So Hannu (aka Homegrove) posted his latest chart here, which quietly includes this: 7. Introvert – Various (cdr).

It’s been a while. The Finnish native Jukka Varis caught a huge break back in 2004, with two tracks appearing on Way Out West’s Featured Artist set on Proton Radio (“Wistful Longings” and the delightfully lush “4th of July”). After that it was Fingerpaint fever. Everyone wanted a piece of the action, no labels picked up the work and the legs died.

After the hoopola, people reported random sightings of tracks “Restless” and “From The Depths,” as well as a remix of Sasha’s Mr. Tiddles from Airdrawndagger. Nick Warren picked up “Seaside Floater” for the bonus mix disc of Way Out West’s Don’t Look Now album in 2004, Kaan Duzarat enlisted him to remix 2005′s “Organic Intellectual” and Aurium Recordings picked up “5am Illusions” the same year. But what of the two initial breakout songs? Or the rest undoubtedly sitting on Varis’ hard drive? The word from Homegrove (a fellow Finn) is that he’s working to compile an EP and hasn’t yet shopped any tracks around, but eventually will be.

He’d bloody well better be. Introvert falls in the sweet spot of kick-back bell-happy warm and fuzzy progressive house: Mic Burns, Jacob Todd, Jiva, Subsky and even Digital Witchcraft come to mind (Okay, in all fairness Subsky claimed he dumped that sound two years ago). Regardless, it’s a killer sound for lounges and opening sets, and there’s definitely a wide open niche for Varis whenever he wants to take advantage of it.

Here’s the list of my work for Progessive Sounds on the month. It’d be a tad too indulgent to post every time one goes up.

Singles
Guy J – Never Say No EP
Jiva feat. Rula – Timelapse
Quivver feat. Nikki Mack – Not Givin’ Up (Remixes)
Mashtronic – Needs EP

Albums
2 Bit Pie – 2 Pie Island
Hybrid – I Choose Noise
BT – This Binary Universe

Other
Interview with BT

In retrospect, I was too optimistic about a few ratings, most notably Hybrid (which, over time, has revealed an astonishing number of reused sounds from the last album), and Jiva’s single, which I haven’t listened to since. Guy J’s on the other hand was superb, and it’s no secret how pleased I was with BT’s latest effort (I drove five hours from St. Louis to Chicago to attend the release day viewing). This was also an extremely busy month, since the three albums probably constitute some of the biggest releases this year.

My interview with BT is now up on Progressive Sounds. The link is here:

BT Interview | [PS] Progressive-Sounds 2006

This was a lot of fun to do. When Brian gets going, he talks for hours in this kind of poetic free-flow, and traditional interview etiquette rarely applies. I kept questions to a minimum (for conversation guiding purposes only), and he taped the conversation on his end to give me the word for word. It was a relief — nobody can type fast enough to keep up with him, and this way the bulk of the heart and soul of the interview was preserved.

This was cut short by some business he had to take care of and his daughter Kaia wanting attention, so we discussed the possibility of a follow-up to go through the tracks in technical detail. No guarantees, but we’ll see.

My latest DJ set, inspired by a slew of stuff I heard and picked up while working on the east coast in New England. It’s been a few months since my last mix and I haven’t had time to get something out… but when you’re sitting on these kinds of tracks, you have to put ‘em to good use. I had a lot of fun with this one. Enjoy.

Running Time: 1:13:40
File Size: 169 MB @ 320 kbps

Tracklisting:

1. Danny Bonnici – Return To Saturn [Hidden Form]
2. Guy J – Ligod [Deep Focus]
3. Matt Rowan & Jaytech – Pulse [Hope]
4. Kenneth Thomas – The Orange Room (Nick Warren Remix) [Hope]
5. Quivver – Not Givin’ Up (Quivver ‘Dirt Bag’ Dub) [Boz Boz]
6. Bart Van Wissen – Downstairs [Deep]
7. Subsky – Caterpillar [Global Scum]
8. Can Costa and Kosmas Epsilon – Che Malakita (D-Nox & Beckers Mix) [Proton]
9. Ali Ajama & Chris Micali – Strings Of Life [Vapour]
10. Leama & Moor – Calling [Lost Language]
11. Shiloh & Luke Chable – Oz [Baroque]

It’s been a while since I’ve said anything new here. But when you travel and work as much as I do, it’s not often you get a chance for a real brain dump. Likewise, the things you do and the hobbies you take up typically have to transcend your physical locations. The last guy who tried to play on a summer baseball team in Seattle while driving through Indiana didn’t manage very well.

