Tag Archives: progressive

@Jenauxmusic puts @3Lau’s “Is It Love” on the funk train

3LAU, “Is It Love” (Jenaux remix)

NYC producer/remixer Jenaux continues on the funk tip after his currently-blowing up original “Get It On” (which just bowed on the BILLCSTop30 at #23) with his alternate take on the always busy Las Vegas-based 3Lau’s “Is It Love”.  He strips away Justin Blau’s lyrical EDM and the original vocal in favour of a hard-hitting 80’s oriented funk ride that blends with futuristic effects quite happily.  It’s one of those short but potent remixes that when dropped in the middle of the set will make you wonder what the hell is going on and you’ll just want more.  Download it for free at the link above.

 

*Republished* WORLD PREMIERE – @youareYouandMe’s dark, trance remix of “Dancing On My Own” by @Robynkonichiwa

https://soundcloud.com/youandmebootlegs/dancingonmyownbside

ROBYN, “Dancing On My Own” (You&Me Remix) [B-side]

NYC duo You&Me have given me the esteemed pleasure of giving you the world premiere of their second remix of “Dancing On My Own” by Robyn.  I was happy to bring you the ebullient progressive house “A-side” remix a few weeks ago.  The “B-side” shows You&Me’s keen interest in the darker side of trance music – the first thing you’ll wonder about is the vocal and it is indeed Robyn!!  The guys essential build the EDM equivalent of a dub version of “Dancing On My Own” around the key chorus turns a peppy pop/dance anthem into a slick mirror image that will click with alternative dance clubs.  Open-minded Robyn fans and DJ’s will totally get it.  As much as you can spin the “A-side” remix and fill a dance floor, the “B-side” remix will also generate some positive reaction and commentary.  What’s your flavour, “A-side” or “B-side”?  Let the revival continue 🙂  Listen to the “B-side” at the link above.

@RiverTiber previews upcoming album “Indigo” with dreamy, hip hop-tinged “Acid Test”

RIVER TIBER, “Acid Test”

After writing about Toronto band River Tiber often these four years, it looks like Tommy Paxton-Beesley and company are about to make their big splash with the upcoming album Indigo.  Also featuring last year’s “No Talk”, River Tiber previews the album with the engaging “Acid Test”.  It’s a hefty blend of the R&B and hip hop flavourings that Tommy has incorporated into his songs by working recently with the likes of BADBADNOTGOOD, Daniel Caesar, Pusha T, Kaytranada, and producer Frank Dukes., as well as the striking and often dreamy, layered progressive sounds of past songs like “The Stars Fall” or “The City”.  Here beats, cello, keyboards, and percussion all have a vivid home, and it all has a kind of surreal,psychedelic effect in the end, while still being quite accessible-sounding and ear-catching with one of Tommy’s most compelling vocals yet (particularly after the 2 minute mark).  I can’t wait to hear the rest of Indigo, which you can now pre-order on iTunes, and be sure to put River Tiber on your radar for the summer of 2016.

River Tiber opens for Kaytranada at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto on Friday May 20.

Soulful UK house music strikes again with “Stronger” by @Nik_Ernst in a @Voidmuzik edit

NIK ERNST, “Stronger” (Steve Void edit)

An intriguing retro early-2000’s sounding UK house number, “Stronger” by London producer/DJ Nik Ernst is given a slick ‘n tight edit by that hot young Dutch producer/remixer Steve Void, who is gracing the BILLCS Top 30 at #8 with his pre-summery remix of SNBRN’s “Beat The Sunrise”. This edit brings out the mysterious side that a dirty house song should possess, and it’s all done tidily in less than three minutes. “Stronger” shifts  along with its slinky groove and could easily be a candidate for some rabid dance music radio play. Don’t let this one slip by.

French remixers @Ofenbachmusic transform #PraiseCats “Shined On Me” featuring @theAndreaLove into a dirty house anthem

PRAISE CATS featuring ANDREA LOVE, “Shined On Me” (Ofenbach remix)

In the dance music world, you just can’t keep a good song down – the dance community has an elephantine memory!  So now, a few years after initial release, a bevy of remixes of Praise Cats’ “Shined On Me” are surfacing, and one of the best is by French duo Ofenbach.  They took the house basis of the record and expand it with low distorted vocals and a much more layered sound in stark contrast to Andrea Love’s classic Martha Wash/Simone Denny R&B vocal.  It works like a charm and will breeze by in clubs beckoning patrons to the dance floor.  Ofenbach revive “Shined On Me” with the essence of house with a difference.  Get it for free at the link above.

