This Track Is Fire!

While I was on PTO last week my friend Jeff, the same guy that suggested the band Chalk to me back in February , asked me if I had ever heard of the ground Paranoid London. I hadn't, and told him I would check them out. Last Thursday and Friday were busy with vacationing, so I finally had a chance to check them out this weekend, starting with track one of their album Arseholes, Liars, and Electronic Pioneers . My first impression was that this was some chill, electronic music that might be a slow burn for me. Mind you, that was after playing the first track. Then the second track, "Love One Self," came on and I was immediately blown away. Is this acid house? It is Nitzer Ebb? Front 242? No, it was none of these, but also, kind of all of these things, and my audio heart swooned. This is what I sent to Jeff: First song, ok, this is chill, I can throw it on in the background. Second song: FUCK YES. I had pretty much the same reaction to all of the following tracks. Me being ...

I've already selected two EDM tracks this week, and though there's the contrarian part of me that thinks that maybe I should include something more guitar-based, as I was listening to various electronic artists this week I was reminded of how absolutely incredible Gesaffelstein was and is. So, fuck it, I am keeping with the vibe this week and highlighting one of my absolute favorites from his album Aleph (which is a great album from start to finish). Besides, while this is definitely not guitar-based, it is darker and heavier than the other tracks I shared this week, and since when is launching into the weekend with aggression a bad thing?  But also, DAMN! Do you hear that? This piece is the very definition of a track being FIRE! Have a great weekend! Enjoy!

I discovered Ninajirasha sometime last year and was immediately blown away at the new-yet-old-school-sounding techno she was dropping. Porter Robinson, if you're not familiar, is a bit of an icon in the EDM world (and also, my stepson's favorite artists), so seeing the established working with the up-and-coming is always fun. This is especially true when their collaboration brings forth a track as good as this, but I may be biased by my love for both artists. It's Monday, start your week strong! Enjoy! WannaCry by Ninajirachi & Porter Robinson

Note: In honor of one full year of This Track Is Fire I thought I would highlight the top 10 posts over the last year, but there's a tie in the seventh position, and a three-way tie in the tenth position, so instead you're getting the Top 12 Posts over the past year. Again, I am pleasantly surprised, because (again), I would not call Starfounder anything close to a mainstream act, and yet, coming in at #7 this past year is the fantastic synthwave track out of Russia, "Stay Where You Are." If synths and electronic bloops and bleeps are your happy place, you'll be right at home with this track. Check it out!

At over seven minutes, this is not a short song, but that's OK, because it builds along its sampled vocals, folding in the synth-bass line, incorporating more sounds and the track fills out, beats and synths dancing around each other before the vocals finally flow in.  Hot Chip invite the listener in to hear their music, feel it, and then, when the time is right, let it sway you to dance. It's several minutes of pure, electronic bliss, and really, who doesn't want to postpone Monday for as long as one can? Welcome to the beginning of your week. Enjoy!

If you're looking for what's coming next from breakbeat techno, look no further than The Netherland's Ambu Bambu. One minute she sounds like the next evolution of The Crystal Method ("Laugh It Off"), but chiller, and the next she sounds like she just discovered a bonus track from Leftfield on the aforementioned "Emotion Control," which could be mixed seemlessly with  this . And while her techno DNA is clear, she sounds fresh, not derivative. I dig it. What else can I say, other than this track is fire! Emotion Control by Ambu Bambu

I highlighted another track by Starfounder months ago and had actually queued up a different track from the same album that has been sitting in my drafts for months now, but I purchased this track last week during Bandcamp Friday and it's just the amount of beating, electronic discordance that I so love. Damn, it's good! I get vibes of 808 State "Cubik" from this, which makes me very happy. Happy Monday! Ground Zero by Starfounder

I've been listening to Sleek Teeth for a couple of years now and they always bring the EBM goodness. Like your music electronic and especially stompy? Then LA-based Sleek Teeth are for you! Enjoy! The River by Sleek Teeth

I just discoverd this song, and its album, last week, and almost immediately I thought to myself, "this is a banger!" I have already added this as to my Bandcamp wishlish for purchase this coming Friday , because I am certain to get an alert from Bandcamp that I can't play this album any more because I have listened too many times without purchasing it. That won't be a concern soon! I still love "classic" EDM artists like Deadmau5, and I was lucky to see some of the (formerly) newer artists this past year (including REZZ), but with Gen Z coming onto the scene I am confident that EDM is in good hands. Enjoy! I Love My Computer by Ninajirachi

  Remember what I said about seeing some of my recent purchases showing up here ? Dark, ominous synths with a beat are my jam. Conjuring comparisons to Gesaffelstein, the fat bassline and throbbing beat is sensual and sultry in the darkest, almost-ominous, ways. Is this track trying to get me into bed? Who does this track think it is, "Blue" by LaTour? All valid questions, which I will answer in the morning after I rethink everything this track talked me into the night before. Halo (Deluxe Edition) by Starfounder