Nice & Smooth [ Toronto Label ]

Nice & Smooth wins the race - - with their upcoming release from Hungary's ICR. The Toronto label is still kicking strong despite being nearly 16 years old.

Nice + Smooth is a Canadian label based in Toronto which was founded by Gerald Belanger in 1996.  The Canadian label may "lack" genre-specific focus - - releasing a wide variety of electronic music ranging from House & Techno to Electronica & Bass Music - - but we think that was exactly their intention.  The label is known by the heads in our city, but I have found that the younger generation may not be so aware (a up-to-date Resident Advisor Page would probably help them out a bit in this regard) but perhaps the existance of a Twitter and Facebook page may change that.  Nonetheless, this old school label is one of a growing number of Toronto based labels which puts out good music.

An example of this is an upcoming release by Hungary's ICR, which you can sample below.  We would like to express our support for the label on this release, as well as their last one featuring this artist.  You can hear more of ICR's sounds over here, on his Soundcloud page.  Keep pumpin out good music guys!

ICR - Upcoming Release @ Nice + Smooth >>> [BUY IT // June 26]

The Moments I Ruined EP is the first thing that really caught my attention by this Canadian label, and since hearing this masterpiece, I have continued to follow the upcoming releases on Belanger`s label each time.

ICR - The Moments I Ruined EP (3 Previews) >>> [BUY IT]

Some other notable tunes out recently on the label are provided below - - support good music by buying it please!  All the best to Nice + Smooth, you guys have been killing it lately with the release selection.  Big ups to the TO massive.

Stephane Vera - Rebuild (Noah Pred Remix) >>> [BUY IT]

DJ Shine - Lost In The Ether (Filtered Boogie Remix) >>> [BUY IT]

...by Dick Diamonds

#SimTO: Independent Electronic Music Festival

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#simTO looks to be a promising contender in the year of festival upstarts in Toronto. Click the image to check out the website and don't forget to grab a super cheap earlybird ticket!!

If you haven't heard yet, The Deep North is one of the players - - along with breakandenter and Hushlamb - - behind this summers Sound In Motion Electronic Music Festival, a totally independent project headed by the brilliant people at Studiofeed which will be bringing some seriously amazing music and art to Canada's multicultural capital of tunage.

The three-day festival will focus on electronic music, namely house and techno - - but expect more than that - - and is scheduled to run from Friday July 13 through to Sunday July 15.  The festival is unique in that it is a not-for-profit event which spans three days, is held at various downtown locations - - including Sugar Beach (1000+ Capacity) and a huge warehouse location - - showcases a large number of local artists as well as an exciting lineup of international acts into the mix.  The best part of this event is that the festival, unlike some other "festivals" happening this summer, is a completely independent undertaking - - there is no bullshit here - - free of any corporate funding, relying solely on the time and effort of a music loving community.  That's what we are talking about, baby!!

While the complete lineup and schedule of events has not been uncovered yet - - read: more to come - - below I will quickly list some of the exciting acts that will be rocking one of several festival events happening Friday night, Saturday, Saturday Night and Sunday.

WHO YOU CAN EXPECT @ THE SOUND IN MOTION MUSIC FESTIVAL

ARTIST NAME ..... ORIGIN (Affiliations) 

Sammy Dee ............ Germany (Perlon/Ultrastretch) 

Dualism .................. Switzerland (Archipel/Maschine/Numbolic)

Billy Dalessandro ... United States (Archipel/Siteholder/Soniculture) 

Demas ..................... Germany (Klangscheiben Records)

Konque .................... United States (Alka Rex & David Last)

Pursuit Grooves ...... United States (Techtonic/Deepblak)

Pheek ...................... Canada (Archipel)

Matt Thibideau ........ Canada (Cynosure/Obsolete Components/Archipel)

Mark Thibideau ....... Canada (Cynosure/Obsolete Components/Archipel)

Arthur Oskan .......... Canada (Thoughtless/Night Drive/Beretta)

Knowing Looks ....... Canada (WCNL/Musique Risquee)

Yes Ma'am .............. Canada (Alicia Hush & Ana+one)

Cee Cee Cox ........... Canada (Siteholder/Takita/Two Birds)

+ MUCH, MUCH, MORE!

