Category: Song Of The Day

SONG OF THE DAY: Julie Thompson with Super 8 & Tab – “Your Secret’s Safe”

In this world where the DJ/Producer is always the star, it’s so refreshing to see the singer credited as the main artist on a track. Singer/songwriter Julie Thompson made her first entry to the dance world with James Holden on the massive underground track “Nothing” and has successfully crossed the genre lines of trance, electro, and progressive house by working with producers as varied as the Freemasons, Tiesto,? Freestylers, and Andy Duguid. While the progressive-leaning trance track by Super 8 & Tab is solid, “Your Secret’s Safe” is all about Julie’s vocal performance which shows a range with a forceful verse and uplifting bridge (reminiscent of Madonna’s “Love Profusion”)? that leads to an atmospheric, almost angelic chorus.? The contrast between the energetic beats and the calming lyrics elevates it from a club track to something more meaningful, memorable, and almost spiritual. As the first taste of her upcoming sophomore artist album ‘Eye of the Storm,’ we anxiously await hearing more from her.?

Image Courtesy of Magik Musik.

SONG OF THE DAY: Plastik Funk and Pink Fluid – “2 Billion Dollars”

The moment I heard this track, I knew these guys had to be Italian. Italian producers like Benny Benassi and DJs from Mars share a common groove of humor and perversion that come across in bouncy, energetic fun tracks. Following up the club tracks “Who” and “Let Me See Ya, ” Plastik Funk augment their frenetic electro sound with a bit of a pop melody from Pink Fluid and samples from an old movie about the evils of porn perverting the mind.? Working well as a metaphor for the effects of electronic music on developing minds, the slightly political message brings back pleasant flashbacks of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. The results work on every level, with addictive beats that are high energy but not so aggressive that they are annoying or glitchy. The repetitive loops will be ingrained in your brain, and thanks to the kitschy samples you will know what track to buy on Beatport.? Seeing as Plastik Funk has progressed with lyrics from a single word to a phrase to several paragraphs, maybe a full-on verse/chorus/verse is next?? We can only hope- and maybe someone should connect them with Luciana.

Image Courtesy of Tiger Records.

SONG OF THE DAY: Craig Connelly & Christina Novelli – “Black Hole”

Just as Disclosure/Prince Club are bringing back ’90s underground house, it sounds like the young generation of trance producers are doing the same for their genre. Craig Connelly has had a strong series of trance releases (“Robot Wars,” “Manchester AM,” “Like Whatever”), and for his new track “Black Hole” he revisits the world old school trance with big energetic loops, sweeping synths, and a huge build leading to a dramatic dropout. Singer Christina Novelli (“Fire and Load”/”Concrete Angel”) radiates that perfect balance of power and pretty with the dark but hopeful lyrics about escaping a negative relationship.? Close your eyes and it could be a Perfecto track from the ’90s or even a Tiesto track from the early ’00s, yet its still sounds oddly modern.? Has trance music come full circle???

Image Courtesy of Garuda.