Picks Of The Week (20.06.20

1. Metrik - Ex Machina [Hospital Records]

Recommended if you like: Pendulum, ShockOne

So this is what a perfect album feels like.

I've always been a huge fan of Metrik (Dawnbreaker might be my favorite tune of all time), so when I heard that he wants to release another album I was obviously hyped. At that point in time Metrik was already doing one of the best weekly livestreams in the scene, which I of course religiously watched and took part in every week. I'm not sure if that was all part of the plan for the album or if it was just a happy coincidence, but because he was so fresh in my mind the hype was through the roof already. Every few weeks he would drop a single or a hint at a collab and we'd all go crazy in the chat. Every single new track was so good that the already high expectations would make another jump upwards every single time. Last Thursday, the moment came. His album reveal show, which was also the "season finale" of his livestream. The high production value of the video, combined with the great mixing and lovely chatbox besides it, it just all came together beautifully. Having digested all that, I have to say, this is the perfect way to hype people up for an album. It absolutely worked on me at least.

The best part though? He did it. He exceeded my stupidly high expectations. This is absolutely my favorite release of this year so far.

As predicted when it was released as a single, Automata is the perfect intro for what's to come. That burst of initial energy is followed by the first of only two collaborations on this album, Parallel with Grafix, which features one of the catchiest vocals of the year. Those vocal chops in the drop are so masterfully crafted that I can't help but fall in love every time I hear them. Next is the guitar- and vocal-driven Closer, which is a combination that make the Pendulum comparisons just way too obvious to even mention at this point, especially with how similar Metrik's and Rob Swire's vocals can be at times. After that the already released singles, namely We Are The Energy, Hackers and Gravity (with the small interlude Ascension in the mix), take reign and show us just how good Metrik is at producing festival anthems. Now we get to the new parts.

Usually the pendulum comparisons are mostly aimed at the big vocal-driven singles. But for Time To Let Go they go a bit beyond the obvious parallels. It is a track that reminds me a lot of tracks like 9000 Miles or Plasticworld, but with 2020 Metrik's high levels production, which is a combination that results in a just absolutely blissful track. For some reason I didn't like it on the first listen, but it has become my favorite tune of the album at this point. It's one of the biggest growers I know. Now that we're all dreaming and floating away, it's time for some bangers. The title track, Ex Machina, is exactly that. Banger doesn't even begin to describe it, to be honest. The huge WHOOOOMF, the creepily rising quick notes that you can just feel in your spine, the incredibly fitting vocal sample, argh, I just love it. Next is the ShockOne collab Dying Light, which goes straight back to the festival anthems. This makes it sound like it's repetitive or generic, but it honestly isn't. I don't know how he does it. Shadows slows us down a bit again before we enter the experimental part of the album, the last two songs. Thunderblade goes all-in on the guitar-driven parts of the album and is probably one of the most unique tracks of the bunch, if not for Requiem, the last track. Requiem features the most non-Metrik sounding drums and rhythm, while still managing to fit into the vibe of the album. It sounds a bit like the Virtual Self-esque ending to Automata, but turned into a full track. I wouldn't have expected to have Metrik in my "Unique Stuff" playlist, but I'm not complaining at all.

TL;DR: Album very very good, please listen to it.

P.S. yes, I won't cover MUZZ's single this week, even though it is absolutely glorious. I will cover it when the whole album releases, even if I don't like the rest of the album.

2. Lexurus - Magnify [Liquicity Records]

Recommended if you like: Metrik, Andromedik, Polygon, NCT

Lexurus is one of those producers that seem to favor quality over quantity to such a degree that every track they release ends in up in my playlists. If you don't know him yet, he's one of the finest dutch talents in the Liquicity/High Tea uplifting dancefloor category. After just one self-released track, he got deeply involved in the High Tea compilations and events, which lead to him becoming involved with Liquicity as well. First by being part of the yearly compilation album in 2018, then by releasing a few solo singles and an incredible remix of High Tea label dons T & Sugah's "Demon" for the Liqucity 10 year anniversary remix album. His dnb bootleg of Netsky's Nobody last year just further cemented his status as one of my favorites and made me wish for a world in which his bootleg was officially released on Spotify.

Back to the current day, Magnify is Lexurus' second release of the year after Crystalize. And it's safe to say it's one of his best. Keeping with the theme of beautiful dancefloor anthems, Magnify hits exactly the right spots. Dreamy vocals by Rhodé, one of the catchiest lead melodies ever and an atmosphere that just makes you drift away. If you want to experience true beauty, just turn down your lights, grab the equally beautiful music video and put it on the biggest screen available to you. And blast it. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it.

