Stuck In My Skull 556 -- "Toothless Hawkins (And His Robot Jazz Band)"

Song: "Toothless Hawkins (And His Robot Jazz Band)" || Artist: Varien and Razihel || http://youtu.be/zG28TM7rKOs ||

Comments: Hello and happy Friday, everyone! For today, I've got a song that I can only describe as 'funky.' The minute I heard of this, I immediately thought of DJ Abso-Newt-ly. Since this track was released off the Monstercat label -- a personal favourite of his and mine -- chances are good he's already heard it, but it's still a song I know I need to write about. Honestly, it's just that good. It's as funky as funky can be, with an excellent beat that makes you really want to dance, and some entertaining lyrics to keep you smiling. It's got more than just a rhythm, it has a groove. Check this song out, folks, you won't be disappointed. Have a fantastic weekend, and don't forget to like us on Facebook!

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Stuck In My Skull 499 -- "Once Again"

Song: "Once Again" || Artist: Tristam || http://youtu.be/59M5z0c8YtE ||

Comments: Hello everyone, and happy Friday! I promise this will be the last song from the new Monstercat album I mention for awhile. I wasn't going to write this much about the album originally, but I just had to do this song. It's been stuck in my head for days now. Like most artists on this album, I'd never heard of Tristam prior to listening to the album, and I mean it when I say "I don't know why." If this song is anything to go by, Tristam is amazing. His vocals are the perfect complement to his ridiculously catchy beat. I'm not going to try and provide trivia or descriptions here, just go listen. Enjoy it, and have a great weekend!

(Hey! Go check out today's entry on This Beat is Newtricious. Free song!)

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Stuck In My Skull 498 -- "Transformations"

Song: "Transformations" || Artist: Ramses B feat. Laura Brehm || http://youtu.be/Fkwtq2uhbmU ||

Comments: Hello and happy Monday, everyone! For today, I've got another song that I've fallen in love with from the new Monstercat album. Once again produced by artists I've never heard of, this song blows me away. Laura Brehm's vocals are astounding, carrying a awestruck tone that really makes them pop. Ramses B manages to put in just enough dubstep to complement the vocals without overpowering them, complementing rises and falls with excellent beats. Interestingly enough, Ramses B only lightly uses waffles, which really gives this song an interesting quality, having breakbeats that scream dubstep while only touching upon some of the signature 'sounds' of dubstep. It almost sounds like house, in a way. Call it whatever you like, the fact is that I love and I think you will too. Enjoy!

Edit: I was adding tags when Blogger reminded me that this isn't the first time Stuck In My Skull  has written about Laura Brehm -- Relinquish talked about her here.

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Stuck In My Skull 496 -- "Rainbow Road"

Song: "Rainbow Road" || Artist: nanobii || http://youtu.be/a0Aauep0VWs ||

Comments: Good morning, everyone! To get the week started off on the right foot, let's kick out Monday Syndrome with an amazing song from the album Monstercat was giving away last week. "Rainbow Road" is without question or doubt simply amazing. It's cheerful, catchy, and will make you dance in your seat or get to your feet and jam. Seriously, this song is amazing. I'd never heard of nanobii before this, but I will be looking for more great tracks from this artist. Enjoy!

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[Secret Sounds] Teqq ~ 3

Track: 3
Artist: Teqq
Download: FREE
First, I must apologize for my absence last week. With upgrading my computer, it was a bit unstable for a while. But this week I bring you German progressive house week!

Teqq is a young producer who specializes in prog house but also dabbles in other genres. To me, prog house is a difficult genre to produce well because of its propensity for repetitiveness and chord stagnancy. However, Teqq's tracks (say that 3 times fast) are well structured and never even border on boring. He keeps interesting with piano solos and sometimes vocal lines, which are always well-written (musically and lyrically) in addition to well-performed. In fact, it was difficult for me to select a song of his to feature since they're all worthy.

