house | Unfortified Castle

"Papercut": when I realized there was more to electronic music

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 25, 20223 min read

"Papercut": when I realized there was more to electronic music

Zedd's serene house-pop production featuring Troye Sivan was the first track of its kind that impressed me with the greater story it told.

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 4, 20223 min read

"Paradigm" is my kind of deep house

CamelPhat are leaders of the style now, and I saw it coming with this 2015 production.

I appreciate "Day 'n' Nite" now more than I ever did before

Benjamin Kassel

Mar 2, 20224 min read

I appreciate "Day 'n' Nite" now more than I ever did before

I only came around to hip hop a few years ago, but more recent developments make it resonate with me even more now.

"Inner Light" speaks to my anxious self in a re-emerging social climate

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 25, 20225 min read

"Inner Light" speaks to my anxious self in a re-emerging social climate

Elderbrook and Bob Moses' lyrically driven house production has been a personal anthem since I first heard it about half a year ago.

"Digital Love" is my favorite electronic track of all time

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 22, 20225 min read

"Digital Love" is my favorite electronic track of all time

...and I break it down today to pay tribute to the two robots with human souls who made it.

"Intrasport" shouldn't work as well as it does, but I can't stop dancing to it

Benjamin Kassel

Feb 11, 20225 min read

"Intrasport" shouldn't work as well as it does, but I can't stop dancing to it

In complete King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard style, its weirdness only makes it better.

I'd been hoping for a Years & Years collaboration like "Sweet Talker," and it delivered

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 23, 20223 min read

I'd been hoping for a Years & Years collaboration like "Sweet Talker," and it delivered

Olly Alexander finally making a true house track — alongside Galantis — was an excellent decision in the production of his first solo album.

"Sacrifice" is both a dance floor-ready pop anthem and a narrative turning point

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 12, 20225 min read

"Sacrifice" is both a dance floor-ready pop anthem and a narrative turning point

In The Weeknd's newest single, he revels in his old lifestyle one last time before his outlook on love shifts across the rest of the album.

"aNYway" is house formed straight from its disco roots

Benjamin Kassel

Jan 11, 20223 min read

"aNYway" is house formed straight from its disco roots

Duck Sauce create "disco's revenge" by sampling the genre that preceded it, paying tribute to New York in the process.

DubVision's remix of "Ocean" sonically captures an emotional reunion

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 27, 20214 min read

DubVision's remix of "Ocean" sonically captures an emotional reunion

In examining a complete revamping of a pop production, I think of how stylistic choices can change our perception of a melody and lyrics.

"I'm Not Alone": a self-reckoning on self-destruction

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 13, 20214 min read

"I'm Not Alone": a self-reckoning on self-destruction

Who knew that a house track could breed such philosophical discussion?

"Dreams" demonstrates the power of recurrence

Benjamin Kassel

Dec 1, 20213 min read

"Dreams" demonstrates the power of recurrence

Gorgon City utilize mediated repetition — particularly of a single element — to create and reinforce their track's titular aura.

"Tear It Down" and the art of crafting a true sonic narrative in dance music

Benjamin Kassel

Nov 17, 20214 min read

"Tear It Down" and the art of crafting a true sonic narrative in dance music

The Aston Shuffle expertly execute a slow, but sure build, capping it off with the most satisfying release in the final break.

Bob Sinclar and Steve Edwards say, "World, Hold On"... but how do we do that?

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 29, 20214 min read

Bob Sinclar and Steve Edwards say, "World, Hold On"... but how do we do that?

And to what exactly are we supposed to hold on? Well, the answer is... a lot of things.

Is it house? Is it electronica? Is it pop? All I know is that it's "Magnets," and it's awesome.

Benjamin Kassel

Oct 10, 20214 min read

Is it house? Is it electronica? Is it pop? All I know is that it's "Magnets," and it's awesome.

Disclosure's masterpiece with Lorde has a downright outrageous beat and great lyric / instrumental coordination to drive home its narrative.

"My Head and My Heart" places a Eurodance classic into a new, house-based context

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 29, 20214 min read

"My Head and My Heart" places a Eurodance classic into a new, house-based context

Ava Max demonstrates how to build up from a sample, creating new material in a different style while also not losing sight of the original.

"Unknown Song" captures my present anxieties and questions, then tries to answer them

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 13, 20214 min read

"Unknown Song" captures my present anxieties and questions, then tries to answer them

As the track oscillates between major and minor sections, I try to allay my fears. Do I succeed?

"Little L" sounds like a happy, groovy jam until you parse the lyrics

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 7, 20214 min read

"Little L" sounds like a happy, groovy jam until you parse the lyrics

On a down day where little seemed to go right for me, a healthy dose of house-like funk temporarily lifted my spirits.

"1901," the ultimate French track of its time — which calls back to another time

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 4, 20215 min read

"1901," the ultimate French track of its time — which calls back to another time

Yesterday, it was French house. Today, it's French rock, and a tune which has its roots in that same electronic touch.

On house music and perspective through the lens of "Rain On Me"

Benjamin Kassel

Sep 3, 20214 min read

On house music and perspective through the lens of "Rain On Me"

A 2020 chart-topper is: 1) the kin of 90s French house; 2) a good starting point for a discussion on interpreting and connecting to music.