Sorry things got so out of whack this month, but it's been an unexpectedly hectic one, as there's been a lot going on in my life behind the scenes- some good (my niece had her 21st birthday), most bad, I'm afraid- which I won't get into here. My apologies for the erratic nature of my posting lately, but life throws you some curveballs sometimes. I hope to get things back to normal soon. Now, on with the show...
As I mentioned in the pop singles article, after Kurt Cobain died (among others) and Soundgarden broke up for the first time, I had just about had it with grunge rock. I loved it, but boy, did it bring along some depressing excess baggage. It was the late 90's-early 2000's, and I wanted to have fun.
Around 1996, a friend of mine went to Scotland on the exchange student program for a semester, and came back raving about a movie he's seen, Trainspotting. "You've gotta hear this band- they're called Underworld." The song was, of course, "Born Slippy," and I became an immediate fan of it and the band, and later on, the movie.
This was hardly my first brush with what was then called techno- I'd loved many synth-driven bands growing up, notably Devo, Kraftwerk, and Depeche Mode- but it was certainly my first encounter with the new wave of such music. I'd also been a fan of the Madchester scene in the late 80's-early 90's, which marked the beginning of rave culture, but then Grunge came along, and, being more of a rocker at heart, I dove deep into that for a while, only later circling back to hear what else I missed in the interim. But with Grunge played out, I needed a change, and rave music was just the ticket.
While raves were huge in the UK, they didn't really start trickling down in earnest- at least not in my neck of the woods in the South- until the late 90's. My friend and I started hitting every rave we could find, much to the dismay to many of our friends, who were still wallowing in the post-grunge, lighter, poppier variation of the music (i.e. Silverchair, Collective Soul, Tonic, etc.). We hated all that, and started reveling in the new acts of the time, like The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Moby, Orbital, Front 242 and others.
Even Lollapalooza, which we went to every year, had started to embrace the form, which was splintering into all sorts of intriguing offshoots, like trip-hop (Portishead, Björk, Tricky), jungle/drum-and-bass (Goldie, Roni Size, Aphex Twin) and plenty more where that came from.
Contrary to what the likes of Eminem was saying: "Nobody listens to techno"- the genre was only getting bigger and bigger. It was a particularly clueless statement, given the role Em's hometown, Detroit, played in such matters. It's a quote which naturally has been thrown back in his face many times since (notably here), but he's since recanted his stance on the art form and embraced it, so better late than never, I guess.
Eventually, techno and all its offshoots would morph into the catch-all of the somewhat generic "dance music" or "EDM" (aka electronic dance music). And contrary to Eminem's premature prediction, it's never been more popular, with EDM acts regularly storming the charts and selling out arenas, and pop acts also embracing the art form, landing many hits themselves by combining their talents with that of notable EDM producers.
This list is made up of my favorite such tracks, including both traditional dance music, which tends to be poppier and more radio-friendly, as well as EDM, which tends to be more forward-thinking and radical in its approach, though not always. As such, it's a bit longer than the other lists. Hope you enjoy it, and be sure to click on the titles to hear the songs and/or see the music video, if there is one.
Dance Track of the Year- "Got to Keep On"- The Chemical Brothers
Boy, did this one take me back. It's fitting that my favorite dance track of the year would be one of the first proper techno acts I ever got into in the first place. I admittedly slept on the last few Chem Bros albums- save maybe the score they did for Hanna- but that has since been rectified. The last one I really paid much attention to before that was Push the Button, though I did like the single "The Salmon Dance" from the following album, We Are The Night. But it wasn't enough to get me to buy the album, just the single.
Cut to last year, and I looking through the new releases and there is one from The Chems: No Geography. I decided to give it a go for old times' sake- what the hell? I'm glad I did. It's a great effort that just landed the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album of the Year, for whatever that's worth, and spawned a whopping five singles, including this one.
The music video is also my favorite dance-related video of the year, evoking the days of the "Soul Train" dance line, as did Chaka Khan's "Like Sugar," another favorite (see my pop music list). Nice to have you back in my life, guys! 😎
Other Dance/EDM Tracks I Loved (in no particular order)
"Zoning"- The Bloody Beetroots & ZHU
A trancey, psychedelic jam that absolutely reflects the lyrical content, and definitely takes me back to old-school raves gone by. Immaculately produced and perfectly timed, with layers upon layers of effects and mood shifts- just like one would get if they were themselves on certain, um, substances.
