“Let You Down” is fast-paced and soulful deep house from Australia’s @BombsAwaymusic and @SunsetCitymusic

BOMBS AWAY and SUNSET CITY, “Let You Down” (Komes & Jolyon Petch radio edit)

Production/songwriting duo Bombs Away pairs up with fellow Aussies, the trio Sunset City, for “Let You Down” (which might have been better titled “(Never Gonna) Let You Down”, to convey its upbeat message).  With help from more Aussies Komes and Jolyon Petch on the remix tip, “Let You Down” is a Calvin Harris-inspired fast-paced song that will have dance club goers positively spinning in a set at a key point in an evening.  Led by a soulful vocal from Sunset City singer Parker Rose, “Let You Down” is an easy fit into the current club groove but also a standout because of the slick production.  Add “Let You Down” to your Quick and Fit playlist using the Spotify link above.

Get it while you can: “Talking At The House Party” by @AngeloFerreri1 vs @TheKnocks (@DJKue bootleg)

ANGELO FERRERI vs THE KNOCKS, “Talking At The House Party” (It’s The Kue Bootleg!) (free DL)

Taking their recent single with Captain Cuts, “House Party”, a few steps further, NYC duo The Knocks mash it up with veteran Italian producer Angelo Ferreri’s “I’m Talking To You” in a DJ Kue white label bootleg for “Talking At The House Party”.  This takes the party out of the chilled out house basement and to a fun club setting where you get both house and party in strong doses 🙂  I’m sure this was intended to be a one-off track for fans but it could really have its own life if it desired, including an extended version, because only 2:45 of “Talking At The House Party” makes you want much more.  I’m very happy to have this one – thanks to all concerned for making it happen!  Get it while you can for free before it’s gone!!

Watch for “The Knocks And Friends” shows which are happening in NYC about once a month.  The next one will be on May 24.  ‘No stages, no VIP’s, just friends’ 🙂  That’s the way to do it!

“Step To Me” is 80’s/90’s inspired fun from house master @djToddTerry

TODD TERRY, “Step To Me”

One thing that came to my attention when I was at Miami Music Week in March was the presence of many stellar veteran producer/DJ’s.  Unfortunately this year I was committed to a number of events which conflicted with theirs but if I go back next year, I’ll be looking out once again for sets by the likes of NYC’s Todd Terry.  Todd of course is most renown for reworking Everything But The Girl’s “Missing” into a radio and club hit in 1995, as well as some of their subsequent club hits such as “Wrong”.  He’s produced and remixed everyone under the sun from Björk to Annie Lennox to The Rolling Stones, so it’s nice to see new music from Todd making headway.  “Step To Me” is full of 80’s and 90’s dance/house references while still being innovative to catch savvy club goers who can in fact keep up their moves with this song.  Fellow club DJ’s need to give a hard listen to “Step To Me” and include the masterful and contemporary new work of Todd Terry in their sets.

Watch the haunting, stunning video for “Chess” by @_ANIQO

ANIQO, “Chess”

At the end of last year, I wrote about “New Signs” by German singer/songwriter ANIQO.  She’s followed it up with a haunting, compelling video for “Chess”, also from her upcoming album Birth.  Sounding perhaps most like Sinéad O’Connor with a dash of Björk in this song, “Chess” is a deliberately paced, progressive slice of electronica, also recalling Laurie Anderson’s initial works, which is enhanced greatly by the imaginative visuals in the video.  It’s somewhat reminiscent of the intrigue of changing faces in the classic video for “Cry” by Godley & Creme from back in the 80’s.  Except there’s only one face, or partial face, in the video, and it’s ANIQO.  “Chess” is not for everyone but it’s bold and adventurous to the credit of the singer/songwriter and her video partners.  I would definitely suggest exposure for the video through various competitions such as one I eventually saw at SXSW – potential award calibre material here in my opinion!

“Worry” is the 4th – and best – preview of @FelixCartal’s album Next Season featuring @Victoria_Zaro

FELIX CARTAL and VICTORIA ZARO, “Worry”

It’s just over a week now before Felix Cartal’s new album Next Season drops, and his 4th preview single from the album, “Worry” featuring the enchanting Victoria Zaro, is the best of the four, edging out the dynamic and attitude filled “Runaway”.  “Worry”  is a classic pop song about moving on to what’s next and leaving worries behind – with that nagging doubt still lingering in your mind as you move on.  The Vancouver producer gives it a versatile mix, hardly ridden with effects yet turning what effects are used into hooks unto themselves along with the lyrics (‘going down down down’).  “Worry” is also perfect for remixers wanting to spin it on its head.  “Worry” is perhaps the most logical follow up to Felix’s huge Canadian hit from last year, his dance take on New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give” so I’m hoping he and his team are keeping radio in mind for it.  Watch the lyric video for “Worry” above.

