Cap Free, Customer Appreciation

For those of you who think CZ is far too crazy, sketchy, and keeps some pretty odd hours,  I give you: The After-After-Hours.  Just when you thought shit couldn't get any crazier.  Leave it to my band of merry men to uncover another hole in the wall just a stones throw away.  So obviously we went, I mean it is the Holidays after all.

The place was pretty clean, brand new, with a no ball caps policy that i am NOT a big fan of.  But in spite of the abrasive security, and whack policies.... the music was pretty damn sweet.  So sweet that we literally shazammed every single song for an hour.  Good thing we were there to populate the dancefloor too. No, no...you're welcome.  All this on Comfort Zone "customer appreciation night"- No cover and free CZ swag to every customer. now THATS customer service!


Dr. Dru - The Voice Of Dru (Original Mix)

David Keno, Nico Stojan - Princess Of The Night (Original Mix)

Funky Fat & Digitaria - You Bring Me Down (Original Mix)

Wham! Bam! thank you Santa.

before I get all snuggled into bed to wait for Santa... I just remembered I had meant to post this song at some point over the Holidays.  I can think of no better time than now!  Proving even Christmas songs can get a little funky sometimes.

Merry Christmas everyone! Wherever you're hearing this I hope its a Happy Holiday.

Wham! - Last Christmas (Matthew Kyle Edit)

whats Nu is New again

I know Nu-Disco was a very 2011-12 thing but in my books Disco never died, so why should this Nu variety?  I've only just recently heard this pretty awesome new album from DJ Dan.  Somehow I've managed to have never seen him live, yet... go figure.  Well a few weeks ago I heard this one drop and I am not ashamed to admit I was twirling up a storm.  And since there are few things as gay as Christmas....lets celebrate the Holigays with a little soulful disco vocal. YES!

DJ Dan - Out Of Nowhere (Original Mix)

and in keeping with the vocals and harmonies: Maceo Plex.  This man cannot do anything wrong it seems.  When you find someone who produces so many different styles of FANTASTIC  music.. latch on. Latch on and don't ever let go.  If I'm not mistaken Elum Audio is his own imprint, and a collaboration with a few others... pretty dope stuff.  I wonder is Jon is related to Rui?

Maceo Plex & Jon DaSilva -Love Somebody Else feat. Joi Cardwell (Original Mix)

'tis the season

This past year has flown by so damn fast.  It seems like only yesterday I was getting ready for my knee surgery.   This past weekend was the now annual tradition at CZ of "Just Like The Old Days".  A day once a year when they bring back some of the regular DJs from years ago which also brings out lots of the old crew of patrons too.  I wasn't a regular by any stretch back then, but getting to hear Paranoid Jack and El Duran play with Deko-ze & Addy was a pretty fantastic treat.  An astoundingly appreciative and fun crowd, with loads of classic tunes.  Sounds a bit like nostalgia overload but it isn't.  Anyhoo, its a busy time of year for everyone, so take a minute and enjoy some tunes. Heres a lil sample of the tunes from the classics weekend, but don't worry.. Deko-ze's set will likely be posted on SoundCloud so when it is I'll put a link up here too in case you don't follow him... which you should.

Tom Novy feat. Lima - Take It(Dani Koenig Remix)

Roots and Wings - Come Over To My Place

And this little nugget that I've been listening to a lot lately.  I don't know about y'all but when I was a kid my mom had these old disco records called "STARS ON 45" and it was basically a Bad Boy Bill style disco mashup with every pop song from that year blended into one fabulous record.  Right up there with Kenny & Dolly's Chirstmas record as one of my favourite of my mom's. This reminds me of that... in name only.

Kris Menace pres. Stars on 33 - LUV (Original Mix)

Francis Harris has the blues

He was part of the last post, and has made several appearances under various guises, Adultnapper, Lightbluemover, and now under his own name: Francis Harris.  His first LP under his given name and to say it's stunning is both a disservice and a huge understatement.  On top of being lauded as one of the best albums of 2011 by several media sources, Leland  has also(so far) spawned 3 remix EPs.  The live instrumentation, and fairly melancholic tone to the whole album is so haunting that its bound to get you thinking.  Personally, I love stuff like this; Its dark, its deep, its emotional.. and even sexy in parts.  The vocals on Lostfound are like something I don't think I have ever heard.  I found it difficult to settle on two favourites, but trust me.. you're going to want the whole album.  Put it on while you're reading before bed, or maybe even if you're doing something else in bed!  And when you realize the scope of the work this guy produces.. I'm going to go as far as to put him in Nicholas Jaar territory. Big praise from me. He has an ear and a feel for so much.

Francis Harris - Pensum (vinyl edit)

Francis Harris - Lostfound

Children Of The Dark

On a day such as this... Gay Christmas some call it, Halloween to others, I wanted to put up something spooky but I just can't stop listening to this damn song by SSION.  An artsy-indie-dance band from the bastion of all things queer & arty... Kansas City? Well music has no borders I say.  Its a little bit Culture Club, its a little bit Scissor Sisters and yes, even a little bit Pet Shop Boys.  Sound campy and fun? IT IS. And for even more fun I highly suggest watching the video right here.  Its a bit out there, but like a good car-wreck you just can't stop watching... and I guess the title sounds a bit Halloweenie..

SSION - My Love Grows In The Dark

I've posted another track by Lightbluemover before.  But what I didn't realize until today, was that Lightlbuemover and Adultnapper are the same person. And in keeping with the season... this one passes the Halloween test. Its got weird creepy vocals and everything!  And just in case it needed to be cooler its featuring Black Light Smoke(also featured here before) and its on Toronto's own My Favourite Robot Records. Any more boxes I could check??

Lightbluemover - Children Of A Lesser Dog feat. Black Light Smoke

Domo Arigato, Nathan Barato

Due to a variety of factors, several of my favourite local Toronto DJs were no longer playing at my favourite Toronto club.  Luckily it appears thats done with, as Mr. Nathan Barato played at CZ a little while ago! Not the 2 hours he was scheduled for, but 4.5 hours. It was almost frustrating because I said I would leave when he was done and the bugger just kept droppin' bombs!  #dancefloorproblems.

So here are a couple of the beauties he played for a very appreciative, if small, CZ crowd.

Starting with this Julio Bashmore remix of Bobby Womack... A friend of mine over in Amsterdam has opened my eyes to several other wonders by Bashmore and I highly suggest you get on that train.

Bobby Womack - Love Is Gonna Lift You Up (Julio Bashmore Remix)

and this funky funky tune.  Just wait for those rather surprising drops of a nice synthy bass. fun!

Mark Henning - You're Digging Into Me (Original Mix)

Lastly, I had heard this name before.  As Ive mentioned before my friend Josh and I have a little musical exchange going.. well my end is basically this blog now, but he still keeps one of my favourite traditions alive... the mixed tape!Or flash drive, or cd, or dropbox folder...

Ben Pearce - What I Might Do (Club Edit)