The bpm:tv blog

Miss Raquel's February in Review

"Like" the electronica Facebook Fan Page.

Robyn - Sound Academy, Toronto

Robyn's show at Toronto's Sound Academy was long past due, as her last scheduled gig was cancelled because of illness. She had a great stage presence talking to the audience. She belted out different medleys and arrangements of Body Talk remixes, and performed an acappella "Show Me Love" (1996) at the end.

I will say the crowd was really pushy, even more so than at raves or special events with international DJs. I found there were people trying to force their way deeper toward to the stage when there is no space whatsoever for them to get through.

Robyn is a bona fide dance artist, as she proved with this well-attended show.

Luv This City: Deko-ze and Jelo - Footwork Bar & Afterhours, Toronto

Aside from me being turned down by four cabs at the end of the night because I wasn't going in their direction, and me screaming on my cell to my boyfriend to listen to me as he spoke to other people on his end, the night was awesome!

There was also Jonathan Rosa (formerly Jon Jon) and Evan G on the bill. If you've been reading this column for a while now than you know I just love me a good Deko-ze and Jelo show. I mean there is no other duo who knows how to wreck a room like these two tomcats.

The place was rammed by 12:30 am, which I was thankful for because it proved the good job us hosts did in promoting the event, but that's how we roll.

This was one hair-flying (Jelo), bouncing (Deko-ze) event, which is always sure to please. It was an intense crazy techno rollercoaster ride. As Jelo would say it was "Awesomesauce!"

Houseaddict Presents: Jimpster - Footwork Bar & Afterhours, Toronto

I know what you may be thinking: here we go with another Footwork event, but what can I say? This venue pumps out events and talent like no other venue in Canada, seriously.

Jimpster was a slow start but by around 1:30 am it picked up. And what I love about Jimpster is his humble attitude - and of course deep beats, which he brought in full force along with irGO, Mike Gleeson and Dirty Dale.

Poppycock! On GayGuideToronto.com

I've interviewed many DJs and producers but interviewing Mr. Oakenfold was surreal. Watch my interview with Paul Oakenfold here.

UPCOMING EVENT: Friday March 11

MARIO OCHOA / EVAN G / BASSLINE JACK
Hosted by: Miss Raquel

Dolce Social Ballroom, 647 King Street West, Toronto / 19+ / Dress code in full effect

GUESTLIST: $15 on Scenester's VIP guestlist text 416.839.8522 OR email guestlist@scenestermagazine.com

See you on the dancefloor!

Miss Raquel

New This Week

World Series Miami
UK record label and “lifestyle brand” Hed Kandi celebrates the 2011 Winter Music Conference in Miami with a two-disc tribute to one of the world’s great dance music capitals. Features tracks from Chris Lake & Marco Lys, Stefano Noferini , Copyright, Funkagenda Vs Sultan, Max Vangelli, Tristan Garner, The Shapeshifters, Disfunktion, DJ Chus & David Penn, and many more.

Anjunadeep:03
Above & Beyond’s progressive trance and house label Anjunadeep releases its latest collection, mixed by James Grant and Jaytech. Features tracks and remixes from Underworld, Spooky, Michael Cassette, Solarity, Dinka, PROFF and Maor Levi.

Derrick Carter, Fabric 56
Chicago house pioneer Derrick Carter craft the latest installment in Fabric Records’ celebrated mix series. Features tracks from Roger Sanchez, Green Velvet, Almost September, Nick Garcia, Cajmere and many more.

Etienne Ozborne, White Is Pure 10
Quebec house DJ Etienne Ozborne’s newest mix CD on the Playground label includes tracks from Todd Terry, Erick Morillo, Hardwell and Louie Vega.

Jessie J, Who You Are
UK sensation Jessie J penned songs for the likes of Justin Timberlake, Rihanna and Miley Cyrus (does “Party in the U.S.A.” ring a bell?) before scoring a couple of chart-topping singles of her own. Now, she follows up the success of “Do It Like A Dude” and “Price Tag” with the release of her debut album.

