Category: Song Of The Day

SONG OF THE DAY: Jerome Isma-Ae – “Hold That Sucker Down” ?

I was scratching my head, thinking that I had just reviewed this and was thankful that they went back and did a vocal version.? Then I realized that back in January, trance wizard Lange updated the classic with a touch of modern sounds but keeping the epic original pretty much in place.? Celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Armada, Jerome Isma-Ae turns in a more shuffly, progressive take, and like Lange keeps the original synth stabs and religious vibe firmly in place.? The major difference is that Jerome is using the original vocals- which truly recaptures the magic and brings it forward to 2013.? The Rollo/Faithless sound can easily be seen as a forefather/precursor for what we now call progressive/stadium house, and if you go back and listen to the original you can definitely hear that.? For those who want a more banging, aggressive mix, check out the Sick Individuals who toughen things up, sharpen the electro, and with all respect due keep the vibe of the original firmly in place.? Across the board, the Lange and Jerome Isma-Ae versions (and the remixes) stand as a testament to the proper way that a producer should update a classic with respect to the original, rather than just destroy them.? Holy Ghost, Donna Summer, ahem…

Image Courtesy of Pilot 6 / Armada

SONG OF THE DAY: Linden Jay ft Ruby Wood – “Break the Hold”

Slick and sexy, that’s the best way to describe “Break the Hold.” Comparisons to Disclosure, Mike Mago, and Duke Dumont are obvious with the mellow ’90s house groove and somewhat garagey bassline, yet I am getting more of a MK – as in Mark Kinchen (not Mark Knight) by way of West Coast OM feel. The track is laid back, sexy, soulful, and groovy and at the same time energetic and club-ready. It’s one of those songs that proves you don’t need banging, aggressive electro beats to numb a dance floor into submission. Though if you do want banging electro beats, the Kid Massive remix serves them up nicely. That’s just one of the strong remixes across the genres – Cause & Affect (house), Taiki & Nulight (broken beat), and the expertly-constructed drum and bass rerun by Rollz.

Image Courtesy of Sony.

SONG OF THE DAY (SUNDAY FUNDAY): Nad Mika – “DiskoRomance”

Last night, I came back from the club and happened up on some old Saturday Night Live episode where Mike Myers was playing German talkshow host Dieter frolicking in a Sprockets club scene. That got me thinking of Nad Mika’s ‘Electronic Beat Bitch’ album, which I enjoyed while searching for something new from the German pop-punk-electro-trash dance diva. Her latest single “Diskoromance” is a bit more polished but retains the DIY-agressive edge and frivolity of her previous epic opus. She probably heard Lady Gaga’s ‘Fame’ album and thought she could do it better herself. With a backbeat of ’90s Front 242/Nitzer Ebb industrial-edged EBM (electronic body music), she talk-sings in English, French, and German wonderful lines like “I dance and we dance and you dance, disco romance.” Stated so simply, what more could you want from a dance song? Adventurous DJs should check out the remixes by Dualesque and BiTbear. There’s no need to analyze it any further, it’s Sunday Funday – so go out and find yourself some Disco Romance.

Image Courtesy of Madame Visage Records.