This week’s powerful picks are a bit more subdued than a typical weeks, choosing more to give you tasteful grooves and bass that you can shake your thing to, rather than an all out audio assault. Regardless, the playlist spans a variety of genres, so there should be something for everyone. So strap in, turn up, and get ready for this week’s Powerful Picks!
Getter – Wat The Frick
The first single from Getter’s upcoming Wat The Frick EP continues to develop that distinct getter sound, while also containing elements that will make it appealing to fans of his older dubstep. The intro sets the stage for the track, making it feel as if it’s taking place in an old video game cartridge before dropping into it’s creepy main melody, which then evolves into a metallic drop that squeaks and squeals all over the place. Rapid fire movement is the main focus of the bass, making the song feel chaotic and unpredictable.
Distro – The Drum
The title track of UK bass producer Distro is exactly what it sounds like, complex drum patterns accompanied by deep bass and vocals. On the surface this might seem like a shallow and overdone concept, but Distro’s take on it is fresh and exciting. There variety of percussion sounds play off each other nicely, and the well placed synth and brass sounds come in when needed but don’t overplay their part. While the vocals are a tad bit “typical” you can’t knock Dread MC because of how comfortable he sounds flowing on the beat.
MADILLAC – Guardian’s Dub
MADILLAC’s “Guardian’s Dub” is a song that wasn’t made with any expectations going in. From the very start you can tell this tune came from the heart. The upbeats and downbeats match in such a way that it gives MADILLAC’s original a somewhat unforgettable experience, in-comparison to all the 140 or 128 beats per minute tracks that are out there. MADILLAC is on to something.
Hudson Mohawke – Chimes (Alexander Lewis X Y2K Flip)
Wow, making hybrids is sort of the name of the game right now, but one of my favorite remixing artists, Y2K, has teamed up with Alexander Lewis to make this epic, perfect blend of banger trap and chill trap – with horns blaring at just the right time and place. Quite a masterpiece.
Black Tiger Sex Machine and Kai Wachi – Survivor Ft. Face-T (Yookie Remix)
Warez – Get Em Up
Uprise Music unleashed one of their hardest hitting releases in a while, Warez’s “Get Em Up”. The dynamics between the first and second drop here are blast, forming the ultimate dubstep/trap hybrid. First Monstercat, now Uprise, Warez knows what they are doing.
Lil Jon, Kronic, Onderkoffer – Bad Bitches Feat. Keno
If Lil Jon is on the track you know it’s ganna go hard. “Bad Bitches Feat. Keno” fits right in the realm of a Jon track in the 2010’s. Intense high-hats galloping wildly, fast-paced rhythms similar to the 4B / SAYMYNAME style hitting-hard, and a cluster of fast production design, all at the forefront. Lil Jon, Kronic, Onderkoffer are a wild combination not to be reckoned with.
Lick Twist – Ghostbusters (Remix)
Feel how you will about the new ghostbusters remake, but the greatness of the original, as well as its theme song, is an objective truth. Lick Twist is clearly someone who greatly appreciates the franchise, and it shows in his off-kilter remix to Ray Parker Jr’s smash hit. While the intro might sound a tad bit cheesy, the glitchy drop, comprised of emotion-filled pads and a variety of cohesive and colorful basses, is one filled with time, effort, and love.
Twofold – Girl
While the bass house genre continues to grow over-saturated and generic, originality certainly does still exist. Twofold’s new song, “Girl”, is a perfect examples of this. While the sounds are for the most part still somewhat typical, the arrangement and progression of the song makes it so that the listener is kept on the edge of their seat wondering what’s going to come next. Sampled vocals and drum fills also play a big part in the song’s appeal, but perhaps the biggest treat is the half-time switch up in the 2nd drop.