Not that I'm condoning such things, but yeah, some of us have been there, I'm sure. The good news is that you don't need drugs to enjoy this one. Just plug in those headphones, lay back, and let the music take you away instead.
"Melanin"- Ciara, feat. Lupita Nyong'o, Ester Dean, City Girls, & LA LA
TBH, Ciara's latest, Beauty Marks, was a bit of a disappointment. Aside from a few tracks, it was just not as good as her past efforts. I was ready to write her off as another could-have-been-should-have-been heir apparent to Aaliyah, a la Ashanti, Samantha Mumba, Christina Milian, etc.- if you haven't heard of any of them, there's a reason for that.
But then, she released this all-out banger, with an all-star line-up that includes, of all people, Lupita Nyong'o- who knew Lupita could get down like that? Ciara, apparently. The tune definitely owes a debt to old-school female rap groups, like JJ Fad, Oaktown's 3.5.7. and, of course, Salt N' Pepa, but it's still its own thing, and distinctly modern.
If this doesn't get you moving, I don't know what to tell you- and it's always nice to hear a track celebrating the sexiness of African-American/Latina women. Given that, of course Lupita's on it. Ciara, all is forgiven- but next time, try and bring more of THIS kind of thing to the proceedings.
"I Got the Beat"- Anna Straker
Self-proclaimed "synth princess" and a one-woman force to be reckoned with, Anna Straker has been kicking around London since she was 17, singing backup for the likes of Rudimental and Years and Years. Her first single dropped in 2016, followed by an EP shortly thereafter. She went viral on YouTube in 2017 with a dance-oriented cover of Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You," followed by slow-burning one of the Spice Girls' classic "Wannabe," before hitting it big at 23 with this original tune in 2019, easily one of the year's best.
Be sure to also check out her nifty solo version of the song here. I might even prefer it to the original. Her early singles, "Serious," which was way ahead of the current retro-House music curve, and "Ignite Me," which is very early Charli XCX, are also both very good. She's very cute, and looks a bit like the middle daughter on Last Man Standing- the one that's in the Paranormal Activity series, Molly Ephraim- if she was crossed with Sporty Spice. Not that that has anything to do with her music, but you know, it doesn't hurt, either, lol.
"Faith"- Galantis & Dolly Parton, feat. Mr. Probz
If you'd have told me one of the best dance tracks of the year would involve country music legend Dolly Parton, I probably would have told you you were crazy, but here it is. The song is a remake of the John Hiatt classic, "Have a Little Faith in Me," which you've almost certainly heard somewhere, most likely in one of the many movies it's in, like Look Who's Talking Now, Benny & Joon, My Best Friend's Girl... the list goes on. It was also memorably covered by Jewel, Joe Cocker, Chaka Khan, Mandy Moore and on the show Nashville.
So, if it sounds familiar, that's why. This version may well be the most radical reworking, needless to say- which is but one reason why I love it. Dolly Parton, who experienced a bit of a comeback last year, is certainly another. This song also marked her first number one on the dance charts. The Dolly-naissance continues!
"Hate Me"- Ellie Goulding, feat. Juice Wrld
I was tempted to give this one to "Sixteen," which I just loved, but it seemed wrong not to acknowledge the passing of rapper Juice Wrld, yet another talent gone too soon, and even worse, a death that absolutely could have been avoided, as he died of an overdose, brought about by fear of being arrested when he got a heads up that the cops were about to search him and his plane when he arrived at his destination. Unwisely, he opted to ingest the evidence, and well, you know the rest.
That said, this song is a real earworm in its own right, even without the unfortunate circumstances, with a memorable, cathartic video to boot. Goulding remains a national treasure, with her blonde locks, fairy tale looks and the voice of an angel, though she tempers it a bit here for effect. (Plenty of other places to get the full enchilada, though.) But yeah, got to give it up to Juice- RIP.
"Taki, Taki"- DJ Snake, feat. Selena Gomez, Ozuna & Cardi B.
If Ace of Base's "All That She Wants" and Reggaeton had a baby (see also Camila's "Liar"- to a lesser extent), this is what it would sound like- and I mean that as a compliment. If this doesn't make you want to move, you may be dead inside. Also, Selena has never been sexier on record- or quite possibly in a video, either, and that's saying something. Either way, this should get something moving, lol.
