Tag Archives: progressive

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.

@Spirixmusic weaves his progressive spell over “La La Land” by @DVBBS & @Shaun_Frank featuring @iamDelaneyJane

https://soundcloud.com/spirixmusic/lalaland

DVBBS & SHAUN FRANK featuring DELANEY JANE, “La La Land” (Spirix remix)

Newly based in L.A., teen producer/remixer/performer Spirix continues to cast an inventive, progressive spell over some recent dance music songs, two of which are currently on my personal chart (#1 his co-remix of Brandon Skeie’s “So Bad”; #14 his collaboration with LZRD on the original “Take Me Apart”).  Here he shakes up the latest from my Canadian EDM contingent – the DVBBS lads, Shaun Frank and vocalist Delaney Jane, “La La Land”.  Quite honestly, it doesn’t sound much like the original, and though I know many EDM fans already love the original, I think Spirix’s approach improves on it.  He keeps the aggressive pace already well-established for DVBBS front and centre in his remix as well as the carefree melody which is attractive about the original.  Yeah for some it may be too busy and I think Delaney Jane’s voice perhaps is over-transformed, but you can’t deny the kind of reaction this remix will make in a packed club.  Download it for free above and see why! 🙂

@Kaufaudio’s progressive electronic pop song “A Ruin” gets a @truBluHawaii makeover

KAUF, “A Ruin” (Blue Hawaii remix)

L.A.’s Ron Kaufman has been garnering attention these last four years or so with his remixes and a unique approach to progressive electronic pop music that incorporates elements of 90’s Björk through to James Blake.  “A Ruin” is mainly a multi-layered instrumental that incorporates Ron’s dreamy, well-suited vocals to excellent effect.  The song is given added textures of power from noted remix duo Blue Hawaii that help make it memorable.  I was fortunate to see Kauf in concert in Toronto last night and while it requires your focused attention, his music and the direction he’s headed in is wildly creative and has so much potential.  Sometimes danceable, sometimes not, watch for more original music coming from Kauf very soon.  In the mean time you can hear “A Ruin” above and pick it up, in original or remix form, on iTunes.

Get scorched by this fiery @iamtheElephante remix of “Crossfire” by Stephen (@ithinkimcrashin)

STEPHEN, “Crossfire” (Elephante remix)

L.A.-based Elephante continues to blaze his path through the EDM world with his potent progressive remix of fellow California denizen Stephen’s “Crossfire”.  It’s many steps away from Elephante’s current pop/dance smash “Closer”, drawing from the energy of Stephen’s passionate and earnest alt.rock original which will appeal to fans of the likes of Hozier or Brandyn Burnette.  Basically, in his remix Elephante kicks the impact of the song up to the ceiling.  He allows the song to build by relying on Stephen’s compelling introduction.  But then the big trap-like drops kick in and the blistering remix absolutely takes no prisoners.  It’s amazing to listen when an already great song is intensified and rewired by this kind of a remix.  Bravo Elephante and Stephen 🙂  Folks, this is your must-hear song this week.  Best of all – download it for free at the link above (and pick up Stephen’s original on iTunes while you’re at it)!

Slick progressive house from @Vicetone with “Nevada” (featuring @CoziZuehlsdorff)

VICETONE featuring COZI ZUEHLSDORFF, “Nevada”

After the more melodic efforts from their recent EP Aurora, such as “Bright Side” featuring Cosmos & Creature (Brandyn Burnette and Molly Moore), Dutch producers Vicetone return slicker and heavier with “Nevada”.  Featuring an outstanding and gritty vocal from young Cozi Zuehlsdorff, “Nevada” motors right along with some thoughtful lyrics in an overall package that has the same European flavour that brought Alan Walker’s “Faded” to worldwide attention.  Vicetone continue to show their diversity with songs like this as well as why they continue to be much sought after in the dance music community.  Listen to “Nevada” above.  The Monstercat label has another winner with this one.

