Two For Tuesday: Will.I.Am & Shadow System
We have two great selections for you this week. First off, for our indie release, we have Shadow System from Germany. Their two-disc debut, Dark By Design, features driving industrial trance/house with plenty of energy to get you pumped for your next big night out. DJ’s will find several of the cuts perfect for taking the vibe harder, faster and dirtier. Fans of Trent Resnor and hard trance will get off on several of the tracks, especially The Nihilist Machine.
The first disc contains ten originals plus a bonus track, while the second disc features remixes from Ginger Snaps, SAM, NOISUF-X, AMDUSCIA. We preferred the originals including the pumping, gritty acid house mind bender, Twisted Sex Malfunction, but the remixes have merit. When not in his home studio, band leader Adam Gamble regularly finds himself playing poker online, while DJ :]JnX[: is always on the lookout for new glitch tracks to sample or play out. Currently unsigned, Shadow System are looking for remix opportunities and live performances to showcase their unique sound.
Will.I.Am’s new #willpower release is now engaged a in heavy promotional blitz following the success of the second single, “Scream and Shout,” featuring Britney Spears (skip the overly profane remix, it’s painful). This has certainly helped reposition the release after the abysmal first single, “T.H.E (The Hardest Ever) feat. Jennifer Lopez & Mick Jagger” tanked hard. (Career advice for Jennifer Lopez: make another smart, sassy film like Out Of Sight before you end up on Dancing With The Stars…)
We had a listen to the rest of the album, which is pretty hit or miss, but the one thing you have to hand to Will.I.Am is the production quality of his cuts. The processing techniques alone are an education unto themselves and the vocals are extraordinary. All in all, most fans will pick and choose a only a few of the cuts to add to their party mix, but home producers should definitely give the album a listen with a excellent set of cans.