"Sexy Black Timberlake"- Channel Tres
Serious old-school West Coast grooves on this one- fitting, since Tres is Compton-based. If you lean more towards old-school funk and hip-hop, this is the one you're looking for, to be sure. Lots of cool production touches and layered grooves to sift through here, to say nothing of those oft-amusing, tongue-in-cheek lyrics: the Timberlake referred to is exactly who you're thinking of. Be sure to also check out the arguably even groovier SG Lewis remix.
"Thing for You"- David Guetta & Martin Solveig, feat. Sasha Sloan
Like the Chemical Brothers, Guetta & Solveig have been kicking around since the 90's, and they're still cranking out the hits all these years later, especially Guetta, who's worked with everyone from Akon ("Sexy Bitch," "Play Hard") to Rihanna ("Who's That Chick?") to Sia ("Titanium," "She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)", "Bang My Head," "Flames") to Nicki Minaj ("Where Them Girls At," "Turn Me On," "Hey Mama") to John Legend ("Listen") and plenty more where that came from. Meanwhile, Solveig hosts an internationally syndicated weekly radio show, so he's keeping busy, too.
This mellow-but-still-banging single features (sadly) uncredited vocals from the underrated Sasha Sloan, which I've rectified above since they didn't bother to. Be sure to check out the sexy- and kind of intense- video, too, by clicking on the title. The Don Diablo remix is worth a listen, too- some like it even more than the original version.
"Hungry Child"- Hot Chip
In what may be the video of the year- or at the very least, the most amusing- a Millennial couple is relentlessly pursued by house music. Martin Starr and Milana Vayntrub, of Silicon Valley fame play said couple (you may also know the latter as the AT&T girl, Lily), who even go so far as to seek psychiatric help for their ailment, to no avail. Only when they part ways do they get relief. You can't make this stuff up. Or I guess you can, technically.
Anyway, the song is great, and infectiously catchy, as befits a song used in such a capacity as it is in the video. But it absolutely holds up on its own, so check it out here for better effect, maybe even before you watch the video, as great as it is. The video is a must, though, especially for those with a love-hate relationship with Millennials.
Hot Chip- perhaps best-known for the dance classic "Ready for the Floor"- have been around since 2000, and the song is from their seventh album. It's pretty impressive that they've remained relevant for this long, to say nothing of retaining a sense of humor about themselves, as evidenced by the video. Check them out, if you're new to the group- they're surprisingly consistent.
"Ordinary Pleasure"- Toro y Moi
The second single from Toro y Moi's Outer Peace, this mellow bit of business is sort of like Chaz Bear's answer to what Pharrell got up to with Daft Punk back in the day. It's equally perfect for a bright summer day or hanging out with your friends on a rainy one- bliss can come in many forms, but none quite like this. The smartbeats EP and Soul Trash mixtape, which also came out in 2019, are both worth a listen as well.
"Lovers Table" - Kleerup & AlunaGeorge
A mellow one that's definitely more rainy day than jumping for joy, this wonderfully melancholic track is atmospheric and lovely, almost verging on something like The Cure or New Order, only with the soulful vocals of Aluna Francis guiding the way. Beautifully produced by frequent Robyn collaborator Kleerup, who's been a bit MIA as of late- this song shows why he should do more stuff.
"All My Friends"- Madeon
Absent since 2016- haven't we all been, lol- French producer Madeon remerged last year with this fantastic, multi-layered track that should have been bigger than it was. (It only made it to #16 on the Billboard Dance tracks list.) Never mind all that- it's never too late to get caught up with what is easily one of the finest grooves of the year.
"Hold You Tight"- Diplo
This epic funky tune owes a big debt to the classic Chic track "I Want Your Love," especially lyrically and melody-wise, but it's its own thing, with plenty going on from a production standpoint to sustain the somewhat lengthy track. As ever, Diplo proves why he's one of the most sought out producers out there, and still one of the best. That bass-line is hella groovy. If you're a Tove Lo fan, be sure to also check out "Win Win," his collab with that artist, which is very trippy and cool.
"Midnight Hour"- Skrillex, Boys Noize & Ty Dolla $ign
There was a time when Skrillex was noisy and weird just for the sake of being noisy and weird. I dug it, because it had the added effect of annoying the f out of everyone not in the know, lol. But a little of that sort of thing goes a long way, and I kind of grew out of it, to a certain degree. At the very least, I have to be in the mood for it.
