SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 165:

The excitement of heading down to Austin tomorrow afternoon has put sleep on the back burner, so what better time to share Lucas’ latest set of SXSW recommendations.  We’ll be focusing on on-the-ground coverage starting tomorrow night, but hopefully we’ll get these last few sets up in time.  If not, next week will see Operation Every Band waving the “Mission Accomplished” banner.  Highlights:

Paul Oakenfold (9) – Pop Killer is a songwriter-based record, highlighted by collaborations with some big names (a surprise for now), but with more of a focus on younger talent, including SXSW showcasers Wallpaper, Allen Stone and ZZ Ward (start your collaboration predictions now).

Plastician (7) – Pacing, meaningful UK dubstep will be the anchor of Plastician’s DJ set, warbling bass pulses delivered with glaring intensity.

RAC (7) – In fact, RAC don’t even limit themselves to electronic manipulations, rewriting the stories of original material from an emotional, hypnotic perspective.

Redinho (7) – Not that this is some down-tempo experimentation (though “Slap” gets pretty far out there), Redinho kicks into disco breaks with hard-hitting backbeats on a time, a funk-fueled mix from the future.

Plaster (6) – Plaster infuse their songs with extra helpings of jazz, a catch-em-if-you-can scatter-chase.  Echoes of Daft Punk can be heard throughout the Canadian electronic band’s decade-long catalog.

PrototypeRaptor (6) – Young gun PrototypeRaptor specialized in buzzy electro house, supremely modulated and building with deliberate crescendos.  PrototypeRaptor’s sophomore record Nostaligiarithm flips the script by starting with a peak and paring down through a midnight descent. 

Prince Paul (5) – Tangy, versatile producer Prince Paul has been a hip hop mainstay since the early 90s as a solo artist and part of Stetsasonic and Gravediggaz.  His latest is the skit-centric Negroes on Ice, a mix of beats and comedy that is a left-field listen full of relevancy.

Rebecca + Fiona (5) – Bubbly club tunes highlight Rebecca + Fiona’s catalog – the Swedish duo are currently touring the US in support of the anthemic “Taken Over”.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 162:

The next two days are sure to be a marathon of postings as we are merely two days from the first night of SXSW music and the bands are still being announced!  Lucas kicks off today’s coverage with a pair of Euro house majors taking the top spots.  Highlights:

Fedde le Grand (8) – About five years ago, le Grand hit mainstream pop pay dirt with “Put Your Hands Up For Detroit”, a track that foretold the trap movement of today with chopped rhythms and hip hop leanings.  Counterbalanced by the pulsing urgency of 2013’s “Raw”, Fedde le Grand has developed into a focused and well-fitted artist, an example of house music done right.

Eric Prydz (7) – In 2003, Eric Prydz became a global name with “Call on Me”, one of the biggest international dance tracks of the past decade.  Hitting such a perfect chord of an electro, techno anthem, Prydz has established himself as dance music royalty.

DallasK (6) – At 21 years old, young gun DallasK is an artist to watch for 2013 – ballroom club lights and big synthy builds envelop the Orlando-based producer’s global trance sound.

Djemba Djemba (6) – Low bass, dubstep nuances – these elements hold the fort for LA producer/remixer Djemba Djemba – a swanging, rolling, marching, charging multi-drum pounder.

Classixx (5) – Palm fronds and Southern California ease define the sound of Classixx, electronic music producers specializing is disco house melodies.

DJ Charlie (5) – Austin staple DJ Charlie is a crate digger pulling out the best in hop hop of the past mixed with sounds from the future.

DJ Earworm (5) – DJ Earworm is synonymous with the word mash-up, peaking every year with his “United States of Pop” mixed track (think 40+ million YouTube views range).  A true digital architect.

DJ Sliink (5) – Trapped.  DJ Sliink specialized in that woozy bass sound, exposing kicks and slaps that is right on the forefront of blending hip hop and EDM.

Flying Horse (5) – New York’s Flying Horse covers the gamut – from strong electro grind to filtered disco to new wave-infused house rhythms.

