Thursday, December 30, 2010

bpm:tv's Guide to the Month's Best Music

Armin Van Buuren, ATB and Paul Van Dyk drop new mixes, Audio Bullys return and Jamaican dancehall pioneers get their due: check out bpm:tv's guide to the most important new dance and electronic music releases for January 2011.

New the Week of January 4

Schiller, Breathless
The sixth album from veteran Berlin-based trance producer Schiller (a.k.a. Christopher von Deylen) gets its North American release. Already a number two hit in Germany, the disc was inspired by a month-long voyage aboard the research icebreaker RV Polarstern.

Clubland X-treme Hardcore 7
For those who just can’t get enough of the hyperactive UK hardcore sound, here’s a sprawling four-CD compilation of the year’s biggest hits, mixed by Darren Styles and featuring Duck Sauce (“Barbra Streisand”), Inna (“10 Minutes”) and Hixxy. Check out the British TV spot here.


Coming the Week of January 11

ATB, The DJ 6 - In The Mix
German trance meister ATB (a.k.a. André Tanneberger) - currently ranked 11th on DJ Mag's definitive list of the world's top 100 DJs - drops the latest in his acclaimed series of mix CDs.

Home Video, The Automatic Process
The sophomore album from Brooklyn-based electro-rock duo Home Video showcases a range of influences including Massive Attack, Boards of Canada, Depeche Mode and Philip Glass.


Coming the Week of January 18

A State of Trance: Year Mix 2010 -
Mixed by Armin Van Buuren
Named the world's best DJ for a record-breaking fourth straight year by the readers of DJ Mag, trendsetting Dutch producer Armin Van Buuren has assembled his annual mix of the year's best trance music, as voted by fans of his weekly radio show, A State of Trance.

VONYC Sessions 2010 -
Presented by Paul Van Dyk
Ranked number six on DJ Mag's Top 100 list, German producer Paul Van Dyk offers his own summing-up of the year that was, with this double-CD mix of the year's best trance, house, progressive, techno and electro tunes, as featured on his VONYC Sessions radio show.

Perfecto Presents: Kenneth Thomas
Fast-rising Detroit DJ Kenneth Thomas has compiled this two-CD set for Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto label, mixing progressive, trance "and everything in between."

Resoe, The Black Void of Space
Danish DJ and producer Resoe, a longtime fixture on Copenhagen's dub techno scene, releases his much-anticipated full-length debut on the Echocord label.

Audio Bullys, Higher Than The Eiffel
Rebounding from the disappointment of their poorly received 2005 sophomore effort Generation, British electronic duo Audio Bullys (Simon Franks and Tom Dinsdale) return with an eclectic release touted as "their most complete record yet."

Sofrito: Tropical Discotheque
This debut compilation from Britain's tropical dancefloor collective Sofrito is just the thing to warm up those frigid January nights. DJs Hugo Mendez, Frankie Francis and The Mighty Crime Minister have put together a mix of vintage tropical grooves that includes everything from raw cumbia to heavy Congolese soukous. Check out a preview mini-mix here.


Coming the Week of January 25

David Guetta, One More Love (Re-issue)
He's number two on DJ Mag's Top 100, and one of the most sought-after producers on the planet. He's got a Grammy Award, a top-selling iPhone app and 10 million Facebook friends. So what does David Guetta do for an encore? Well, how about a special re-release of his double-platinum 2009 album One Love, featuring remixes and new tracks, including his collaboration with Rihanna, "Who's That Chick?"

LCD Soundsystem, 2010 London Sessions
James Murphy's New York dance-punk ensemble LCD Soundsystem follow up the critically acclaimed This Is Happening with a live-in-studio session featuring stripped-down versions of some of their best songs, including "Drunk Girls," "All My Friends" and "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House."

Hed Kandi: Anthems & Artwork
Established in 1999, UK record label and lifestyle brand Hed Kandi modestly bills itself as "the most stylish name in house music" and the "soundtrack for glamorous good times for the international party jet set." This special limited edition box set includes four CDs featuring the likes of David Guetta, Armand Van Helden and Jamiroquai, along with a book showcasing the sensual work of Hed Kandi house artist Jason Brooks.