Imagine my surprise then, when I heard this relatively normal track- at least by Skrillex standards- which, while not without musical left turns, is actually pretty user-friendly in the grand scheme of things, and yes, wildly danceable. Though you might want to run and duck for cover when that beat drops, if you can't hold your own on the floor. That certainly goes for some of the remixes as well, of which I like the Four Tet one the best. Tick, tick, tick, tick...
"Break Law"- Dog Blood
Prefer your Skrillex & Boys Noize in the heavier, in-your-face mode? Look no further than this side project, their first in years, after an unexplained break since way back in 2013, save a few live performances. This noisy banger samples Bollywood up front, then drops some Queen Latifah just for good measure, once things get moving in earnest. If you can't get down to this, you can't get down at all. Love it. (Skrillex's "Fuji Power," which is in the same vein, is also pretty great.)
"Mana"- Krewella
Relentlessly inventive, the duo known as Krewella is sort of like what might have happened if t.A.T.u. hadn't been concocted in a studio by a producer with a not-so-subtle agenda to sell music via sexy lipstick lesbians that play more like they were putting on a show than the real deal- because that's basically what they were doing. Krewella are two sisters, at least one of whom would seem to actually be gay, given some of their lyrics. But I suppose they could be playing parts, a la t.A.T.u.
I don't think that's the case- and they certainly aren't making out on stage, being sisters and all- but whatever the truth may be, they certainly have a strong lesbian following, and aren't afraid to acknowledge it in their lyrics, so more power to them. Of course, none of this would matter if their music sucked, but it's actually pretty fantastic and getting better all the time.
The advance tracks from their upcoming album Zer0, are all pretty solid, but I like this one the best, as it incorporates unique instrumentation that marks a new direction for the ladies, one that acknowledges their heritage- the girls are the children of Pakistani immigrants. It will only be their second album, after a nasty break-up with former third member and producer Rain Man, who later sued the group for wrongful termination. (The case was eventually settled out of court.)
Looking forward to hearing what else these two have come up with in this vein, as it's pretty original, and proves that the girls may actually be better off without that third wheel. At the very least, their newer stuff is much more original than their older music. Check it out for yourself, even if you've been lukewarm on their music in the past- it's a real positive step forward, IMHO.
"Electric"- unperfect
Another track with Middle Eastern vibes, unperfect are the latest from the hit-making production crew known as Xenomania, best-known for their work with Cher, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Girls Aloud and The Pet Shop Boys. Their first single, "Gots to Give the Girl" was a nice down-tempo groover with some unexpected jazzy guitar (there was also a House remix, because of course there was), and the follow-up single "Champagne" felt more like trad Brit girl group pop.
This is the banger, though. It's equal parts Beyoncé 's "Baby Boy" and Britney's "Toxic," but in a way that is own thing, to its everlasting credit, thanks to those girl group melodic dynamics. The girls in question seem remarkably down to earth- you can read (and see) more about them here.
I also loved the more recent single "Looking for a Hug," which adds both the aforementioned jazzy guitar and some more unexpected rock-oriented power chords to the mix- and I'm readily available for that hug anytime, ladies. 😍
"Higher"- Ally Brooke, feat. Matoma/ "Motivation"- Normani
Camila Cabello got all the love last year, but fellow Fifth Harmony singers Ally Brooke and Normani also released some killer tracks last year. "Higher" ventures into the same territory as Dua Lipa: disco-fied groove, but with more modern production, to great effect. Note that super-funky bass. It's an undeniable major step forward from her more teen-pop efforts with Fifth Harmony.
Meanwhile, Normani, after recording some solid collabs with Calvin Harris, Khalid, Sam Smith and 6lack, finally dropped a proper solo track with "Motivation," a slamming tune with cool touches, like a near marching-band-esque faux horn section (don't be surprised if you hear it done that way for real at your next football game), subtle-but-effective bass and great sing-along lyrics, co-written by Ariana Grande. Both songs are keepers, and I look forward to each of the ladies' solo albums dropping soon.
"Let You Know"- Flume, feat. London Grammar
A fantastic collab that yielded immediately impressive results, this non-album track was an instant classic, and shows yet again that there's few people with which Flume can collaborate with and not churn out great results- even a normally gloomy group of Brits that make Florence + The Machine look like party-starters in comparison. (Think Portishead minus the hip-hop beats, sort of.)
