BEST OF ELECTRO - WEEK 15 2014

ULTRA and SXSW are over and now it's just a string of festivals that KURT is actually going to. HELL YEAH. It started last weekend. I went up to Serenity Gathering in Santa Barbara and watched The Polish Ambassador DJ on the cabin from Friday the 13th (yeah, literally). And the next two weekends are the Dynasty in the Desert, the Polo Prince, The Goldenvoice Gal, COACHELLLLLLLA. Coachella holds a very important place in my heart and my campsite crew will be 150+ so come out and rage w/ TGV. But if you know me in real life and deaf about Coachella then you're sorta fucked. It's gonna be pretty much the only thing I speak about until next Thursday when i'm in the desert setting up a tent.

Hahahaha whatever i write next week won't even make sense. It'll just be the mad ramblings of a man with Coachella on the brain. :) Life ain't so bad.

GALANTIS - REVOLUTION

Galantis are very good at what they do -- making big ass emotional progressive house songs that will make festival crowds hold their arms up and sing along. Two veterans of dance music, Christian Karlson of Miike Snow and Linus Eklow aka Style of Eye, make super calculated tracks to "make summa dat Calvin Harris money." Their first track, "Raveheart," was rad as fuck and was some of the hardest hitting electro rave shit 2012 had ever heard. When I see them at Coachella and hold my arms up and sing along, they better throw "Raveheart" in as a palate cleanser. Just sayin'. If they do, all will be forgiven.

BOY OH BOY (TWRK EDIT)

Why touch a classic? This is good too, but it's kind of like eating In & Out when you could have an epic jalapeño encrusted black and blue bacon cheese burger straight off Diplo's backyard grill, prepared by the finest of chefs of Jamaica and served to you by the world's most beautiful women who have sex with you while you eat. But like, In & Out is dope too.

GUSGUS - CROSSFADE

This track is dope. Like a modern Bauhaus, equal parts gloom and glam, but with 2014 production levels. I can't wait to hear more from GusGus and see where these guys go. This is a fascinating sound that I can't believe we haven't heard yet. Joy Division is dope, yo. Glad to hear ppl making cool shit agree.

BOYS NOIZE - PUSH EM UP (SALVA REMIX)

I have no idea why you care so much about the first time I heard a song, but if you REALLY want to know I'll tell you. I first heard this song way way way back at THANKSGIVING when Salva dropped it on the 4 All Tour with Nadastrom and Sinden at Sound in LA. I wilded out then and I'm wilding out now. "Salva Boys Noize REMIX!" I screeched, as the song played for its first time (ever?).  Take the best track on that new Boys Noize EP (with all of its hip hop influences) and give it to Salva to rip the trap out of it and blow it up into an even huger track.

LINDSTROM - GRAND IDEAS

I missed Lindstrom in LA the other night and I am very upset about it. It's mostly because I don't have any money and writing for BitCandy ain't payin' the concert bills, yknowwhatimean? The last time he was in LA I had to sell my ticket on CraigsList cause I was too drunk to drive and I tried skateboarding there, but just ended up dropping and smashing my iPhone screen. I don't even know how to describe the type of music that Lindstrom makes…? Sweeping? Minimal? Tension and Release? I don't know but it's dope and listen to it anyways even though I can't explain why. If you like it, then pat yourself on the back. If you don't, then sorry.

CHROME SPARKS - GODDESS

Chrome Sparks is pretty special. He make beautiful, unpretentious future bass that has so much heart and emotion. Chrome Sparks live is ALSO a special thing. He's got a couple of dudes playing with him and they all DEF know what they are doing. Psyched that he has a new EP coming out… psyched that he's playing Coachella…. that just got leaked right here on this track's soundcloud page… lol.

DIRTY VEGAS - LET THE NIGHT (ALEX BERTI & MARION LIRA RADIO EDIT)

Some big fun festival electro. Soaring vocals, rave synths. This ended up on my queue and I guess is also an a Beatport Remix Contest. I have no specific reason to root for it except that I like it. But like let's champion it. Prove a point about remix contests and choosing a side and committing. Let's work together and have this one win? Did you vote yet? Yeah me neither. But I WILL, right? Yeah!

TIGA VS. AUDION - FEVER

Goddamn, can Tiga and Audion just become the dark techno supergroup they are destined to be? Between this and "Let's Go Dancing," these guys are CRUSHING it together. I mean, they are dope apart too, I guess, but I'm all for keeping on w/ collaborations that WORK, and these WORK. Coachella artist alert w/ Tiga. Let's get fucking weird.

FIGURE - BEAST MODE FEAT. DEL THE FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN (VIP)

Gotta give credit where credit is due. When a track ain't your shit but still makes you get up, that's a good fucking track right there. These sounds ain't the type of sounds that bring pleasure to my ears. Part Dubstep, part Hard Electro -- it works here. I think 'cause of the bomb ass rhythm going on. This track just straight up fucking bangs. Del's vocals pump this already pumped up song to infinity and I love it.

LAIDBACK LUKE & D.O.D. - FLASHING LIGHTS

Laidback Luke is a hero. You know that, right? He's the only dude on the main stage circuit that challenges himself production wise and DJ wise every goddamn gig. Those rolling drums over some Melbourne bounce, I'm in fucking heaven.  The man who just had a baby is still hustling like a 23 year old. He doesn't need to hustle that hard any more and he gets respect points X 10,000 for doing it anyways. I just wish this was longer than a preview. 1:49 ain't shit. Oh well, just gotta see LBL somewhere this summer, then! Life is so hard.

EPROM - MACHINE SKIN

Fuck yes, EPROM makes freak music. Part hip hop beats music, part Aphex Twin dark electronic shit. This track hits you hard as hell and is gone in a flash. 1:48 is everything. Weird how shit works sometimes, right? Whatever, I'll just listen again and again and again.

THE EMPEROR MACHINE- RMI IS ALL I WANT (EROL ALKAN'S EXTENDED REMIX)

I will never not post a new Erol Alkan track. That would be sacrilege. Respect your personal Gods. Especially the ones that make epic builds that combine dark techno and psych, 'cause it's not like anyone other than Erol is doing that. "No new Gods." - Religious Drake.

DISCIPLES - CATWALK (BOT & ASTRONOMAR REMIX)

Bot & Astronomar are the shit, and together (alongside Neoteric) run Main Course. Main Course has put out way too much good music all for free. These dudes are super nice and genuine, while simultaneously making some of the best, weirdest sounds in dance music. I could listen to the rolling drum on this track for days.

Astronomar will be playing the next Soundbleed party (my comedy dance party talk show rave) on 5/14. It's gonna be the best fucking party that LA has in May.

KURT! 

About Kurt Kroeber

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.