And so, I’ve picked up reviewing music. Not the trash fodder found on the radio, or even topping the iTunes download charts. The niche field of electronic music.

A buddy of mine and I tend to frequently come at odds here. He comes from progressive rock roots, well-polished commercial music and the occasional guilty pleasure of hair band 80s. If it can’t be played on a guitar in three chords, he’s probably not interested. And the production methods of the music I listen to drives him completely to drink.

Our discussion came to a head tonight while he listened in on the latest album I picked up for review: An advance copy of BT’s This Binary Universe. What’s happened here is likely one of the most pivotal moments in 21st century composition… and like Mozart driving himself to madness, Beethoven becoming deaf to cheers and Chopin before his premature bout of tuberculosis, genius is most definitely being misunderstood in it’s own time.

Sure, it’s a stretch. Some of the most revolutionary harmonic progressions and counterpoint techniques that make Berklee School of Music kids gasp in amazement are punctuated by harsh synthetic tones, samples seemingly yanked off the street and instruments that didn’t actually exist before BT sat down and created them.

“I don’t dispute the mathematical precision in this,” my friend said ironically during a song called 1.618. “I admire his ability to make toasters, car horns and crying babies sound good together, but that elicits no emotional feeling from me.” This earned a jaw-dropping stare on my behalf, and a half hour debate ensued.

Peoples’ personal preference in music aside, we tend to gravitate towards melody driven sounds. For whatever reason — whether it’s social conditioning, physiological appeasement or just plain primative instincts — we prefer linear progressions in warm, pleasant sounds usually provided by some form of people hacking away at a set of tuned strings (stop and think what a piano really is for a second). But if you take all the music produced in the last 100 years and throw it into a geometric mapper, you’ll find the number of calculations to perform said music is actually quite low, since popular music has recycled over itself time and time again. The formula for creating a hit that sells Rascal Flatts albums or singles from The Killers is fairly simplistic in nature — all these people are doing is working with a basic set of concepts and variables that are proven easy to digest and market to the masses who’ve had decades of prior exposure.

What this album does is seek to expand the boundaries of acceptance with new calculations and discoveries. There’s a projection of frustration in the expectation of simplicity… and in a way it rebels strongly against it. Brian found a way to make music beautiful while breaking every rule of tradition in the book.

This was my initial attraction to synthetic and unique forms of musicianship, quite unintentionally. My favorite song growing up was King of Pain by The Police, a song with little melody but strong, harmonic undertones. A dozen years later at the height of my immersion in electronic music, BT crossed paths with Sting to collaborate on a project together. On their individual merits both men are certified mad professors. Sting spent half his career explaining to everyone why his wife will never understand him while Brian reads supermarket labels in binary. It’s no coincidence these men met. Likewise, it’s no coincidence that I’ve once again found comfort and peace in a masterpiece of mathematical precision that, to the average person, sounds like nothing of a kind.

Music brings out a kind of self reflection of who you are, what you seek to find and what inspires you to be. A resentful, pained soul without grounding will trend towards angst, not celebration. A delightfully happy person with no cares in the world will be appreciative of what they are given — a blessing for the freedom it affords and a curse for the lack of discernment. Music is a tool of many forms. It can be uplifting and inspiring, emotionally wrought, depressing and bleak, aggressive and maniacal or frantic for answers. If the relationship between mathematics and musical phenomena were ever fully understood, we’d discover far more about ourselves and others than anticipated.

That all being said, the sound of mathematical and harmonic precision never sounded better.

One bit of importance today to address: my now three-year running tradition of outlining my top 20 tracks of the the previous year, as well as my favorite albums and releases. As was the case last year, my list is heavily influenced by progressive house, with elements of breaks, synthpop, electro and this year, a slight bit of tech house (though none of the latter were really good enough to crack the list).

