Browsing Tag

Alt EDM

Elevated Focusion reanimated the 90s rave scene in his trippy industrial electro-pop anthem, Disco Devil

Posted on 3 October 2024

Elevated Focusion electrified the middle ground between Deadmau5 and Lords of Acid in his alt-electronica anthem, Disco Devil, which features Dime De San and closes his eclectically epic LP, Dark Nights.

With endless transgressions in style, tone and momentum, the synthesis of EDM, electronic rock and industrial pop reanimates the hedonistic euphoria of the 90s rave scene with dark beats, demonic drops, and devilishly dualistic female vox which deliver Shiny Toy Guns-esque euphony in one breath and scathing fury in the next.

Elevated Focusion’s ability to seduce the rhythmic pulses and create dancefloor-worthy anthems follows early exposure to the NY rave scene and an era of experimentation in his earlier project, Johnny Rhythms. In 2023, the Elevated Focusion moniker was born, followed by the eponymous collaborative LP, which deserved to be as revered as the Judgement Night soundtrack, Peeping Tom’s self-titled release and Chase and Status’ No More Idols LP.

Stream the Dark Nights LP, which hit the airwaves on September 20th, via Spotify now.

Connect with Elevated Focusion on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

GrainyPastel – Ovrdone: Kaleidoscopically Euphoric EDM

Posted on 19 December 2022

The Oklahoma-hailing independent music producer, GrainyPastel, siphoned euphoria through his latest entrancing EDM earworm, Ovrdone. The jazzed-up hip-house instrumental hit flexes its polyphonic charm as the snares meet the synths to spill a kaleidoscope of polished colour that will brighten any mood in just one hit.

His ambition and drive to spread the love through his high vibe productions sonically shines through in the transcendently electric feat of electronica, which refuses to colour inside the lines of an electronic sub-genre. You’d be incredibly hard-pressed to find another electronica producer with a more vibrant sonic signature. When he’s not crafting floor-fillers and dopamine-spillers, he is often found dabbling in other genres, from cinematic scores to jazz ensembles to pop hits.

Ovrdone was officially released on December 2nd; it is now available to stream on YouTube.

Stay up to date with all the latest releases from GrainyPastel by following him on Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Niadomi has released her theatrical, hyper pop single, The Beast and the Grind.

Posted on 14 September 2021

Just when I was starting to think that I had heard it all, alternative artist Niadomi appeared on our radar with her theatrical, hyper pop single, The Beast and the Grind.

With her operatic vocals that verse fantastical, poetic lyrics meeting the happy hardcore-style beats, I now know how Emilie Autumn would sound if Dune remixed one of her archaically fierce singles. The Beast and the Grind may not be your average earworm, but that doesn’t remove its infectious potential; you can’t help being hyped by the aural presence of Niadomi. We can’t wait to hear what follows this seminal release.

Check out the official lyric video to The Beast and the Grind via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Belly has dropped another feat of riotous dance-pop with her sophomore single ‘Taking What I Want’.

Posted on 14 May 2021
https://soundcloud.com/iambelly/taking-what-i-want

After the success of her dance-pop debut, up and coming alternative artist Belly is here with her entrancingly riotous pop hip hop anthem, ‘Taking What I Want’,

With similarities to Neuroticfish’s industrial-electronica production style mixed with nods to the fearless icon, Lauryn Hill, Taking What I Want is an act of filthy unapologetic aural rebellion. Fleeting reminiscences may be there, but everything about Belly feels authentically candid. From her constraint-less sonic style to the galvanising energy she brings vocally to the playfully antagonising vocals.

Even if Taking What I Want was a downtempo track, it would have still left me stoked for finding such a charismatic punk-pop-hip-hop pioneer. Taking What I Want is the antithesis of plastic pop.

You can check out Taking What I Want for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pete Jackson proves we’re all in this together with their entrancing Alt Darkwave hit “MASS HOUSE ARREST”

Posted on 16 October 2020
https://soundcloud.com/pete-jackson/mass-house-arrest?ref=clipboard

Delectably dark, yet euphorically rousing, MASS HOUSE ARREST by Sheffield-based artist and producer Pete Jackson is the feel-good Dance drop we never knew we needed.

Listening to high-energy tracks may be a bitter-sweet experience now, given that nightclubs are inaccessible, but you can class MASS HOUSE ARREST as a refreshing exception.

Starting out with a steady minimalistic beat, the track gently eases you into the momentum, only after ensuring you’ve had a suitable hit of catharsis. Then, the track amasses scuzzy distortion as it gains traction and the sound of Pete Jackson’s crunching guitar tones start to coalesce. Mid-way through the extended mix, the Dark Pop vocals work their way in, any fans of And One, Apoptygma Berzerk and Covenant will definitely approve.

