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.

SONG OF THE DAY: Walden – “Intropial”?

As a big fan of Australian pop tart Zoe Badwi,? I first discovered Walden when he remixed “Accidents Happen.”? It was an edgy yet commercial mix that highlighted the vocals with a unique flavor.?? Not long after, Walden started popping up on records by Mika, Marina & the Diamonds, and that car commercial song “In My Mind” by Ivan Gough & Feenixpawl (while everyone else was banging Axwell’s mix, I was all about Walden’s take). ?When I heard his Moroder-esque track “Our Metal Heartbeats,” that’s when it really went to a new level.? With the rise of all the young EDM producers (Madeon, Porter Robinson), it came as little surprise that Walden wasn’t even twenty, yet was already creating international buzz tracks from down under.? His current single “Intropial” is a big room stadium house production on the progressive tip complete with effected vocals, spatial breaks, explosions, and breakdowns.? When I first heard the title, I thought the track was a play on the word intropic (or changing the force of muscles) – with the track decreasing and increasing the energy with varying transitions.? It ends up that it’s actually a concept track about rebellion against an evil corporation as illustrated by the sci-fi/geek-friendly animated video.? Walden isn’t a reference to Thoreau’s transcendental wilderness experience but also to Walden Industries, the fictional corporation controlling people’s minds through evil technology.? Then again, considering Thoreau’s treatise on self-reliance maybe the two are related.? Either way, “Intropial” works on many levels – a solid club track and an introduction to a fantasy world. For all the SciFi fans out there, be sure to check out Walden’s mix of “Point Blank (Love is Blind)” by Anakyn ft Fabio Lendrum – a great Star Wars reference for those in the know.

Image Courtesy of Big Beat.

SONG OF THE DAY: Calagna & Cortes ft Ash Ruiz – “Same Tribu”

The allure of pots and pans has been lost on me so I will admit that I have not really followed tribal music for many years.? This aversion has calmed over the past few years, and I’ve found myself playing a few cool tribal tracks from labels like Stereo and Kult.? Up next in my sets will be “Same Tribu,” the new collaboration of Alyson Calagna and Jose “Spinnin'” Cotes featuring the vocals of Ash Ruiz.? The original mix has an almost meditative, spiritual feel which transcends the genre – yes, it’s tribal, but with authentic-feeling chants, sexy grooves, and a beat that invites you onto the floor. Kult mainstay Eddie Cumana adds a cool, old school house vibe with his mix, with a sick bassline and fills that are brilliant in their clarity.? A touch of electro and disco gives Cortes’ own mix a unique flavor that opens the track up for DJs who don’t normally embrace the tribal vibe. All three of these mixes are segued together in the promo YouTube video which showcases Alyson and Jose spinning live and working in the studio.? Gear whores be warned, there will be a lot of cool pieces you will be craving.

Image Courtesy of Kult.