35 Denton - Electronic Artists:

With 35 Denton in full swing today, hip hop and EDM highlights the main stages and night shows for what should be an epic Saturday in North Texas.  Lucas set up a couple of recommendations for today from some exciting, local artists.  Highlights:

Juve (8) - No, Juve music is rich, and perhaps the offspring of nightmares and moonlit rainforest excursions.  Dwelling Sound, I say.  Juve’s soundcloud includes descriptive captions such as “Found Sound” and “Future Trap” and reasonable people ought to accept those characterizations.

AV The Great (8) - The messages in his music reflect a pensive mind.  The beautiful world, the unforgiving world.  This is the place AV calls home.  Through each verse, AV invites us in as he attempts to sort out the tensions, hopes and complexities of his local and global environment.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 159:

There’s a certain joy when we dig up artist with only one song that leaves us salivating for more.  Sabota’s “Next Time” had that effect on Lucas, anchoring the latest in our SXSW EDM highlights:

Sabota (8) – Canadian producers Max Ulis and Robbie Slade have produced a key down-tempo track, a stew of drum and bass, house beats and the slightest hint of Ulis’ debstep roots.

Yung Satan (7) – Ambient 808 productions are actually where Yung Satan discovers his best work – “Stones” and “Stay Funk” hold more water than the tracks that embrace more of a club-banger vibe.  Booty breaks and shakes amid crisp treble harmonies should make for a killer half-hour as part of MIOID’s showcase at Republic Live Saturday night.

Rustie (6) – Synths – initiate!  Rustie’s glitz and bass trap DJ sets have been categorized as “aquacrunk”, an accurate, if not ridiculous, descriptor of Rustie’s wonky 2011 debut Glass Swords.

Sam Spiegel (6) – Ambient synth waves highlight Sam Spiegel’s music, beautifully captured on the soundtrack for I’m Here.  Spiegel is as much a singer-songwriter (big Elvis Costello influence) as he is an electronic composer, so look for a diverse SXSW set.

Samo Sound Boy (6) – Acid house producer Samo Sound Boy embraces neon-lit sound, producing ethereal night vibes with a hashed, old school wink.  Samo has loaded his catalog with EPs and singles throughout the last few years, highlighting a diverse, club-ready electronic artist. 

Xaphoon Jones (5) – The whole of the EDM sound spectrum is explored in Xaphoon Jones’ productions.  His melodic beats are where Jones really connect, dropping into fermata instead of craziness for that special touch.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 157:

Lucas is keeping the EDM artists coming after a huge wave of late SXSW artist additions (get on it laptop musicians, we got deadlines here), but the quality acts keep poring in.  Today’s mix features dark, experimental melodies, computer-happy beats and ambient synth-pop.

Cashmere Cat (8) – From a snowy glen in Norway come the sensual sounds of Cashmere Cat, an experimental EDM artist full of down-tempo breaks and Trap-azoidal, hip hop bass warbles.  Cashmere Cat is an incredibly patient artist, even using silence to his advantage, such a rarity in his field.

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (8) – UK producer-DJ Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (thankfully shortened to TEED) excels in pulsing garage tones, whisper house rhythms to embrace the beeps and bloops of the dawning of the Internet age.

Wolf + Lamb (8) – The desolate loops that introduce Wolf + Lamb’s 2012 record Versus slowly open up through the five minutes – “Real Love” starts with a minimal bass and beat, then some haunting synth-strings and finally distorted, blissed out vocals to round out this inviting sound.

Brenmar (5) – Bridging NYC and Chicago, Brenmar has a few strong highlights over the past few years both with his production and mix work.  Sensual bass and graphic leanings highlight his most recent tracks.

C.Z. (5) – Boston’s C.Z. may be relatively straightforward, house beats, funk dub, breaks and that ever-present warble that crosses the Atlantic on a dark, dubstep bridge.

Truth (5) – As the clock ticks midnight, so does the sound of Truth, a New Zealand DJ whose dubz stretch beyond African percussive elements and deep wasps.

