Album Review: Anjunadeep04 Mixed by Jaytech and James Grant

Anjunadeep, the housier sister (sub-label) of Anjunabeats releases its fourth installment of the Anjunadeep series. Anjunadeep04 mixed by Australian proggy house artist Jaytech and Jono's brother James Grant, is a perfect concoction of chill, ambient, deep house that cater to a niche market of electronic music lovers - myself included. Showcasing tracks and remixes from acts like Dusky, Tom Middleton, Maceo Plex, Vincenzo, and Solarity,  the collection is a 28 track journey through deep house, immersive melodic grooves, and modern progressive.

One of the main contributing artists is Andrew Bayer, a brilliant American producer whose style is a mix of ambient, chill, proggy house, and glitch-hop. I got to discover him whilst listening to the first few installments of the Anjunadeep series. With the fourth compilation, he contributes two slick tunes: You and Gaff's Eulogy (which I am so crazy about); and co-remixed tunes like Prelude, Take Me Away, Gravity among the few.

This 2-CD compilation is an explosion of slick, chill, and proggy tunes. Disc one was remixed by James Grant whilst disc 2 is by Jaytech. This is perfect for driving, or while at work, and even helping one to sleep at night. The tunes promote tranquility and bliss - or at least that's what I feel every time I bump this record. Between the two discs, I happen to like disc one better where most of the noteworthy tracks are.

Track list:

Disc 1 / Mixed By James Grant

1. Dusky "Stick By This" (Deep04 Edit)
2. Martin Roth "Beautiful Life"
3. Vincenzo "Get To Know You"
4. Laura Jones "Love In Me" (Maceo Plex Remix)
5. Andrew Bayer "You"
6. Paronator "No Gravity" (Tom Middleton Liquatech Mix)
7. Dusky "Lost Highway"
8. Above & Beyond "Prelude" (Andrew Bayer & James Grant Remix)
9. Full Tilt "Take Me Away" (Andrew Bayer & James Grant Remix)
10. Parker & Hanson "Afterthought" (Soundprank's Deep04 Mix)
11. Stephen J. Kroos "Phobos"
12. P8 & Answer42 "Fragments"
13. P.O.S. "Gravity" (Andrew Bayer & James Grant Remix)
14. Andrew Bayer "Gaff’s Eulogy"

Disc 2 / Mixed by Jaytech

1. Answer42 "The Lemon Effect"
2. Kobana & Yane3dots "Woosh"
3. Oliver Smith "Under The Wire"
4. Solarity "Primordial"
5. Suspect 44 "Neon Feel"
6. Jaytech "Synergy"
7. Vadim Soloviev "Forma Perpetua"
8. Soundprank "Boundless Energy"
9. Jaytech "Overdrive" (PROFF Remix)
10. Joonas Hahmo "Manor"
11. Levente Márton "There's Always A Way Out"
12. Kaskade "Sorry" (Dirty South Remix)
13. Parker & Hanson "Alquimia" (Andrew Bayer Remix)
14. Jaytech "Atlantic"

Share your thoughts!

Bigfish presents SummerNRG featuring Aly & Fila and Ashley Wallbridge in Boracay 2012

Summer’s heat is officially upon us. This only means one thing:  BIGFISH Summer Energy will soon be making Boracay bounce!

I am so excited for Ashley Wallbridge! 

This year’s Summer Energy is Bigfish’s most exciting and ambitious one to date. It kicks off with the chilled-down Sunset Sessions on April 5 at the beachfront of Paraiso Bar in Station 2. Taking the energy up several notches is the Main Party happening on April 7, 8pm, also at the beachfront of Paraiso Bar, where revelers can sway until the summer sun rises. But the celebration doesn’t stop there—on April 8, from 6am onwards.

I ended my disco nap just in time to catch Ashley Wallbridge - not only he's a looker but he is a very promising Armada talent whose tune style appeals to my dance musical palette. So now in the party scene, I could hear girls shouting his name because now they have realised how cute he is. I was shouting with them - for the same reason, and because Ash was bringing down the island! He was banging! I didn't even realise how time flew so fast at that time that it was already Aly & Fila's turn.

It was my first time to experience this duo live. Apparently, only one of them can only man the decks as the other is deaf? Hailing from Cairo, Egypt, these fellas seemed to have something exotic to offer. As the night progressed, I thought it was coming on too slow, and low. It wasn't peaking as it should. And came 4AM, I thought they were already ending it. Not only until 5AM did the party start to peak up (or pick up) whatever you want to call it. Aly & Fila and Ashley Wallbridge did a back-to-back!!! Now that's something I have been waiting for. Being it a sunrise party, only the real 'ravers' would stay and dance to the beat - which is what happened. Oh, and during this time there was a tee tossed in to the crowd and managed to snatch it in exchange of getting spilled with my own drink. A Sound of Egypt tee from Aly & Fila.

Here are some photos to attest to the fun that had happened:

And later that day (night) I saw Ashley Wallbridge on three different ocassions. Didn't have the balls to ask for a photo on the first two encounters. But on the third time, I thought it's a charm and a photo-op was in order. Thanks heaps to my friend Bhavish who did most of the job and all I had to do was pose. Voila!

Share the fun, share your thoughts!

Republiq presents: Afrojack (04 April 2012)

On the night before our traditional Holy Week get away to Boracay was Nick van de Wall a.k.a. Afrojack gig in Manila. This was a good pre-Boracay party to get us in the mood. 

As expected, Afrojack delivered great quality house tunes, blow by blow, track after track. He definitely did Take Over Control!

Were you there? Let me know how it went for you--