It’s house music with an earnest and emotional spin – “Falling Apart” by Sweden’s @Erlandomusic

ERLANDO, “Falling Apart”

“Falling Apart” is one of those songs that grabs you by both ears with its earnest, emotional story, against a thumping, but not overpowering, house backdrop.  It’s brought to you by Sweden’s Erlando, seemingly a relative newcomer but you might have known his music under the moniker Sinco up till about a year ago.  “Falling Apart” has a bit of a trick to it.  Just when you think the story might not be going anywhere at a quiet bridge around the 1:10 mark, it deliberately keeps you waiting for an even better half of the song.  This is a clever production foil that is rarely heard, when so many songs fall apart early.  Erlando thus is one to watch out for and “Falling Apart” definitely has the goods to find its way onto your Emotional House playlist using the Spotify link above.

Dutch producer @djJordanJay deals a wild mix with “Treat You Right”

JORDAN JAY, “Treat You Right”

If a big, busy bounce is your thing, then your new favourite song may be Jordan Jay’s “Treat You Right”.  Led by a pleading, enticing uncredited female vocal, the song whirls and swirls and all but goes upside down with heavy, crunchy future bass synths, and this young Dutchman has obviously been learning a thing or two from Martin Garrix, David Guetta, and other big names who have since latched onto his music.  Alas it’s all done in 2:38 but “Treat You Right” winds you up and hopes to leave you panting and breathless on the dance floor.  Add “Treat You Right” to your More Bounce To The Ounce dance playlist using the Spotify link above.

San Diego’s @InsprdandtheSlp creates a timeless melody with honest lyrics in “First Time”

https://open.spotify.com/track/4OX8RaOP3XW389OKbwG6hf

INSPIRED AND THE SLEEP, “First Time”

“First Time” is an honest slice of danceable alt.rock from San Diego duo Max and Bryce, aka Inspired And The Sleep, who have already made their name through performances in Southern California.  Max is the singer/songwriter/producer while Bryce is the multi-instrumentalist, who together craft a nuanced, fluid sound that draws from inspiration from music as diverse as Jeff Buckley and Patrick Watson as well as more contemporary rhythmic soul like Daniel Caesar.  And those are all great signs of promise for the duo.  “First Time”, at times, reminds me of 90’s songs by Third Eye Blind (such as “Never Let You Go”), who were always fine tunesmiths developing timeless melodies.  And if anything’s going to stick in your head to get you humming about “First Time” it’s the melodic structure.  Add Inspired And The Sleep’s “First Time” to your Melodic Indies playlist using the Spotify link above.

“Time” by Florida’s @AdamFostermusic is not-so-secretly a Marvin Gaye classic reworked with finesse

ADAM FOSTER, “Time” (free DL)

Florida producer/DJ Adam Foster may have a personal best in hand with “Time”.  A few weeks ago, I wrote about Australian producer/DJ Alex Preston’s masterful rework of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”, which features a hauntingly echoing vocal track.  Front and centre, however, there is no way to hide any elements of that song and make it into something else.  But Adam found another great Marvin Gaye single, “Too Busy Thinkin’ Bout My Baby” – which happens to be my favourite Marvin Gaye song ever and his follow up hit to “Grapevine” in 1969 – and transforms it into “Time”.  Gone is the urgent love story that anchors the original, focusing instead on the verse “I ain’t got time for nothin’ else”.  And I think Adam must be using what sounds like a live rendition of “Too Busy Thinkin'” with a pristine Marvin vocal to boot.  As with other songs by Adam, a stellar house rhythm carries the track, making it immensely appealing for dance clubs.  Overall “Time” is a fine, finessed rework that I will be playing a lot 🙂  Download it for free at the link above while you can.

Remixers @Revelriesmusic offer a deep house transformation of “Comfortable” by @SteveVoidmusic and @TELYkast

STEVE VOID & TELYKAST and NATALIE MAJOR, “Comfortable” (Revelries remix) (free DL)

Sometimes remixes can definitely improve on the original song if the mix just doesn’t somehow sit right.  Although “Comfortable” in its original mix is doing just fine for Steve Void’s rising Strange Fruits label, I definitely prefer the deep house slant that Dutch/Emirati production duo Revelries have offered to compliment Steve and TELYKast’s original featuring a solid vocal by Natalie Major.  Revelries have come up with a remix for “Comfortable” that’s a more of a natural fit to flow into a club mix, accentuating the best features of the song and its vocal.  This remix is part of a 25 remix project packaged into Volumes I and II (it appears on Volume II).  For now, you can download them all, including an acoustic version, at the link above.