The Pretty Lights Music label has carved out more than just a niche for themselves in this realm of music. What started years ago as a a few guys experimenting with funky new sounds has morphed into a full blown beloved genre that has been taking the scene by storm. Although maybe not solely responsible for creating it, the guys over at PLM have had arguably the biggest hand in popularizing the electro-soul sound that we all can’t get enough of.
Boasting an all-star lineup of Michal Menert, Paul Basic, Break Science, Supervision, Eliot Lipp and head honcho, Pretty Lights, these dudes each bring a cohesive sound to the table that represents what PLM is all about. Recently off a nationwide PLM tour, the label just comes across as a group of best friends making music together…which very much seems to be the case. Funky fresh beats is the standard with every record release, and with plenty of (entirely free-to-download) music released this year it could be tough to remember the tunes that really stood out. It was our honor to dig through each release put out through PLM in 2014, and below are our ten that reign supreme.
10: “Tonight” – Cherub (Break Science Remix)
Break Science has been a favorite of ours for a while now, and the talented NYC duo of Adam Dietch and Borahm Lee is finally beginning to get the recognition they deserve. Remixing an original by Cherub, these two make you want to grow your hair out and transport into a 1970’s roller disco competition. Dietch brings his world class talents to the percussion while Lee takes care of the chopped up vocals and the over all electronic feel of things. It all adds up to yet another groovy piece Break Science can boast in their library.
9: “Come Check It Right” – Freddy Todd (Supervision Remix)
Landing himself a spot on the “Keepin’ It Crew” tour which just wrapped up, Supervision has been earning fans at a rapid pace since last year’s release of Telekinetic. In typical PLM fashion, you can hear the patented bleeps and bloops as he lends his remix hand to Freddy Todd but at no point does it get too aggressive or too calm. Just a nice song to chill to, or run to, or get up and boogie to.
8: “Sweet Remorse” – Michal Menert & Paul Basic
When you have a high school band comprised of Derek Vincent Smith, Michal Menert, and Paul Brandt (Paul Basic), it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out success might be in store for all three. That’s exactly the case with guys, as the high school buds have stuck together after all these years and now comprise 1/2 of the entire music label. Released through Superbest Records, Paul and Michal take a step back with this one and dial it down for an addictive, sweet, mellow tune.
7: “You Gotta Move” – Manic Science
Technically Manic Focus isn’t on the PLM label, but Break Science is and since they account for 50% of this funklord supergroup I’m counting it. This soulful track represents the first in hopefully a very long line of collaborations put out by Manic Science. The sounds here mesh beautifully, almost to the point where you could swear all three of these guys have been working together their whole professional careers. Old-school blues vocals compliment the chilling electro-soul vibes, over all this collab is seamless from start to finish.
6: “Future Forest” – Eliot Lipp
Get used to seeing Eliot Lipp’s name on here a few more times, as this guy has my vote for fastest riser on the label. With the release of Lipp’s Watch The Shadows LP a little over a month ago the Brooklyn based producer has been refining his sound to be one of the most complete in the genre. Making beautiful use of a strumming guitar intro that would make Niles Rodgers blush, Eliot struck gold with this effort.
5: “Watch The Shadows” – Eliot Lipp
We warned you, there will be more Eliot Lipp. Sharing the same name with that album which it’s released on, “Watch The Shadows” never offers has a dull moment. Always introducing new sounds or vocals throughout, you’re truly taken on a journey with Eliot as you click play on this first track in the LP. If you’re an avid fan of “The Hot Sh*t,” odds are you’ve heard this numerous times since its release.
4: “Space Scholar Synthesis” – Michal Menert & Manic Focus
This is the upbeat electro-funk we all come to PLM looking for. Michal Menert is one of the OG’s of the soul scene and brings his unmistakable sound to anything he touches. The 2:07 mark gave me feels where I didn’t even know feels could exist, courtesy of unsanitary wobbles and futuristic gyrations. Manic Focus makes a second appearance on the list, showing they are quite the force to be reckoned with as well. Click play on this and party like its 2097.
3: “Last Minute” – Paul Basic
Finding a technicality with this one, as Basic’s Transient Horizons LP was released last December, so technically it hasn’t been a year since the release date. “Last Minute” is simply too well put together to leave out of our list and it has been a favorite of mine ever since I first heard it. Going from the heaviest of bass to the lightest of orchestra melodies, Paul Basic stakes his claim to the forefront of the genre with this release. This has my vote for best production Paul’s put out to date.
2: “Can’t Contain It” – Pretty Lights
Of course it’d be sacrilegious not to include the original don of electro-soul in here. Off the Hidden Shades b-side of his ACMOTS album, you’re greeted with an epic intro that will no doubt prove to be a PL classic for years to come. Derek has shaped out a sound for himself which brings many imitators, but no one can come close to perfecting the seamless fusion of hip-hop and funk like he does. It’s difficult to describe this sound, but you’ll like it a lot. A lot.
1: “Victory” – Eliot Lipp & Michal Menert
Menert and Lipp couldn’t have chosen any more fitting of a name for this masterpiece of a collab. Never a bad idea to open your song with blaring old-school horns, “Victory” will be a track these two can hang their hat on when it’s all said and done. Michal Menert doesn’t have much left to prove at this point; it has become expected that tracks like this will keep flowing out of his brain and we’re forever appreciative. Eliot Lipp on the other hand has emphatically made a statement that he’s the one to watch in 2015 as we track his ascent in the scene. Kick back and smoke a Victory hand rolled tobacco cigarette, these two have earned it.
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