Not to be tamed: @NewImmunity remix of @MickyBlue’s “Wild Things”

MICKY BLUE, “Wild Things” (New Immunity remix)

The guys in New Immunity recently got their hands all over Molly Moore’s “Come Fly”, her cover of the classic Sinatra tune, and showed how that song could easily swing with EDM.  With Micky Blue’s “Wild Things”, they have a powerhouse indie original which is transformed from a cutting alt.rock ballad, and it’s given not only a big bouncing rhythm but also some scorching rock guitars, which make it impossible to miss in a set.  What I like best about this remix is its balance; you can zero in on Micky’s softer vocal parts just as easily as when some vocal effects go arm-in-arm with those guitars.  Club DJ’s would be wise to unleash “Wild Things” on a big crowd for one untamed evening ahead.  Download it for free at the above link.

NYC production/DJ duo @ElectricBodega offer up pop-inflected progressive house in “Rest Of My Life” (featuring @MattBeilis)

ELECTRIC BODEGA featuring MATT BEILIS, “Rest Of My Life”

It’s another winner that’s going to keep dance floors busy this summer.  “Rest Of My Life” by NYC production/DJ duo Electric Bodega has a melody that cries out progressive house but a lilting vibe that’s all natural pop.  This is aided immensely by new go-to-voice, New York native Matt Beilis – when I say “go-to-voice”, I mean Matt has one of those tones that can fit any kind of song.  He’s just released his own album The Truth – in Japan!!  But no wonder that The Chainsmokers allowed Electric Bodega to co-remix and pretty well overhaul “Don’t Let Me Down” into something totally different.  With “Rest Of My Life”, Electric Bodega, like the ‘smokers and The Knocks, transcends the dance genres and have made a perfectly accessible pop record.  “Rest Of My Life” will sneak around the corner and catch you when you’re not looking/listening.  Pick it up on iTunes.

@officialMaxR shifts with a progressive throttle on @NERVOmusic’s “Did We Forget” featuring @AmbaShepherd

https://soundcloud.com/maxrmusic/did-we-forget-feat-amba-shepherdmaxr-remix

NERVO featuring AMBA SHEPHERD, “Did We Forget” (MaxR remix)

For his next feat, after revisiting Manse’s “Freeze Time” with a  timely potent and energetic remix, MaxR dives into a song from NERVO’s Collateral album called “Did We Forget”, which happens to feature the beautiful vocals of Amba Shepherd, who has sang with just about every major name in the EDM world in recent years.  The collaboration is a wildly successful blend of progressive house and tribal rhythms in the original.  MaxR again goes for the throat with a full throttle progressive remix that replaces the tribal beats in favour of a bouncing and driving rhythm that glides alongside the “we re-found love” theme of the song.  You can download MaxR’s remix of “Did We Forget” for free at the link above.

Even more feels in @theJohnLock remix of @missMollyMoore’s “Blood. Sweat. Tears.”

MOLLY MOORE, “Blood. Sweat. Tears.” (John Lock remix)

It was instant love-at-first-listen with “Blood. Sweat. Tears.” by Molly Moore back when I heard her Shadow Of The Sun EP, my favourite song by her to date that would sit comfortably in a playlist next to the likes of songs by Jessie Ware.  It also found its way recently to #8 on my own BILLCS Top 30.  It’s the fourth song from the EP to receive an EDM snapshot, following “Natural Disaster”, “Peace Of My Heart”, and “Come Fly”.  I was curious about its result, but L.A.’s John Lock has managed to uncover other feels in the song.  Initially more of a retrospective lament when you can’t commit to a relationship, this progressive remix manages to bring out the confusion and struggle that you face inside your head quite appropriately.  So indeed your head will spin to the multitude of new swirling sounds amid slightly tightened-up verses and vocals that uncover anxiety substituting for the original’s balladry.  It goes without saying, the John Lock remix of Molly Moore’s “Blood. Sweat. Tears.” is highly recommended, and you can buy it on iTunes.

@Latchmeresound offers up British-styled house in “Limits” featuring @AndreasLmusic

https://soundcloud.com/latchmeresound/limits-feat-andreas-liberos

LATCHMERE featuring ANDREAS LIBEROS, “Limits”

After bringing us a wicked, infectious instrumental called “Stressed” a while back, Australia-based Brit Latchmere is back with his spin on British house music titled “Limits”.  Appropriately featuring UK soul/hip hop artist Andreas Liberos, Latchmere brings Andreas’ voice down low to make him sound like the missing futuristic prince of British house!  Latchmere shows his knack for putting drops in exactly the right places, and the song itself will give club goers a solid workout.  “Limits” is a track that should not just end up being a hidden little gem.  Download it for free at the link above.