A dose of alternative #4

Well guys, just back from my holiday from the Pacific Islands, didn't really go to plan if am honest, what was supposed to be a lovely relaxing holiday took a turn for the worst after me and my friends and family went sky diving over a tropical paradise and got kidnapped by pirates as soon as we landed. Basically long story short I broke out and saved most my friends and family and returned home to have Ubisoft make a family friendly version of my adventure...

Also University is a waste of time unless you want to learn about the fundamental differences of Idealism and Realism and how Pragmatism kicks ass... overall I've been a angry man recently and needed some music to chill out and what best to soothe the soul that some acoustic singer/songwriter songs. So here's a round up of some of the best Scottish stuff I could find!

Anna Sweeney – I was lucky enough to be given a insight into Anna Sweeney's EP “Oh Gosh Darnit” before its release and knew it was destined for big things and looking into the bottom of my bottle of Tequila right now as it were a crystal ball I was right. Hailing from Ayr she has been busy travelling Scotland with her band and has been received with great acclaim up and down the country! Did I forget to mention she's also only 18? Sincere lyrics and upbeat rhythms is enough to take the edge of anyone's shitty day.

Aaron Fyfe – So would you believe this guy used to be my boss back when we were charity Fundraisers's? Aaron Fyfe's debute EP “Closer to You” is a beautiful collection of songs that vary in several different styles. With a debut album due sometime in early 2013 there's not better time to catch up on the awesome talent that is Aaron Fyfe. Last time I talked to him he had somewhere in the line of 20 Gigs in March alone so am sure there will be plenty of chances to catch him live!

He doesn't have SoundCloud so you can check out his Facebook here !

Mike Nisbet – Nominated for the Scottish Alternative Music Awards back in 2012 Mike Nisbet's album “Vagrant” is truly a phenomenal piece of work, inspired by his life on the road when living between Glasgow and London and is enough to take anyone away from the this otherwise shitty Rothschild ruled world and the façade of governments (the activist in me). There's been plenty of gigs around the country from this gent and continues to tour this march where you will be able to catch him in both Inverness and Glasgow as well as other cities and towns.

Amber Wilson – Currently the touring session vocalist for Bombay Bicycle Club her solo career has seen the last duel single release back in 2011 which consisted of the tracks “Raise the Alarm” and “An Affirmation”. The track "Raise the Alarm" in particular has got a excellent vibe about it and makes you wonder how this stuff doesn't get more credit!     

Eugene Twist - Quoted straight from Vic Galloway, "Unbelievably accomplished and inspired, defiantly one of my tips for 2012". Eugene Twist has been building some serious momentum with his album "The Boy who had Everything" released back in 2012. It is a fantastic mix of Country, Blues, Rock, Latin, 1920's Roaring Twenties and Mexican Gunslinger in a shoot out.... If you think am being ridiculous then give him a listen and you'll see what I mean! With some new tracks on the way there no better time to catch up on the awesome piece of work that is "The Boy Who Had Everything".  

Eugene doesn't have a Sound Cloud so you can find him on Facebook here

That's all for now folks! Look forward to A dose of Alternative #5 at a blog near you soon! x

Serving Up Some Justice #13

Now that's got your attention read the post.

Hey there, if your new to this go back and look at the other S.U.S.J posts because I haven't got the patience to explain what happens here again... and I need to pee but I just got comfy plus this laptop is a bugger to put down in this room, ever since it was given a womanly makeover there's no desk space just pointless expensive lamps and bowls. Then again the lamps have come in handy ever since my dad decided it would be a fun idea to install coloured L.E.D lights into the main light sockets. Blue off course being the most prominent of them which makes me feel like I'm sleeping in a severely drug abused Co Op toilet or the end of a Guy Ritchie movie. Anywhore I have a few issues, one being I share too many personal thoughts as the previous exchange will suggest and the other being I don't make enough posts with musical content. I'm prepared to change one of those, I'll give you a clue.. it's the second one.

So here comes the part where I tell you what I've been listening to and why you should too.

As a lot of house/vibes artists have begun to open to the masses and commercialize themselves its been a sort of cross your fingers and hope for the best situation every time you take a listen to somebodies latest track. My opinion is as long as the content is true to the artist then I'm happy to open my ears to it, who cares if everyone is listening to the same thing. If a few commercial house tracks is what it takes to enlighten some Flo Rida fans to world of hard working musicians and producers then so be it. With that in mind..

Brand new Karma Kid. I haven't managed to catch the name of the female vocalist in this but it's perfect. It's this brilliant combination that makes this track accessible to both those who have learnt to love Karma Kids elegant chimes and drums and those who might have vagina's.