Hear that sound:@weareArdency’s “Mechanism” featuring @Icelandiaband

ARDENCY featuring ICELANDIA, “Mechanism”

“Mechanism” is the title song from the new EP from L.A.-based duo Ardency.  In collaboration with fellow EDM performer, Canada’s Icelandia, they’ve created a big sounding progressive synth experience that will fill the room and shake those huge speakers.  This is the kind of record DJ’s at the point of building their set just before the big boom hits.  But aside from clubbing, “Mechanism” is a multi-layered, rich earful that will also sound great on your home stereo.  You can pick up Ardency’s Mechanism EP on iTunes.

US electronic performer @dnotive arrives with 80’s inspired “Second Chances”

d.notive, “Second Chances”

“Second Chances” is deliberately paced, progressive electronica by Minneapolis-based performer d.notive, currently on release with his album Sentinel.  “Second Chances” is a compelling listen thanks to d.notive’s dark vocal style and inspiration that immediately conjure up your favourite songs by the likes of Depeche Mode, New Order, Nine Inch Nails or Sisters of Mercy.  There is an ongoing hungry market in the pop world for revisiting the post new wave era of the 80’s, which has contributed to Pet Shop Boys’ ongoing success, and d.notive does this with his own flourishes.  In his album Sentinel you’ll hear a number of fine instrumentals, such as the fast-paced “Back In The Saddle”, some with some definite R&B/funk influences, but other songs with his vocals like “One Way Trip” or “Martyr” really stand out.  Check out “Second Chances” above and pick up Sentinel on iTunes.

@TwoFriendsmusic deep future pop remix of @Shaun_Frank & @KSHMRmusic’s “Heaven” feat. @iamDelaneyJane

SHAUN FRANK & KSHMR featuring DELANEY JANE, “Heaven” (Two Friends remix)

Dance music has a community where everyone pitches in to help each other out and some great collaborative efforts are made as a result.  So here we have a bunch of rising dance/EDM stars, L.A. remixers Two Friends tackling my fellow Torontonian Shaun Frank’s pairing with L.A.’s KSHMR’s “Heaven”, featuring another Toronto native Delaney Jane on vocals, one of Spinnin’ Records’ latest and greatest.  Two Friends trade in the buoyant house rhythms of the original for a pop-flavoured progressive deep future remix redolent with guitars which brings out the glorious nature of the song.  It also accentuates every positive in Delaney Jane’s stunning vocal.  This reminds me of where Zedd and Avicii were headed a few years ago.  Good things can only come of this collaboration and I expect clubs to put it on free-flowing blast.

Can’t keep a good pop song down! @iamtheELEPHANTE kicks up a dance storm with @weareMako’s “Smoke Filled Room”

MAKO, “Smoke Filled Room” (Elephante remix)

I hate to see great songs escape out from underneath us and fall off the radar.  Sometimes remixes can bring new interest and flavour to a record, and reknown remixer/producer Elephante (Jack Ü/Justin Bieber, The Magician/Years & Years, among many) has done exactly that with L.A. duo Mako’s engaging “Smoke Filled Room”.  It starts deceptively with slow piano chords, which play into winning lyrics and melody that complement the vocals, which remind me sometimes of The Fray’s Isaac Slade.  It has radio hit written all over it with a gritty, emotional side that will turn heads.  Elephante amplifies the emotion and intensifies the song by making the chorus much more frenetic than in the original mix.  It will have you bouncing in bliss long after dark.  Mako’s “Smoke Filled Room” is a gem waiting to be found, so pick it up on iTunes.  You can download Elephante’s remix for free below by clicking the link to follow him and Mako on Instagram.

You owe it to yourself to buy @RiverTiber’s alt.soul EP When The Time Is Right

RIVER TIBER, When The Time Is Right (EP)

As I’ve already reported most enthusiastically in my posts about lead off songs (and my favourites) “No Talk” and “Let You Go”, you owe it to yourself to buy River Tiber’s 5 song EP When The Time Is Right.  It’s a slickly done, smooth-sounding EP full of so much creativity that makes you constantly check yourself because you don’t know where the next song is headed.  Multi-instrumentalist Tommy Paxton-Beesley has shifted directions from progressive rock-influenced pop/rock of earlier releases to what is essentially alt.soul full of hip hop blessings.  The other songs within are the bass-laden “Waves”, “Lost”, and the thoughtful title song.  River Tiber’s new sound has also brought Tommy’s excellent voice front and centre although he continues to use it often as an instrument in some of the songs too.  When The Time Is Right is another gem from my city (Toronto) and one of the best records you will hear in 2015.  Listen above and buy it on iTunes.