In Trance We Trust 017
The latest volume in Black Hole Recordings’ In Trance We Trust series is a 14-track compilation mixed by Russian DJ and producer Bobina (a.k.a. Dmitry Almazov). Features tracks from Cosmic Gate, Jason van Wyk, Hodel & Sunstate and Nkoder.

Lupe Fiasco, Lasers
Album number three from the acclaimed Chicago rapper features collaborations with John Legend and Trey Songz, and production by the likes of Jerry Wonder and The Neptunes.

OMD, History of Modern
Brit electropop pioneers OMD return with their first new album in 14 years, a dance-oriented disc that recalls their early Eighties heyday.

Coming the Week of March 14

Wolf + Lamb Vs. Soul Clap, DJ KiCKS
NYC duo Wolf + Lamb and Boston’s Soul Clap team up to mix the latest edition of !K7’s DJ KiCKS series. Features tracks by Deniz Kurtel, Eli Gold, H-Foundation and DJ Harvey.

Tarun Nayar, 22 Degrees of Beatitude
Vancouver-based DJ and producer Tarun Nayar continues his distinctive fusion of Asian music and electronica on this new solo effort, which he describes as his "most personal work to date."

MC Mario Mixdown 2011
The indefatigable MC Mario is at it again, with yet another mix CD featuring the likes of Taio Cruz, Afrojack, Rihanna, Ke$ha, The Black Eyed Peas and many more.

Omar Santana & Evan Gamble Lewis, Dub Step Dubterranean
Techno veteran Omar Santana and rising star Evan Gamble Lewis team up to explore dubstep’s brooding sound on this new release.

Masomenos, Balloons
Stylish French microhouse duo (and boutique proprietors) Masomenos -- DJ Joan Costes and producer Adrien de Maublanc – return with their third full-length album.

Deniz Kurtel, Music Watching Over Me
Turkish techno producer and experimental artist Deniz Kurtel -- best known until now for her installations at events like the Burning Man Festival -- releases her debut album on the Crosstown Rebels label. Expect "some electro/house and some breakbeat elements."

DJ Afro, Free
After a number of remix CDs, DJ Afro -- otherwise known as Jose Luis Pardo, lead guitarist for Grammy-winning Venezuelan disco/funk/acid jazz band Los Amigos Invisibles -- issues his first album of all original work.

VIVA Club Rotation: Vol 48
From Germany’s Embassy of Music comes this compilation of massive club tracks featuring the likes of Eric Prydz, Swedish House Mafia, Duck Sauce, Martin Solveig & Dragonette and Robyn.

Emanuele Errante, Time Elapsing Handheld
Italian ambient composer Emanuele Errante releases his latest collection of chill-out sounds on Berlin’s Karaoke Kalk.

Paper Tiger, Made Like Us
Producer Paper Tiger of the Minneapolis-based underground hip-hop collective Doomtree gets a Canadian release for his solo debut, which features Dessa and Lookbook’s Maggie Morrison.

Orsten, Cutworks
Eccentric French-Finnish cut-and-paste artist Orsten melds hip-hop, Seventies cinema and classic piano on his sampladelic debut long-player.

Nervous Nitelife Presents Patrick M
A pillar of Miami’s party scene, Buenos Aires-born DJ Patrick M delivers a debut collection featuring tracks from the likes of Israel Sunshine, Jean Claude Ades and Chus & Ceballos.

Coming the Week of March 21

Ke$ha, I Am The Dance Commander + I Command You to Dance: The Remix Album
Everybody’s favourite party girl keeps the product coming with this collection, which rounds up remixes from the likes of Dave Aude and Fred Falke. With guest appearances by Andre 3000 and 3OH13.

Binary Park, Worlds Collide
Binary Park -- a collaborative effort by Torben Schmidt, head honcho of Germany’s Infacted label, and British colleagues Huw Jones and Alfred Gregl -- releases its debut album, described as "an intriguing blend of different electronic styles from darkstep to industrial and from electro to deep, noisy, ambient Glitchy, intelligent electropop."