Top 20 Tracks of 2005:

1. Planet Funk – The End
2. Digital Witchcraft – Fingerpaint
3. The Killers – Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont’s Thin White Duke Mix)
4. Viton & Stel – Wooden Swordz (Jose Zamora & Dousk Remix)
5. The Wideband Network – Show Me Love (r3volve vs Tanner Remix)
6. Tilt – Twelve
7. Planet Funk – Come Alive
8. Hybrid feat. Kirsty Hawkshaw – All I Want
9. Luminary – My World (Andy Moor Remix)
10. Bart Van Wissen – Inside Out
11. Benz & MD – Mar Del Plata (Dousk Elaborate Remix)
12. James Zabiela – Robophobia
13. Trona – Lights Go Out (Burufunk Remix)
14. Acquaviva & Luetzenkirchen – Zombie (Aquachop Dub)
15. The Flying Doctors – We Make Contact (Oliver Lieb Remix)
16. Subsky – Singlegun (Solid Mix)
17. Nick & John Delagelis – Bend Up (Descent Mix)
18. Kosmas Epsilon – Innocent Thoughts (Stel Remix)
19. Epsen & Stian Klo – Comatoast
20. Ryeland Allison – How To Get Down (Mix C)

Albums of the Year:

1. Planet Funk – The Illogical Consequence
2. Dousk – D.I.Y.
3. KiloWatts – Problem/Solving
4. Imogen Heap – Speak For Yourself
5. Wideband Network – Ten Thousand Seconds

Post Note: I hadn’t had a chance to check out Iris – Wrath until 1/23/06. Had I listened this in 2005 it would have easily been #2 or challenged Planet Funk for the lead.

Tragic Non-Release of the Year:

Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek (r3volve’s Lost And Found Remix)

Track of the Year That Was Actually Released Last Year:

Infusion – Daylight Hours

Money Spent on Digital Music Downloads:

Way too f#%*ing much.

It’s time for my Top 20 Tracks of 2004. I didn’t have time to do a complete rundown of each like I did last year. It’s worth noting that Mick Burns aka Blue Haze was my favorite artist of the year, that Burufunk introduced some incredible new remixes, that Toksin is the future, and that the lack of release for Digital Witchcraft’s Fingerpaint (my most anticipated release for 2004) was far and away the most disappointing news. Kudos to Way Out West and Chris Nemmo as well, for albums that never left my player all year long. Without further adieu:

1. BT – Somnambulist (r3volve’s Countermeasures Remix)
2. Chris Nemmo – City ‘a’ Bongos
3. Wideband Network – The Silence (Burufunk Remix)
4. Mick Burns – See Me Fall
5. Halogen vs. Nash T – On A Bridge
6. KiloWatts & Vanek – Gone
7. Way Out West – Anything But You
8. Marc Mitchell – Run 2 The Light (Dub)
9. Orbital – One Perfect Sunrise
10. Mavi – A Tribute To M&M’s (Subsky Remix)
11. Blackwatch & Greed – Gentle Rain (Grayarea’s Dismembered Remix)
12. Blue Haze – Into Nothing (Bill Hamel’s Last Time For 9 Mix)
13. Grand National – Talk Amongst Yourselves (Sasha Involver Remix)
14. Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath (Toksin’s Kymatized Remix)
15. DPP – Amative Entanglement
16. Blue Haze – Regaining Consciousness (Dislodged Breaks Remix)
17. Quivver – Space Manoeuvres Part 3 (Breaks Mix)
18. Jono Fernandez – Deliver Me (Digital Witchcraft Remix)
19. Nemmo & Zamora – Phantoms (Dousk Original Mix)
20. Pako & Frederik – 45 Minutes (Medway Remix)

Not quite:
Ozgur Can & Rouzbeh Delavari – Eternity (Chris Lake’s Dirty Breaks Remix)
Infusion – Do To You (In ’82)
Afrika Bambaataa & Uberzone – Soul Massoka
Pat Foosheen – The Unthinkable (Habersham’s Mah Sivee Remix)
Sultan & Tone Depth – Broken (Jiva Remix)

Albums of the Year: Chris Nemmo – Forbidden Paths, Way Out West – Don’t Look Now
Vinyl of the Year: Blackwatch & Greed – Gentle Rain (Grayarea’s Dismembered/Jacked Hi), Mick Burns – See Me Fall (2×12″)
Mix Sets of the Year: Peter Martin – Proton Radio Mix, 6-06-04, Chloe Harris – Kiss 100 3-28-04
Mix Albums of the Year: Sasha – Involver, Hybrid Presents Y4K, Steve Gerrard – Thinking Out Loud

Bring on 2005!

