But the Gigamesh remix of “Love On The Brain” subtracts the retro soul from Rihanna‘s latest Anti- single and adds her vocals atop a driving rhythm reminiscent of Tears For Fears’ 1985 #1 hit, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.”
Married with such an inspired vision, my sole quibble with the Minnesota producer’s remix is the short running time. Clocking in at under four minutes, nothing ever lasts forever though at least they didn’t have to fade it.
Other remixes in the “Love On The Brain” pack include takes from Don Diablo, John Blake, and RY X.
Stream Rihanna – “Love On The Brain” (Dance Remixes) via Spotify, Apple Music.
]]>Released in mid-August, I’d predicted “Telepathy” was primed to take us through autumn, and now thanks to a robust remix package, the track looks to do just that. It’s currently climbing the Billboard Hot Dance Chart, up this week to #13.
With seven revamps to choose from, my picks of the pack come via veteran remixer Eric Kupper (further dialing up the disco), Rare Candy (a deep house-ified take), and Le Youth (adopting a Nightcrawlers’ “Push The Feeling On” mid-’90s vibe).
Stream Christina Aguilera feat. Nile Rodgers – “Telepathy” (Le Youth Remix) via Spotify, Apple Music.
]]>Opening with a talk-box intro reminiscent of Zapp’s Roger Troutman (voiced here by the imaginatively named Mr. TalkBox), Mars boasts like a modern-day Morris Day on “24K Magic” (especially in the second verse). There’s also a noticeable nod to the Kool & The Gang classic, “Get Down On It” (check the phrasing of “What y’all tryin’ to do?”).
Regarding the latter inspiration, what’s the over-under on whether Mars and producers The Stereotypes will have to ante up with a share of songwriting credits, as Ronson had to with The Gap Band? Theres bound to be a pile of money in the bank soon, as “24K Magic” is pure pop gold.
Stream Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” via Spotify, Apple Music.
]]>Like the song itself, the “Body Moves” video is lightweight fun. And in what has proved to be enjoyably shameless Nick vs. Joe “Hottest JoBro” promo — I’ve no complaints about the push and pull — this round is all Joe’s. (I could, however, do without his brief motorboating of model Charlotte McKinney.)
Goosed by the music video, I’ve no doubt that the sinewy “Body Moves” will shoulder its way into the top 10 in short order.
Stream DNCE – “Body Moves” via Spotify, Apple Music. The band’s self-titled debut arrives November 18.
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But in the chorus, Cilia ventures into the kind of take-no-prisoners sonic territory tread by fellow Swede Tove Lo. No surprise, then, to discover that Lo associates Alx Go and Kim W are behind the boards for “Hardcore Heartbreak.”
While “Hardcore Heartbreak” is Cilia’s current single, be sure to check out previous examples of her burgeoning pop genius, like “Silhouettes In Slow Motion” and “Clearly,” both released last year.
Stream Cilia – “Hardcore Heartbreak” via Spotify, Apple Music.
]]>Having released proper first single “Fire & The Flame” in August, David Maddox-Jones and Raife Hacking have since made their live London debut, and now have shared a second taste of Born Stranger’s forthcoming full-length via the song, “Be Someone.”
Described by the band as a “wake-up call,” there’s certainly nothing subtle about “Be Someone” (production again courtesy Yoad Nevo). With a “Clocks”-like circular rhythm percolating throughout the track, Born Stranger’s cup of caffeinated Coldplay will definitely get you going whenever your day is dragging.
The release of “Be Someone” comes coupled with a chilled-out remix courtesy of 9inerrors, which casts Maddox-Jones’ vocals against an approximation of the Tron soundtrack and also merits a spin.
Please also take a second to follow Born Stranger on Spotify to make sure you don’t miss out on the duo’s new releases, exclusive playlists, and more content to come.
Stream Born Stranger – “Be Someone” via Apple Music now (everywhere else, October 14).