Wildcookie, Cookie Dough
Swedish DJ Freddie Cruger (a.k.a. Red Astaire) and vocalist Anthony Mills as Wildcookie on this debut long-player, an easy-on-the-ears blend of soul, hip-hop, R&B and breaks.

Armin Van Buuren, A State of Trance 2011
The world’s number one DJ sums up … well, the state of trance with this latest edition in his ongoing series of definitive two-disc trance music mixes. Listen for tracks by The Blizzard & Omnia, Rex Mundi, Aly & Fila, Beat Service and many more.

Nostalgia 77, Sleepwalking Society
The latest effort from producer, remixer and DJ Nostalgia 77 (a.k.a. Benedic Lamdin) is a tough-to-categorize blend of afrobeat, jazz, funk, electronic and hip-hop influences.

Guti, Patio de Juegos
Argentina’s Guti issues his first release on the tech house label Desolat.

Remady, No Superstar: The Album
Swiss DJ producer Remady (a.k.a. Marc Wurgler), follows up the crossover UK success of his electro anthem "No Superstar" with this debut long-player.

Rick Wilhite, Analog Aquarium
Detroit house veteran Rick Wilhite assembles his first-ever collection of new productions, featuring contributions from longtime collaborators like Theo Parrish, Marcellus Pittman, Osunlade and vocalist Billy Love.

Coming the Week of March 28

Britney Spears, Femme Fatale
It's Britney, bitch. Her new album hits the streets. Try to ignore it. Just try.

ADMX-71, Luminous Vapors
Berlin-based techno producer (and head honcho of the Sonic Groove label) re-releases the debut album from his experimental side project ADMX-71, a "chill out companion" to his work as Traversable Wormhole.

Seekae, +Dome
Australian electronic trio Seekae release their second full-length album on Rice Is Nice.

Katy B, On a Mission
Singer-songwriter Katy B, a crossover sensation from London’s UK Garage and dubstep scenes, makes her much-anticipated debut.

Yelle, Safari Disco Club
French electropoppers Yelle finally -- finally! -- deliver the long-awaited follow-up to their irresistible 2007 debut Pop Up.

The Beat Generation 10th Anniversary Collection
BBE celebrates 10 years of its acclaimed Beat Generation mix CD series with this anniversary release mixed by DJ Spinna and Mr. Thing.

Gareth Emery, Northern Lights Re-Lit
DJ Mag top 10 finisher Gareth Emery follows up his triumphant debut album with this remix collection featuring 12 new reinterpretations.

Ladytron, Best of 00-10
Brit electropoppers Ladytron look back at their first decade in a two-disc compilation that includes such hits as "Black Cat," "Playgirl" and "Destroy Everything You Touch."

Hard Dance Awards 2011
Ministry of Sound assembles three discs of "banging mayhem," with the able services of DJs Kutski, Andy Whitby & Klubfiller and Ed Real.

Wagon Christ, Toomorrow
Brit DJ and producer Luke Vibert’s Wagon Christ project returns with a new album on Ninja Tune, featuring his trademark brand of "danceable, psychedelic, groovy beats and eclectic samples."

Underground Miami
New from Ministry of Sound, this massive three-disc compilation celebrates Miami’s annual Winter Music Conference, with tracks from Laidback Luke, Afrojack, Eric Prydz, Moguai, Laurent Garnier, Matty G, and many more.

Bibio, Mind Bokeh
British electronic experimenter Bibio (a.k.a. Stephen Wilkinson) continues to draw influences from Aphex Twin, Autechre and Boards of Canada on his latest Warp Records release.

Pearson Sound, Fabriclive 56
North London bass music impresario David Kennedy (a.k.a. Pearson Sound, a.k.a. Ramadanman) oversees the latest in Fabric London’s series of essential live mixes.

The Human League, Credo
Don’t you want them, baby? Still robotic after all these years, Brit synthpop pioneers The Human League return with their first new album in nearly a decade.