Tag Archives: electronica

You can dance: @BrightLightx2 scores aces with 3rd album Choreography

BRIGHT LIGHT BRIGHT LIGHT, Choreography

I’ve pretty much gotten away from writing about full-length albums, but there is always an exception, and Bright Light Bright Light’s third long-player Choreography is exactly that.  Bright Light x2 (Rod Thomas) first appeared in this blog not long after I began writing it in 2009 and I’ve looked forward to his music ever since.  Consistency is hard to maintain but Rod does that with the songs in Choreography.  Always writing from unique perpectives, these songs do give examples of how one choreographs one’s life, or at times, has it choreographed for them.  The bevy of guest stars – pals Sir Elton John (featuring in three songs), Mykal Kilgore, and all members of Scissor Sisters (including Del Marquis), plus Alan Cumming! – do not overwhelm or detract from Rod’s approach, they simply fit, exactly how it should be.  Standout songs are lead singles “All In The Name” (with Sir Elton), “Little Bit” (above), along with”Home” (with Alan), and especially when Rod gets to party with Scissor Sisters on club bangers “Kiss For Kiss” (with Jake Shears) and “I Only Want To Please You” (with Ana Matronic).  You can dance and sway to it all however you like, or you can listen attentively.  Bright Light Bright Light’s Choreography is as an electronic pop beauty that you can’t ignore.

Funky house music from @iamtheElephante featuring #Nevve “Catching On”

ELEPHANTE featuring NEVVE, “Catching On”

Just about everything that Elephante touches in 2016 turns golden on the EDM scene.  He’s back with another original following the still-amazing “Closer” and his wild, progressive remix of “Crossfire” by Stephen with “Catching On”.  Dropping the pace to a jaunty and funky house rhythm, it brings out a sultry, ear-catching vocal by Nevve that recalls early Lana del Rey and Amy Winehouse without the edge.  If you love music this year from his contemporaries The Knocks or Penguin Prison, then Elephante’s “Catching On” will find a happy place in your music set.  Pick it up on iTunes.

In a large, loud, dark room there’s “Blackout” by @PegboardNerds

PEGBOARD NERDS, “Blackout”

When an EDM instrumental comes along it pretty much has to have gale-force power and blow the lid off of a dance club at a high point in the evening.  So who else but Scandinavian duo Pegboard Nerds (Alex and Michael) to make your party larger with “Blackout”.  This track veers from wacked-out craziness through to refined, almost taunting quieter parts which only make you want to hear more.  But there are some zingy melodic hooks that you’ll be humming too once you come to grips with the rest of it.  Wild yes, but self-tamed too, be sure to download “Blackout” for free (by email as part of the Monstercat label’s 5 year anniversary compilation) at the link above.

Playful in #Toronto: @DiegoGomesmusic with “Impossible”

DIEGO GOMES, “Impossible”

Toronto singer Diego Gomes continues to come a long way from his humble beginnings as a young teen on the Canadian talent contest The Next Star.  He dazzled us a while back with the toe-tapper “Bow Tie”, and now return with the playful and highly danceable “Impossible”.  As Diego pursues the object of his relentless affection in the video (well shot in Toronto), the song takes a break from the amusing quest thanks to a simple but effective drop that completely changes the appeal game for the song.  Diego himself now is dabbling in remixing and DJing and has obviously been paying attention for what works on the dance floor.  “Impossible” is an enjoyable surprise and I think remixers will have fun with it if Diego and his team let them *hint hint 😉

Make your best move with “Shy” by @TheMagician featuring @BraytonBowman

THE MAGICIAN featuring BRAYTON BOWMAN, “Shy”

I’m a little late on this one as it came to my attention twice last week but “Shy” by Belgian producer/songwriter The Magician featuring 22 year old Philadelphian vocalist-on-the-rise Brayton Bowman is special for so many reasons.  That layered, commanding production is front and centre with bass synths and a killer drop that send the song well on its way.  Brayton has been on the bubble for a while now and his gritty and soulful voice reminds me of someone inspired by classic R&B like John Newman.  But “Shy” is one of those great songs that immediately send folks onto the dance floor at clubs.  You’ll just have to watch those guys and gals who are out to impress and make their best move when this song comes on.  Bonus – it would sound great on the radio.  Listen above and pick it up on iTunes (also check out the fiery club mix!).