Quits, Flume's EP-length collaboration with Reo Cragun, is another goodie, as is the non-album single, "Rushing Back," with singer Vera Blue (seen above). And, of course, if you slept on the mixtape Hi, This is Flume, you might want to rectify that as well. Basically, any Flume is worth hearing is what I'm trying to say, but I especially loved this single, so onto the list it goes.
"Let Me Go"- i_o & Tommy Trash, feat. Daisy Guttridge
Better-known for his fast-driving EDM tracks- his album last year was called Death by Techno- the electronic artist i_o, (who's on the Mau5trap label founded by the legendary Deadmau5, who's been kicking around the techno scene since the late 90's), took a turn for the melodic on this track, co-produced by Aussie-based DJ Tommy Trash, and featuring ethereal vocals from Daisy Guttridge.
It's very sexy and the perfect soundtrack to both surrendering yourself to the groove and making time with your main squeeze of choice, and will make you wish i_o did more of this sort of thing. In fact, i_o's collab with Grimes, "Violence" is somewhat similar and well-worth a listen, too. Looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
"Dysfunctional"- Kaytranada & VanJess
Another sexy one, this one slightly more radio-friendly than i_o's "Let Me Go," the slinky track brings to mind the point where trip-hop started to catch on in the mainstream, particularly the work of Massive Attack. It's the kind of groove you wish would go on forever. I looked for a remix to that end, but to no avail- the best I could find was an instrumental version strung to the original. Oh well. It's perfect as is, though- there's something to be said for leaving listeners wanting more.
"Bricks"- Tommy Genesis & Charli XCX
Charli XCX is undeniably one of the most prolific songwriters and producers out there now- she just churns out the good good, including writing/co-writing hits for Icona Pop ("I Love It"), Iggy Azalea ("Beg for It," their "Fancy" collab), Selena Gomez ("Same Old Love"), Camila Cabello ("OMG," "Señorita") and the girl group she formed from scratch, Nasty Cherry ("Win," "Live Forever").
After her memorable remix of Genesis' "100 Bad," the two reunited for the also-excellent "Bricks," a Migos-esque hypnotic trap banger that will lodge itself in your head and never leave. To quote one of Charli's other songs: I love it. Be sure and also check out Genesis' surprisingly mellow, dreamy club track "I'm Yours" as well- it came very close to making the list.
"FMU"- Brooke Candy, feat. Rico Nasty
Nothing quite takes me back to old-school raves like Lords of Acid, who I saw live several times back in the day. A LOA sample is front and center on this banging track, which is every bit as wonderfully trashy as the Lords were back in the day. The Rico rap is just (pussy) gravy on the top.
Candy herself, who often directs her own sexually-charged videos, looks like she might just as soon take you back to the bedroom to kill you as to sleep with you- possibly both- and not necessarily in that order. Weirdly, I'd probably volunteer and take my chances either way. She just has that certain je ne sais quoi TF that fascinates me as much as it may repel some. (See also "XXXTC," with Charli XCX & Maliibu Miitch, which is next-level weird, video-wise.)
"Daddy Loves You"- Dana Dentata
For those for whom Brooke Candy doesn't go quite far enough, there's Dentata, whose surname may ring familiar to those familiar with the movie Teeth, and the moniker seems about right for someone who raps/sings about the likes of raw-dogging, rimming, period sex, rough sex, sex with demons, you know- the ushe.
All of her songs are loud, with booming bass and none of them run over two-and-a-half minutes. I only picked this one because the lyrics are hilariously raunchy, but all of them are NSFW or for listening to with your family, unless they're the Manson family, lol. Speaking of which, naturally, she's on tour with Marilyn Manson, because of course she is. Manson wishes he was as scary as this chick. Be sure to also check out the video for 2018's alt-rocker "Bounce," which is something.
"Down for It"- MOTi, feat. Rebecca & Fiona
I'm a longtime fan of Rebecca & Fiona anyway, and their single "One More Night" was solid, as was their collab with Nause, "Can't Erase" (which has a cool new video with a slasher movie homage), but this collaboration with MOTi was absolute fire. 🔥🔥🔥
There are actually two versions of it- I picked the slightly longer one, because, you know, it's longer, but it could have gone on much longer than three-and-a-half minutes as far as I'm concerned. Rebecca and Fiona have a new album coming out in 2020- hope it's as good as what we've heard so far!
