Sunday Morning Medicine is a feature from Dancing Astronaut dedicated to the mellower side of electronic music. We bring you our favorite therapeutic selections — old and new — in an attempt to alleviate the agonizing effects of a long weekend of partying.
We start your Sunday healing with stunning selections from Monitor 66, Drop Lamond, Bondax, Tempogeist and Du Tonc which are guaranteed to help you get into a relaxed groove.
If you’re looking for our slower selections from this week, make sure to check out Francesco Rossi’s “Paper Aeroplane,” Oliver & Thee Mike B remix of Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” preview of Jamie Jone’s new EP, Flight Facilities “I Didn’t Believe,” and the “Reverse Skydiving” remixes from Hot Natured.
Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding’s smash hit collaboration “Need Your Love” got picked up by Dutch producer/DJ Kevin van Veelen, or Dem Slackers. He’s transformed the sticky sweet radio-friendly hit into a veritable club anthem with quite a grimy electro breakdown and although this is only a bootleg it stands strong against other more official versions like Nicky Romero’s remix.
Editors’ Selections is an opportunity for your favorite Dancing Astronaut contributors to talk about some of the music they’re listening to that we might not always get an opportunity to post about from week to week. Sometimes it’s out there, sometimes it’s obscure, but you’ll always get a peek into what we’re loving behind closed doors.
Our favorite Kentucky native Amtrac proves yet again that he’s a producer on the rise and one to watch out for. His diverse production style — ranging from nu-disco and deep house — makes it difficult to pinpoint a constant sonic persuasion in his outputs. For his remix of Ellie Goulding’s “Without Your Love” Amtrac ventures into the house world, distorting Ellie’s vocals into near oblivion and incorporating the kind of bouncy bass that’s easy to get addicted to. The track comes to us as part of a Nike-sponsored “Halcyon” remix package available as a free download via Interscope.
If your interest in Amtrac has been piqued check out his remix of “Alone” or peruse his SoundCloud.
Officially making the cutest fake couple in the music biz, Ellie Goulding and Calvin Harris released video for ubiquitous hit “I Need Your Love” coming off Calvin’s 18 Monthsalbum. Intimate bedroom shots, aerial helicopter views of South Beach hot spots and a LIV Miami cameo take center stage as the two show off how desperately in love they are. It would be interesting to see Skrillex’ reaction to see his former beau getting cozy with the Scotsman, a dance music love triangle I sort of wish was real.
Eighteen year old wunderkind Madeon teams up with one of EDM’s favorite voices Ellie Goulding to bring us a poppy outing dubbed “Stay Awake.” The track has all the qualities of a radio hit, featuring upbeat tempo with surging synth work and melodic house undertones. The track was meant for Ellie’s Halcyon album, but wasn’t delivered in time. Nevertheless, it was released yesterday as a single and can now be purchased on Beatport.
Ellie Goulding’s highly re-mixable track, “Anything Could Happen” receives a hefty drum and bass jolt from dub heavyweights Mt. Eden. Available as a free download, the duo does well to leave Ellie’s siren-like vocal lines intact while delivering a grinding and energetic DnB outing that drifts elegantly between majestic chord progressions and savage percussive fills. Subtle electro punches and chirping arpeggios harmonize with Ellie’s pitch-perfect singing while the guttural bass line thrashes and groans it’s way to an amphetamine-laced climax.
Ellie Goulding’s vocal made “I Need Your Love” the most charismatic song from Calvin Harris’s 18 Monthswhen released last fall, but those harmonies are being revisited for festival season. Nicky Romero has offered his take of the track, a remix that glows and reflects studio overtime and precision. Nicky twists the melodic upswing enough that it provides anticipation fitting for his drop, but remains flavorful of the original. The release date is still unknown, but could be expected this season in the spirit of MMW.
As it approached midnight, I stood in the enormous line for the ladies’ room at Ruby Skye. Girls chattered about their hurting feet, how to get behind the red velvet rope for VIP, and of course when Thomas Gold would be taking the stage. Suddenly the line went silent for a split-second, and squeals of excitement began to echo as Thomas Gold’s first selections burst through the speakers.
Nardwuar “The Human Serviette” has conducted some of the most well researched, humorous, and oftentimes awkward interviews in the history of the music industry. The offbeat Canadian oddball is known for putting microphones way too close to his subjects, his catchphrase (“doot-doota-loot-do…”), awkward freeze frames, and the presents he gives to his interviewees.
Although Nardwuar comes off as nerdy and annoying, it’s all part of his well intentioned schtick — forcing artists out of their comfort zones and into compelling and revealing stories. His subjects aren’t always good sports or well-versed enough in the history of their own productions, but when they are the results far exceed those you might get from a by-the-book interview. Check out Nardwuar’s episode with Skrillex and explore his channel.
