Well there. “Been some time” is a massive understatement to make, especially since the time last episode saw lights of the day. Anyways, tenth episode couldn’t happen at a weirder time, but here goes. Checked the previous Friday list as usual, and acts such as D.O.D., Steve Aoki and Love Regenerator and more have been at it. Enough intro, let’s get into the crux of this instalment!

Love Regenerator, Solardo – Rollercoaster (EP)
81/100

Embracing underground to the fullest potential, Scottish sensation Calvin Harris hasn’t forgotten about his side alias. Making acquaintance with the House hotshots Solardo, the British personas took responsibility of bringing about a heated EP titled “Rollercoaster”.

There’s the self-titled track that resorts to rave-y chords and barraging acid bassline, with analogue and gritty percussions and textures. “All of a Sudden” extrapolates that mood with a Garage-y attitude, hoover-ing synths and other antics that would land your imagination straight to a 90’s boiler room party.

This compilation proves versatility of its creators yet again, resoundingly.

Sandro Silva – Risk It All
72/100

I will admit, I may have been tad harsher with the Dutch producer last time. Yet, grudges are futile to be harboured for long.

“Risk It All” isn’t picture perfect but does feel more than a decent work. It screams the label’s trademarks, a fusion of Trance and Big Room that it’s owners have become reputed for. The breakdown has its ear-candies with a female vox and crowd-hyping melodic supersaws. On the other hand, the drops introduce to Silva’s preferred choice of screeching leads and drums.

Reminded me somewhat of Mainstage Recordings, you know.

D.O.D., Carla Monroe – Still Sleepless
84/100

Pianos and Deep House go together as well chocolate-chip cookies and coffee do. Change my mind, if you want.

Returning to Axwell’s imprint Axtone, D.O.D. bid adieu to this year’s summer with another bittersweet albeit snappy single “Still Sleepless”, with a gorgeous feature from the songstress Carla Monroe. Feel good and grabby pianoforte and a lively vocal performance is all it takes to do the magic, uncomplicatedly.

Jay Hardway – Till The Sun Comes Up (ft. PollyAnna)
64/100

Disappointment comes rarely from Jay Hardway, as his upbeat productions always stick to his style with appreciable amount of experimentation. Yet his latest offering “Till The Sun Comes Up”, despite being melodically opulent, suffers from an ailment ruining many a tracks lately- laziness.

While the heartfelt vocal from PollyAnna sweetens the pot, the actual protagonist of this song doesn’t impact as hard. The drop is a generic attempt at Progressive House, lacking the known enthusiasm of the genre.

Dash Berlin – Oceans
76/100

Former Dutch frontiersmen in the Trance genre and now a singular alias, Dash Berlin has gone through make-overs more times than I can remember.

After a what seemed a lengthy and unexplainable reformation, the project is still keeping active with releases now and then, latest one being “Oceans”. An anonymous vocal enchants the experience, with softer Progressive House schematics ensuing throughout. Although frankly speaking, the song does suffer with lesser dynamics and less polished mixdown.

This is far from the Dash Berlin one would fondly remember, yet something for the fans to cling onto.

Steve Aoki, Armin van Buuren – Music Means Love Forever
40/100

A co-operation between the two powerhouses in the EDM industry, “Music Means Love Forever” unflinchingly puts forward both a generic (and cheeky) title and production approach.

At first, it tried to be “Toulouse”. Then a Big Room drop out of the blue as the secondary climax, that too clipping badly. Sigh. Best if talked less about.

Bonus Review:
Brian Bradley – Star-Crossed
76/100

Just a final thought about the upcoming EP of Brain Bradley: if all the songs will be as good as “Star-Crossed”, we will surely have a new star in the Future Bass firmament! The production works on its atmosphere with a complex game of sudden pauses and switches, delivering a very entertaining result! The vocal, concluding, hit me right in the feelings.

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