Hed Kandi: 2011 Remix
Wait, there's more! Also hitting Canadian shelves: this three-CD collection of "remixes, re-edits & mashups from Hed Kandi's global dancefloor," featuring Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Benny Benassi, Afrojack, Alex Gaudino and many more.

Shackleton, Fabric 55
British dubstep producer Sam Shackleton showcases his dark and ominous grooves on this latest installment in Fabric Records' celebrated mix series.

Nitzer Ebb, Industrial Complex
Legendary British industrial dance outfit Nitzer Ebb have manufactured their first new album in nearly 15 years. Depeche Mode's Martin Gore provides backing vocals on the energetic "Once You Say."

Steely and Clevie, Digital Revolution
Pioneering Jamaican dancehall production duo Wycliffe "Steely" Johnson (who died in September 2009) and Cleveland "Clevie" Browne get a well-deserved career retrospective on this VP Records compilation, which features more than 40 of the hits they created for artists such as Ninjaman, Shabba Ranks, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Sean Paul.

Fujiya & Miyagi, Ventriloquizzing
Drawing inspiration from Krautrock and Aphex Twin, the eccentric British electronic trio Fujiya & Miyagi return with their fourth studio album.

Junior Sanchez, Seize the Fewcha
Influential New York club DJ Junior Sanchez releases his first album for Nervous Records, a mix CD featuring the likes of Armand Van Helden and Felix Da Housecat.


Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The BPM Festival Returns!



After a record-breaking 2010, The BPM Festival returns to the idyllic resort town of Playa del Carmen, Mexico for its fourth year of world-class DJs and unforgettable parties -- including the BPM Festival's first-ever New Year's Eve bash. This year's incredible artist lineup includes Richie Hawtin, Hernan Cattaneo, David Morales, Adam K, Dubfire, Hed Kandi, Sean Miller, Steve Angelo and many, many more. Visit bpm:tv on Facebook for a chance to win a pair of VIP Festival passes.

Friday, December 10, 2010

App News: 120 BPM Review

From Mac News World: "120 BPM: No Mixmaster Marvel, but It Has a Beat and You Can Dance to It."
120 BPM is an app for the iPhone that scales up fairly well for use on an iPad. The software lets users compose their own House music using a variety of different styles and selecting from a library of loops. Users can also add loops of their own. Compositions can be uploaded to the cloud to share, but a more useful feature would be the ability to convert a composition into an audio file that could be emailed to others.
Read more.

Have a Ball with bpm:tv this New Year's!

The Times Square New Year's Eve ball, 1978

You're invited to bpm:tv's New Year's Dance Party on Dec. 31, starting at 10 pm ET. And while you're recuperating from that, you can count down all of the year's Hot 20 hits -- all day long, from 8 am to 8 pm ET.

Check here for more of bpm:tv's December highlights.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Become One of Our ELITE bpm:tv Reps!



To our Street Team members – and all friends and fans of bpm:tv: We’re looking for THREE people from each province to become our elite bpm:tv reps!

Are you energetic and outgoing? Do you love to dance? Do you live and breathe electronic music? Then we want YOU!

Send in a video (two minutes maximum) or letter (1,000 words or less) and tell us why you’re the PERFECT person to rep bpm:tv!

Please make sure to include your location, your email address, and video clips or photos of you reppin’ bpm:tv in your community.

Send your submission to streetteam@bpmtv.com. Deadline: January 14, 2010.

Here’s what you’ll get …

All of our new elite bpm:tv reps will have their photos or videos spotlighted on Back @ Ya with Jorie Brown!
  • We’ll send you our elite street team kit, containing everything you need to rep bpm:tv in your community – and we’ll make sure you get additional street team gear whenever you need it.
  • You’ll be invited to production shoots, and will get automatic V.I.P access to events we cover.
  • Your photo and bio will be featured on the brand new bpm:tv Web site. (Coming soon!)
  • You’ll be eligible for special contests and giveaways EXCLUSIVELY for Street Team members.