I decided to go with 3, which doesn't feature vocals, as Teqq has got it covered all on his own. (He also has a great mashup of the track versus Swedish House Mafia's Don't You Worry Child.) A piano melody dances in from the distance, momentarily fades, and then becomes a lush piano solo, with some sustained strings entering later. The synth comes back and the melody builds up to the huge drop. The melody circles, staying interesting with some syncopation. The piano returns to mingle with the synth, and then the two alternate the iteration of the melody. In the final repeat, the hard bass drum kick brings it home. In the quiet coda, there's a bit of musical trickery, as the chord progression repeats there's almost a sort of pedal point, but not sustained. Despite the repetitive nature of house, this piece by Teqq remains interesting, full, and lush.

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[Secret Sounds] ~ Rezonate - The Phoenix

Track: The Phoenix
Artist: Rezonate
Download: iTunes, Beatport, Bandcamp Rezonate is a young Canadian musician on the Monstercat label. His style boasts great melodies with a big sound. He is quite dedicated to his fans and even has online gaming sessions with them. (Hit him up on steam for Minecraft, TF2, etc).

The Phoenix is the first part in a trilogy (the second being Ash, and the third still unreleased). Rez's girlfriend, Lauren, has a younger cousin who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age. (He has a CF fundraiser campaign, which you can learn more about here.) The track begins with light sustained notes a strong bass, in both pitch and drum. The vocals enter with some ornamentation in the background. The buildup is not brazen but rather subtle, almost unnoticeable until suddenly--the huge drop. The distorted vocals and the melody--which sounds almost like a bird's voice--soar over the heavy bass. Later, when the bass and percussion drop out, the excellent reverb on the piano-like line gives the effect of pattering raindrops, leading into the second drop, and the melody here has a woodwind timbre in addition to the phoenix's calls. The song seems to fade, but then the third drop comes, like a much-desired encore without you even having to ask for it. This piece is superbly structured, like all of Rez's work, and definitely something to be proud of. I can't wait to hear the finale of this trilogy.

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[Secret Sounds] ~ Mr FijiWiji - Farewell

Track: Farewell
Artist: Mr FijiWiji
Download: iTunes Mr FijiWiji, called "The Fij" by his adoring fans, is another young artist on the Monstercat label. Not only is he an accomplished producer at such a young age, but he also volunteers and raises money for charity. He is known for making emotional music that is all his own style, without bending to what is popular. He also loves to title songs after his friends (see Gina and Jason the Breadman's Quest for Redemption) and to give away free music.

His first independent release, Farewell, is no exception. This piece has a beautifully executed ABA form. The first part begins with a great kick that gives way to a plaintive melody, which later stacks on top of a syncopated countermelody. When this fades, a solo piano part rises up from the silence. The Fij's gentle but compelling vocals enter, and though the lyrics may be simple, they capture the perfect sentiment for a departure. The reverb on the vocals (and throughout the piece) adds charge to the emotion. The countermelody from the first section returns, and later the melody comes back after the vocals fade. The two intertwine in a beautiful dance until the return of only the original kick. The outstanding composition of this piece and its emotionally resonant sounds make it a great first independent release for The Fij.

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[Secret Sounds] ~ Day One - Lunar Orbit

Track: Lunar Orbit
Artist: Day One
Download: FREE
Nowadays, many EDM producers like to say they "press buttons and make music." Some of them make music, while others make art. One of these artists is the underappreciated Day One, currently a student at Oxford University. His music reflects inspiration, careful thought, and a profound mastery of music theory.

The tune Lunar Orbit is a gentle giant, with its graceful melodies and big bass. The arpeggiation builds on harmony line, setting the stage for the piano melody. Day One works up to the drop with subtlely, like a swell, without any blaring chromatic rises or rapid percussion. After the drop, the tune glides seamlessly from section to section. The layers weave in and out over the wobbling bass--yet never in interference--creating a beautiful and hypnotizing ambiance. Slowly, the other layers drop out leaving only the piano, as the track ends on a non-I chord, giving the listener pause and striking the sense of longing that the piece gives. Hats off to Day One for a poignant and captivating song!
(The visualization in the video is pretty trippy too, also in a subtle way.)

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