"Ritual"- Tiësto, Jonas Blue and Rita Ora
Immaculately produced, layered groove, courtesy of Dutch DJ Tiësto, with an assist from producer Jonas Blue and featuring sinewy vocals via the always gorgeous Rita Ora. As with quite a few entries on this list, there's an undercurrent of House music here, but modernized with up-to-the-moment production and cool synth-driven touches. It's also catchy AF.
Though a big hit overseas, it underperformed a bit in the States, reaching only #13 on the charts here. Now's your opportunity to give it another well-deserved chance. "God is a Dancer," Tiësto's collab with Mabel (seen above), is also pretty great, with a sexy, dance-heavy video, just like this one- I'll leave it to you to determine who has the best moves, but I prefer this song.
"Mama"- Clean Bandit, feat. Ellie Goulding
A track that has a Latin flair to it that's not too far removed from the likes of Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes' monster smash hit "Señorita"- but I kind of like this one better. Having Ellie Goulding on board sure doesn't hurt matters. Note also the not-so-subtle Trump-bashing happening in the music video- I'm here for that as well.
Though it has a completely different, more atmospheric feel, the Kertscher Remix is also great. If you don't know Clean Bandit, you should check them out- they have lots of other great collabs, notably two with Marina & The Diamonds ("Disconnect," "Baby"- that one has a Latin flair, too), one with Julia Michaels ("I Miss You") and Demi Lovato ("Solo").
"Fantasy"- Sofi Tukker
Sofi Tukker also have a Latin flair at times, such as on the groovy "Playa Grande" or the hopelessly funky "Purple Hat," but they often verge on being a novelty act at times, kind of like the new version of Junior Senior or The Ting Tings- not that there's anything wrong with that, as I like both of those fellow duos. "Like This" is pretty great, too, and features the band firmly in House music mode, like many others this year.
But I picked this one because it shows promise in a new direction, and that the band can do straight-forward electro-pop with the best of them. Lead singer Sophie Hawley-Weld, the "Sofi" of the band's name, is in fine vocal form, and partner Tucker Halpern, the "Tukker" provides the able background music (and backs off the mic), while Sophie puts her usual guitar down to surrender to the music. You will, too.
"365"- Zedd, feat. Katy Perry
I wasn't a huge fan of the singles Perry released last year as a solo artist- apparently I wasn't the only one, as her three major singles barely charted here in the States, save "Never Really Over," which only made it to #15 - while "Harleys in Hawaii" didn't even make the charts at all in the US.
That includes her guest spots as well, though I quite liked this one, recorded as an assist to Zedd, which did manage to make the Top 10 Hot Dance/Electronic songs on the Billboard charts, at least. The Kurro mix is arguably just as strong, if not outright better. Maybe Katy should consider going full-throttle EDM- that could be interesting.
"9 2 5"- Terror Jr & AOBeats
From one number to another, this robotic-yet-funky tune finds the underrated Terror Jr, who in 2019 alone, released both a great debut album, Unfortunately, Terror Jr, on Atlantic Records, then promptly left the label, forming their own, Grape Music, for which they released the EP Come Outside & Break Your Heart, from which this collaborative song was taken.
The subsequent single "Straight from the Bottle" is also great, too, as is the stand-alone single "Loved by You," which is short-but-sweet and features the rare appearance of a chipmunk-style vocal that actually didn't get on my last nerve. But this one was my fave for sure.
"My Light"- Kaskade & Lipless
Kaskade is always good for a dreamy-yet-sweeping track with lots of nice peaks and valleys- witness "I Remember," his collab with Deadmau5 & Haley. He's firmly back in that mode- sans Deadmau5, but with the addition of Lipless- for this track. My only complaint is that it's not longer. Get on that, remixers!
"Time"- Alison Wonderland x QUIX
"Lost My Mind" and "Peace" got more love on the dance charts- landing at #23 and #33, respectively- but I'm a sucker for old 80's-era synth-driven film scores, a la those by John Carpenter, Giorgio Moroder and Tangerine Dream, and this has that sort of vibe early on, with a great build-up to a soaring climax at the end, even featuring some unexpected- and most welcome- guitar crunches.
It's trippy, near-psychedelic (perhaps to be expected, given Alison's surname and what it refers to as a whole), and, like her best work, endlessly inventive and multi-layered. The first two singles are more accessible, to be sure, but this one is the most ambitious, in my book. Perhaps QUIX's involvement took it to the next level.