]]>Even better, she quite wisely wrangled her “Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer)” collaborators Russell Small and James Wiltshire to remix “Come With Us” to absolute perfection. Of course, I nearly missed this magic since it’s not credited under the production duo’s usual Freemasons moniker but rather F9, the name of Wiltshire’s professional audio hardware and software business, launched in 2015.
Maybe the “Come With Us” remix package is a Wiltshire-only production? In any event, Ellis-Bextor’s original track arrives pre-prepped for Freemasons’ reliably delicious disco embellishments — horns, handclaps, bass, and chimes — all present and accounted for here. F9 takes us on a trip through the land of Blondie (“Heart of Glass”), Chic (“I Want Your Love”), and even Michael Jackson (“Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” lifting the track’s iconic breakdown).
Whether Freemasons or F9, you better believe I’m still coming with them:
Stream Sophie Ellis-Bextor – “Come With Us” (F9 Remixes) via Spotify, Apple Music.
When Empire of the Sun shared details of the album in August, my ears perked up with news of guest appearances by Wendy Melvoin and Lindsey Buckingham. The latter collaboration, “To Her Door,” was revealed last Friday and recalls the glimmering, gauzy sonics of Mirage-era Fleetwood Mac, including my favorite-ever Mac track, “Hold Me,” and “Gypsy.”
In what can only be described as a serendipitous turn of events, Fleetwood Mac has issued a deluxe edition of Mirage, finally satisfying fans’ demand for reissues not titled Rumours or Tusk. Now with “To Her Door” knocking around, it’s ideal time to revisit the Mac’s 1982 album (even if a 34-year anniversary isn’t often reserved for a big celebration).
Stream Empire of the Sun – “To Her Door” via Spotify, iTunes.
]]>Though eight years later I’m now looking down from Canada — who could have predicted that? — once again so much is at stake, with a reality TV star running against a former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State. Only such an asymmetrical match-up would inspire the gang behind Will & Grace to get back together after ten years.
When Sia premiered new track “The Greatest” at the start of September, she did so via an arresting music video that paid moving tribute to the victims of the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Listening to the track (with Kendrick Lamar verse) on repeat via Spotify, the song’s “I got stamina” hook stuck with me. And so as Donald Trump has recently accused Hillary Clinton of not having the stamina to be president, I couldn’t help but think of “The Greatest.”
Sia made a similar connection, as she posted this on Tuesday following the previous night’s debate between the candidates:
#ImWithHer #Stamina #TheGreatest pic.twitter.com/8b1LHc0dN8
— sia (@Sia) September 27, 2016
#ImWithHer too, so don’t give up, don’t give up, no, no, no!
Sia will release a deluxe edition of This Is Acting on October 21, featuring seven additional tracks including “The Greatest” plus three other new songs.
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The Canadian pop trio hasn’t been entirely mum since, as a parade of Dragonette collaborations with Mike Mago, Lenno, Pride of Lions, Paul Harris, Dada, and Philip George, plus the DIY single “Let The Night Fall” (from June 2015) attests. Now Dragonette is set to issue their fourth full-length, Royal Blues, on November 11.
While those previous collabs didn’t make the cut, “Let The Night Fall” opens Royal Blues and “Lonely Heart,” released as a single in May, are on the album. What else can we expect? Well, the recent revelation that married members Martina Sorbara and Dan Kurtz went through a difficult separation didn’t grab headlines like this week’s Brangelina breakup, but considering the title of Dragonette’s new album and latest single, the tantalizing “Sweet Poison,” the couples’ experience has made it into the music: “We’re two wrongs that won’t make a right.”
My heart breaks for Sorbara and Kurtz, but we’re here for some sad-disco pop aren’t we, so really it’s a win-win for all involved.
Here’s the tracklist for Royal Blues:
1. Let The Night Fall
2. Body 2 Body
3. Lonely Heart
4. Royal Blues
5. Sweet Poison (featuring Dada)
6. Secret Stash (featuring Mike Mago)
7. Save My Neck
8. Darth Vader
9. High Five
10. Detonate
11. Love Can’t Touch Me Now
12. Lost Teenagers
13. Future Ghost
Stream Dragonette – “Sweet Poison” via Spotify, Apple Music.
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