Unlike other festivals, the Sound in Motion event is unbeleivably affordable. especially if you act now and purchase your Early Bird Weekend Pass.  The Early Bird Pass is a super steal at only $55.00, but is only offered for a limited time and at a very limited number of 200 passes.  I have just been told by our accounts department that these Early Bird Passes are ALMOST SOLD OUT so save yourself time and money by buying them online right now - - by using either Debit or Credit!  Yes, that is right, you can use your debit card to make this simple transaction.  Don't sleep on this deal guys!

We are super excited for this event, and we cannot stress enough just how important it is that you come out and support this wonderful music festival.  We know how many complaints we all have heard about Toronto's lack of anything close to a real music festival.  Well, here it is people... this is our chance to make our dreams a reality, let's build something that will grow and continue years into the future.  For more information on this event, make sure you check out the sound in motion website.  See ya there!

...by Dick Diamonds

New LAL Vid

MURR, ROSINA & IAN: Grass-roots Never Sounded So Good.

Check out this really cool video by C Hudson Hwang for Toronto's own trio LAL's newest self-titled album, which you can buy over on iTunes.  LAL is an eclectic group which makes some seriously amazing music, and who celebrated their album release with a massive jam at the Garrison last friday, which from what I have heard, was an absolute rager that brought together a couple hundred LAL fans and fam.   The group includes Rosina Kazi, Murr and Ian DeSouza, and is a true blend of culture, creativity and good vibes.  We love the grass-roots approach these guys have taken in their promotion of their music and we are big fans of what they do.  Check them out, you will enjoy it.

LAL - Look Behind ... Video by Chud Films >>> [BUY IT]

..by Dick Diamonds

DRM036: Deadly Vanity

Deep From Within The Power Room: Deadly Vanity Delivers Our 36th DRM Mixtape.

Toronto's up and coming deep house selectors Deadly Vanity - - Joel Waz and James Mac - - have made you a sexy deep grinding mix fit for dry summer days or humid sweaty nights... it would even sound good in a complex powder room senario like the one above.

Our 36th Deeply Rooted Mix comes from this deadly local duo who are on the rise right now and continue to make deep analog noises that have been shaking the depths of the underground house music scene here in Toronto.  After a couple of years of hard work, it seems that the duo has finally begun solidifying their presence among many of Toronto's local favourites and upcoming crews.  The boys run a weekly radio show on dubplate.fm every other wednesday called Dead Air, and can be followed through their soundcloud page which will give you a more in depth taste of what these two techno troublemakers like to mix.  Dick Diamond's really likes these cat's because they "don't wait for people to put them on, they make the f*@king moves themselves" by promoting their music feverishly and throw their own events which always draw at least a small, motivated crowd every time.

The mix they pitched us is an infectous blend of contemporary deep house sounds set at a grinding pace capable of making some asses shake, regardless of size. The duo has been having some good luck lately grabbing the attention of one of Toronto's most popular Deep House peddlers - - Jeff Button - - a often busy and highly booked veteran dj known as the curator of the popular to "DigDeep" Podcast series and a main man in the Modern Love Affair event series.  This well deserved attention landed them in the spotlight as they did a cool guest mix for the successful podcast series, which - - as far as I know - - lies among the 100 most popular podcasts in the world.

So, with that ladies and gents, we would like to present to you Deadly Vanity's exclusive Deeply Rooted Mix.  Enjoy! 

DRM036: DEADLY VANITY'S EXCLUSIVE DEEPLY DEADLY ROOTED MIXTAPE >>> [Download!] 

by Maxxxxxxx Faxxxxxxxxxx

Deep in the Dutch Techno Panier

Nothing but sweet deep kicks in the paniers of the Dutch

It could be the cheese, maybe it's the bikes, or all the pretty red lights...but in all likelihood the hash, the Dutch label Delsin Records knows how to pick them.  While having some deep & electronica releases, the primarily techno label consistantly delivers heavy rhythms and outstanding synthy goodness from many regulars in my headphones including Mike Dehnert, Conforce, Shed, $tinkworx, D5, Claro Intelecto, A Made Up Sound, Taho, Marcel Dettmen, Steve Rachmad, Roman Lindau, Future Beat Alliance and a laundry list more...I recently got into one name who has been at it for a while and after many well received releases has been garnering some serious worldwide support as of late, Bram Sluiter aka Quince.

The Utrecht resident has some unreal stuff on Music Man, Clone and one of my favorites Smallville.  His latest vinyl only release REM / Alfa on Clone has been difficult enough to find, but I will get my hands on it.  A little more dubbed out than his earlier Detroit style, REM chugs nicely along the deep techno tracks and Alfa is simply a big dubby beaut.

