LOVE WILL GUIDE YOU

 Japan's own Shinichi Osawa has teamed up with Tommie Sunshine to start the ball rolling on what will inevitably be a Summer full of happy music once the wather gets much nicer.

"Love Will Guide You" is a chilled out, analogue sounding track with playful synth lines and relaxed vocals (once they appear after 3 minutes of an amazing synth arrangement), and with a colourful and child-like video, it certainly does try to make you happy!

Buy it on Beatport here.

Osawa's solo rework focuses much more on percussion and he adds his own take on the synths near the end of the track, it's good!

MP3: Tommie Sunshine & Shinichi Osawa - Love Will Guide You (Shinichi Osawa Rework)

CRY (JUST A LITTLE)

Bingo Players's new track "Cry (Just A Little)" follows the standard ingredients that are needed to create good dance music: a constant beat, a funky bassline, 80s style female vocals and the all important "hands in the air" moment. Despite this, the track sounds really fresh and original, using chopped-up vocal segments to make sure that it doesn't become too cheesy and mainstream. This is really, really good.

MP3: Bingo Players - Cry (Just A Little)

BAD THINGS GONE GOOD

 It's nice to know that despite the over-hyped and highly bankrolled drivel that seems to be making the charts these days labelling itself as "dance" music can still be made into something that is much more listenable..

MP3: LMFAO ft. Lauren Bennett & Goo - Party Rock Anthem [Tommie Sunshine Remix]
- He may have the exterior of a Slayer roadie but funkster Tommie Sunshine has turned one of the worst attempts at a song I have ever heard into a drum and piano-based throwback banger (and that really annoying melody that sounds like a bird stuck in Bon Jovi's voicebox that they used in "Livin' On A Prayer" has nearly gone aswell!)

MP3: Britney Spears - Till The World Ends (The Bloody Beetroots Remix)
- Despite The Bloody Beetroots changing their style to a rock and orchestral based band instead of their old trashy electro image, Bob Rifo has made this Britney track have a renewed sense of energy and purpose.

And when it comes to blatant copying by mediocre rap artists such as Wretch 32, maybe you should just stick to the originals that they've destroyed.

PRETTY VACANT GOES DISCO

It's always good to listen to songs you liked years ago again, even if it is just nostalgic. A simple search on the Hype Machine led me to this, a remix of one of the bands I listened to non-stop a couple of years ago, The Sex Pistols.

I listened to this remix, seeing the name "Drop Out Orchestra" and expecting an edgey orchestral version of one of my Pistols favourites, "Pretty Vacant", but in fact, it is an amazing disco rework. Reading this, you probably think that trashy 70s punk and funky disco don't go at all, but give it a listen, and you'll soon think otherwise!

The version they remixed is the re-recorded version the Pistols did for their appearance in Guitar Hero III, but Johnny Rotten still hasn't lost his sneer and delivery of their famous hit.


Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant (Drop Out Orchestra Rework) Edit by Drop Out Orchestra

JACK ON THE MOON

In the beginning there was Jack, and Jack had a groove
And from this groove came the grooves of all grooves.
And while one day viciously throwing down on his box,
Jack boldly declared "Let There Be House"

Ed Banger's Carte Blanche, the dream-team of DJ Mehdi and Riton, have made their own homage to Chuck Roberts' "My House" by using his iconic vocals to create the build up to a piano solo that has so much energy. Even though it should'nt have a rhythm to it, because it's so abstract, you can't help yourself from tapping along to it before the drums come in, and a potential underground hit is born.

Prepare for greatness.

MP3: Carte Blanche - Jack On The Moon

TOGETHER

Trying to keep the dirty electro scene en vogue after artists like The Bloody Beetroots and Grum abandoned it to create new styles for themselves, American electro producer Le Castle Vania has teamed up with Birmingham's Edit maestro Computer Club to remix one of my favourite songs ever: DJ Falcon & demi-God Thomas Bangalter (who, of course, is one half of French house legends Daft Punk)'s "Together".

Although I still think that the original is better (I'll stick a Youtube link in so you can decide for yourself), Le Castle Vania and Computer Club have beefed-up and distorted the bass a little bit, making the song more 21st Century.

Le Castle Vania released the track on his blog, along with this explanation of the intentions of the song:

"[The track] was originally something we just whipped up for fun with no intention of releasing it to the public but we’ve been getting harassed over it for a while now so we decided the time is right to let her loose! As you probably know me and Computer Club are a little more know for club bangers and more aggressive sounding tunes but on this one we tried to go for more of summer festival / beach party sort of vibe while keeping the uplifting feel of the original tune. Any way… enjoy!"

