Monstercat 017 – Ascension Ascends the Label Even Further

Over the past two years, I have watched this next label transform from the likes of a promising, transgenre EDM collective (with loads of potential) into the fierce jungle feline you see before you today.

Monstercat is most certainly where it’s at when discussing labels that have set the tone for the next few years of electronic dance music releases.

How, you ask?

Well, that next part is a bit tricky.

To begin, this Vancouver-based music label has elucidated talents from some of the most unheard of, eclectic groups of musicians in all of dance music. Not only have they championed said undiscovered artists onto the scene, but these new talents have proceeded to swell their fair share of waves in this vastly expanding ocean we affectionately refer to as the “EDM-o-sphere.” A quick glance at the “current roster” on the official Monstercat web page will reveal a staggering number of widely popular producers you may not have necessarily associated with MCat.

7 Minutes Dead, Astronaut, Au5, Braken, Case & Point, Direct, DotEXE, Dzeko & Torres, Droptek, Falcon Funk, Favright, Fractal, Haywyre, Hellburg, Insan3lik3, Krewella, Lets Be Friends, Mr Fijiwiji, Noisestorm, PIXL, Pegboard Nerds, Project 46, Rameses B, Razihel, Rogue, Soulero, Splitbreed, Stephen Walking, Throttle, Tristam, Tut Tut Child, Varien and Vicetone.

(Just to name a few of my favorites.)

However, words will only get me so far. You need to HEAR what I mean.

Without hesitation, the fat cats over at MC have released their 17th compilation LP to date. So far, “Monstercat 017 – Ascension” has garnered attention from every corner of the EDM world, making this their most supported album to date! With a four-hour laundry list of tracks, fantastic production quality throughout, and loads of prodigal EDM producers on top of it all, Monstercat presents to you a release that will only serve to exacerbate their stranglehold on the EDM industry.

Keep it up boys and girls.

Top 10 Songs of April 2014

We don’t have a lot of time so let’s keep this short…

 

What did I tell you?

10. If Death Cab for Cutie made Trance, this would be it.

9. Holy Urchin.

8. “This doesn’t sound at all like Daft Punk…how dare you Dillon?” Said every comment on this track.

7. Downtempo, modded vocals, straight Future kill.

6. One of my new favorite artists. Trap produced well, go figure.

5. What a great remix. Ever heard love oozing through your speakers?

4. Audien, just stop it. You nasty thing, you.

3. I was missing this Australian, Future Bass trailblazing phenom.

2. The ladies will love this one. Better find one…

1. Unfiltered perfection by Mr. Fijiwiji.

Stonebank – Eagle Eyes (feat. Emel) [MONSTERCAT]

When it comes to producing melodic dubstep, living in the shadow of an artist like Seven Lions is certainly no walk in the park. In order for an emerging artist to grab the attention of the electronic dance world, they must offer up a track that is truly a work of art, something rather special. Unfortunately, it is the inherent predisposition we all share as human beings that clouds our judgement when listening to new music. We are more willing to accept or enjoy a production from an artist in which we are already acquainted with (call it a bias if you will). We want their music to be good because we have already invested time in the artist(s) in question.

Fortunately for this next producer, he picked the right platform in which to springboard his euphonic genius onto our collective ears. It’s not even a contest any more, Monstercat = good music. It is as simple as that. Word up to our Canadian brethren pumping out wildly enjoyable EDM tunes day in and day out.

With the help of my feline friends, Stonebank brings us his first discernible release to date. “Eagle Eyes” (featuring vocals by EMEL) will warp the listener on a journey through a dense, dynamically shifting melodic dubstep landscape eloquently crafted by this up and coming producer hailing from, you guessed it, the UK.