Category: Featured

SONG OF THE DAY: Don Diablo ft Noonie Bao – “M1 Stinger”

I guess T33 just isn’t a catchy name. The original Dirty Dutchman Don Diablo has been flying under the radar a bit lately, dropping tracks now and then. Just released is “M1 Stinger,” the outerworldly juxtaposition of a kiddie sing-along song about violent retribution for stolen virginity. Well, that’s just one reading of the lyrics- and knowing they were written by Sting makes you wonder if it’s an allegory for third world countries gaining retribution against imperialistic nations that stole their natural resources. Vocalised by Swedish alt-pop singer Noonie Bao, it could easily be mistaken as a Robyn track – you know, the ones that lull you in as a pop song and then end quite aggressively. The original version of “M1 Stinger” starts with a midtempo rock/pop feel, which breaks into a siren and then in-your-face drum and bass. Remixes make the track more club-friendly for those loving moombahton (Rene Kuppens) and drum and bass (gLAdiator and VIP). Since Don is one for discovering new talent (he was one of the first to collaborate with Dragonette many years ago), it is definitely worth tracking down Nonnie’s song “About To Tell.” As for the Don, here’s hoping that his recent move to London inspires even more random creative madness, such as the cracked-out owl in the video and this stinger.. oops banger of a tune.

Image courtesy of Don Diablo.

SONG OF THE DAY: Maya Von Doll ft Robs & Duke – “Is This Love”

Dance music is all over the radio right now, but of course purists turn up their noses because it is mostly r&b and pop artists co-opting the EDM genre and putting pop melodies or rap verses on top of it. With that in mind, it’s great to see one of our own jump the trend and add a pop vibe to a harsh electro sound. Soho Dolls lead singer Maya Von Doll follows up her summer single “Open Chequebook” with the deceptively melodic “Is This Love.” I say deceptively because it starts off very synth-pop and gradually the electro kick loop builds in intensity. About a minute and a half in, there’s a brief silence and then full-on glitchy electro takes over – as if Steve Aoki and Skrillex teamed up to make a pop song. The transition between the different sounds is jarring at first, but definitely adds impact to the question the song asks. The video, honestly, borders on soft-core porn but is just classy enough so you realize that a woman is in control of the objectification. In its current form, “Is This Love” is a great electro-pop song for radio, I am imagining how great a sick moombahton or glitch mix would sound in club sets.


Image Courtesy of Maya von Doll.

SONG OF THE DAY: The Shapeshifters – “It’s Alright”

British househeads The Shapeshifters go back to their roots and bring some much needed spirituality to the dance floor. Sampling a gospel preacher (“Hallelujah, it’s alright, to get up”) and churchy strings give “It’s Alright” a classic (and classy) feel at its climax. Building up with a saxophone and a soul clap-oriented groove, the house beats have a minor taste of modern electro – not enough to overpower, but just enough to sound current. The effortless blending of these elements make “It’s Alright” sound quite unique and able to fit into sets for a variety of DJs. Ignoring the risk of sounding cheesy (and mixing song titles), it’s more than alright, it’s quite incredible.

Read our interview with The Shapeshifters from WMC 2008.

Image Courtesy of Nocturnal Groove.