… and here’s what we’ll ask you to do:
  • Let us know whenever you’ll be reppin’ bpm:tv at an event. (If you want to send us an event review afterward, that would be awesome! We’ll post reviews online.)
  • Report to us monthly with photos or videos of what you’ve been doing to rep bpm:tv in your community. We’ll post it on the Web site and all of our social networks, so everybody can see all the amazing bpm:tv stuff that’s going on from coast to coast.
  • To always represent us responsibly and respectfully. You’re a part of our team! Please respect others personal property: (Stickers/Flyers are not to be placed on others personal property/belongings.) Out in the club? Show your love for bpm:tv in a appropriate manner.
  • Be creative – and HAVE FUN!!!

Don’t forget: the deadline for entries is January 14, 2011
We’ll announce winners the week of February 1, 2011

Good luck!

streetteam@bpmtv.com
www.bpmtv.com/streetteam

More bpm:tv December Highlights!

Catch Scissor Sisters on bpm Spotlight, Dec. 14 & 16

 

London Live - Mondays & Wednesdays at 10 pm ET/PT
Every week, bpm:tv flies you to London and puts you in the front row for a series of exclusive concerts featuring the hottest dance and electronic artists in the world. This month, catch Britain’s pioneering electro-pop duo the Pet Shop Boys (a.k.a. Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) in an entrancing live performance that includes their hits “Love etc.” and “Always on My Mind” – airs Dec. 13 & 15. Plus: UK girl group The Saturdays (“Higher,” “Just Can’t Get Enough”) perform Dec. 20 & 22.

bpm Spotlight - Tuesdays & Thurdays at 8:30 pm ET
From The Prodigy to Pete Tong, Carl Cox to K-OS, there's just one show on Canadian TV that brings you up close and personal with the biggest names in dance and electronic music. On Dec. 14 & 16, meet New York glam-pop-disco ensemble Scissor Sisters, who rocketed to stardom in 2004 with the success of their self-titled debut album and its breakout single, a disco-fied version of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb." Since then they've released two more album's, including this year's critically acclaimed Night Work, collaborated with the likes of Elton John and Kylie Minogue, and signed on to open for Lady Gaga on the third leg of her sold-out Monster Ball Tour. Plus: Join bpm:tv Dec. 21 & 23 for an exclusive look behind the scenes at this year's Amsterdam Dance Event, the world's biggest club festival for electronic music.

Live Sessions – Mondays at 8:30 pm ET
Go behind the scenes with groundbreaking electronic music artists as they perform at Canada’s top clubs. This month’s highlights include sessions featuring Washington DC trio Thunderball (Dec. 20), and Defected in the House (Dec. 27), a showcase of acts from renowned UK house label Defected Records.

Best & Worst of 2010 - Friday Dec. 24 at 5 pm ET
What was the year's best dance/electronic video? The worst? Who had the best costumes? The worst lyrics? The most gratuitous use of Auto-Tune? Join bpm:tv for our annual year-end wrap-up, as hosts Jorie Brown and Nicole Arbour ("The World's Sexiest Comedian") walk you through the highlights and low-lights of the year that was. Repeats New Year's Day at 10 pm ET/PT

Jorie Brown and "World's Sexiest Comedian" Nicole Arbour (pictured) host bpm:tv's annual
Best & Worst roundup, Christmas Eve & New Year's Day.

AND DON'T FORGET THESE bpm:tv VIEWER FAVOURITES...

Back @ Ya - Daily at 7pm ET
It’s Canada’s only all-request dance hour! Effervescent host Jorie Brown takes your email requests, shout-outs and dedications, and plays the videos you ask for – from old school classics to the hottest new hits.

Hot 20 Dance Chart  – Monday to Saturday at 9 pm ET/PT
From the turntables to your TV, bpm:tv’s Hot 20 Dance Chart is the definitive guide to the tracks that are tearing up dance floors around the world. Join Scott Fox as he counts down the week’s biggest club hits.

Get Up N Dance - Daily at 8 am and 1 pm ET
Learn to move like the pros in this bpm:tv original series, which reveals the secrets of the world’s most innovative street dance styles, from hip-hop to breakdance. Repeats Mondays & Sundays at 8 pm ET 

Spend Christmas Day with bpm:tv!