MP3: DJ Falcon + Thomas Bangalter - Together (Le Castle Vania + Computer Club's Summer Bootleg Mix)

The original:

SIRIUSMO - SIGNAL

Amidst all the heavy basslines and pursuit of "club banger" status of new material by producers nowadays, especially those from across the pond in the US of A, it's always refreshing to hear a track that effortlessly works; without the inclusion of that predictable build up going into a mediocre drop, over-subsidised by a fuzzy mess of a bassline. With producers like, Siriusmo, you never know what you're going to get. One minute he remixes Breakbot using guitar riffs and strings, then he's releasing a remix of Boys Noize's "Kontact Me" using a dubstep sound. My favourite Siriusmo track is in the rich vein of effortlessness. "Signal" is a simple track using chimes and a harpsicord-style synth sound on top of a very simple and constant drum beat. Great to listen to at any hour of the day or night. The video's not bad either!

MP3: Siriusmo - Signal

THE MAGICIAN

The Magician is the pseudonym of Belgian minimalist and ex-member of Aeroplane, Stephen Fasano. Like Aeroplane, their trademark minimal techno sound still remains, but under the guise of The Magician, Fasano is able to add 80s infused funky melodies and synths.

The first track Fasano produced under his new name was a remix of "I Follow Rivers" by Lykke Li. A Piano-led piece that focuses on the hook of one line of the original, and although it remains a minimal piece there is still energy within it. It's a track you can dance in a club or chill out on a beach too, so versatile is the sound.

MP3: Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix)

The Magician's latest solo track is another remix; this time of 80's throwback band The Aikiu. "The Red Kiss" remix has been christened  as a "Precious 80's Remix", and that's exactly what it is. Delicately handled synths take this song into space, and become a perfect subtle accompaniment to The Aikiu's powerful vocal style.

MP3: The Aikiu - The Red Kiss (The Magician Precious 80's Remix)

Finally, Fasano has teamed up with one of my favourite French indie-dance producers, Yuksek, to form the supergroup "Peter & The Magician". Although not much has been revealed about them, they have revealed a track to the world: "Twist". You can hear Yuksek's influences throughout, with the vocoded vocals and up-tempo and Yuksek-sounding drums; contrasted to the minimal melodies that are of typical Magician style. A project to look out for!

MP3: Peter & The Magician - Twist

2 HEARTS

German dance-rockers Digitalism have finally released new material since the unveiling of "Blitz", which is now a while back. "2 Hearts" is a step away from the usual distortion and guitars emulating from their first album, Idealism, and includes a guitar-led intro. Although the presence of traditional "rock" instruments is the overriding feature of the song, if you listen carefully you can hear the bass-infused intro of old hit "Pogo", showing that the band are still very much connected to their old sound.

"2 Hearts" is a free download by the band which you can get by clicking on the arrow to the right of the Soundcloud box once you hit play, and it will feature on the band's up-coming album "I Love You Dude".

Digitalism - 2 Hearts by Freeman PR

BREAKBOT'S FANTASY

It's a given nowadays that any new songs by Breakbot will be amazing, and Ed Banger's funkster extraordinnaire has made a new track for the Ed Banger's "Bee Sides" LP. The track is called "Fantasy" and features MJ-esque vocals. Old skool and funky, it's literally impossible not to dance to this, even if it is just in your head.

Breakbot - Fantasy (feat. Ruckazoid) by Mr. TMS

PARTY POSSE

 

Fun loving, gold jacket-wearing Italians Fare Soldi's new tune "Party Posse" featuring Mothers of Charleston is from their upcoming EP "Casotto". In typical Fare Soldi style, the track is fun and upbeat with funk and house elements to it without taking itself too seriously. It's definately worth a play!

MP3: Fare Soldi - Party Posse (Feat. Mothers of Charleston)

"Casotto" EP Teaser:

VOSTOK-1

As you probably know, this month marks the 50th anniversary of man's first venture into space. In 1961, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed a full orbit of the Earth much to the dismay of the US.

What you probably didn't know is that Spanish producer Vostok-1, named after Gagarin's spacecraft, has produced a commemorative album marking the occasion. No, it isn't jingoistic Soviet orchestral music, it's funky, funky, filter house, accompanied by 80s-style synth lines and chopped-up vocals.

The album, named "Fifty Years In Space", is 12 tracks of unadulterated disco that make the Sun shine that little bit more.

My personal favourite? Check out "Feeling"!

Fifty Years In Space by Vostok-1

QUE VEUX TU (MADEON REMIX)

Madeon is 16 years old. 16. Yet he produces music like he's been in the business for years; with sophisticated breakdowns and build-ups, with a busy array of off-beat bass slaps and strings and a sophisticated ear for disco music, especially in his remix of French sensation Yelle.

MP3: Yelle - Que Veux Tu (Madeon Remix)

VANGUARD

After their success with "Loving Someone Else", Welsh duo VanGuard have released their new track, "Morning Light", for free. It's a superb 80s inspired Summer tune that makes you feel like you're in GTA Vice City!