I genuinely don’t know where my sanity would be if it wasn’t for artists such as Pete Jackson who are solidifying the culture bubble which protects the real fans of art, music and culture.

You can check out MASS HOUSE ARREST for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aeropryme – Closer: Bass-Driven Retro Wave

Posted on 2 October 2020

The fact that dancefloors are inaccessible right now got a whole lot sadder after we heard the colossal new drop “Closer” from up and coming artist Aeropryme.

The entrancingly bass-driven feat of retro wave threw us right back to the time when Pendulum was dominating the airwaves, while simultaneously unravelling as an ecstasy-dripping treat for any fans of the Human League.

Yet, you’ve never heard anything quite like Closer, with pops of 80s nostalgia, a progressive nature from start to finish and the masterful production skills of Pandora Nightz, it’s an unforgettable mix that you’ll want to give repeat attention to.

You can check out Aeropryme’s track which dropped on September 26th for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Fox at Night serves up playful polyphonic nostalgia with “Childhood”

Posted on 10 September 2020
https://open.spotify.com/album/7GkGMoGBU3qFyiTBNt757D

Scottish-born, Madrid-based EDM artist and producer The Fox at Night (Andrew Macfarlane) has prepared 5-minutes of solid aural ingenuity for you to revel in with their nostalgically sweet single “Childhood”.

The playful polyphonic tones make it all too easy to immerse yourselves in the authentically enticing mix which picks up momentum at an incredibly teasing pace. Mid-way through the track, you’ll be in the midst of a trancey yet delicately soulful soundscape which boasts elements of Progressive House, but it will be easier to tell you that you’ve never quite heard anything like this before.

You may need a moment or two to realign your rhythmic pulses once Childhood has faded to a close.

You can check out Childhood for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London singer Rea can’t control her love on ”You”

Posted on 19 June 2020

You get the feeling deep in your bones and you just know it’s right. You feel like a teenager again and can’t stop thinking about them. Breathing properly can be hard sometimes and you pinch yourself. Is this actually real?

Rea is a quality singer from the UK and she effortlessly shows her emotions on ”You’‘. Formally from the Midlands, she is now based in buzzing London where she can stay close to all the best venues. Signed to Streets Music, I feel like we are witnessing a future star that is just getting started. Her voice is majestic and I can’t stop listening to her. The vocals are so clear and the love story is so relevant. The feeling of meeting someone that makes your heart flutter like a happy bird is a sight to behold.

Classically trained from a young age in piano, cello and clarinet, and vocals, this is one impressive resume. Add poetry to that list too. Influenced by Emeli Sandé and other artists in this genre, Rea strides through impressively to create her own lane in the music industry. This is a huge talent and her pop infused music is on full display with her scintillating performance on ”You”.

Get this new song in your ears right here on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

London’s BR3NZ deals with heartbreak on ”Other Side”

Posted on 7 June 2020

Dealing with earth shattering heartbreak is a soul crushing hit to the stomach that can take days, weeks, months and possibly years to fully rejuvenate from, if at all.

London’s BR3NZ depicts this vivid picture of pain to such a high level here that we all need to a get a stepladder to have a proper look. ”Other Side” is 2020’s ultimate breakup song.

With a flickering start, the smooth buildup takes us to the lyrical beginnings where the story unfolds. BR3NZ sings in a such a cool and mellow manner, each sentence is carefully crafted to have maximum impact. Dealing with memories of an ex-lover that you remember so vividly, with such love and affection can take you back to some great times. However, then you remember that they broke down your body armor and joined you inside. Then, just like that, it’s all gone and now they walk past you like a stranger.

A descriptive storyteller who laces summer beats on a sad song is a sight to behold. BR3NZ gets everything right with his new single ”Other Side” as this bouncy house beat with lo-fi appeal, blends nicely into a edm/ r&b banger that is perfectly made to hold your lover close, this is a warning that constant communication is needed to avoid that spark flaming out suddenly.

Get this single in your ears via his Spotify channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Caribbean Roots and Hard Dance Beats Clash in JP Backhouse’s Viral Worthy Track “OMG”

Posted on 17 March 2020

If it has been a while since you discovered an EDM artist which left you instantly obsessed with their sound, pointing you towards JP Backhouse’s latest Hard Dance mix “OMG” would lead you in exactly the right direction.

The Curacao-born artist used the influence of Caribbean and Latin Rhythms in their hard and driving mix which would melt the minds and arrest the bodies of anyone lucky enough to be on a dancefloor when it drops.

You’ll also pick up on a few borrowed elements of Hip Hop which infuses even more adrenalizing momentum into the colossal mix. OMG is pretty much the definition of aural insanity. There’s something insanely infectious about the meeting of exotic sunny rhythms and the stylistic European EDM tones. The two genres have never merged quite like this before.

You can check out OMG for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast