Eagles For Hands - Holla *FREE DL*

The vibe

Upfront, uptempo, intelligent future bass. 'Holla' draws on the house and garage beats that have become so influential of late, coupled with dancefloor-devastating synth hooks. Expect to hear Eagles For Hands getting caned by all the main Radio 1 DJs this festival season.

Sounds like

Think Disclosure and you're on the right lines.

Serving suggestion

Perfect for making shapes in the lounge pre-club or on the floor at peak-time. In-car consumption discouraged owing to epic hands-in-air-bugger-not-on-steering-wheel moments.

Did you know?

Eagles For Hands can often be found playing free shows in Brighton…

eaglesforhands.com

Stop.Look.Listen. asks the DJs...

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #16

I was a little slack with the funkier joints this week because of all the house music I was devouring. So with episode 16 of the Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast, I'm looking to put that right.

Expect the usual soulful journey, with a hearty dose of classics this week in the form of re-edits and covers of Blackstreet, Michael Jackson, Leo Sayer, Stevie Wonder and Chaka Khan. 

Enjoy kids, and have a great weekend!

Stop.Look.Listen. Podcast #16 by Sllmusic on Mixcloud

#16 - 8th July 2013

01. Kan Sano - Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Razor n Tape)

[download at SoulBounce]

02. Badbadnotgood - Hedron (Self-Released) [download]

03. Lewis Badwan - A Perfect Yellow (Studio Rockers Promo)

04. Lockah x Taste Tester - U Don't Know Me (Activia Benz Promo)

05. Hanami - Hanami (Finest Ego Promo)

06. Atmosphere - Bob Seger (Rhymesayers Promo)

07. Chet Faker - No Diggity (Self-Released)

[download at RCRDLBL]

08. Michael Jackson - Rock With You (The Reflex Re√ision) (Self-Released) [download]

09. Leo Sayer - Easy To Love (BB Edit) (Self-Released) [download]

10. Stevie Wonder - Higher Ground (scratchandsniff's Extended Re-Rub) (Self-Released) [download]

11. Youngblood Brass Band - Ain't Nobody (Tru Thoughts Promo)

12. Myron & E - Do It Do It Disco (Stones Throw Promo)

13. Basement Freaks - Soul Intoxication (Original Mix) (Jalapeno Promo)

14. Chaquis Maliq - Calling My Shots (Bandcamp)

15. Robin McKelle - Miss You Madly (Doxie / RCA Promo)

16. Tim Dillinger - Say Thank You (Final Mix) (Suxxess Records Promo)

17. Pomrad - Pomslap (Earnest Endeavours Promo) [download]

18. ESTA. - She Needs Me (In More Ways Than 1) (Self-Released)

19. Eagles For Hands - Holla (Self-Released) [download]

20. Danglo - Don't You (WhatNot Promo)

Automixed with Algoriddim Djay for iPad

Style: Standard | Duration: 2.0 seconds | Auto-Sync BPM: OFF | Trigger Before End: 5 seconds

Stop.Look.Listen. Soulful Eivissa 2013 Mix

Over the past ten days I've been working with a host of incredible house labels who've been sending me a truck-load of upfront promos to dig through. After many hours previewing, commenting, downloading and selecting, this has culminated in a 2-hour mix of soulful and deep house tracks I'd tip for big things in Ibiza this summer.

So here it is, a promotional blend for DJs and house-lovers alike searching for the tunes that will be big on the White Isle this year. Featuring brand new fodder from the likes of Atal, Robsoul, King Street, Defected and Toolroom, many of the inclusions are not released for a few weeks yet but are sure to get an airing on many a sun-drenched terrace over the coming months.

Whether you're chilling on the beach, warming up for a night out or a holiday hitting the clubs, there's something for you. Enjoy my pretties!

Stop.Look.Listen. Soulful Eivissa 2013 Mix by Sllmusic on Mixcloud

Soulful Eivissa 2013 Mix

01.   Alton Miller & Rachel Claudio – Rise (Vox Version) (Atal Promo) [Juno]

02.   DJ Wild – Shape U (Rebellion Promo)

03.   Inland Knights – Slummin' It (Robsoul Promo) [Juno]

04.   Soulplate ft Rainy Payne – 1000 Words (Original Mix) (Soulplate Promo) [Juno]

05.   Sean Murray – Hood St (Da Sunlounge Remix) (HuHu Promo) [Juno]

06.   In2Deep – Walk It Off (Original Mix) (Piston Promo) [Juno]

07.   Antonello Ferrari feat. Dawn Tallman – Beautiful View (Antonello Ferrari Main Mix) 

(King Street Promo)

08.   DJ Duke - Someday (Argy Dub Edit) (These Days Promo)

09.   PBR Streetgang feat. Danielle Moore – C With No Name (Futureboogie Promo)

10.   Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs & Eats Everything – Lion, The Lion
(Gerd's Sub-Tech Mix) (Crosstown Rebels Promo)

11.   The Golden Boy – Higher (Original Mix) (HK Promo) [Juno]

12.   Dennis Ferrer feat. Janelle Kroll – Mind Ur Step (Original Mix) (Defected Promo)

13.   Steve Mill feat. Anna Cavazos – Upside Down (Main Mix) (Reel People Promo) [Juno]

14.   Ananda Project – Truth Comes Shining Through (Aki Bergen & Daniel Jaze Back To The 80s Mix) (Nite Grooves Promo)

15.   Carl Parker feat. Ione Mai – I Feel Passion (Alex Whisper Remix) (Tall House Promo)

16.   DJ Sneak – Latin Seoul (Robsoul Promo) [Juno]

17.   Munk – Munkysound (Moullinex Remix) (Gomma Promo) [Juno]

18.   Stefano Esposito – Frog Pond (Lost My Dog Promo)

19.   thatmanmonkz  - The Feeling (Tone Control Promo) [Juno]

20.   Weiss – Baby Talk To Me (Original Mix) (Toolroom Promo)

21.   Just Kiddin – Time, Space & Honey (HK Promo)

Traktor DJ FREE on the App Store (for a limited time)

Bit late to the party this week - apologies peeps.

Anyhow, I just wanted to check in and let y'all know that to mark 5 years of the Apple App Store, those nice people over at Native Instruments are giving away their incredible Traktor DJ apps away for free! Of course if you're already familiar with Traktor, it's an outstanding piece of DJ performance software which needs little introduction.

I've been using the iPad version pretty much constantly since I moved to Australia and have found it really stable (always the biggest worry for a DJ when you move onto a different system or platform). It's not crashed on me once and has some amazing features, the core one being functionality which indexes all the tunes you sync to your device. Then, based on advanced BPM, key, melody and tonality analysis, the software will offer you recommendations of the next best track to queue-up.

There is then the user experience, which has been completely redesigned around the iPad/iPhone user, swapping the traditional 2-deck format for large, touch-controlled waveforms and a wholly simplistic mixer, offering an advanced crossfader which will essentially EQ the whole mix for you (although there is still the option to manually control the lo, mid and top freqs), and a pretty seamless job it does of it too.

Of course, for those purists such as me who would still rather shy away from autosyncing, auto-EQing and dousing the set with cuts and FX, it does leave something to be desired in terms of a physical experience. For all those old-timers, I'm sure many will still agree nothing beats working with physical 1210s or CDJs.

All that said, you can't sniff at this for a freebie given that the apps would normally set you back something in the order of $20, even if it does tempt you to stand there looking lost and gormless as you let the software do all the work.

Thankfully, there are still many things which an algorithm has to learn in terms of building and maintaining a floor. But as an accompanying performance/practise tool to those all-important programming skills and DJ stage presence, Traktor DJ can't be beat.

Go grab it before the price hike! https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/traktor-dj/id592052832?mt=8

native-instruments.com

Ovidio - Reflexiones (Harlum Muziq Remix) (Moulton) *FREE DL*

Another label that's been whetting my tastebuds of late has been San Francisco's Moulton stable.

On this free download from XLR8R, remixer Harlum Muziq knocks-out a hypnotic deep house version of Ovido's 'Reflexiones', a string-heavy, hypnotic and dubby rework.



I'm probably going to get flamed for saying this, but the track features an orchestral sample I've heard a million times before and always adored, but can't for the life of me remember where from. Any ideas from the avid trainspotters out there?

Anyhow, despite XLR8R's editorial team not really feeling the track, I'm loving what by my reckoning would be the perfect soundtrack to any loungy day by the beach this summer. Set padding it certainly is, but the very best kind in terms of the track's atmospheric quality.

'Reflexiones' is out now on Moulton Music via Beatport

Zaki Ibrahim, Kid Fonique & DJ Whiskey - Be (Atjazz Record Company)

Atjazz has been on the dials of some of my favourite deep house tracks of the last decade. A true house veteran and head honcho of his own Atjazz Record Company, the label's latest release comes from Kid Fonique and rising star DJ Whiskey on 'Be', featuring the sublime song writing and vocal talents of Zaki Ibrahim.



The original is an afro-inspired deep house rhythm, with Zaki's love-sick spoken word and perfect vocal delivery drawing you into a ballad that's heavy on the heart and sure to be heavier on the dancefloor.

Then comes the turn of Mr Atjazz himself who steps up to the remix plate along with Julian Gomes to provide a stripped-back, somewhat deeper interpretation which epitomises the classic house sound that the label boss has become so famed for. A perfect accompaniment to any afternoon chilling on a sunny terrace.

London's Jonny Miller then delivers a bumpy, broken beat affair which retains the mood of the original but offers a more dancefloor-orientated workout. Huge minor key Rhodes progressions, soaring pads, synth stabs, pads and FX are the order of the day on this one. Almost reminiscent of the Naked Music content I've been banging on about recently.

The EP concludes with '2sides', a sample-laden percussive house joint, evoking the sound of a smokey jazz club. What makes this last track so special is the voice of legend Theo Parrish, who uses the track to wax lyrical on his DJ philosophy.

A super soulful, sophisticated package. Everything you'd expect from Atjazz.

'Be' is out via Atjazz Record Company in July (release date TBC) | atjazz.co.uk/label

Michael Jackson - Rock With You (The Reflex Re√ision) *FREE DL*

I'm starting the weekend massively overexcited by the news that The Reflex has finally made his absolutely killer Re√ision of MJ's 'Rock With You' available for free download via Soundcloud.



The track first emerged following a chance meeting between The Reflex and Gilles Peterson through DJ Day, who mentioned to Gilles that he had an edit of 'Rock With You' and that he'd 'done a little thing to it'. Understatement of the year probably.

The Reflex is famed for taking the master stems and re-imagining the studio recordings for a new generation. And this has to be his finest effort to-date, stripping the 1979 original back to bring greater emphasis on the timeless vocal, Rhodes melody, rhythm guitar and orchestral section, as well as beefing up the classic disco drum pattern.

Unfortunately, the only omission from this version is the intro as played by Gilles on Radio 6, which featured an original guide vocal for Michael as sang by its writer and former member of Heatwave, Rod Temperton. Still, this has to be one of the greatest edits of one of the greatest soul/disco records of all time. Simply brilliant.