Vanguard - Morning Light by VANGUARD

SUN OF A GUN x YUKSEK

Summer's knocking on the door and that usually means one thing - guitar based productions. It looks like this year French analogue producer Yuksek is leading the line against a Gaga/Perry filled Summer with a nicely produced remix of Oh Land's "Sun Of A Gun". Maybe it's time to start getting that "Ray Ban Vision" and catch some UVs...


MP3: Oh Land - Sun Of A Gun (Yuksek Remix)

DUCK SAUCE

Duck Sauce duo A-Trak and Armand Van Helden return after their success with "Barbra Streisand", a re-vamp of Boney M's "Gotta Go Home", with another cover version of a song from the disco era. The Sauce are back with a modern take on KC & The Sunshine Band's iconic disco hit "That's The Way I Like It", upping the tempo and adding a more club-friendly use of drums and also a traditional Duck Sauce repetitive-yet-funky bassline. Maybe we should brace ourselves for a Duck Sauce album?

MP3: Duck Sauce - I Like It

There's also a live clip of another new track, "Radio"

SCROOBIUS PIP + MIA + THE CLASH

Well-spoken rapper Scroobius Pip takes MIA's "club hit" "Paper Planes" and bootlegs it with the original beat MIA sampled for her track as an homage to the late Joe Strummer, lead singer of legendary punk band The Clash, as it was their song "Straight To Hell" that gave MIA the beat to work with. It's quite right too, as "Straight To Hell" is a much better song than "Paper Planes", and in Pip's own lyrics to "Thou Shalt Always Kill", "thou shalt not take the name... of Joe Strummer in vain".

"But for me I've got to say, it's always bittersweet, as I get all excited for that "Straight To Hell" beat, this ain't a diss to MIA, I respect her and I love her, but it's high time these kids were steppin' to Joe Strummer"

                                                          The Clash - Straight To Hell

NO BRAIN

Electronic legend Etienne de Crecy's single "No Brain" is one of the tracks on his new "Beats & Cubes Vol.1" EP (a theme that runs into the very trippy video to the song). The dark vocoded refrain of "No Brain" is accompanied by a synth-led array of arpeggios that brings out that dubstep screwface you put away when dubstep became the mess of out-of-time remixes made by people that insist on being called names like "DJ BaSsHeAd" and the like.

The Alex Gopher & Pierrick Devin Remix takes much more of a Filter House approach to the track, and it's just as good if not better than the original.

ETIENNE DE CRECY "No Brain" Alex Gopher & Pierrick Devin rmx (preview) by AlexGopher

ROLLING IN THE DEEP, AVICII STYLE

One of the up-and-coming producers, Avicii, is let loose all over Adele's hit "Rolling In The Deep" and completely reconfigures it from a soulful sounding record into an absolute club banger.

90's rave style pianos take the song into orbit before the drop makes the track sound like it would fit quite nicely into a set by the Swedish House Mafia, a bass driven assault on the limbs.

Definitely worth a listen.

POINDEXTER

Portland based producer Poindexter takes funk into the 21st Century with his slowed-down, soulful style.

"Helpless" is his stand-out track for me, with a funky bassline accompanied by Breakbot style synth lines and vocals, it really makes for relaxing yet enjoyable listening.

Also showing that he is able to take a more Disco sounding route, Poindexter's remix of DOM's "Living in America" also impresses along with others:
REMIXES by POINDEXTER


Check out his EP teaser here: http://pdxtr.com/

EMBODY

SebastiAn also returns with "Embody", a track that is not typical of SebastiAn's style, yet, to be honest, it's simply amazing. A funky bassline with high pitched distorted vocals are the perfect ingredients for this song, a certain reminder that summer is soon on its way.

Ed Banger boss Busy P:

"Some say he is the dark side of Ed Banger records, I know he likes it, and I must say I agree with that. But i also believe Sebastian created what people are calling the Ed Banger sound, he is the twisted head of Ed Rec. Today, he is pushing it a little bit further, and he makes me a happy label boss. "Embody" is not the boring "banger" you could expect from the man responsible for heavy weight club hits "Smoking kills?" "Walkman" and "Ross Ross Ross". Do I need to remind you I signed him for darker sounds like "Head/off", "shoot" or "HAL" ? Did you know Daft Punk said he delivered the best remix they ever had for "Human after all" ? When I heard "Embody" for the first time I imagined Prince and Sebastian in Paris, sharing a glass of wine in a smoky basement. He surprised me and I hope you'll be touched too."

The video is directed by So Me.

THE BEATING OF A MILLION DRUMS

After a highly anticipated wait, Justice are finally back for 2011 with new single "Civilization" with London-based Ali Love on vocals.

It sounds like Xavier & Gaspard have spent much more time producing this track than those of their debut album, "†", with much more emphasis on strings and the wind instrument sections compared to such bass-filled bangers as "Waters of Nazareth" and "Phantom Pt.II", yet the track still contains the trademark Justice style of a deep slap bass and jittery and irregular drum patterns. This track will be huge.