I’ve compiled my top 20 tracks of the year. These are the ones I enjoyed the most this year and why–it’s not to say they’re the best produced, because at that point there’d be a shit ton of disagreements. Take it for what it’s worth and enjoy.

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[1] BT – The Great Escape
The highlight of Emotional Technology, this track has it all: Piano work, strings, breaks, well written vocals, and a complete arsenal of effects all seamlessly interwoven into one giant masterpiece. An added bonus that every piece was publicly available during the M-Audio Remix Contest, it gives everyone a chance to pick it apart and appreciate just how much work went into the production of this track.

[2] Basic Pleasure Model (aka Psykosonik) – Sunyata
The first single off the upcoming album by Paul Sebastian and the BT Network’s own Caesar Filori (The first of many to appear on this list). The original Psykosonik blueprint is still here, from the original ambient self indulgent intros to the mystical vocal work. What’s new in this first reincarination in 8 years is a new level of technical proficiency and artistic harmony. Sunyata represents everything we loved of Psykosonik and the evolution of what we look forward to seeing it become.

[3] DPP feat. 3pm – m3x1k0 (KiloWatts Grasiento Mix)
The BT Network all-star cast of sorts: Danny’s production, Casey’s vocals, and Jamie’s complete destruction and resurrection to an unimaginable level. Those familiar with the niche sound of KiloWatts will recognize the seamless hybrid of glitch-core, IDM, breaks, and thorough assault on vocals reminiscent of Telefon Tel Aviv and Tipper. The technical level of production is simply rivaled by none, the tensions are well played, true justice is done to the original, and the mid-song breakdown requires a fresh pair of underwear for every listen. This is a work to be envied by every serious producer.

[4] Grayarea – Yewminyst
Nick Warren turned quite a few heads when he dropped this track on Global Underground 024, rocketing Grayarea to a powerhouse almost overnight. Yewminyst growls, floats, and pulses, twisting and weaving through unconventional vocals, drum work, and a multitude of shockingly brilliant piano riffs and effects, flatly refusing to obey any rules of modern dance music. It continues to be a guaranteed hit with the progressive crowd, tearing up floors and mindblowing unsuspecting dancers into oblivion.

[5] Wideband Network – The Silence
2003 saw the introduction of Wideband Network, a collaboration between Caesar and Casey. While classified synthpop and signed to a synthpop label (A Different Drum), WBN can hardly be classified as such because of it’s unintentional tendency to interweave so many influences into one neat and flawless package. The Silence is the landmark example of that–the lead track on Universe that somehow managed on a scale of 1 to 10 to go all the way up to 11. The multiple breakdowns, layered bass, uncompromising effects display, sky high vocals, and picture perfect climax will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

[6] KiloWatts feat. Vanek – Lies
Jamie decided to experiment with an interesting new style: Glitch-pop. Using his signature trickery amidst the beautifully performed guitar work and vocals of Belgian singer/guitarist Vanek led to a sound that blew everyone away. This turned out to be a hell of a collaboration, and these two really have something special here. Record companies reportedly feel the same way, and with any luck we’ll be seeing much more of KiloWatts and Vanek.

[7] Fluke – YKK
Welcomed in open arms by all, Fluke returned with Puppy, their first album in six years since the highly successful Risotto. The entire album deserves a mention as a whole because of it’s sheer brilliance from beginning to end, but YKK speaks well with it’s grinding bass, growling synths, and dizzying array of effects, resulting in a sound of epic proportions. This is proof positive that Fluke is still the best of the best.

