Certainly an interested week when it came to the Liquid Stranger album, disappointing collaborations, the one of the most packed collabs I’ve seen in a while. As always, 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.
Liquid Stranger & SoDown – Space Farmer
Holy cow do I wish I had the time to review each one of the 30 tracks on Liquid Stranger’s album. There are some absolute gems like his collaboration with Leah Culver on “Burn Like the Sun” which combines futuristic leads with an indie-experimental-bass foundation all held together by Leah’s incredible voice. Then you have “The Pod” that’s a low-tempo dark house track which just is mind-melting with a decent pair of headphones on. Then you have others with that liquid bass sound applied to heavy and laidback tracks with remarkable attention to tone, vibe, and arrangement to make the most of each element.
The song I want to cover in particular is “Space Farmer” because I feel like it’s the most accessible track that highlights the range and entirely unique atmosphere that Liquid Stranger is able to create in four minutes. The way the track flows from section to section, layering, removing, and evolving elements from the track is truly in touch with his listeners which he has undoubtedly perfectly from his years of performing and creating music. I highly recommend you go and put this album on while you work, relax, or study because you’re surely to find a fair handful of tracks you like out of this diverse, 30-track beast of an album.
91/100
Nicky Romero & David Guetta – Ring the Alarm
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/573600684″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Oh look, it’s the entire groove percussion sample pack in one song! Hearing this song brings back memories of the heyday of groove back when Will K, Nari & Milani, Hiisak, and Corey James were all pushing this type of music to every major label. Considering the classic, emotional hits that helped build and shape these two name’s careers, it’s so weird to see them collaborate on this truly uninspired and unoriginal track. Someone pointed out on Nicky Romero’s post about the track that it shares the same rhythm and sounds as the Chocolate Puma Miami Cut of Orlando Voorn’s “In Da Jungle,” which is true, having listened to both, but not unexpected in a genre where the percussion is the only notable feature. While those two adjectives certainly apply here, in the end they don’t detract from that x-factor which makes this track infectious and objectively fun to hear.
61/100
Tom & Jame feat. Alice Berg – Never Look Back (Declain Remix)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/469343808″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
After holding a remix competition that received submissions from every producer and their mother, we finally have the official remix EP for this near year-old track. We got a typical progressive track from Skydrops, a somewhat interesting future bounce track from Bonkerz but the melody falls flat. Which leaves Declain’s version which maintains his signature modern progressive sound but ventures a bit too close to Maurice West territory with the pitch bending and layering of his synths. The track originally came out seven months ago but was just officially released as part of the EP. Regardless, it adds the best original aspect to this track which has been remixed into the floor at this point and the melody perfectly complements the vocals while still being strong enough to stand on its own.
83/100
Rave Revival Sound System – #RaveRevival
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/575686884″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
When I first saw the names involved in this track, I was positively stunned. According to the description, “this serves as the debut of Rave Revival Sound System, this time around featuring Tommie Sunshine, Disco Fries, SLATIN, MureKian, Haus Of Panda & The Otter Gang. This track coincides with the release of the Splice sample pack which also drops today!!!” I have no earthly how it took this many people to make a track that sounds like a modern Tommie Sunshine track mixed with a bit of MureKian’s clean bass house flare. While it certainly captures the essence of that era in the industry, I expected a lot more diversity and Easter eggs considering just how many people were supposedly involved in this track.
74/100
Foxa, Castion & Camero – Even If I Wanted To (ft. MAJRO)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/575750886″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
Here for the second release of Camille van Gurp, Rob Kuipers, and Lorinc Loczi’s label, Triad, are a trio of talented future house producers with the fresh talent of MAJRO who lends her voice to the original vocals in this track. The breakdowns make way for her vocals to shine through with just enough instrumentation to give it proper support, but the real draw is the drop which throws in all the tricks and signatures that these three artists have perfected over the years. It’s a great collaboration but it left me wanting more action in the breaks as you think these three talents could have thought of something more interesting to do with the vocals than the beaten path. Regardless, it’s a great second release for the new label and combination of these fours’ sound.
85/100
Jean Marie & Flaremode – Dolci Pensieri (feat. Matt Joe)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/573670554″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
I was truly hopeful when I saw the announcement for Smash the House’s new sublabel aimed at bringing up new talent. I thought it would be the move that brings new talent up into the big leagues and gives them the connections to succeed in this industry. However, it seems that they’ve gone back to supporting “connected talent” as Jean Marie ranks up there in the company of MATTN and Sophie Francis who rose to fame for knowing the right people. Seeing Flaremode on the title was a pleasant surprise as I’ve followed his come up since his days on Bonerizing Records (which is also in the process of being revived.) Back to the track itself, we get a lazy psy-trance track with a bit of Italian flare and a TWIIG-esque second drop. While the breakdown is a nice breath of fresh air, the backstory and generic drops put an awful stain on the whole track and the label itself. There’s definitely some love-hate going on here because while Smash & Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike tend to house a lot of favoritism with some of their signings, they also have brought on Olly James, Jaxx & Vega, Cuebrick, Sidney Sampson, and Futuristic Polar Bears to name a few. Time will tell and the label is still young, here’s to hoping for a brighter future.
54/100
Mr. Black & Triangle – Ravin
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/543559581″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
With “Ravin” we get another example of a confused Dharma release. It’s checked the box for having “ethnic” elements which is the staple of the label, but I just can’t dance to this drop. It’s so choppy and disconnected with itself. It sort of has the quirky rhythms of some Tom & Jame tracks like “Step Up” and “Zone” but then throws in that generic Eastern melody section and some bass house samples and you end up with this abstract collage of EDM sounds. Then there’s the typical Mr. Black psy section thrown in there for good measure. The breakdowns are typical Dharma fare. It just feels like there was so much potential here, but something got lost in translation from idea to execution.
66/100
Justin Prime & D3FAI – Earthquake (feat. Jake Lewis)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/575746977″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
I’ll be honest, Justin Prime seems to pop up in the most unlikely places and I have never really attributed him to any sound despite him having notable credits dating back to 2012. In all of his collaborations, he doesn’t seem to add a particular sound or signature element to it, but somehow the tracks are just better. Seeing this artist who has been on Spinnin’ Records, Armada, Revealed, and co-produced tracks for Tiësto, it’s strange to see him pop up on the independent label, TurnItUp Muzik. The track has a lot going for it including energic, original vocals from Jake Lewis. It seems to have been the drops that held this track from getting a bigger release. Its dominated by recycled sounds from D3FAI paired with an overused rhythm and barebones melody. It’s definitely trying too hard for what its working with and it leads to this strange blip on both of these artist’s discography.
68/100
Lucas & Steve – Say Something
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/575744589″ params=”color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true” width=”100%” height=”130″ iframe=”true” /]
With this track, Lucas & Steve have made what I believe is their first track outside of house range at least as far as I can find. In the Sample Watch for the week, through one of the fills in this track, I found the sample that Chachi built “Never Letting Go” out of and released on the Spinnin’ sublabel, SOURCE. Back to the track at hand though, “Say Something” is a fine track with no particularly noteworthy elements other than the fact that it’s their first foray into pop EDM. I wish they had incorporated their future house sound that they’ve made their signature over the past two years, but alas we’re stuff with vocal chops from the break.
78/100
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!
Maximals & Boothed – Up & Down EP
This recap was provided by The QR Network which is a site for interviews with producers and DJs. Check out their interviews with Herobust, The Beamish Brothers, Stisema, Anikdote, and Syzz.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment