The gem of the month for December comes from Keats Collective’s most recent compilation. Hailing from the UK, Vanilla takes an elusive approach to music which allows for his content to speak for itself. His quality to quantity ratio is outstanding—with eight beat tapes under his belt, along with an abundance of singles, being presented with new music by Vanilla is always a treat.

On “Lose You,” Vanilla flexes his funk prowess as he’s also done on “Girl,” “Suede” and “Gold.” Synthetic flute sounds, empathic vocal samples, and plucked guitar notes make for an extremely funky final product. The synth solo about halfway through the track is the cherry on top.

Though Vanilla has crafted a signature sound in his flourishing beat tape series, his retro dance tunes seen on the Keats Collective label are definitely a welcomed deviation every now and again.

“Lose You” is part of Keats Collective’s Volume 6 compilation. Check it out: http://keatscollective.bandcamp.com/album/keats-collective-volume-6

An early Christmas gift has arrived. Keats Collective is back with the sixth instalment of their fantastic compilation series. From 2012 and on, Keats has steadily solidified themselves as a label to look out for in the independent electronic scene. Their self-proclaimed title of “future funk’s finest” is justified, as they are undoubtedly the premier source for top notch music in the future funk genre.

On top of that, they are gracious enough to provide each and every one of their releases as free downloads. So if you’re not hip to Keats Collective’s incredible discography, it would be wise to dig around as you’re guaranteed to discover a myriad of gems. Keats has been consistent with their quality output for a few years now, and with 28 delicious new tracks, the Volume 6 compilation is no exception.

Check it out on Bandcamp: http://keatscollective.bandcamp.com/album/keats-collective-volume-6

Harris Cole, the Chicago-based producer, has molded his sound at a lightning-fast rate over the past year or so. He has shown a knack for demonstrating his production talents in a wide range of styles, whether it be wavy trap music (“leanin” w/ great dane) or catchy future funk (“Tell Me”). His ability to pump out good music in multiple facets makes him that much more of a compelling and promising producer.

With “one day we’ll have to face ourselves,” Harris showcases a minimalist downtempo sound, making use of sporadic synths, delicate percussion, and some nifty bass work by Alex Szotak to complete the full package. Its gloomy atmosphere invokes an abstract feeling of demise or despair, and could very well work as an outro for the soundtrack of an apocalypse.

In an insightful Nest HQ article, Harris explains the song was inspired by anxieties that come with awareness of one’s inadequacies. These sentiments can be deeply felt in the song’s blissful ambiance. “one day we’ll have to face ourselves” is not only a beautiful and enticing track, but a masterful ode to the human condition.

https://soundcloud.com/iamharriscole/one-day-well-have-to-face-ourselves

Electronic Gems is a brand dedicated to promoting the efforts of talented and overlooked creatives across the globe. In a post-internet world consisting of millions of passionate music-makers, it is important that certain individuals garner their deserved recognition for their quality output. This medium exists to serve that purpose. With an eclectic range of sounds along with a refreshing aesthetic, Electronic Gems aims to be the epicentre of sonic diamonds in the rough. This blog will keep you in tune with the underground and allow you to follow the movement as it proceeds.