This is Substantial Sounds for Winter 2014. This is where we talk about singles and albums that we think stood out. We are fortunate to receive an intense amount of incredible music from some of the best labels in Electronic Music. Subdivisions Global Radio is a dance music formatted show that receives a wide variety of music for consideration to be played each week. At Subdivisions Global Radio we have an array of taste and try to showcase that on a weekly basis. A lot of music was not getting exposed such as, full albums, compilations, down tempo, chill vibe, well thought out EP’s and a ton of dance singles. We know we can’t play or share everything but we now have a great opportunity to share a great variety of music that we think is solid and that people might not otherwise hear. We are excited to use this section to introduce you, our listeners, to some of these incredible sounds!
Sabota – Sabota LP- Hybridity Music
Sabota, the Canadian duo of Max Ulis and Robbie Slade bring us their “Sabota” Album on Hybridity Music. I was floored on the first listen. This album is phenomenal and addictive! There are so many great tracks that it’s to hard to name a favorite because they are all beyond solid. ‘”Cooking Shows” is a great number with a slight acid line that is done just right and is very catchy. “Next Time” is a great, slow building, crescendo into a catchy vocal that peels away at just the right time. Then you have “Teacher” which is a catchy, deep vibe track that we played on Subdivisions Global Radio Show #105 back in January. Another standout is “Stumble”, a catchy tune with its deeper groove and beyond smooth vocal. This is an album everyone should be talking about!
(click link to listen)
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Flashbaxx – Something to Believe EP – Plusquam
German producer, Daniel Stenger aka Flashbaxx, really delivers with his “Something to Believe” EP on Plusquam Chillout. We were fortunate to receive this sampler back in January before the full album dropped in March. I have to say as a music producer, DJ of 25 plus years and most importantly a music lover, Flashbaxx knocks it straight out of the park with this release. The album starts off with “Gold“ a moody deep track that gives you a hint of where we are going on this journey. Next up is “Madison“ and “Movin On'”, both deep quality tracks that have a Zero 7 type vibe. Flashbaxx is a deeper track with the soulful vibe of “So Close to Midnight” a low slung gem with just enough piano and movement to grab the soul. Nice change of pace with the track “We Just Listen to It” that is a straight up house track. My favorite track on this EP is the deep and catchy “Something To Believe”, a collaboration with Tanja Proessler & Christoph Matyascheck. I love Tanja’s vocal and the deep grooving bass line. I listened to this album many, many times over several months, it truly is the real deal. Check out the full album by clicking the link below.
Flashbaxx – Something to Believe – Plusquam Chillout
(click link to listen)
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David Last – Early LP – Mesa Recordings
I was actually amazed to find this buried in my inbox. Mesa Recordings brings an incredible album with David Last’s “Early” LP. This album is a refined production beyond the world of dance music. It’s varied, textured, deep, ambient and yet soulful and restrained. There is truly not a bad track in the bunch! David starts the journey off with “Night Loop” an ambient sub tinged tune with spacey restrained middle eastern sytar sounds. Next up is the deep groover “Honey Version”, a low slung house number with a great progression and restraint. Track #3 “Lolo” is a beautiful low and slow break beat type groove track with a bit of Rhodes piano played sparingly, it’s amazing! My favorite track, “Weird Pleasure” is a low slung track with just enough techno jack vibe that I played it over and over again. Another stand out is “Sunspots” with its catchy key progression and pixie type female vocal. Every aspiring producer should pay very close attention to this album. It shows that you can have electronic music with variation, experimentation, and originality.
David Last – Early LP – Mesa Recording
(click link to listen)
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Colo – UR – Ki-Records
Colo, aka Nick Smith and Ben Corr, craft an incredible album with their “UR” LP on Ki Records. This 10 track gem is both cohesive and varied in sound and vibe. Definitely an album that can be listened to over and over by anyone looking for deeper, non-traditional sounds of electronic music. Some stand outs are “Holiday” a low slung number that starts the album off and was released as a 7″ single back in December with an incredible Cristian Löffler remix. “Take Mine” is a deep vibe track with a great spacey build up leaving you wanting more. “Doorframe” is an amazing less is more track that fills the frequency and space with serious restrained emotion. Love “The View From Nowhere” with its simple percussion, nice subtle key progression and vocal that’s not over done. Another stand out is “UR” a chill out or downtempo type track. As always I recommend listening to the whole album in the order it was meant to be heard so you get the full experience. I am seriously looking forward to what Colo have in store for us next.
(click link to listen)
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System of Survival – I Mean EP – Bpitch Control
The legendary Bpitch Control brings us “System of Survival – I Mean” EP. This great 7 track EP is full of soulful catchy tracks on the deeper dance side of things. Some stand-outs for me are “Family Ring”, a deep grooving track with a bit of funk that we played on Subdivisions Global Radio Show #105 back in January. Love the bassline and catchy feel-good vocal of “Crash What'” (Miguel Campbell & Matt Hughes Remix), this is a serious groover. You can’t go wrong with “King of Beat”, a minimal low slung track great for just listening or an early track in any DJ set.
System of Survival – I Mean EP – Bpitch Control
(click link to listen)
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DJ 3000 – Besa LP – Motech
Detroits DJ 3000’s “Besa” LP on Motech is a serious treat for any Techno or House DJ/Producer. It’s not often we receive an album that’s more dancentric in structure but soulful and varied in nature. The album kicks off with “Indigo”, a deeper latin flavored track that has the Detroit vibe and movement I love so much. Another gem is “Patron” which starts off right away with the catchy synth and melody that gets me every time. Gotta love “Burough & Beer” a serious Detroit techno track we played on Subdivisions Global Radio Show #107 back in February. The chilled flamanco vibe on “Close your Eyes” is fantastic. DJ 3000 definitely reminds us why Detroit is the musical mecca!
(click link to listen)