 

Tropical feels: @matomaofficial featuring @BeckyHill with “False Alarm”

MATOMA featuring BECKY HILL, “False Alarm”

Norwegian producer/musician Matoma looks to have a big summer hit under way with the major label release of “False Alarm”, featuring Becky Hill, who rose to fame as a contestant on the UK’s “The Voice”, and subsequently scored on the UK charts featured in songs by Oliver Heldens and Rudimental.  “False Alarm” has the potential to break both performers even more worldwide.  Becky’s voice definitely has Adele qualities to it, particularly when the song’s story and melody are at their most vulnerable.  Matoma, who has remixed everyone under the sun in such a short time, including Eminem, Enrique Iglesias, and Coldplay, creates a lilting mix that’s quite unlike other tropical EDM.  He doesn’t just shake those vibes at you, he draws you in and they become companions to the emotional feels in the song.  Watch for Matoma on his “Party At Your Place” tour this Fall, coming to a city near you!

Austin-based producer/remixer @Neevo_music sends @3Lau’s “Is It Love” into futureland

https://soundcloud.com/neevomusic/3lau-feat-yeah-boy-is-it-love-natre-remix

3LAU featuring YEAH BOY, “Is It Love” (Neevo remix)

Just when you might have thought you’d heard remixes of “Is It Love” in every shape and form, along comes Austin-based Neevo, bringing his creative game face with a futuristic spin on the 3Lau hit.  As a result, the lofty bounce of the original disappears, and the song slows down and becomes this slightly drunken, romantic cousin that will take over the mid-point of a club set, much in the way of some recent down-tempo remixes of Elephante’s “Closer” or “Inside Out” by The Chainsmokers.  Neevo’s remix is fresh and brisk and deserving of your attention.  Lend your ears to the link above.

Walkin’ that fine line: @PatrickReza scores with the romantic “Let U Fall” (featuring #AubrenElaine)

PATRICKREZA featuring AUBREN ELAINE, “Let U Fall”

It’s kind of rare that an EDM song (let alone one in the future bass sub-genre) has an adorable quality about it, but Hollywood producer/songwriter PatrickReza’s “Let U Fall”, featuring collaborator and sultry vocalist Aubren Elaine, is that exception.  The simple lyrics walk that line where you know that your friend/lover/partner has your back with the repeated lyrics “I won’t let you fall”.  It has an equally simple melody line, augmented by some nice layers of synths, which gives you almost a playful sense of keeping your balance during a relationship.  Anyway I enjoy what Patrick and Aubren have concocted and I hope it will catch on with DJ’s who know to draw friends and couples out onto the floor in a slower set with a song like “Let U Fall”.  Pick it up as a free download at the link above.

@Megaphonixmusic fires up another anthemic house track with “Don’t Stop”

MEGAPHONIX, “Don’t Stop”

Chicago’s Megaphonix follows up the uplifting “Open Your Mind” (currently residing at #20 on my personal chart) with “Don’t Stop”.  It’s got a breezy, effortless melody to keep club goers happy in the summer months along with a compelling classic house rhythm that scores with immediate notice early on.  The futuristic vocal effects are persuasive; they help make “Don’t Stop” into a club anthem and will resonate in a big club environment.  Chalk up another one for Megaphonix as his music continues to receive worldwide support.  Stream or download it for free at the link above.

It’s a next level remix from @JoeMasonmusic for @RKCBmusic’s “Elevated”

RKCB, “Elevated” (Joe Mason remix)

You need to have a great set of ears and imagination to take a gorgeous song like “Elevated” to another very sophisticated level.  With stunning, sometimes soulful vocals that remind me alternately of FrankMusik and Robin Thicke, L.A. duo RKCB clearly are on the right path with this song.  But for dance music fans, Australian teenage producer/remixer Joe Mason seems to know innately how to accentuate all of its best features, and reimagines the song at a point in a set when the DJ has tired out his audience and brings it back down under some soft lights.  Except Joe’s mix doesn’t get all too mellow, he throws in some blissful futuristic vibes to make the lights flash and to keep the crowd on the floor.  “Elevated” in this remix is simply going to become a ‘gotta have’ song for many dance music fans.  Download it for free at the above link.