25/12/2013

Fluon top ten tracks of 2013

You probably have already read through some "best of 2013" lists. I didn't agree with the ones I read, so I decided to compile Fluon's top 10 tracks of 2013. When choosing the tracks I took nothing, but my own feelings into account. So have fun with this, listen and comment if you think something is missing. Also merry Xmas.



10. Awkwafina - "Mayor Bloomberg (Giant Margaritas)"
NYC nerd girl rapping to the mayor about giant margaritas. The video is as random. What's not to love?



9. Proxy - "Cobra Combo"
The soviet jungle's rambo Proxy delivers a new batch of bulldozer bass. His tracks are kind of a whole, but if I had to pick one then I'd go for the Cobra Combo with its crazy fidgeting.




8. James Blake - "Retrograde"
This track is the only one that matches between me and the big media tops. Hauntingly slow and dreamy. Is this song sad or happy, groovy or winding? It's perfectly in between everything and the little details rock the mood.
P.S. took a while to find an embed able audio source. Idiots at UMG (Universal) have disabled embeds for blogger for this and a couple more tracks on this list.




7. Bloody Beetroots - "Reactivate"
The "Hide" album is a great as a whole and when I first got it, I played it around five time in a row. They mix edm and different types of rock effortlessly and the finished tracks are dance able, but also tell a story. I picked "Reactivate", because it is one of the most high energy tracks and the most consistent as a dance track. "Please Baby" was a close second.




6. Disclosure - "Grab Her"
One of the roughest tracks off "Settle". A Very groovy dance floor track. I don't think there's a need to introduce Disclosure further. Never mind the video, this is the embed able version of the track.



5. M.I.A. - "aTENTion"
The freshest track off "Matangi" with a fresh vibe and it blends calmness with cockiness. M.I.A. radiates vision and confidence in everything she does and all of the music is fresh. I love the 90s vibe in "aTENTion". This might not be the final version by the way.

 


4. Digitalism - "Lift"
Digitalism reminds me of some of my own music without their rock influences. Their tracks with vocals are a special treat for the ears. Especially this year's Lift. Their Boiler Room mix gives clues of more great releases on the way.



3. Alesia - "Jezabel"
This track sound like the dominator hanging with trapsters and doing shots in a bar. Nothing beats hard French electro groove. And they are the ones to keep your eye on.



2. Gesaffelstein - "Hate or Glory"
Gesaffelstein was one of my favorite artists overall this year. He achieves the effect which I have strived for, but with a tempo that is twice as slow.
I'm not the biggest fan of the "Hate or Glory" video, but the music is pure genious with its minimal tension and the contrast between different parts.




1. Kanye West – "New Slaves (Dj Snake Remix)"

It's hard to beat Kanye's album Yeezus. When one of the best tracks off it is remixed even harder then it's a magic combination. Dj Snake is on the same compilation with Alesia, so it's a power combo. I hope 2014 will bring more of Yeezus.


See you soon, maybe even before new year.
Barthol

16/12/2013

Christmas, sofas, busted knees.

kanye west is heeeeeere

Expect new music and visual goodies very soon.

Everything started on Wednesday when we went to Sofar Talinn's concert number two. I guess you already know about Sofar, but in short it's a series of concerts that take place in people's living rooms. There's no ticket but you have to register in advance to go there. Three acts play and you won't know which ones before you get there.

Audience at Sofar 2, Chalice in the middle.

This time the acts were Markus Nylund, Vul Vulpes and Chalice/Jarek Kasar. Markus was standing in for Faun Racket. I had mixed feelings about that substitution, I love Faun Racket's electronic sound, but I'm not sure they would have rocked through the small speakers.

It's the sound of my shoes.

We were somewhat late and so we didn't get a good spot. Instead we hung on the indoors balcony. There were people from advertising, fashionistas and musicians in the audience. The building was in the Luther quarter and it was truly impressive. The passing trams were a nice finishing touch.

Photo battle casualty

Friday was one of the quietest in a long time. We hit Von Krahl, as we didn't get to go to the "AKGP 21" neon special event. It was a Kuduro party with not that many people there. A few drinks and dances to breakcore and we left. I hit Noorus to say hi and continued from there towards Telliskivi. We never made it there.

The girls on the left were supposed to dance on the speakers.

Saturday was once again a wild night. My first Christmas party this year was at Slothrop's book shop. A great place for feeding your brain. All the people working there are interesting in different ways.

