Feedback Friday is Blisspop’s weekly exploration of the latest tunes being released both in the mainstream and underground electronic scenes. Our dedicated team of virtual crate diggers rotates each week to offer their unique takes on the newest house rollers, techno stompers, experimental cuts, bass rattlers, disco hits and beyond. No matter if the track has 6 plays or 6 million, breaks new ground or retreads the same tired tropes, is an instant add to the playlist or the catalyst for inventing time travel to be able to un-hear it – Blisspop is on it.
We are back at it again and this edition features our contributors: Alex Rubenstein, Justin Barini-Rivers, Alvaro Hernandez, Marshall Stukes and Will Creason. This week’s music includes tracks by A2A, Temudo, Jett Chandon, GRRL, and Mark Romboy. Listen below and let us know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
A2A – “Turf”
Will Creason – Local Action is on a multi-year roll turning out some of the best, futuristic club music. A2A casts a wide net for a popping electro beat and stratospheric trance riffs with tumbling and slightly off kilter percussive elements. Air Max ’97’s excellent sound design really shows on this track. Absolute banger status. (9/10)
Alex Rubenstein – The artist and label collaboration bringing you “Turf†should be enough to get your attention. AYA (FKA LOFT) teaming up with Air Max 97 for Local Action is a winner in my book. This feels like Night Slugs in 2020. We’ve got sleek sound design, hard hitting bass, and almost trance-like synth lines filtered through a garage and jersey club lens. This is peak time status through and through. “Turf†is a seriously big tune and a promising debut for the producer pair. (8.5/10)
Alvaro Hernandez – Although the balance between light and hectic really works on this track, it just didn’t really capture my attention as something that I would add to a listening or DJ list. (6/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This is weird from the start in the best way imaginable. I love music that is completely different from what I listen normally. The drums are rolling nicely with a FM bass making the occasional appearance. The sound design is next level. The accent sounds and textures here create so much depth. I expected more industrial or an experimental ending, but this tune hits the dance floor hard. (6/10)
Marshall Stukes – I was into this up until the lead kicked in. The production and the mix of the intro was great, but for me once the lead hit, a combination of the progression and sound design just took me out of the track. The higher octave portion of the lead was borderline annoying to me. With all that said, the parts where the lead were not present were great, with the part at 1:45 being a nice chill change of pace. (6/10)
Temudo – “Tough To Say”
Will Creason – Oh gosh, the beat on this track is unbelievably great. The kick pattern and shakers remind me of Baltimore Club and as the track opens up out of the breakdown and slides into the Millart-like hi-hat attack: a thousand times yes please. Everything about this track absolutely crushes from front to back. I’d go nuts if I heard this in the club. Wow! (10/10)
Alex Rubenstein – Temudo is an unfamiliar name to me, but it’s clear they have a keen sense for the dancefloor. Everything about “Tough To Say†screams DJ weapon. The hi-hats on this one are on a whole other level, adding to the energy of this track. The drum pattern kept me engaged the entire time. It’s not often that a 6 minute techno song has me wishing it was longer. This is a carefully honed banger, through and through. (8/10)
Alvaro Hernandez – Serious warehouse vibes with this track. A chugging bassline paired with gritty beats take you deep to a place where the lights are off and the sound is up. Subwoofer is highly recommended for this one! (8/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This hits like a wall. The low end is perfect. Big and round, reminding people outside the club that a banger just came on. I can see this destroying a room. The swing on the kick drums gives the groove such lovely timing. Temudo did a great job of layering as well. The mix from the low end to the hi hats is amazing. Everything is present and smashing the speaker. This is something I look forward to hearing on some proper speakers. (7/10)
Marshall Stukes – I love the old school feel to this song. It’s just enough to make it stand out in the crowd. The base of the beat is great, but I love the texture and the rhythm that it gives the track. The bass complements the rest of the track so well, with a more frantic rhythm that’s easy to get lost in. It’s a track that gives me energy when I listen to it. (8/10)
Jett Chandon – “Warrior”
Will Creason – One of my favorite tracks from DC’s Jett Chandon is out this month on Kontainer. The pummeling kicks and the atmosphere really make this one for me and I love the depth and cavernous reverb on the snare that gives it an EBM vibe. And, oh yeah, screaming – a highly underrated club tool. Look out for the sleek melodic build that leads into the second half. This is it! (9/10)
