People often ask me why I reference certain artists in my reviews. For me, 808 State was one of the first artists that defined the “electronic soundtrack” sound. Their tracks were uplifting, energetic and upbeat, but often not so in your face that they would steal the focus from what else was going on around them. Yet, 808 State tracks were always catchy and memorable. If 808 State was still making music in that vibe, it would probably sound like “Sunlight Showers” by Hanski. The UK-based producer has really captured the feel – a happy, feel good instrumental that capture an emotion and are uplifting. The kind of track that, when deployed properly in a primetime set, would have people raising their hands to Shazam it. The Spark7 mix goes a little more proggy, while the Speed Limits mix teases with a pretty piano intro before the energetic electro mix kicks in. With such an uplifting vibe, its easy to see why “Sunlight Showers” is track being deployed during the ASOT 600 live shows.
Image Courtesy of Cloudland.
Category: Song Of The Day
SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): Jenn D – “You Keep Giving Me Love”
Happy pop/disco dancing at its absolute bleached best, Jenn D delivers big time with “You Keep Giving Me Love,” the follow-up to her 2012 track “Lose It.” ?There’s absolutely no misses in this track, a non-stop jam that would easily slip into any Ministry of Sound compilation, almost a throwback to Moony, Milky, and DB Boulevard in its execution. ?And with Jenn D herself looking like an early Gaga (minus covering her face awkwardly), there’s a chance that she could tap into the vein of music it seems Kylie has temporarily abandoned. ?The world needs a good disco punch to the face every now and then.
Image Courtesy of AATW
SONG OF THE DAY: Frankmusik – “Maps”
Back in the ’80s, the TV show Dallas decided that a whole season had been bad for the overall storyline, so they wrote it off as an extended dream sequence.? Let’s just all agree to do that with Frankmusik’s second album ‘Do It In the AM,” since his new single “Maps” is such a return to the excellent form of his landmark debut, ‘Complete Me.”? The lovely discordant feel of blending emotionally stirring symphonic production for the verses with frantic electropop for the chorus is the kind of brilliant madness that we all fell in love with when we first discovered “3 Little Words” and “Better Off As Two.”? His songwriting has moved away from the wannabe party boy and back to the heartfelt storytelling that we love him for.? Interpreted as a farewell-to-love song, “Maps” was the perfect clearing the slate/starting over song to be released on Valentine’s Day.? Interpreted as a response to his former record label, it’s the best artist screw-you message since Sara Bareilles told off Amanda Ghost in “King of Anything.” ?With “Maps” and his production of Katrina’s new single “Ready to Love,” we anxiously await diving into his new EP Far From Over and the rest of his upcoming third album, due to be released in April.
Image Courtesy of Frankmusik.