[8] Burufunk – Outsider
From the Texas duo came this breaks monster, consuming everything and everyone in it’s path. Outsider represented a transitional period in Burufunk — from Curtis Fallis’ solo work to a collaboration with wife Leaha and and more melodic approach to what’s fundamentally the same sound. Nick Warren gave it a vote of confidence on GU024, Hybrid relentlessly spun Burufunk’s remix of Wavy Gravy by Sasha, and BT recruited them to remix Somnambulist after hearing another remix: Deepsky’s Talk Like a Stranger. Fueled by super-deep bass, nasty synths, glossy atmospherics, powerful breakdowns, and killer transitions, Outsider set the standard for breaks artists in 2003.

[9] Iris – Vacant
Awakening, the sophomore release by synthpop group Iris was vastly overlooked despite a strong effort fueled by the addition of Andrew Sega, winner of the Delerium After All remix contest. Vacant requires more concentrated listening than any other song on the album, and only then do you fully realize that everything is perfectly hit at exactly the right place and time. The result is a profound ballad of sorts: Dark yet light, moody yet excited, restrained yet liberate, covered in sentient lyrics and vocals that never once feel out of place.

[10] Unknown – Bucci Blag (UK Bootleg 06)
This anonymous bootleg reworking of Bucci Bag by Andrea Doria samples a vocal hook that winds up during a neatly laid breakdown before unexpectedly launching for the moon and taking everyone with it. Bucci Blag is undeniably catchy, enticing the same floorfare and energy as Way Out West’s Muthafucka and brother bootleg Trippin’ Out. The Plump DJs are the suspected men behind the mask on this banger, and don’t disappoint. It’s a keeper for any breaks DJ looking to jolt people awake using cables attached to the battery of a running automobile.

[11] Digital Witchcraft – Brindavan
Open the floodgates, here comes one of the hottest new artists on the progressive breaks scene. With three releases under their belts (Brindavan/Pocket Universe, Snowday/Kaylee’s Blanket, and a Grayarea Remix of Brindavan) plus an exclusive playing of Fingerpaint on Way Out West’s recent Radio 1 set, this new duo can do no wrong. Brindavan is worthy of praise to the heavens for such beautiful new music. With the tightly woven vocals and atmospherics, offset by a frenzy of well-paced drums and percussion, Brindavan is simply epicurean to the core.

[12] Smithmonger – Nobody Gonna Stop Us
From Rennie Pilgrem’s TCR Recordings, Smithmonger tossed the hammer aside and hit the nail on the head with a sledgehammer instead. The bassline drive, lead synth, simple yet effective drum work on transitions, and vox hook don’t individually amount to much, but the final product is lethal enough to incite pandemonium on the dance floor. A veritable compliment and lifelong companion to it’s fellow breaks appearances on this list.

[13] Depeche Mode – I Feel You (Mercury Federation’s Mr. McFeely Remix)
Originally demo’d to be a collaboration with Caesar on vocals, Mike instead scrummaged up a Depeche Mode acapella and created what can only be defined as breaks with a hint of synthpop. Following up the success of Khumbu, this remix once again toes the line with BT’s Ima album, creating a lush soundscape over crisp, clean beats, a well-teased arsenal of effects, and great vocal placement.

[14] Jono Fernandez – Colours Of Conscience (Fretwell Remix)
Perhaps know best for his remix of Bedrock’s Forge, Tim Fretwell has made quite a splash in 2003, releasing Ember and remixing various artists–all containing the top notch quality best displayed in his reworking of Jono Fernandez. This is progressive breaks at it’s finest–the nu skool beats of Nubreed, lush atmospherics of Way Out West, with effects and vocal hooks reminiscent of Vegas-era Crystal Method.

[15] Way Out West – Muthafucka
Party song of 2003, Domination Part Deux, Jody’s weapon of choice on the circuit, and the best use of Busta Rhymes since Uberzone strapped Got You All In Check onto Meat Katie’s Rotten.com, lit the fuse, and ran like hell. Not particularly complex in arrangement, but serves it’s purpose to perfection: To move the floor and make everyone throw their hands up screaming TURN THIS MUTHAFUCKA UP!

