SONG OF THE DAY: Armand Pena and Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love

The word anthem gets thrown around so much that it has almost lost its meaning, similar to diva. To restore the meaning, think about anthems that have truly stood the test of time – “Show Me Love,” “Finally,” and of course “100% Pure Love.” These are songs that always hype a dancefloor and get everyone singing along. Celebrating the 20-year anniversary of the original “100% Pure Love” release, Crystal Waters teamed up with Armand Pena to resing and recreate one of her signature records. This isn’t one of those hatchet jobs where rushed vocals are thrown over the sound of the moment for a quick buck. The production incorporates the melody and sounds of the original while reworking them with a modern tribal house vibe and a hint of electro. The update shows that a track can have big room energy without being a banger. Crystal resang the lyrics and her distinct voice sounds even better than your might remember. There is a slight deepening of her tone which adds to the fresh vibe. There will no doubt be a slew of remixes coming, but I have a feeling this original production will be the one that everyone will be dancing to for years to come.

Image courtesy of Juicy Music.

SONG OF THE DAY: Dasco ft Justina Maria – What I Need (Right Here, Right Now)

One of the dirty secrets of dance music is that DJs often pay ghost producers to do their work for them.? From time to time, the real talent behind the superstars step up and release their own music.? Dasco are one of those “behind the scene” guys, and with this new release they get the recognition they deserve.? Similar in vibe to Duke Dumont’s “I Got You,”? “What I Need” is a summery, breezy house track with light instrumentation, sexy grooves, and an infectious singalong chorus.? At first, the “I House You” male vocal sample is a bit disconcerting, but after a few plays, it fits perfectly.?The remixes keep the house vibe firmly in place with Rob Roar sweetening it up with a bit of a pop vibe, Shoko building around a tough bassline with a strong horn sample, and Sauna Riot giving it a soundtrack vibe.? As winter approaches, “What I Need” will remind global clubbers of their holidays in Ibiza and the rest of us of lazy summertime lounging.

Image Courtesy of Phonetic Recordings.

SONG OF THE DAY: Embody – Bad News

By: DJ Ricky Sixx

Dance music is truly international. Born in Lithuania and living in London, producer Embody is developing a unique sound by mixing deep house with tropical grooves. Not exactly beach music, but enough of a vibe to sound different and fresh in the recent onslaught of nearly-identical ’90s hour retreads (check out his mix of Lana del Rey “Once Upon a Dream” for a good example). For the summery-sounding “Bad News,” he adds a bit more punch to the house groove- making it energetic but still chilled. The result is energetic and dazed, almost like smoking weed and drinking Red Bull at the same time. Singer Obenewa is one to watch for, she sounds incredible with a quite raw and unprocessed vocal that contrasts well with the robotic male vocal. Be sure to check out her new single “CTRL+ALT+DEL” with Walter Ego as well.