Love it when a good remix introduces me to a good original. Cherokee makes a smooth house mix with Darianna and FKJ tops it off subtly with an abstract, tuned up remix. Both are a pleasure to listen to simply because of Darianna’s voice. Once again I hope a vocalist like her keeps with the pace in pairing up with producers like these two.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120713930" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Well if I do say so myself Sam Smith almost sounds as pretty as Prince. And along with Disclosure’s unconventional electro wobbles, this makes for some progressive electro soul music. Not only that but Nile Rodgers features on the track and damn does his melody run through. ‘Together’ might come in a little short at just over two minutes, but a whole lotta different styles of soul are packed in.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/120240297" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I just caught Rolling Stones ‘Rocker vs DJ’ short (seen below) and as true as mainstream EDM may be “shooting shit into our eardrums,” there’s no doubt electronic is the future. Electro music is as much a genre as it is an expansion of what constitutes music, for better or worse. But like I’ve said before, anything emerging is gonna have its over flow of shit. It’s up to music influencers to set the tide straight.
Joel Compass’ ‘Run’ is a thing of the past, it sounds right from the 90’s. But Joel has a way with the chorus and Armeria mixes it into a groove pop beat that many would call house or whatever subgenre. Labels are a tainted bitch, but serve their purpose.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119474388" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I get the pleasure of seeing Mr. Rathsman tonight at Mighty in San Francisco along with the rest of the French Express label. The label houses some of my favorite funk & disco acts, including my very favorite, the headliner Moon Boots. I’ve been all over Moon Boots for a few years now, but this is my first taste of Rathsman with his ‘Feel What I Feel’ track. I’m sure I’ll be feeling whatever they put on tonight.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/118187902" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I’ve been following Jason Burns for a bit now and when I heard he teamed up with the lovely Jessie Andrews for a Drake retake I knew it had either bad or good written all over it – Drake is usually a big hit or miss for me. Thankfully though Drake has nothing to do with this, except in name and album art. His vocals have been completely removed. However, Sampha’s backup vocals are provided throughout and make this one beautiful deep house melt.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/116290454" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I really thought there was no point in posting this for the longest time. It’s Drake, everyone knows that dude. But when I hear as music as good as this, I can’t make this a popularity contest (or the opposite of one).
I’ve never liked a single Drake original, really not a fan of his rap, but like Gambino before him, I’ve finally discovered his soul voice is much better than his rap one. ‘Hold On, We’re Going Home’ seems clearly influenced from his protege, The Weeknd and I like where he’s going with it. Drake has completely turned me to the much more pleasant side of his sound.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/104284258" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Like the electro funk song I just posted, ‘The Way You Move’ sounds so familiar. The vocals either sound like some one hit wonder from the 90’s or I’ve stumbled on a chorus so good it’s already stuck up in my long-term memory. Either way, this is a polished 90’s hit with soulful vocals provided by Chuck New. He’s really what brings it all together, as vocals always tend to.
One thing I wasn’t feeling on Padrul’s latest is that vinyl-like scratching. I don’t mind it when used right, but when I think my speakers have gone to hell I know it’s not the right fit for this one.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/109753773" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Thicke has been getting some flack for his sexually crude undertones, but ‘Blurred Lines’ is still soulful as fuck. And if you pair that voice up with one of my favorite dilated soul producers and Sammy Bananas makes one hell of a Thicke bootleg. Thankfully it’s not of ‘Blurred Lines.’
Bananas slows down everything in this ‘Feel Good’ remix, repitching Thicke with a much deeper sense of what soul is.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/108040579" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Doja Cat’s style in ‘Nunchucks’ reminds me of Erykah Badu’s ‘Rimshot.’ It’s how she twists her words and ‘Nunchucks’ is all twisted up. Not only does she have style, but the lyrical prowess to back it.
The beat from ‘Nunchucks’ takes from MNDSGN’s ‘Legwarmrs’ – and even though it needs a bit more fit for Doja’s voice, I like how the two clash. Doja clearly has somethin goin with this.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/102906363" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I may have been more of a Michael fan back in the day, but Janet is the one making a comeback in this untraditional style, via the remix. She’s got a handful of my favorite disco, soul & funk producers remixing her right and I’ve been waiting far too long to present it to you. Now some of them have been so chopped & fucked with that it doesn’t even sound like Janet anymore, but I assure you it’s all in good taste. Guarantee you’ll find some gem to obsess over for sometime.
[soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/106542201" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]