Browsing Tag

bass

Realer started the simulation with his bass-driven retro wave hit, Turn Me On Again

Posted on 22 June 2023

The Scottish bassist turned one-man powerhouse Realer started the 80s synth pop simulation in his latest single, Turn Me on Again, which cuts right to the core of our contemporary proclivity to lose ourselves in the dopamine of our favoured procrastination-inspiring time vacuums.

Ingeniously, the reprise of Turn Me on Again can be taken as plugging into the digital domains that are becoming all-consuming, and with the funky 80s pop synthetics at play, it can similarly be deciphered as a cry into the void for a shot of visceralism derived from the real world. It is so easy to tell people to go out and touch grass, but when everyone is too addicted to their phones to venture out and experience verdant pleasures, it’s easier said than done to find connection away from the fake fray of online mediocrity.

Bass solos may not get the rep they deserve in the mainstream consensus, but if anyone has what it takes to advocate for them, it is Realer, with his trailblazing technical rhythms, which disrupt the sticky sweet synths, and are enough to make the most euphoric hits from the Human League sound positively melancholic.

Turn Me on Again is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Evan Veenstra paid homage to the expansive propensities of electric bass on his jazz concept album, featuring the standout soundscape, SANDSTONE

Posted on 26 July 2022

Canadian jazz bassist and composer, Evan Veenstra rocked aphrodisiacal exoticism on the standout single, SANDSTONE, from his 16-track album, BASS. The intuitively experimental album was performed entirely on electric bass; as an exhibition of the seemingly infinite melodic, harmonic, and percussive possibilities.

On paper, BASS could have been the most self-indulgent concept album in the ether. In its vibrant propensity, it carries a sense of spirituality, as though the complex riffs and meditative quiescence were composed in the 5th dimension. How he pulled the blissful accordance of classical Spanish guitar tones out of a bass guitar will always be beyond me.

BASS was officially released on June 26th; hear it here.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Life Is Mysterious: Men From Venus emerge with a fascinating planetary snapshot of current life with ‘Nights of Memories’

Posted on 11 April 2021

Taken off their latest spacey five-track EP called ‘Midnight Ruse‘, Men From Venus return from another world beyond, with the new single about processing the current state of mind on ‘Nights of Memories’.

Men From Venus are a two-piece duo from England who fuse wonderful guitar, bass, keys and synthesizer soundscapes, into a washing wave that takes you up high above all, so you can see yourself a bit clearer than before, as your toxins are cleaned out to make way for the future.

They morph a mysterious sound together that has you so intrigued, your senses look up above and wonder when it will all make sense, if at all.

Their creativity has you struck in your mind, as the underground experience somehow lifts you into thinking deeper, their mixture of music has you wondering intently and pondering your next move, in this strange but fascinating galaxy.

‘Nights of Memories‘ from England’s Men From Venus, is a stunning experience that captures how strange the world is and how you have to stay awake longer sometimes, to build up your strength so you can face the darkness and all its scary unpredictability.

Stream this new track on Spotify and see more on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

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

Mehki Raine – Riot: Adrenalizing Bass-Driven Hip Hop Infused with Punk Attitude

Posted on 5 August 2020

https://soundcloud.com/mehkiraine/riot-prod-fish

Breaking Alt Hip Hop artist Mehki Raine infused plenty of Punk attitude into their latest release “Riot”. The experimental release was written way before the riots and protests and it may leave you with the suspicion that Mehki Raine uses a crystal ball for his lyrical inspiration. The US artist perfectly captures the angst, the frustration, and the impatience for radical change to happen.

Riot which was produced by Fish kicks off with a nostalgic Jazz-laden intro before seamlessly sliding into a bass-driven feat of adrenalizing EDM Hip Hop. Any fans of Saul Williams definitely won’t want to hang around hitting play on Riot. If you weren’t already in the mood to crush the oppressive structures which hold together our fragile society, you will be once Riot hits its monumental peak.

You can check out Mehki Raine’s single Riot for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

WinnTheProducer shreds the speaker box with unofficial remix of Sabrina Carpenter’s single “Why”

Posted on 16 July 2020

https://soundcloud.com/winntheproducer/why

WinnTheProducer is a brand new producer on the music scene and he drops his debut effort with the remix of Sabrina Carpenter’s stunningly beautiful single “Why“. This puts you in the mood for summer and it is very well received.

This unofficial remix features heavy electronic bass riffs with out of this world synths that is sure to get your ears listening intently and with vigor. I love what Winn has done with this already fantastic track. He has added a few fabulous layers that culminates in this track hitting the nail on the head.

