Each week we’ll be partnering with The QR Network to compile a short recap of notable tracks that we didn’t have time to cover during the previous week. We hope you enjoy our selection and if you have any tracks you’d like to see here, please feel free to use our contact form or post your suggestions in the comments.
WYKO & ARTIX – Can’t Stop Us
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“Can’t Stop Us” seems to be the follow up to WYKO’s “Pull Me Down” with the same ornamented synth in the drop. It almost sounds like Kura’s old big room sound like in “Calavera” and “Calcutta” but with more distortion and saw synths. This track follows the exact same structure as its predecessor, only adding an additional eight bars to the breakdown for a repeat of the melody that was wholly unnecessary. This version does improve upon the first one and adds more diverse elements and power into the drops as well as an even more powerful melody in the breakdown. The vocal that holds the track together is one from a sample pack that was already used in full here. The second drop sounds like it was directly copied from the first and doesn’t even add risers or anything. This track is an improvement but these small significant details hold it back from making WYKO’s new sound a success.
72/100
Unethi & Stefan Bors – Pantheon
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“Pantheon” starts of by utilizing an extended build for the first drop which is better than going straight to a short build, but not by much. The drop is reminiscent of the synth used in “Castle” by KEVU & Vendark with the same bouncy mainstage sound and subtle psy-influence. Still effective and got me moving to the music. The chords that punctuate the ending are just the cherry on top. Orchestral, classic breakdown to start the first real break and then this melody carried by the strings turned into this incredible hardstyle breakdown which is superb that’s just the right length. The second extended buildup serves to transition the track from 4/4 to triplets and then we’re welcomed by the same fantastic melody of the first drop but with a different bounce and rhythm. This is how you do progression and it’s absolutely epic. TMS got a real gem with this one.
86/100
Dread Pitt, Oceans, DËKAY & Drama B – Boast
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Starts off heavy with bass off the bat and Drama B’s signature voice. Ominous instrumentals, vocal variations and melodic flourishes entertain you along with horns for emphasis. The vocals provides the tension for the build which is highly effective and requires some actual talent to execute. The drop is simple but heavy as all get out! It has the right amount of bass mixed with an actual melody. For the second breakdown, there is some soundtrack quality percussion which is easy to get lost into building up to the second drop. There’s some future bass influence there that builds off the power of the hard-hitting trap elements from the first. This song has fantastic pacing and is a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.
88/100
Marc Benjamin – Blaster
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There’s really not much to say about this track as the foundation is some fairly standard fare with a confident synth powering the drops. There are some ethnic elements in the breakdown but nothing that stands out. All in all, it’s simply a good track and a more powerful direction from Protocol Recordings with a short and sweet arrangement.
80/100
Crystal Lake – Feels
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“Feels” feature those unique Crystal Lake melodies with just the right amount of good vibes. This one calls on some funk and soul with this guitar or synth solo good ol’ electro vibes. The first drop carries on those solos with the right amount of energy but by the second breakdown, the same melody begins to wear a bit thin. There’s some white noise added and a hard-psy drop after that, but it doesn’t have as much power as the first. The third drop changes the main melody for the first eight bars before reverting back to the same melody we’ve heard for three sections already. Such is the hardstyle genre and this has some golden elements in it held back by arrangement choices.
79/100
D-Block & S-Te-Fan – Gave U My Love
There is a ease of a breakdown to start the track followed by an unwarranted extended build to yet another hard psy drop that has been one of the defining trends of this year. The second breakdown features those signature hardstyle synths and fantastically euphoric melodies from the duo. The rest of the track follows as expected, the second drop uses the break melody and it goes into a third drop which is the same melody derived from the first. Predictable structure but solid foundation and another solid addition to the D-Block & S-Te-Fan discography.
84/100
umru & Osno1 (Laura Les) – popular
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Yes, we’re aware this track came out a few months ago but it just now crossed our feed as a track on umru’s recent album. Found the whole album interesting but a bit too niche for general consumption. This track was the most mainstream while maintaining the signature bass style and electro vibe of the rest of the album so if you like this, you may like the other tracks as well! “popular” features a truly unique trap sound that blends emotions and dark energy in a sort of tug-of-war dynamic. The relentless, controlled bass rocks the track sometimes combatting the vocals but othertimes harmonizing or even yielding to them. It’s such an interesting struggle played throughout the track and is truly a stunning arrangement and execution.
88/100
EWAVE – All I Need
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Now EWAVE is one artist who has really run through the house gamut with big room tracks, future house tracks, and bass room tracks. This latest release slows down the tempo and has a drop that similar to Zonderling’s “Tunnell Vision.” The instrumentals in the break are wonderfully subdued to make way for the vocals. While derivative, it’s a great song to chill out to for three minutes. I found myself coming back to this song over and over because the melody just wouldn’t get out of my head.
83/100
Milkwish – Your Love
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House music truly is the staple of EDM and love it or hate it, it’ll be around longer than any of the other trends we enjoy. Tech and melodic house has this sort of elite aura and evokes images of laidback parties and classier clubs or events. For me, it’s hard to subjectively review these sorts of tracks because it’s the subtle differences and choices in percussion kits that make or break these songs. For instance, this song has a single bassline melody throughout and keeps thing interesting with effects and chimes but for me, it still works. I feel content when I listen to this track all the way through and I feel like that’s one of the better things you can say about the genre.
82/100
We hope you enjoyed our recap of selected songs from last week. If there is a song that you felt should have been on here, be sure to leave it in the comments below and we’ll do our best to give our take on it. Certain songs were not included because they will be covered in more detail in the following days so make sure you’re following our social media pages to see all of our latest posts!
WHAT IF? – Will Sparks & Vini Vici – Agni (अग्नि)
Drama B & Besomorph – Stature
Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise (Skytone & Firetek Festival Mix)
Paris Blohm ft. Paul Aiden – Alive
Cloud41 – Letting Go (Feat. Devon Graves)
Teminite – Uprising | Album Review
Brooks – Limbo (ft. Zoë Moss)
Betta Lemme – Bambola (Merk & Kremont Remix)
JETFIRE & 22Bullets – PLACEBO
BRANSON – Tremble
Florian Picasso – Glitch
Steven Vegas: The New KURA?
Maurice West – The Kick
Vosai – Different Angle (feat. Veronica Bravo)
This recap was provided by The QR Network which is a site for interviews with producers and DJs such as Seth Hills, Foxa, Leah Culver, Natalia Moon, High ‘n’ Rich, and Steven Vegas.
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