3. Nocturnal Sunshine - Gravity feat. RY X (Calibre Remix) [I Am Me Recordings]

Recommended if you like: Piano-focussed Liquid, Satl, Lenzman

I probably don't need to introduce a producer of this calibre.

While we're talking about beautiful music, this remix just has to be mentioned. It's no secret that Calibre is the master of liquid and liquid remixes, I mean just look at his Swan Song remix. But that doesn't mean I'm not still going to be impressed every single time.

He took this rather experimental deeper piece by Nocturnal Sunshine, which is the dubstep alias of house producer Maya Jane Coles according to my extensive Wikipedia research, and completely made it his own. It's like the vocals were made to be used for liquid dnb. Together with all the details he added it all comes together to form one perfect piece of music. Listening to it just puts me into a trance. I know, I know, this is kinda par for the course for Calibre, but this one just hits that melancholic spot perfectly.

4. Siege MC - Life In The Sixteen [Soulvent Records]

Recommended if you like: Grafix, DRS, In:Most, Whiney

Fun fact about me: I used to listen to hip hop exclusively. Nowadays I get my hiphop fix mainly through DnB MCs though. Like this new EP by Soulvent mainstay MC Siege.

Soulvent, the London-based label founded by Pola & Bryson, Joe Goss and Liam Holyoak-Rackal, has always been a good place to find unique drum and bass by some of the best up-and-coming producers around. Just like Pola & Bryson themselves, the sound usually ranges from the soulful liquid to the deeper parts of the genre.

This range of sound is very well encapsulated in this EP. The opener Drawn To Leave is another entry in the series of beautiful tracks today, perfectly complemented by Siege's lyrics and flows. It kind of makes me feel like I'm back at Liquicity Festival, where he is one of the main hosts. Beautiful music for beautiful people. Not sure if that is actually his catchphrase, but I definitely associate that with him. Following this is a complete switchup to the aforementioned deeper depths with Plastic People. Afterwards Siege is taking a bit of a breather on Wide Open, the only track on the EP that also features him on singing duties. At this point in the EP I'm asking myself who the productions did, because I could have sworn that this track sounds exactly like something by Whiney or Grafix. Lo and behold, with my 1337 h4ck3r skillz I found out that the 3 of the 4 productions were provided by Grafix, while the remaining one (Plastic People) was done by In:Most. Just sharing this info to save people the trouble of googling. Back to the music, we keep the rhythm of dreamy-banger-dreamy-banger going and reach the closing track of the EP, Template, which definitely feels like it would just go off at a rave.

The great thing about him is that contrary to his name your ears never feel like they're under siege, he knows how to let the production speak for itself.

5. Various Artists - Programmed Vol. 4 [ProgRAM]

Recommended if you like: IMANU, SyRan, Razlom, Unique stuff

I told myself I'd only write about 5 release once, but this week of releases was just so annoyingly good that I had to do 5 again.

To break the pattern of "happy vibes" a bit, I want to choose something a bit more techy and unique for this weeks Buried Treasure™. I also just love me a good newcomer compilation. The new fourth entry in the Programmed series on ProgRAM fits those requirements perfectly.

Nectax starts the four-track EP off with the unique melodic jungle-inspired vibes that reminds me a lot of his 2020 Overview Music EP, especially Stateless. Error 404 keeps the uniqueness going with Got 2 Keep Moving. By combining the nearly melancholic athmosphere created by the vocal sample and buildup with a drop that will make you just throw away your footwear, the ungoogleable producer has struck gold. Trinist continues the madness with the pure chaos that is Major Shift. And I mean that in a good way. The way all the different melodies and tones come flying in is marvellous. Next is my favorite of the release. What Else To Say by Nuvertal, the founder of Liquor, the sister podcast of Neuropunk committed to the Russian liquid scene. But make no mistake, this is no time to relax. Nuvertal takes no prisoners on this melodic neuro-y journey of a track. Subview finishes the EP off with a few more broken beats and jungle influences, definitely different to their usual louder sounds.

This release has put three new producers on my watch list. I count that as a huge win.

Other Hidden Gems this week:

LUCA - All Night / My Affection [YANA Music]
Uttersounds, Dyzlexic, Glyph - Viper [IN:DEEP Music]
Hybert Philipps - In My Head / Skyward [Hanzom Music]
Victim - Frozen Empire [Citrus Recordings]