Watch The Duck (5) – Atlanta trap hop trio Watch the Duck did into darker rhythms and melodies, the ass-clap American grind-house sounds come with an extra live showing – Watch the Duck come out from behind the boards on stage as a bass/keys/vocal trio.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 155:

Lucas continues the daily run of SXSW EDM recommendations with an eclectic mix of big names and under-the-radar producers.  Highlights:

Supreme Cuts (8) – The spectrum of dream moan to happy rapcore should make for a killer SXSW showcase, especially considering that Supreme Cuts are relatively under-the-radar compared to many of the big names in electronic music that have joined the conference roster.

TOKiMONSTA (8) – Ambient waves of synths provide a 80s pop foundation, but TOKiMONSTA chops, screws and reinvents future-grooves into something that is wholly new.  Glitchy beats, like a busted-up kick-drum, turn TOKiMONSTA’s ambience into sexy/cool struts.

Spencer (6) – British EDM artist Spencer melds indie pop and techno, a welcome mix for a SXSW crowd to get down to 80s, tribal drive, and most importantly, attractive selection.

Tommie Sunshine & Disco Fries (6) – Chicago’s Tommie Sunshine specializes in modern rock remix and Disco Fries comes from a house-heavy angle.  As a duo, their SXSW set should be heavy on energy and breaks, a session with a pair of DJ philosopher/historians.

Soul Clap (5) – The listing of “Soul Clap” on the SXSW roster is an interesting add as it is technically a label, so expect a collection of funk-heavy tracks to close out The Madison on Wednesday night.

Tiga (5) – Canadian hit-maker Tiga has collected an intense catalog of productions, collaborations and remixes over the past decade.  Delving into tribal elements, the night sounds of Tiga are a sick twist on French techno.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 153:

While the last few sets that Lucas delivered covering SXSW EDM artists have only yielded a few highlights each, today’s set is absolutely stacked, with twelve of fifteen artists earning a write-up.  There’s something for everyone here, from crate digging DJs to artists of the new electronic era.  Highlights:

Skratch Bastid (8) – Skratch Bastid is a vinyl spinner that’s worth actually watching, working in and out beats like before there such a thing as a mash up, a truly skilled artist with a turntable.  Rock, pop, soul and a generous helping of hip hop should be expected at a Skratch Bastid set, finding common links where no one else would even look.

Skream (8) - While only a half-decade over drinking age in Austin, Skream has established himself as a true pioneer, working in a laid back, UK dubstep atmosphere.  Skream has perfected the anthem, not fist-pumping nonsense, but slow and deliberate builds with soul and grace.

Sepalcure (7) – Chilled garage bass and woodsy percussion provide the playing field for Sepalcure to experiment with looped digital tape of dub, dance, pop and soul.  These laid back rhythms do suit the lounge more than the floor, so there’s many different ways one could take Sepalcure’s sound at SXSW.

Seams (6) – Seams’ music ticks like a futuristic grandfather clock, sampled mallets and chimes within a cold, twilight experiment.  Double EP Tourist/Sleeper maintains an ambient pace, breathing waves of electronics like a beat-driven Animal Collective.

Slow Magic (6) – Chillwave/dream pop artist Slow Magic takes the ambience, breezy nature of his peer’s in the genre and adds a prominent, down-tempo beat to merge pop and EDM lovers into a warm, synth-hop embrace.

Mister Lies (5) – The minimal sounds of dubstep artist Mister Lies slowly grows from ambience to dense pop throughout the just-released debut Mowgli.  Shakers, synths and found sounds make their way into the record with a nice artist’s touch.

Monsta (5) – UK’s Monsta bridges the Atlantic with his pop-heavy sound – bright dubstep, big chords, grind and soul allows Monsta to achieve new twists on the drop.

Rudimental (5) – A number-one European hit-maker with 2012’s “Feel the Love”, melodic drum and bass, viscous low-end and vocal cameos supply Rudimental with a soulful and accessible sound.

Shawn Reynaldo (5) – Under-the-radar San Francisco DJ Shawn Reynaldo has delivered some mighty eclectic mixes the last couple years, theming to holidays and moods alike with a variety of sound and experienced taste. 

Shout Out Out Out (5) – Electronic rock band Shout Out Out Out is all about catchy power on their third record, Spanish Moss and Total Loss, a collection full of catchy melodies and drum machine ballistics.