[16] General Midi – Tentacled
The solo project of Paul Crossman from Starecase, the influences are brilliant as he jumps from progressive to breaks. The B-side to the more agressive U Will Be Under, Tentacled is powered primarily by it’s throbbing bassline on the bottom and the sailing effects over the top. It’s passively content, but Tentacled harbors enough punch to still kick ass and take names.

[17] Unknown – Trippin’ Out (UK Bootleg 10)
An anonymous bootleg reworking of It’s Love (Trippin’) by Goldtrix, Elite Force dropped this back in August, inciting endless responses of “Who the hell did THAT??” The Plump DJs again, is the speculation. A bit of funk with a pounding bassline, simplistic yet effective effects, all built around soulful vocals, this is the epitome of style in breaks music.

[18] Hybrid – High As A Skyscraper
A solid representative of Morning Sci-Fi and Trademark Hybrid: Lush strings led into a frenzy of breakbeats. Mike Truman and Chris Healings squeezed every bit of juice out of their equipment to create this world of sonic excellence. It’s all here, from the dark and dirty to the uplifting and smooth. The sense of how far to push and when to hold back is incredible, and you’re guaranteed to find something new in every listen.

[19] Grace – Not Over Yet (Habersham’s Still Not Over Reprise)
This was Jason Dunne’s teaser from his Sedate & Irate set back in April, simultaneously wowing and infuriating the regulars on Hybridized.org who wondered if they’d ever see a chance to get their hands on this. When it finally popped up as Habersham’s work, there was no doubt that it was the same ambient progressive rejuvenation of Grace’s timeless classic.

[20] Free*Land – Big Wednesday
Featured on the Animatrix soundtrack, this was a product of Adam Freeland’s stroke of genius: Taking his sound and turning it into a live band. The full length album Now and Them followed with huge success backed by frequent touring and high praise from fellow DJs and artists. Big Wednesday is extremely clean and well produced, minimal at times, and begs for mashups.

Artists discovered in 2003:

Wideband Network, KiloWatts, Burufunk, Fretwell, Digital Witchcraft, Ulrich Schnauss, Grayarea, Soulstice, Starecase, Tipper, DPP, Basic Pleasure Model, Telefon Tel Aviv, Mercury Federation, General Midi, Shiloh, Starfire, Future Funk Squad, Christian J, Fila Brazillia, Blue Haze, Luke Chable, Chicane, Craig Armstrong, Balligomingo, Conjure One, Lux, Echomen, Bill Hamel, Habersham, Steve Porter, Jono Fernandez, Marc Mitchell, James Holden, and fair to say Way Out West, since I’d never really paid attention to them prior.

Hell of a lineup. If you take out BT and Hybrid, that list accounts for close to 95% of what I listen to regularly. The talent is so dense, it’d be unfair to say which one I really enjoyed the most. But Wideband Network–meeting Caesar, hearing it at his place first, meeting Casey, regularly following WBN’s progress from the release of the first single Orbit, to Universe, to 10,000 Seconds… was just cool as hell.

CD of the Year: Iris – Awakening
Vinyl of the Year: Digital Witchcraft – Brindavan/Pocket Universe, Stisch – Pack of Reds/FFS Mix
Most listened tracks of 2003: BT – Sunblind, Iris – Vacant, DPP feat 3pm – m3x1k0 (KiloWatts Grasiento Mix), James & Truman – Hear Me (Vocal Mix), Wideband Network – The Silence
Rediscovered: Fluke – Oto, Deep Dish – Junk Science
Biggest Tragedy: BT – Paris (Way Out West Mix)
Looking most forward to in 2004: KiloWatts & Vanek – Untitled new album, Digital Witchcraft – Fingerpaint, Burufunk – Disconnected

Vital stats on tracks I’ve acquired this year but have no business having:

Total Number: 328
I’d Be Hunted and Killed For: 35
Wish List Still Has: 41
Total Playing Time: 25 hours 54 minutes 7 seconds
Space On Hard Drive: 2.32 GB
Unique Artists: 19
Primary Artists: BT, Hybrid, Wideband Network
Taking to My Grave: 328