Dance/pop music with actual musicians?

[Joeleosis]

I will rephrase that for the sake of being less stubborn. Dance music with INSTRUMENTALISTS.

I've really shyed away from the mainstream music scene the last few years. Pretty much just listening to the same rehash my favourite bands barf out and the local music scene. But as the digital age trecks on, it seems that instrumentalists in terms of performance and composition continues to take a back seat.

To kinda get an idea where I am coming from, I grew up listening to old school R&B - disco and funk from the 70's. Odd as it may be considering I'm a death metal musician, but I can't turn away from a good groove. Nowadays, it has become more and more apparrent that the dance music on the radio is either MIDI or drumloops or some other form of sampling, being composed within software rather than being recorded by instrumentalists.

Can anyone point me in the direction of some dance artists/bands that are staying true to the men and woman who have slaved over their instruments for years? You know, the Louis Johnsons, Dave David Garibaldis, Bernie Worrells...

Greyarea is tremendous. Saw them open for Armin Van Buuren and Markus Schulz and was blown away.
Crystal Castles are pretty good as well.

[Juan]

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