Microcobra is ready.

I was to play a Dj set at Red Emperor. I was excited to see how do russophone glitch/8bit/breakcore acts and DJs interact with Australians, other foreigners and xenophile girls. I was a little late to see the experiment, as the foreigner concentration was fairly light when I got there.

Girls
I got on stage at 2:30 am. After the first 15 minutes the crowd got on the stage with me and stayed till the end of the night.

Olya rocking it.

The set was loads of fun. A lot of people came up to me while I was playing and I think only half of them requested a track. After an hour I gave the stage to Olya who was a real master of continuing the vibe. Big thanks to her for organizing the event in the first place.


I managed to bust my knees that night, as Tallinn is the slipperiest city in the world. To my surprise a passing guy pulled me back on my feet instantaneously. I ended the night at a birthday I can't tell you about.

See you soon
Barthol

08/12/2013

Friends throw the best birthday parties

I don't usually listen to music like this, but it sounds pretty good here

Our glamorous birthday girl.

This Friday was precious. It's always fun to go to friend's birthdays and this time there were many at once. Tõnis and Tiia were having their 54 years combined party at Protest. At the same time Diana was having her jubilee at undisclosed location. I played a set at both of the celebrations.

Glamorous birthday boy

I started at Protest, greeted the birthday boy and girl, tasted the mint punch and met more friends. The theme was Gatsby glam, guys were asked to suit up. I just wore a tie, as the second night also had a dress code which didn't match the suit style. I couldn't stay for long because I was supposed to play at the undisclosed location first.



The location is in the very center of town. You have to know the right people to get through the door. There are no signs and most of the time you wouldn't ever know that there was something going on in there. I got let in by a glamorous girl. I later learned that she was the burlesque dancer.

Olya at the red carpet event with "champagne".

I played my set 90 minute electro set as one of the first DJs because I was the "crowd friendliest" that's probably a first time when this has happened to me. At times I was accompanied by Edvin who was playing the flute on top of the electro tracks. A big thanks to the barman who kept bringing me the "welcome" shots while I was playing.

The fire show

There was a fire show happening soon after my set. We stood and watched the flying fire while tiny speakers were playing Lana Del Rey. Passing people stopped and admired the show with the guests.

One of the best looks, wearing Triinu Pungits.

The second act of the night appeared. I've never been to a birthday with a burlesque show. It was sexier than the stripper we once had back in Tartu. For obvious reasons she was hotter than Marco at this party. The performer was Chrissy Kiss.

Contrasting beauty against the shabby wall.

It was nice to meet up with Olya, whom I hadn't seen for years since she moved to Berlin and then London. You might see us playing together soon enough in Tallinn.
I headed back towards Protest around 4 am. The place was packed full and the concentration of friends was high. We proceeded with a bottle of half-frozen champagne to remember the old days.

Girl looking for change in Protest.

After pondering whether I should play or let the house and techno wave prevail, I decided to give electro a fighting chance. I played for half an hour after Tõnis, and stirred up the place.

People feeling Tõnis play.

The night ended at 8 am. It's been a while since I have taken the bus home from a party. If you liked this then you can read how we celebrated Diana's birthday some years ago. Last year's bash with Tõnis. And how I played Tiia's party at Protest some years ago.



See you soon,
Barthol

02/12/2013

Dark days

So you want to be the cocaine of music

Welcome back,
The snow finally came and lets see what happened before that.

Two girls found each other at a Noorus' night.

I'm playing a half-private night this Friday, if some of you want to hear that, then drop me a line.

Rave Dave kicking it with a beer before we headed out
to show off his beard at Red Emperor.
Meeting Finnish students at Red Emperor who challenged people to drink beer
with two tampons in your mouth. Eventually the challenge was excepted
and the guy did it in about ten seconds. He turned into a belly button
beer fountain.

Meeting in the earlier hours of a Tartu night.

Two zombies looking at the pool party and befriending a cat. We tried to take it to the bars with us, but it had ADHD and short legs.

Paavo Matsin hosts the sickest book launches. This time it consisted of  a tenor singing, a violinist playing, best presentation of travel photos ever, an overview of Latvian drinks,  sword fighting and Bartitsu the martial art of gentlemen. The tradition of drinking shots of pure spirit (96.7) continued.

Dj Girti playing at Noorus



See you soon!
Barthol