“Why” from WinnTheProducer is a fine remix of Sabrina Carpenter’s wonderful song and it raises the roof during this wild 2020 time. Winn majestically wonders in behind the decks and shreds in to make sure that this is an absolute winner. He achieves his target with a electronic-filled track that has spectacular results- just in time for summer parties. Get your swimming outfit ready and turn this one up.

Stream this new song right here on Winn’s Soundcloud page now.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Altared Sounds – Grow the Bones: Eerily Transcendent Downtempo Experimental Electronica.

Posted on 8 May 2020

US-based artist and producer Altared Sounds made an unforgettable debut with their downtempo psychedelia-laced experimental electronica album “Red Wing”.

In a time when our physical freedom is limited, tracks such as “Grow the Bones” are more essential than ever. The consciousness-consuming absolving nature of the single offers all the adventurous mental stimulation you could possibly ask for.

With slightly eerie tones creeping into the mix, Grow the Bones takes you on a very different aural trip to most electronica. The sheer ingenuity thrown into the mix compels you to immerse yourself deeper with each progression. Under Altared Sounds’ deft orchestration, the energy, tone and momentum of the entrancing mix to transpose seamlessly throughout the epic 7-minute duration.

If David Lynch was asked to create a Resident Evil soundtrack, I have the feeling that it would sound fairly similar to the unpredictably mesmeric soundscape which is Grow the Bones.

You can check out Altared Sounds’ single Grow the Bones along with the rest of their album from 8^th of May 2020 via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Defragz – Cold Winter featuring Messinian: Entrancingly Caustic EDM Trap

Posted on 4 April 2020

With Rap bars which make Xzibit sound positively harmonic and driving bass-soaked beats which will give your headphones a run for their money, Defragz latest track Cold Winter featuring Messinian is an intensely arrestive unmissable feat of EDM Trap.

Despite the fiercely pulsating infusion of bass, locking into the rhythm of this harsh caustic Dubstep track is all too easy. The entrancing mix hooks you in through a melodic Hip Hop prelude before amping up the insanity in this monster of a drop. From there on out, you’re at the mercy of Defragz’s devilish ingenuity.

Cold Winter may be a fairly savage mix, but Defragz infused plenty of euphoric connectable soul, and that’s just one of the alchemic ways he offered authenticity through this deftly polished track.

You can check out Defragz’s latest single which was released on March 20^th through Bass Collective Records yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Katrame – Mind At Stake: Holy fire and sticky desire!

Posted on 28 February 2020

Straight out of the gate, Katrame prove that they are rule breakers with their latest release “Mind At Stake”. It’s dangerous from the get go, with an intricate drum syncopation, electronic murky baselines, and a slow, grinding top line melody that is impossible to ignore. The ebb and flow of the track feels like auditory fermentation. They deliberately give nothing away before the right time and you are transported, then seeped in a strange otherworldliness of their own clever design.

Like enjoying a clear sunny day and all that it has to offer and then walking through a door, only to be confronted with contrasting dark, dirty pleasures, ‘Mind At Stake’ transports you imperceptibly from pure almost holy reverence to sacrilege and sinful, sticky desire.

Michalis Papoulakos (vocals, beats, sytnths), Nasso Frontistis (bass, vocals), and Nikos Probonas (Guitar, synth, vocals) form the dynamic musical trio from Athens that is KATRAME and they are definitely a band to watch out for. They are well versed in suspense and intrigue and are able to place these into a musical context that is sure to move you.

Check out “Mind At Stake” on Spotify

Review by Susan Harriott.

It’sDub! – Devil Eyes: Mind-Bending Bass-Driven Alt EDM Hip Hop

Posted on 21 December 2019

There’s trippy Hip Hop, and there are mind-bending hits such as It’s Dub!’s latest single “Devil Eyes (Crash)”. Part Trap, part bass-driven EDM, the mix acts as a testament to both the US artist’s ingenuity and to their production talent.

The tonality shifts from creeping and ethereal to caustic and reverberant throughout the mix. But one thing which remains a constant is the amount of energy which has been projected into Devil Eyes which comes with plenty of rhythmic grind.

I’m fairly certain that no one who is lucky enough to stumble across Devil Eyes will be able to resist cranking up the volume and letting the violent lashings of bass leave their synapses rearranged. While it’s hard to find stark reminiscences to another artist’s in Devil Eyes, It’sDub!’s experimental approach could easily be put in the same league as Mike Patton’s.

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

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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