and unfortunately very little of their original material. Seven Lions stepped up next and mixed for a good hour or so, even though Twitter made it seem like he would only have a half hour.

Los freakin Angeles tonight!!! SOLD OUT gonna be one for the books. We're on at 10:40 don't miss ittttt
— Candyland (@CandylandDJs) September 14, 2013

LA KREW--Tonight we are on 12:15!!
— KREWELLA (@Krewella) September 15, 2013

Krewella actually came on closer to 1am so it all turned out fine.
A lot of hype has been put on their new stage set-up, dubbed "The Volcano" which was actually just an intricate assembly of mirrors.

I'm most disappointed that they didn't do more with the set-up, like having individual LED cells, akin to Amon Tobin's ISAM Tour, but this still gave quite the stage presence to the Chicago-based trio. Their set list was largely comprised of their original material, with shoutouts to fellow Monstercat-producer Pegboard Nerds (their 'Alive' remix, also '20K'). Surprisingly, they threw down some hard style for a good portion, as well. It was a welcome respite from the usual dubstep, and it was good to see so many people getting grimey, too. Their tour continues well into November, hitting Reno, NV next on the 18th.

In the meantime, you can pre-order their album from iTunes. It comes on Septermber 24th!

Figure - Horns of the Apocalypse EP

As if this week wasn't great enough already, Figure dropped his Horns of the Apocalypse EP yesterday on Skrillex's OWSLA label and it is massive. Unlike Zomboy, it is clear to hear that Figure is evolving his sound while staying true to his roots. The massive and consistent basslines permeate a room and his synths defy you not to throw your hands up.

This EP also includes a re-release of Super Sonic Brain Waves, which is a huge treat.



The EP is already out on Beatport.
You can get it from iTunes on 9/24.

Zomboy - Reanimated EP

Almost a year to the day since his last release, The Dead Symphonic EP, Zomboy drops his latest batch of bangers on the Reanimated EP. Split into two parts, the EP features tracks, 'Raptor', 'Terror Squad', 'Bad Intentions', and 'Braindead'.




As evidenced in the past, Zomboy has a difficult time getting out of his wheelhouse. His tracks generally consist of chopped-up synths and drum fills, with a party-themed bassline and a few growls and wails thrown in. That's not to say that his production isn't top notch, because it is. The point is that, he's so good, so let's have him show off some of his talent! Exactly like his release 'Here To Stay', which brought the tempo down and really showcased his stuff.




All in all, I think 'Raptor' is the weakest track by far - a repetitive electro-house dance track with a syncopated growl synth as the main hook and then a later mixdown into some hardstyle - it just didn't work. The other three tracks have that unmistakable Zomboy flair. So while they're enjoyable, you know exactly what you're in for when you turn it up.

You can get Part I & Part II on Beatport right now.

I Am Legion / Excision Shambhala 2013 / Rain City Riot

I was so happy when I Am Legion finally dropped on Monday. After only hearing 'Make Those Move' and 'Choosing For You', the rest of the album was long awaited. Bridging a wide range of genres and sounds, the album solidified the notion that Foreign Beggars and Noisia are made for each other. And with the rise of these supergroups lately - Dog Blood, Jack U, I Am Legion, TNGHT, The Firmament - I'm wondering what we're gonna see next. Personally, I'm really hoping that Phetsta and ShockOne finally come out of the closet for each other and create 'Shocker', but that's just me.

Check out the whole album here.




Next up, we have Excision finally dropping his Shambhala 2013 mix. It seems like Christmas comes early every September when he drops these massive sets. With 82 tracks, this might be one of the best he's done in recent years. Check out the tracklist and mix.

Finally, we have High Rankin starting a new project as Rain City Riot. If I had to describe this new sound in one word, it would be: SWANKY. This is so filled with groove that I have to wonder whether or not he has a full jazz ensemble showing him how to do it, it's so fresh. You can check out an hour-long mix from the man himself below.



Rain City Riot: Soundcloud // Facebook
Excision: Website // Soundcloud // Facebook
I Am Legion: Website // Soundcloud // Facebook