Cannot like this dude anymore! Nemi Alexi a.k.a Ghetto Tronic a.k.a STARS is one of the most consistent producers I know, he's been underated or a long time and it's good to see his STARS project is starting to pick up some much needed attention from the likes of Radio 1 DJ Mista Jam. This remix is a testament to his variation in production styles.



Someone to keep a very close eye on is Second City. First got to them when they were low on follows, but with a couple of Radio 1 plays and YouTube features they've managed to step up their social presence. I don't think it will be long before the name blows up.



The Mord is back. I thought I'd be disappointed but I wasn't. You can hate electro all you want but you can't dislike a Mord melody in a cheery tune like this. The vocal cuts are just phenomenal.



Polymath just has it. No messing, thrashing acid plucking lectro licking housey swirling madness like this just doesn't go a miss. Canufeelit ... yes Polymath we can.



Really want this track. Such a killer to play live. The 'ghost' sound and the bleeps get me everytime!



Here's something from Lucky Cub a.k.a Louis Buick ex Count Clockwork. Meaty remix of that catchy number from the guy that acts and sings and raps and shit. Make sure you catch his debut live performance at our live electronic night on the 23rd of February.



Was going to post another Stimming track when I came across this remix from Gramatik which I wasn't aware of until now! I love 'Funkworm' and I've been known to play Gramatik tracks on repeat so to hear this was a nice treat.



Really liking Slap In The Bass lately, they've become a regular occurance in my sets.





Keeping up the energy heres something bouncey from Mele.



Before you leave, make sure if you live in Scotland you make a trip along to our Live Electronic Night on the 23rd. We've got live sets from some of the best artists in the land including We See Aliens, Lucky Cub, Esbjerg and Dounreay Beach Party.

Ok.. you can leave now.

[Free House Music] So Standard

Just discovered this guy on Soundcloud, the name's about a few months old and he only has around 16 followers. I'm surprised the name hasn't blown up already. Anyway So Standard has that feel good UK Bass House vibes going on and every song of his available for free download so grab it now!







So Standard
Soundcloud
Facebook
Twitter

JNS Live Electronic Night @ The Eagle

Continuing on with our New Years resolution (''doing something new'') we thought a wee change up was in order. As many of you who read the blog will know we regularly run club nights at our favourite nightclub Karma Lounge, and I'd like to make clear that we are still doing that! However this February we're switching it up with our very own LIVE electronic night at ones of the cities newest music venues.

So here's the deal - NO DJ'S will be playing, we will be having a strict no deck policy on this night. This is strictly live electronic music right down to the residents and for your entertainment we want to make things exciting by making sure each of the acts involved gives you as unique experience as possible. No set the same.

Being a local I know many of you electronic music fans won't have been to many nights upstairs at The Eagle yet. If you haven't been its a very small venue (cosy might be the word), good sound system and decent priced drinks.

This being the first out of potentially many more live nights that we'll choose to host we wanted to bring you thee best live acts from the Highlands. So we proudly present the following four acts -

WE SEE ALIENS

It's very rare We See Aliens venture onto the stage to perform nowadays. The duo well known for their live setup are looking to get on the go again. By far the most intricate live setup I have seen in the flesh with the only thing stopping you from moving your feet would be the urge to stare in awe as the music unfolds and develops in front of you. This is because there is no softsynths involved in a Wee See Aliens set, only hardware. ''All the drums sounds used in the live set are hits from my own collection of analogue drum machines' says Robbie Dunsmore, one half of the Inverness duo.

Although rare appearances are made they know how to pick them, supporting the likes of Fake Blood, Erol Alkan, SLAM, Tom Middleton, Altern 8 and The Japanese Popstars they haven't been messing about.

LUCKY CUB

As part of the late 'Count Clockwork' (They're not dead, just separated) , Louis as he is known to his friends has continued producing under the re born alias Lucky Cub. In his short time under the fur he's already gained the support of Radio 1 DJ Ally McCrae - a play which had me personally letting Louis know at 1am in the morning that his tune 'Zee' was receiving radio 1 air time to his delighted shock - also heavy backing from John Roman and love from names like Etnik, Modek and Dem Slackers has made the Cub a household name and someone to keep an eye on for the future. This will be Lucky Cubs debut performance so definitely not one to be missed!

Lucky Cub on Soundcloud

ESBJERG

A man who likes to use his humorous whit to invert facewear such as shades, John Lees a.k.a Esbjerg is the newest addition to the Justice Never Sleeps family of residents having joined our last line up supporting Ado at Karma Lounge. Esbjerg however is not just any resident DJ, having already played the likes of Sub Club, 520, Buff Club and supporting Polymath, Clouds and Funk D'Void john has been churning out some of the best techno tunes of late and his new developing live set is something to keep a close eye on. Again we got ourselves a fresh one as this is Esbjergs debut 'live' performance.