Solar Year (5) – Canadian duo Solar Year music whispers along to a pulsing heartbeat on their 2012 EP Brotherhood, a dark, Nordic effort that twists and turns a New Age ambience.  

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 150:

While tonight’s EDM set is relatively light on the recommendations, Kidnap Kid may be the most exciting new SXSW artist in the whole electronic field.  Highlights:

Kidnap Kid (10) - Kidnap Kid is gold, primo, full of soul, beautifully upbeat, jiggy and groovy.  The layering of the elements beginning with the balanced kick (bassy and thick, but not overpowering), to the introduction of vocal snippets, expertly harmonized, to the sprinklings of flutes and chimes and more electrical buzzing effects, to the snaps and snares.

GRIZ (5) – Detroit electronic artist GRIZ specializes in soul and funk, with glitch dubstep deviations and acrylic, melodic grinds.  The latest from the 21-year-old phenom is last year’s Mad Liberation, a well-rounded effort that proves GRIZ is far from a one-trick-pony.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 149:

Lucas turned in one of my favorite EDM-tinged sets of the year, highlighted by the expressive tones of Flume, one of the most exciting new artists heading into SXSW 2013.  Highlights:

Flume (9) – What makes Flume such a special artist is his touch for mood, not relying just on ambience to create a heady and visceral listen.  Instead, strong element of R&B and hip hop take pole position throughout the record, recording and manipulating with collaborators from all sorts of different styles.

Gemini Club (7) – The electropop moments are used in similar ways as dubstep without being dubstep at all, ‘glitching’ in melody instead of rhythms, adding in eclectic runs and loops that often times seem to be on their own mission.

Falcons (6) – Mixing beats and melodies from his dual Southern/West Coast influences, kicks and snares drive Falcons’ productions into an interesting prospect for one this year’s EDM freshman breakouts.  Swinging and swanging traplectro is the sound of the now, so Falcons could be just what the shady doctor ordered.

Flosstradamus (6) – Chicago trap mainstay Flosstradamus is having the rest of the EDM catch up to the universe they established into a warbly, Southside shake.  Blip and pound beats should even have the line outside the Republic Live on Friday night bouncing to the hip hop and dubstep rhythms.

DWNTWN (5) – More dream pop than what would normally be classified as EDM, the down-tempo ambience of 2012 EPs The Red Room and Cowboys burst into fists-in-the-air anthems on a dime.  Blending their vocals and synth-work into looped amalgams, DWNTWN are both an electronic act and band-centric songwriting-focused artists.

Flight Facilities (5) – Australian electro-house duo hit gold right out of the gate with 2010’s key track “Crave You” and have since honed a fun, discowerke vibe, best displayed on 2013’s down-tempo R&B groove “With You”.

Gent and Jawns (5) – Mad Decent cohorts Gent and Jawns Moombahton (that’s a house/reggaeton blend for the uninitiated) sounds are chopped and dirty, like being trapped in the middle of night with mysterious sirens heading your way.

SXSW 2013 Spreadsheet 146:

Lucas’ latest EDM set sounds as much like a hip hop history lesson than a late night rave with all of the spotlight artists having some sort of throwback to 90s hip hop without losing a sense of modernity.  Highlights:

DJ Premier (8) – DJ Premier’s resume reads like a history of the past twenty years of hip hop.  As the production half of Gang Starr, Premier proved to be a consistent innovator of headphone and dance floor grooves, which has only grown with his post-millennial collaboration and collections.

DJ Hella Yella (5) – Lauded Austin DJ Hella Yella should prove a decent draw at SXSWwith numerous collaborations and accolades added to his resume over the past couple of years.  Look for nostalgic, 90s ‘wheels of steel’ party music to get the people going at Wednesday night’s Southern Hospitality showcase at Silhouette.

DJ SicksentZ (5) – Trip hop DJ/producer DJ SicksentZ hits hard with cavernous, alien beats, an ambient adventure that dips into all sorts of corners of the EDM/hip hop universe on his adventurous mixes and HackZ/remixes.