Magic

Magic is the 2011 breakthrough EP from the New York City production duo The Knocks (Ben 'B-Roc' Ruttner and James 'JPatt' Patterson). Released during the height of the 'bloghouse' and indie-dance movement, the EP solidified their reputation as masters of the nu-disco revival. Unlike their later, more feature-heavy studio albums, Magic is a concentrated dose of their core sound: a blend of French House-inspired filtering, 1980s synth-pop melodicism, and classic disco arrangements. The EP features the hit 'Dancing With the DJ', which became a staple of the Hype Machine era and helped define the 'hipster dance party' aesthetic of the early 2010s. Critically, the record was praised for its high production values and its ability to translate the energy of their live DJ sets into a cohesive short-form release. It remains a pivotal entry in their catalog, bridging the gap between their remix-heavy beginnings and their eventual status as major-label electronic heavyweights.