With an upcoming number on Kompakt, Quince has proven he is one to watch.

Quince - REM / Alfa 12" >>> [BUY IT]

While on Delsin, check out UK break and dubstep producer Gerry Read's endeavor into house, the 19 year old is bringing deep house and techno tin can banger style and his slated to do a house release series on Delsin, wicked.  [BUY IT]

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<SID FRISK>

Hermans Re-Runnage

Dick Diamonds (L) + Max the Fax (R) are the Toronto techno oddity known as the Hermans.

A new mixeroo by the Hermans, aka Max the Fax and Myself which we recorded for From the Deep Radioshow a couple of weeks ago.  We hope you enjoy it - - more music can be found on the Deep North's soundcloud page for our blog or on the Hermans' Soundcloud.  The tracklist can be found on the soundcloud as well, by clicking on the mix.

Wednesday Isn't So Bad Afterall

So wednesday is pretty good as far as weekdays go isnt it?  I mean, were halfway through another week and that means only one thing...  We are that much closer to that meager helping of days off we call the weekend.  Anyway, what better time to crank some hot tracks and get yourself all pumped up for whatever it is you look forward to this weekend. 

First off, here is a new pusher from an artist known as ARTTU, a tune i cant stop listening to. The whole release is solid but this nugget stands out for me. It also includes a hot Re-Arranged mix by GERD.

BUY IT >>> HERE

And for those of you who aren't so much feeling the retro house vibes on that one, here's a little pounding techno fit for life altering warehouse parties.  Life changes, all the way.

BUY IT >>> HERE

530 IN THE AM

530 Techno is a dope little Digital techno label based out of northern California. They are putting out The Hermans first ep this summer. Their Latest upcoming release, by Oilpanic is really nice and features a sweet remix by one of my personal faves Brendon Moeller (aka Ecologist/beatpharmacy) We are truly stoked to be contributing to the labels already awsome catalog and hope we help in bringing this quality imprint at least a few more fans, not to say they dont already have a good following, with support from artists such as Seth Troxler, Lee Curtis, Christain Martin, Alland Byallo, Ritchey Hawtin, and even the infamous Axwell (of Swedish House Mafia fame)... Hey, at least the dude is listening to some good tunes.  Anyway Were stoked to say the least and we hope you enjoy your first introduction to the sounds of 530 Techno

You can purchase the release via the soundcloud player, But not until it drops.  

Can ya DWIG?

This girl can DwigHere's a new deep creeper from Dwig on Giegling 09 out of the Weimer to help you with your mid-week melancholy, paired with the short film Oramunde (1933) inspired by the forbidden, doomed love of Pelleas & Melisende.  The entire Feige Dattel EP may blow your mind if your into atmospheric use of winds and strings, rhythmic grooves and cool original artwork.  I'm really Dwigging.

DWIG - Feige Dattel 12" >>> [BUY IT]

 <SID FRISK>

Tazmanian Orgy

Tazz takes on techno from many angles

On an all too sunny Sunday afternoon some Late & Deep induced insomnia had me seeking something deep and moving, just a few minutes in the shop it was New Kanada to the rescue with some nice Canadian content.

The artwork and title of Tazz's Cosmic Sex EP had me imagining myself losing my wallet in a brothel on Mars, which I suppose is kind of irrelevant as I doubt they’d accept Canadian dollars anyway.

I got into New Kanada through the The Mole, Seuil and BSU, so was looking forward to something evolving.  It delivers, on top of inducing what could be mistaken for time travel the title track Cosmic Sex proves a weird and wicked acid stomper.  It’s complemented nicely by Mermen And Mermaids, equally banging with its array of nicely done hats and spooky vocal.  Wanderer completes it nicely with its wavy synths, arpeggiated organ and piano stabs.  Do pick up Cosmic Sex, but wear cosmic protection.

While on Tazz, his latest on Tsuba, Adventures Of Tazz, and corresponding remixes, proves an adventure indeed.  The ten track LP seems to cover Tazz’s evident score of directions whether it be deep, dubbed or in a dream powered by skipping hats and dreamy synths, I’m really digging.  Each of the deep techno and electronica productions are unorthodox and compelling.  See for yourself...

Tazz - Cozmic Sex EP >>> [BUY IT]

<SID FRISK>