Author: Spice
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Dubstep | Underworld – Rez (Bassnectar Remix)
Posted by Spice on February 12, 2013
Did I tell you that this was an awesome week for releases, or did I tell you that this was an awesome week for releases? Add Lorin Ashton to the varsity roster of artists dropping bombs between February 11th and 15th. If you haven’t already taken his spacey, heady reboot of the tech-trance mindmelt that is “Rez” for a spin or two or twenty, now is the time to redeem yourself. Listening to this song is probably as close as we’re currently able to get to knowing what it’s like to be sucked through a wormhole. If that doesn’t sway you, this should: you know a track is something serious when Bassnectar uses it to usher in 2013 from the helm of a 360-degree LED pod (see above). “Rez” is out now on US iTunes and vinyl, if you’re into that, via Child’s Play Records.
iTunes: Underworld – Rez (Bassnectar Remix)
Trance | Suncatcher – Simplicity
Posted by Spice on February 11, 2013
Who’s afraid of 138? Trance may have taken a turn for the house-ish in recent years, but take a gander at Suncatcher’s insane soundscapes in “Simplicity” and tell me you’re not a convert to the genre’s faster and more musically complex roots. This track is warm and stirring without feeling cliched; thanks to lush synths and a driving theme, it’s pure uplifting gold. With releases like this, it’s easy to see why Suncatcher has already seen heavy support from titans like Armin van Buuren, Aly & Fila, Above & Beyond and Roger Shah — it’s clear that the young Romanian producer is one to keep an eye on in 2013.
Beatport: Suncatcher – Simplicity
Trance | Armin van Buuren vs. Arty – Nehalennia
Posted by Spice on February 11, 2013
Up next in this week’s epic batch of releases is Armin van Buuren and Arty’s stunning collaboration (which nobody knew was coming prior to its preview on ASOT 598, amiright). From the melancholic piano riffs to the floaty, chopped vocals, “Nehalennia” is a gorgeous trance journey from start to finish, befitting of the goddess it is named for. Small wonder that it’s slated as the opening track on Armin’s A State of Trance 2013 compilation, which is set to drop on Valentine’s Day.
On a related note: swaggy kicks in that artwork, Armin.
Beatport: Armin van Buuren vs. Arty – Nehalennia
Trance | Ferry Corsten – Kudawudashuda
Posted by Spice on February 11, 2013
Kicking off an absolutely massive week of releases is Ferry Corsten with “Kudawudashuda,” and I couldn’t be more excited. The hook is catchy and dramatic, the vibe is dark and spacey, and the synthwork is top of the line (I’m a huge sucker for those staccato plucks). This is a song to lose your mind to; it’s the song that’s playing at 4 am when you’ve made it to the tail end of a deep set and time has lost all meaning. Ferry will be joining Armin van Buuren and the whole team on several legs of the ASOT 600 world tour (which launches in Madrid this Thursday), so expect to hear much of this track in the coming weeks. It’s out now on Beatport via Ferry’s own Flashover Recordings and is set to drop on iTunes on February 25.
Beatport: Ferry Corsten – Kudawudashuda
Bootleg, Electro-House, Mashups | Nicky Romero vs. Green Velvet. vs. Cosmic Gate – Analog Flash (Omnia Mashup)
Posted by Spice on February 4, 2013
A nice Monday afternoon freebie from Omnia, who has mashed up Nicky Romero’s famed remix of Green Velvet’s “Flash” with Cosmic Gate’s 2007 tech-trance classic “Analog Feel.” The kicky bassline, dark melody, and off-beat hi-hats on “Analog Feel” are a perfect counterpoint to Nicky Romero’s minimal but hard-hitting reboot of “Flash.”
It also (sort of) bears mention that I tweeted “camera’s ready, prepare to flash” for no discernible reason this morning (wasn’t even listening to the song), and now this is here. Weird. It’s like I have ESPN or something.
Trance | Armin van Buuren – Communication Part 3 (Remixes)
Posted by Spice on February 4, 2013
Armin van Buuren’s 1999 hit “Communication” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic tracks in trance. Its dark, haunting melody has stood the test of time, and while it certainly has a classic, late 90’s vibe it also still sounds amazing in 2013. Over the years it has seen two major remakes (Part 2 in 2000 and Part 3 in 2007), and now, in what is perhaps a long overdue move from Armada Music, it’s getting the full remix treatment (from four of trance’s brightest stars, no less).
All of these remixes are excellent in their own right. John Askew — a genre purist who recently took to Facebook to decry the amount of electro house currently being passed off as trance (#respek) — puts out a techy and monstrously hard-hitting rework at 140 bpm. Faruk Sabanci’s rendering enhances the airy piano theme and retools the main hook into a big, dramatic, and utterly riveting cascade of synths. Expect to hear a lot of his remix now that we’re getting into ASOT 600 season. James Dymond folds orchestral strings and choral bursts on top of some relentless kicks, while Thomas Heredia gives the track sawtoothy, electro-tinged heft. On the whole, all four producers did an absolutely fantastic job reinterpreting a rather unimpeachable classic. Listen to Armin’s original version at the top, and then check out the finished products below.
Exclusive, Moombahton, Videos | The R.O.A.R. – Touchdown [Video + EP]
Posted by Spice on February 1, 2013
NYC-based producer the R.O.A.R. stands at the intersection of rock and moombahton — and it’s a combination that works better than you think. His newest track, “The Touchdown,” melds the wobbly funk of moombahton with some hard-edged vocals and driving drum kicks for a result that’s high energy and sure to get you moving. The full package is out now on Beatport and features remixes that range from trill and trap’t out to groovy and latin-infused (see: Mr. Vega of Sazon Booya’s take). And sure to check out the above video — the visuals match the vibe of the song perfectly.
Beatport: The R.O.A.R. – Touchdown EP