Whatever the case, all her stuff is worth checking out, especially her dance chart-topping first two albums, Run and Awake. Her remixes for other artists are pretty cool, too, especially the ones she did for Ladyhawke, Dua Lipa and Little Dragon.
"Hometown"- French '79
In the same vein as "Time" is this track, which also has an 80's synth-score vibe. It's a slow burn, with vocals that don't even kick in until over two minutes into the song, but if you, too, like that old-school film score vibe, you'll dig this one.
"Dance X"- Gesaffelstein
Not too far removed from the last two aforementioned tracks, this intense song plays a bit like a less silly Devo or a more danceable Nine Inch Nails. It's tightly wound, to be sure, but at just over four minutes, you can handle it. "Orck" is also pretty solid.
"Sober"- SebastiAn, feat. Bakar
Down-tempo, melancholic groover that metamorphoses into a banger the longer it goes on. Very unique-sounding, and a compelling tale of the struggle of not giving into vices, lyrically. The video is haunting and will stick with you. And that ending musical breakdown is one for the ages. Top notch, as they say.
"International Woman of Leisure (I.W.O.L.)"- La Roux
La Roux has been relatively quiet since 2014, but she's back, with a new album on the horizon in 2020, entitled Supervision. Like Robyn, she has a knack for the hooks, and this first single from the forthcoming album is no exception. It's a funky endeavor, with some welcome prominent groovy guitar, trippy synths, and too-cool-for-school lyrics, plus a great music video to boot. Looking forward to hearing the new one in its entirety.
"Flash Pose"- Pabllo Vittar and Charli XCX
My beloved Charli XCX and a Brazilian drag queen on a pumping house track? Um, yes, please. Sort of the updated version of RuPaul's "Supermodel."
"Incapable"- Róisín Murphy
Dua Lipa wasn't the only one doing the retro-disco thing last year. While you bide your time waiting for Dua's sophomore effort to drop in full, check out Murphy's similarly-minded groove, as well as the even funkier "Narcissus." I picked this one, though, because I like the way it builds up and layers on the groove with more and more instrumentation and swirling synths and free-flowing synth patterns. It's well-worth your eight minutes or so to give it a listen if you like old-school disco. The Irish singer is definitely one to watch in the future.
"You Little Beauty"- FISHER
Okay, I'll allow that the intro sounds like what people that don't listen to techno- or still call it "techno," lol- think EDM still sounds like: the whole "uhn tiss uhn tiss uhn tiss" thing- but give it a minute and things really get going. It's retro, sure, but in the most fun of ways, and isn't fun what it's all about when it comes to dance music, anyway?
Australian DJ Fisher built on the enormous success of his 2018 hit "Losing It," a number one hit on the dance charts, and Grammy-nominated for Best Dance Recording this year, with this- you guessed it- house-influenced track, which became his second number one in the States. It's a lot of fun, if a bit lightweight. Some of us don't want to think when it comes to dancing, though, so there's that.
"Only Human"- KH
Though it's been around since 2018, this one didn't get an official release until last year, thanks to a Nelly Furtado sample- but it was well-worth the wait. It's a bit down-tempo and kind of subtle, but extremely effective in its extended, near-eight-minute form, and a popular favorite live, where that propulsive climax is even more well-earned.
BTW, in case you didn't know, KH is an alternate name for DJ Four Tet, aka Kieran Hebden, who's remixed everyone from Aphex Twin to Radiohead to Lana Del Rey and Black Sabbath. Now that's range! If you didn't know, now you know.
"SOS"- Avicii, feat. Aloe Blacc
After his untimely passing in 2018, Avicii's posthumously-released third album, Tim, came out in 2019, giving fans one last glimpse at his still-burgeoning genius. It was also one last chance to give back, as the proceeds for the album were given to the Tim Bergling Foundation for mental health awareness.
The song features long-time collaborator Aloe Blacc on vocals, and was Avicii's second number one in the US (and Blacc's first), following the hugely successful "Wake Me Up." It's a lovely song, and a fitting farewell and as good a track as I could hope to end on. RIP.
Well, that about wraps this list up- join me soon for a look at my favorite remixes of the year, and I also hope to get out my favorite movies of the year list in time for Sunday's Oscars. See you then, and thanks for reading! 😉
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