Esbjerg on Soundcloud

DOUNREAY BEACH PARTY

A side project from the Highlands, this new alias remains scarce with its background story although recently uncovered in the Highland News it's known to be one half of electro duo 'Them & Us' (And incredibly handsome I hear). However those who believe this to remotely be within the same genre are completely wrong - instead DBP takes a completely new approach at electronic vibes - laid back and without much care to the laws of conventional musical construction. Still in it's early days there is still much to come from the contaminated party go-er. Having debuted his live set at Hootananny's Digital Love night DBP is building pace, slowly.

Dounreay Beach Party on Soundcloud

So there you have it. If that hasn't sold it to you then maybe your just a nazi or boring ass fartface.

Further details regarding ticket pricing, time of entry and closing will be released closer to the time.

Justice Never Sleeps LIVE on Soundclash Sessions

Well now that's the busiest time of year over we begin a new one fresh. We like fresh starts, mostly because we haven't got the attention span to finish something we started.

Part of our new years resolution is to do something different. The term 'different' loosely used to describe a change from writing and clubbing to live performances, not 'different' as in we'll be selling meth to kids (addicted to Breaking Bad right now, seriously if you haven't seen it start now!). More on this will be revealed next week when we let you all know about our newest event. However next Friday (18th Jan) we'll be stealing the show at Karma for the Soundclash Sessions as part of the Underground Music Project. If your not familiar with the sessions then find a smaller rock to live under because your missing important shit. It's a live stream from the Karma Lounge in Inverness with a selection of varying DJ's playing lengthy sets from techno, house to hip hop. Each week the line up is changed and someone else takes the hosting position. Next Friday Justice Never Sleeps will take over with sets from residents Boomshank Redemption, Retrend and Mark Mackenzie.

If you need an example of how the show works they now have recordings of the shows on YouTube to watch back whenever. (Cameras start about 2 minutes in)

So make sure you have that down in your little diary. Whether your warming up for drinks or spending your friday night indoors tune in. If not Karma Lounge is open all night for drinks, chat and music.

Soundclash Sessions Facebook

Soundclash Sessions Twitter

Underground Project Live Stream Link

The Rox 'Dope EP' [Crux Records]

Got to admit I haven't been on top of our inbox for a while, juggling a number of production alias's means I have to jump between sign ins and that's just too much effort for a 'losing faith in this' blogger like myself.
Anywhore after a quick rake through there was a number of releases that stood out for me. First being this release on Crux Records by The Rox.

For me the best track is the roeVy remix, but that said the rest are all solid techno tracks.

''

The Rox rock! After a very successful remix of Ostblockschlampen on Crux, The Rox are back debuting their EP Dope!  A monster of an EP with 3 classy originals and 2 of the best remixes we have heard in awhile. The EP ranges from future techno to pumping electro w/ a bit of a tech house nod. The title track Dope opens the EP with obsessive percussions and chopped voices, the bassline is rough and conceived for big venues complimented by an unexpected piano filled melodic break at the end.  U, Me & Chopper is a dreamy yet smooth take on house with a tropical flare and percussive attitude. In the final track XL is sexy lil number that is all about the arpeggio. The remixes are true gems on this EP. We have the mighty American duo roeVy dropping a whipping and madly driven techno tune followed by the wonder boy Destrox with a hectic take on the original with electrified horns over a techno / electro backdrop!''

Whipping up support from the likes of Steve Aoki, Shinichi Osowa and Blatta & Inesha it surely can't be a miss.

To celebrate the release they have also released this exclusive mixtape featuring some of the best names in electro techno.

[Tracks] Best Track of the Year?

What is the best tune of the year? Gut instinct and popular opinion would say Julio Bashmore's Au Seve, which has been played about 70 billion times in clubs and parties all over the world since it's release. However, I want to pick something else.

There are many contenders; Claptone - Cream, Clouds - Consciousness, and Jamie Jone's remix of Cajeme's timeless classic Percolator are some of the tunes that have been enjoying repeated playback on my CDJ's this season. But that is just scratching the surface, it would take me days to list them all here.

To pin down my favourite, I might just have to go with Duke Dumont's No Money Blues. The Duke has excelled himself this year and has delved into a deep house sound that we didn't really here from him before. He also had a stormer with his The Giver track, with the Tiga remix being a personal fave of mine. Well done Mr Dumont, you are a WINNAR.