Brooklyn-based label toucan sounds’ latest project, Playground Compilation Vol. 3,  is a staggering, 17-track compilation featuring some of the most exciting new names in the New York electronic underground. Mostly recorded out of toucan sound’s Brooklyn studio, You Too Can Woo, this compilation sees both newcomers to the label, like John Barera, Laenz, Matt Fx, Escaflowne, and regulars such as Haruka Salt, Shifting Gears, musclecars, and Toribio, bringing the heat and carrying the torch for New York dance music. The result is a kaleidoscopic portrait of the city’s vibrant underground dance community. 

Kicking the project off is first-time toucan sounds guest, fleet.dreams, with his anthemic, melodic slice of tropical house, “Can’t Stop the Momentum”. The song serves as a fitting introduction to this massive compilation, with the main ear-worm refrain, “This is how we do it from the Brooklyn side”, serving as a kind of rallying cry for the rest of the tracks that follow. Everything about this opening track is energetic, unabashed, jubilant, and just damn fun. Its spunky attitude and brash confidence feel very akin to the spirit of the city itself. The track is replete with bongos, handclaps, truncated synths, an undeniably funky bassline, and layered ‘80s-sounding vocal samples which feel like they could have been ripped straight out of a long-lost Run DMC hidden gem.

The effect here is a kind of filtering of New York music culture– namely the golden age of hip-hop and funk– into ecstasy-inducing modern dance music. This song is a great opening and encapsulation of the unbridled energy which each of the other tracks on this compilation build upon and harness to their own unique and delightful ends.

Pre-order.

Gilad.

Cet article Fleet.dreams – Can’t Stop the Momentum [Toucan Sounds] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.

Colton R. May, better known by his stage name fleet.dreams, is an up-and-coming producer who recently moved to the bustling city of Brooklyn, New York. Having spent the previous two years in Detroit, honing his skills as a DJ while studying from the likes of Rick Wilhite, Norm Talley, Marcellus Pittman and Dez Andrés, fleet.dreams was destined for big things in 2020. However, when he arrived at his new home, much of the city was entering lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic – putting much of his plans on hold. Stuck inside and away from the dancefloor, May had ample time to meditate and imagine a world where we could chase our dreams once again.

His latest effort Return of the Dreamer is the result of this meditation. The 4-track EP is the second from his cassette imprint Leopard Cage, and a follow-up to last December’s incredible vocal house mission statement Selph Luv. The lead track from the record, titled “Silk Surface (Dub Mix),” is reminiscent of the Balearic, lo-fi house grooves that marked the scene around 2016 with artists such as Patrick Holland fka Project Pablo. Throughout the piece, fleet.dreams works in an assortment of east coast garage house melodies and expertly combines them with elements of Brazilian jazz that make for a vibe that is both laidback and uplifting.

As we journey back to normalcy this summer, I can’t think of a more fitting soundtrack than Return of the Dreamer. Make sure to grab your copy when hits stores May 28th.

Pre-order.

Yassin

Cet article fleet.dreams – Silk Surface (Dub Mix) [Leopard Cage] est apparu en premier sur Bolting Bits.