Dubstep is evolving. Whether you’re on or off the bandwagon, the trajectory is evident from the staggering stylistic range of the past year’s brightest talents. From the lush lovestep of Seven Lions to the jazz-dub meanderings of Sub Motion Orchestra, a seven-piece live outfit situated somewhere between Adventure Club and Squarepusher, new artists are ensuring the oft-maligned genre continues to hold its own as an exciting and inspiring art form.
After extending a welcoming hand to bass music with the release of Noisia‘s tremendous “Nothing Matters” remix, Mark Knight is once again getting involved. This time, he’s lent his groovy tech house touch to Sub Motion Orchestra’s sultriest single “Thinking.” The Toolroom boss’s first release of 2013 showcases his funkier side with a buoyant bass and crisp layers of carefully chosen percussion that complement the track’s lovely vocals. New year, same old Mark Knight. No complaints here.
Zeds Dead have a way of crafting heavy dubstep tunes that retain an undeniable charm. Their newest release is direct evidence of this, as DC and Hooks take on Marina and the Diamonds’ “Lies.” In classic Zeds Dead fashion, the remix opens up with piano bars wrapped in copious reverb. As the production picks up, Zeds Dead unleash their signature wailing bass. Rolling hi-hats throughout the track tease trap influence, but the track remains as dubstep-oriented as ever. In the same manner as their remixes of “Eyes on Fire” and “Wild Heart,” Zeds Dead adeptly balance an engaging female vocal with blistering bass. Pick up the track for free from Soundcloud.
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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.
This week features Radial’s resplendent remix of Emil and Friends’ “Royal Oats,” Zimmer’s sizzling nu-disco remix of “Power,” Good Night Keaton’s absorbing spin on Goldroom’s “Sweetness Alive,” Lovejet’s downtempo original “Indian Love,” and Nicolas Jaar’s creative take on Chet Faker’s “Terms and Conditions.”
If you missed any of DA‘s more chilled-out posts from the week, make sure to check out Sound Remedy’s mellow trap remix of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games,” Sultan and Ned Shepard’s indie mix of “Walls,” Fatboy Slim’s mashup of Donna Summers and Adele, and Evan Duffy’s pristine piano cover of “Strobe.” For five tracks to lift your spirit and soothe your soul, click past the break.
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If you’ve enjoyed the recent wave of chill trap that’s been featured on Dancing Astronaut – à la Aylen’s remix of “Fix You” and Victor Niglio’s remix of “Ode to Oi” — you will love what Sound Remedy has done to Lana Del Rey’s ”Video Games.” While the original was one of the most remixed tunes of 2012, Sound Remedy pays tribute to both the songstress and the burgeoning trap movement by providing a catchy, polished rendition.
While many trap songs get docked as being too minimal, Sound Remedy’s remix of “Video Games” elegantly evades the stereotype. Lana’s lovely vocals are complimented by sparkling, effervescent synths, as well as a fitting 8-bit melody. If you enjoy the remix, grab it for free from Sound Remedy’s Facebook.
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TJR’s “Ode to Oi” was undoubtedly one of the coolest track tracks of November (it even made our Top 10), as its unique bassline effortlessly rides the line between dutch and acid house. Just as he did with Carnage on their remix of “Cannonball,” Victor Niglio has transformed “Ode to Oi” into a thumping trap anthem. Ramping up the tempo to 140bpm, Victor Niglio preserves TJR’s catchy acid-dutch drop while incorporating lovely string play. There is definitely something “ethnic” about the track, from the Spanish classical guitar, to the “oi” chanting, to the rattling hi-hats. While the response to his and Carnage’s trap rendition of “Cannonball” may have been lukewarm, Victor Niglio’s take on “Ode to Oi” is assuredly a winner. Download it for free from SoundCloud.
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After the release of their astounding The Face EP and single “Latch,” brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence of Disclosure have caught the attention of everyone from Adventure Club to Pete Tong. There is something about their unique blend of future garage and deep house that is refreshingly addicting. For a limited time, Disclosure are giving away their remix of Artful Dodger’s “Please Don’t Turn Me On” for free. Anyone who caught Disclosure on their recent North American tour will be familiar with the tune. Deep, techy, and R&B-spirited, the remix is everything we’ve come to love from the duo. Pick up the track for free from SoundCloud.
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On the heels of last month’s Zeds Dead and Noisia remixes of The Prodigy, OWSLA-adept Alvin Risk has reworked “Firestarter,” the iconic track off of The Prodigy’s fabled third album The Fat of the Land. Preserving the gothic overtone of the legendary single, Alvin Risk ramps up the tempo to 170bpm for a drumstep/drum ‘n’ bass production just as menacing as the original. The Prodigy’s influence on Alvin Risk is quite clear, and thus it only makes sense that he pays tribute to the famed group by remixing one of their biggest singles. Risk’s remix is part of the official reissue of The Fat of the Land, released on XL Recordings.
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Purchase: Beatport, iTunes
With the release of his multi-genre Days to Come EP on Skrillex‘s acclaimed OWSLA label, Jeff Montalvo, or Seven Lions as he is known, has proved himself to be one of the most promising new talents of 2012. With his well-known affinity for trance, it’s no surprise that Montalvo has chosen to remix “Days Turn into Nights” off Delerium’s new Music Box Opera album, nor that he cites the group as one of his biggest influences. In the same vein as “She Was” off Days to Come, the Seven Lions remix of “Days Turn into Nights” is midtempo gone mellifluous. Roaring bass precedes Michael Logen’s tranquil vocals, followed by an emphatic, radiant drop in typical Seven Lions fashion. Pick up the track from Beatport today.
Purchase: Beatport
Kings of electrofunk Chromeo are notorious for their groovy, vocal-warping disco house productions. Taking on “What You Want” off of Boys Noize’s Out of the Black album, the Canadian duo rework the heavy, blitzing original track into something entirely more digestible. And what would a Chromeo production be without their signature yearning vocals? Playing off the original’s “this is what you want, this is what you get” vocal sample, Chromeo’s Dave 1 (brother to A-Trak) lays down a catchy mid-track verse, putting his stamp on the remix in typical Chromeo fashion. The remix will be officially released on January 14th on Boys Noize Records.
A scant eight days after Zedd released the song’s acapella to the public, Aylen has given “Clarity” the remix treatment. The prolific New Jersey producer checked in from his tour with 3LAU to tell Dancing Astronaut he hoped his remix would complement Foxes’ “amazing” singing. He’s succeeded there; the track’s plucky introduction gives way to an upbeat lovestep beat and pleasant synth progressions that leave the limelight for the vocals. We’ve seen Aylen opt for unbridled electro house before, so his reinterpretation of this melodic anthem represents some well-advised restraint on his part. Head to Aylen’s Facebook for the free download.
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