It was definitely hard to just talk about nine tracks this week because there were so many things to discuss! 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 post your suggestions in the comments
Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus – Old Town Road (Dr. Phunk Remix)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/648604994″ 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” /]
This song just can’t seem to die. With a brand-new official remix featuring none other than the Walmart yodeling kid (Mason Ramsey) and Young Thug, we thought we’d cover the best version of the song to play for DJs and EDM lovers. Despite the song’s popularity, Dr. Phunk has been the only decent remix I’ve come across. (feel free to write your favorite in the comments, there’s a high chance I just haven’t heard it!) The way Dr. Phunk incorporated the original material into a straight hardstyle banger is just next level. It seriously gave me chills and when he put in his new melody, I lost it all. He took the catchiest song and turned it into something incredible. He also took the most annoying verse in the track and made it tolerable. This remix is an accomplishment by all measures and earns a rare 90+ rating from the EDM Reviewer team.
91/100
METAFO4R – Rave Machine
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/648567473″ 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 nine months, the supergroup between Firebeatz and Dubvision have released a new song entitled, “Rave Machine.” Their first song was a somewhat unique progressive house track and now as the title suggests, this one goes a bit harder. It combines the anthemic melodies from Firebeatz’ older days with the new groove style from Dubvision. “Rave Machine” follows a slower paced arrangement of older house music and doesn’t offer anything memorable with its sounds or melodies. It sounds like it could have been your run-of-the-mill Fonk release. In my opinion, a disappointment which brings nothing new to the table or effectively channels any nostalgia.
67/100
QUIX & Adventure Club – Life Long After Death (feat. badXchannels)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/649898348″ 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” /]
In their interview with The QR Network, Adventure Club said that this is “a song where we wanted to go back to our hardcore roots. Craig Owens from badXchannels is one of our idols. He was the lead man in Chiodos and our song pays homage to that musical period in my life.” While the song fits very well into the Adventure Club discography, a lot of the instrumental aspects come from QUIX’s older collaboration with KRANE, “Next World” which features a similar lead in the first drop and a euphoric, future bass second drop. The fills reminded me of Eliminate’s that he used in tracks like “Walls.” The vocals from badXchannels elevate the track and give it a definite sense of power. The dubstep meets orchestral instrumentals that accompany them in the break are fitting enough but aren’t exceptional. To summarize: I felt the first drop could have been heavier and thought the track was a bit too derivate. As a complete package, the track falls just short of being anything more than ephemeral.
74/100
Madison Mars – Avalon
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/647544462″ 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” /]
Between this track and his last release, “Back to You,” Madison Mars has really been hitting all the right notes for me. “Avalon” seems to be the successor to “Atom” and channels a bit of “Minor Cause” by lo-fi producer, Emancipator due to them both being in the same key. The first and second half of the track are nearly identical which is a disappointment. I thought the addition of rap samples during the house section wasn’t fitting for the beauty of the rest of the track. It came off as sounding like a DJ trying to mix two different songs together at a transition point. Madison Mars flirts with greatness in a lot of his tracks but falls short in making them perfect.
84/100
DRIIIFT – Brazilian Bass
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/649125620″ 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” /]
This track bubbled up to the surface of my feed and the first thing I noticed was that it was one minute and forty-nine seconds long! I know tracks are getting shorter, but this seemed extreme. Nevertheless, I gave it a listen and found it to be a well-produced Dirty Dutch track. It ripped a bit much from Quintino (“Inferno,” “Brasil Connect”) but it is a stand-out release from the Indian label, FeelQ Recordings. Considering how bare the only breakdown was, I feel confident in saying it wouldn’t have been hard to stretch this track to 2:15 and given it more character than just the drop. Also, just from a naming perspective, I don’t know why you would name a song after a genre if you pay no homage at all to said genre.
71/100
Distrion, Jack & James – Over Life
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/649000775″ 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 Mike Williams futzing about with his sound and not connecting with his pop tracks or new future bounce, Distrion has really stepped up to fill the void with tracks like “Feel Alive,” “Laguna,” and here with “Over Life.” He’s particularly taken after the Mike Williams progressive sound found in tracks like “Rocket,” “Give It Up,” and his remix of “We Want Your Soul.” Distrion and Jack & James have released melodies that have really resonated with me and moved me. They’ve one-upped their last collaboration with their improved handling of vocals in the break which makes this an enjoyable listen all the way through. My one complaint is that they put exactly zero effort into the final fill of the drop and left it with silence on both this track and “Feel Alive.” A minor flaw compared the incredible work done throughout the rest of the track on a technical and emotional level.
86/100
DLMT & Paraleven – One Drink (Los Padres Remix)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/644666556″ 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’ve said before that Tommy Jayden has one of the best signature sounds in house music and that opinion is now solidified because this remix from Los Padres marks the first Tommy Jayden knockoff. As far as I can tell, this is just the second released song from Los Padres. Unfortunately, it seems his Spotify has been fused with some sort of Spanish rock group so it’s hard to retrace his origins beyond another remix for “WOW.” Aside from the derivative elements, having the second drop go breakbeat was pretty fresh and the entire track was very-well mixed and mastered. I’m excited to see more styles of future and bass house come into fruition because producers could always use new inspirations.
82/100
Cheyenne Giles – Blow The Whistle
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/611643324″ 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” /]
This Musical Freedom release was my first exposure to Cheyenne Giles and I have really enjoyed going through his discography while researching for this review. He has a very confident style which I was instantly attracted too. He seems to have been inspired by the likes of Tchami and Moksi with his melodic bass house tracks. His basslines have so much character and energy to them and that’s readily apparent in “Blow The Whistle.” The call and response structure between basslines is the perfect combination of light and heavy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the track section midway through the track as the tempo just isn’t very conducive to a good trap flow. Some producers can pull it off like STUCA but success is elusive for most. The second drop builds off of the energy from the first to a meaningful degree. Musical Freedom is by no means a consistently good label, but they have released some impressive gems from new talent over the past few months.
80/100
SaberZ – Sounds Like (Anonymous Guest Review)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/646589244″ 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” /]
You guys may know as “One Kiss ID” premiered by W&W at Tomorrowland. Finally, a year since then, SaberZ unexpectedly released this on MaRLo’s Armada sublabel, Reaching Altitude. The intro starts with energetic percussion and melodies. The female vocals provided and written by Ivar Lisinski greatly compliment the track and enhances its energy. In the drop, you can see SaberZ’s unforgettable style. Overall, this track is a significant track for the duo and continues their legacy of quality releases.
83/100
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!
Revealed Progressive EP Vol. 2
This recap was provided by The QR Network which is a site for interviews with producers and DJs. Check out their interviews with B3RROR, Folded Dragons, and. Kage.
What do you think?
Show comments / Leave a comment