Like Jessie Andrew’s Drake remix or Solidisco’s Kanye remix, 95 Royale chose to ditch the main vocals from ‘Salsoul Nugget‘ for a pure chorus mix. ‘Bend the Rules’ may not show any signs of a remix or edit in its title, even though it clearly is, but when ya cut something up better than the original I can’t blame ya too much for your lack of association.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119584354" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Shak’s ‘Nothing Is’ is a calming affect at its best with a high pitched stringed melody that keeps me thinking back about one of our first posts, Ian Pooley’s ‘Stonyridge Terrace.’ Stronyridge was part of our second edition of beats to blaze to: electronica and ‘Nothing Is’ may just be in number three. Though I think it’ll be classic rock centered.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138600246" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Zhu’s ‘Superfriends’ starts with a pitched down rap that I can only assume isn’t original ’cause it’s laid out so damn cunningly and this is only Zhu’s second release that we know of. But I’ve exhausted my resources and the blogosphere claims this to be all Zhu’s doing, vocals and all. And that’s not even the best of it, he or she (who knows) can throw one hell of a fiendish beat together. Zhu’s got triple threat written all over her (I hope it’s a gal, somehow).
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/138111856" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Touch Sensitive may have been our favorite artist of 2013, or at least in the top two, and yet this is the first single we’ve posted from this Future Classic guy.
Part of the reason ‘Slowments’ is our first from Touch is because he doesn’t put out much, so basically he’s a tease. When he does put out though, he makes everything else seem like watered down work. Listen up to Touch Sensitive’s ‘Slowments,’ sampling ‘Moments in Love’ by Art of Noise. Bet it’ll be even better live.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/137631096" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I can’t figure why Moon Boots would put this subconsciously disturbing ‘I hear voices’ sound bite in at :39 but for a little fun. Apart from that it’s all smooth disco from there. ‘C.Y.S.’ samples the three Total girls from the 90’s hit with B.I.G., ‘Can’t You See.’ And instead of calling this a remix of the original, Moon Boots has gone for the slightly polished look, removing any sense of sampling in the title.
I don’t always agree with removing any clue of where the samples come from, but as long as it’s easy to find it some other way I can understand why producers are straying away from the title of remix artist. People don’t respect the remixing community in music for reasons I doubt they can even articulate.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/137441579" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
The vocals on ‘Givin It Up’ was what first caught my attention, especially the switch up half way through, but the video deserves much more praise. The lyrics like in any song are up to interpretation, but the video solidifies the story with a well-played twist.
Also, thanks goes to Lancelot for the crafty piano work. Another song to add to our playlist of 2014’s piano players (should be out soon).
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/125733502" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
This is the first legitimate hip hop track I’ve posted in over a year. I think that says it all. Of course it took the best in electronic to get me there, but more MCs need to realize the production makes the rap. We may not all connect to the story, but we can with the sound & flow.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/130676384" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Forget our favorite ladies (and one dude) of 2013. 2014 is her’ and it’s already topping them all.
And only someone such as Yukimi from Little Dragon could make it so obvious. She’s got something in her voice few singers can compete with in personality & character. Not only that, but the boys behind her are giving her production, like in “Klapp Klapp,” the compliment her sound needs to stay in the spotlight where music’s progressing right now. The only ones that may be able to do them better are Disclosure. Better yet, wouldn’t that be one hell of a collaboration.
Who do you think would collab best with Little Dragon? Gorillaz is tough competition.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134444684" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
I just caught a documentary about the good & bad of being a backup vocalist, called ’20 Feet from Stardom,’ and it made a point about what makes a song so memorable. The chorus is what people usually take home at night, bouncing around their subconscious, popping up at the most random times.
I would have mistaken Karma Kid’s ‘In My Arms’ for a pop hit because of its chorus, but the odd electro bits and trip hop samples make it more of a hit for later. I do wish I had an edit that would cut this down to the juicy parts, namely the chorus, but I’m always too impatient for the best of it. Internet generation.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134852532" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]
Panda has sparked up a mix for us.. or at least inspired one. ‘Sputnik Moment’ has a few pieces with the piano that get as deep as Madeaux’s ‘Song #2‘ did almost two years back.
This is how most of our playlists come about – two songs sharing one feeling and finding all the other tracks that do the same. We’re well on our way in compiling this list, but have a tease in the meantime with Panda’s heartful piano house piece.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/134654781" iframe="false" params="player_type=tiny&font=Arial&color=292929" height="18" /]