Tune in on Saturday, Dec. 25 at 8 pm ET for a special edition of London Live, starring USHER!

Exclusive live concert performances of "There Goes My Baby," "Caught Up," "OMG," "You Make Me Wanna," "Love In This Club" and more! Filmed in HD at London's glamorous KOKO Nightclub. Only on bpm:tv!


Plus: Join host JORIE BROWN for a Back @ Ya Christmas Day marathon from 8 am to 8 pm ET -- and stick around for DJ Marky D's Christmas Dance Party, starting at 10 pm ET!

Tonight on bpm Spotlight: RICHARD DURAND


Tonight at 8:30 ET: bpm Spotlight profiles Dutch trance DJ/producer Richard Durand -- currently ranked at 54 on DJ Mag's definitive Top 100 list. Riding the success of his 2009 debut album Always The Sun, Durand replaced his mentor Tiesto this year as front man for Black Hole's legendary In Search of Sunrise series of CDs. He's also hard at work on his sophomore album, slated to drop some time in early 2011.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Miss Raquel's Month in Review!

Miss Raquel November 2010 Month in Review


Nov. 12: NuJazz Festival - DJ Shadow - Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto
This was one of those one in a lifetime performances. Actually more of a theatrical production than a DJ set.  Shadow combined DJing with HD animations and projections on a white sphere which was called the Shadowsphere. At first the front of the sphere was sealed off and later it opened to show DJ Shadow playing inside. Yes very cool, original stuff.

Animations from all angles were projected onto the Shadowsphere. And when the sphere was closed cameras which were located inside the sphere showcased to those of us outside it him playing.

Nov. 18 - Richie Hawtin, Gaiser, Jamie Kidd – Footwork, Toronto
As per usual this was an awesome show. Many tech-hounds in the crowd and far too many cellphone cameras! Wow! I don’t know if I’ve ever seen so many in a crowd at one time!

I had the honour of meeting Mr. Hawtin as bpm scheduled his interview during one of my “electronica” shoots at The Century Room in Toronto.


I have to tell you he’s far taller than I thought! Hence why I have no idea why many mistook him for his sound tech, but hey this happens!

Hawtin dropped a pretty great set. He played a wide range of tracks; hard bangers to some really great stripped-down minimal.

Around 4am he was wrapping his set up to a packed house, but than again it’s Hawtin we don’t get to see and hear him too often. He’s on tour for his Arkives release, and I can say this was one of my favourite sets.

Be sure to catch the interview on bpm:tv and his videos on my show!

Nov. 27 - Paul Oakenfold and Roger Sanchez – The Kool Haus, Toronto
I interviewed Paul Oakenfold for my blog on gayguidetoronto.com (GGT) called “Poppycock”, and for Scenester Channel. And I have to say it was an honour interviewing a producer who was one of the first DJs I knew of when I started in the Scene around 2004/2005.

He’s been nominated for two Grammies and how often does this opportunity come about to interview an ambassador such as Oakenfold! You’ll get to watch it very soon on GGT and Scenester Channel.

Paul is a well rounded distinguished artist, but I don’t need to tell you this with a remix of “Fasterkill Pussycat” many were anxious to hear featuring the late Brittany Murphy. A video I’ve aired on “electronica” a few times as its one of my favourites.

When we showed up around 12am the place was pretty bare, but once we were done the interview and on stage shooting him play the place was rammed. Seeing that massive crowd from the view from the stage with his energy was simply outstanding!

This will be an experience amongst my other great interviews I will cherish forever, even if "Oakey" was shocked that I told him where to sit, “Look she’s telling me what to do!” Hey! I wanted the pillow to be between us!

UPCOMING EVENT:


The Gift - Saturday December 18, 2010The Guvernment, Toronto, ON
Presented by Heineken

Mark Oliver @ the Guvernment
DJ Wristpect l Sir Lancelot l DJ Delerious @ the Drink

Deko-Ze l Ovi M l Baby Joel @ Gallery

Explicit Sounds of YM @ Acid Lounge

I’ll be in main room, be sure to say “Hi”! More info.

See you on the dancefloor!
Miss Raquel