Alex Rubenstein – There is something immensely gratifying about getting to review a track from your hometown scene within a forum that covers the globe. Jett Chandon delivers an utterly primal stomper to the unworthy masses here via Kontainer. I’m hesitant to use the word atmosphere here, but this track cultivates its own unique energy that sets it apart from your conventional techno tune. Whether you hear this in a warehouse in Washington, D.C. or the floor in Berghain, the response is going to be universal; pure unadulterated freedom. (8.5/10)
Alvaro Hernandez – Echoing guitar stabs and dream-tinged synths make this a truly refreshing techno cut; one that allows the listener to experience both a calm ambience and strong rhythm at the same time. (8.5/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – “Warrior†is a big tune. The drums will catch your attention, but everything elsewill keep you there. This sounds as if it was designed by a mad scientist for the dancefloor. The drums just push aggressively while these textures come from every direction. Jett Chandon gives you a few breaks for air, but it’s still relentless. This is something that will change the vibe on the dance floor immediately. (7.5/10)
Marshall Stukes – I liked segments of this song, but overall I could not get into it. I was not a fan of the mix, though I understand what it was trying to achieve. In the parts that I got into, which were more so in the intro, I wanted to get lost in the production, but the kick kept me from doing so. (5/10)
Chromatics – “You’re No Good” ( GRRL Bootleg)
Will Creason – [Conflict of interest alert: my label has previously issued tracks by GRRL] This bootleg remix is wonderful right from the jump: huge synth bassline maximizing the wallop of the kick drum. Ruth Radelet’s vocals sound great in this club refix, her mournful voice is lifted by the swarm of positive vibes. Could there be a better peak time goth club anthem? (9/10)
Alex Rubenstein – In the era of Twitter and Soundcloud, we as the listener are inundated with bootlegs of every song from every conceivable angle. Fortunately, GRRL delivers a fresh take on this Chromatics track, easily layering Chromatics’ vocals over an elastic instrumental that keeps the propulsive energy going from the jump. Easily another track this week I’d be anxious to hear in the club. (7.5/10)
Alvaro Hernandez – I’m definitely digging this one! The energetic percussion molded into the dreamy vocals makes for a perfect cut to get the wallflowers moving. Only downside is the omission of the melodic synth line from the original cut, which I feel really would’ve added a shine to this remix. (8/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – GRRL creates an infectious tune using the Chromatics as a palette. This is dripping in throwback vibes and I love every second of it. The synth is so big and lush. Bouncing around with an attitude of their own. The drums are beyond amazing. Just popping around making the swing just perfect. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the 16th note drum accents are beyond clean. Honestly everything in this track is amazing. Just Go Listen! (9/10)
Marshall Stukes – The crunchiness of the production gave this track a nice contrast to its overall pop vibe, which I think is the best thing about this track. I was not a fan of some of the dj scratches. One use was great to give the track extra flair for a change up, but other times points it was cheesy. I do like the transition to the four on the floor at the end as well. (7/10)
Mark Romboy – “Stalker”
Will Creason – This is super slick. Fantastic, sharp production with every element feeling upfront but without the track feeling cluttered. Just when I thought I had this figured out, the break introduces a high-pitched squeal that leads into a rougher version of the theme. Super hot tune, this is an exceptionally good week on FF! (8/10)
Alex Rubenstein – Okay, this week has been a tear for Feedback Friday! This tune starts off straight-forward enough, polished and driving, but when the half-way point hits it makes you want to scream “turn that shit up!†I’m loving the dizzying effect that the high pitched squeals bring in before ramping up the intensity to 11. This one hits different. (9/10)
Alvaro Hernandez – There’s something about that unique communication between melodic analogue notes and staccato percussion that makes me instantly want to hit the dance floor. This track perfectly blends those elements into an exciting apex to take the listener straight to peak-time. (9/10)
Justin Barini-Rivers – This tune just keeps on going. At times “Stalker†feels like it’s going on forever and I mean that as a compliment. Almost trancelike while you wait for a new element or a transition. Somehow this build and build into an anthemic roller of a tune. The hi hats just keep on pushing. The groove is impeccable. I feel as though from the start of the track I’m stuck in a loop and once it finishes I realize it’s time to start again. (8/10)
Marshall Stukes – This is a great starter/early set track to get the dance floor moving. Its steady build over the first half is great. I’m not so much a fan of the extra production in the second half of the track when the beat kicks back in on the first couple of listens, but I know it’s in trying to keep the track interesting. (7.5/10)
Mark Romboy – “Stalker” – 8.3/10
Temudo – “Tough To Say” – 8.2/10
Chromatics – “You’re No Good” (GRRL Bootleg) – 8.1/10
Jett Chandon – “Warrior” – 7.7/10
A2A – “Turf” – 7.1/10