Saturdance

Wynter wonderland

January 22, 2011 2 Comments

When it comes to club mixes, when Freemasons are involved, you can be assured it’s gonna be fantastic.

Not only has the UK production team of Russell Small and James Wiltshire done stellar disco-inflected remixes for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Whitney Houston — flat-out brilliance that far surpasses the original material they were handed — Freemasons also set their own material loose upon the dance floor, like “Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer),” their 2009 collaboration with Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Absolutely magical work, really.

Last year, Freemasons re-teamed with Ellis-Bextor for “Bittersweet,” while also premiering “Believer,” featuring singer-songwriter Wynter Gordon (Mary J. Blige, Danity Kane, Flo Rida). “I still remember the first time Wynter sang for me,” Wiltshire recalls. “I was still setting levels, but I had to really rush as everything she sang was just incredible. Goosebumps everywhere! Half the lead vocal on ‘Believer’ is the very first take. She is an amazing singer.”

As someone who found Gordon’s debut single, “Dirty Talk,” sophomoric — the tune did, however, reach #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart — and was disappointed by her previous collabs with David Guetta and Static Revenger, I think being in the studio with Freemasons helped realize her true disco potential. Once more, the duo have worked their magic, because hearing “Believer” has made me, well, a believer. Gordon’s solo album is due sometime this year.

A full remix package for “Believer” was released this week, but you really can’t do better than the Freemasons’ original Club Mix. Hear here:

If Katy Perry is serious about dancing up a storm during her “California Dreams” tour (with Robyn!), she should give Freemasons a shout. These YouTube mashups of their mixes with “I Kissed A Girl” and “Firework” will make her a believer too.

Purchase Freemasons featuring Wynter Gordon – “Believer” (Club Mix) via iTunes, Amazon MP3.