Tag: arty

SONG OF THE DAY: Mat Zo ft Chuck D? – “Pyramid Scheme”

While the use of ’90s samples has becoming quite prevalent recently, some make more sense than others.? British DJ/producer Mat Zo is best known for his big room progressive tracks (“Easy” with Porter Robinson, “Mozart” with Arty) and remixes (Empire of the Sun “Alive,” Kylie Minogue “Get Outta My Way”). He is also is a drum-and-basshead under the pseudonym MRSA, so digging back to seminal ’90s jump-up/drum & bass track “Rock the Funky Beat” by Natural Born Chillers doesn’t seem like too big a stretch.? For “Pyramid Scheme,” he constructed a progressive stadium house track which moves between big beats and quite a pretty midsection.? Enlisting Chuck D to come back and rerecord the vocal line (which was originally sampled from the Public Enemy track “Caught, Can We Get A Witness?”) is quite the genius move.? Though the track is strong in its current form, I have a feeling there will be another version forthcoming with an additional topline aimed at the pop market.? As for the title “Pyramid Scheme,” one can only wonder if it could be a sarcastic reference to the behind the scene mechanisms of the EDM industry.

Imagine Courtesy of Astralwerks/Anjunabeats.

SONG OF THE DAY: BT and Aqualung – “Surrounded”

Have y’all noticed the pattern where producers alternate releases between big room club bangers and more commercial-oriented vocal songs? Of course Brian Transeau has his own unique spin, as he often does, with singles from his forthcoming ‘A Sound Across Wires” album – alternating between instrumental, somber electronic tracks (“Vervoeren,” “Skylarking”) and more commercial-friendly, vocal pop-leaning songs like “Must Be the One” and the new single “Surrounded.” Enlisting the vocal help of British singer/songwriter Aqualung (aka Matt Hayles), the song has an accessible feel with an emotional verse and chorus without veering into cheesy pop. If you are a fan of Armin van Buuren’s “This is What It Feels Like,” or Arty’s “Together We Are,” then “Surrounded” should definitely be on your to-buy list. Like other tracks from ‘A Sound Across Wires,’ you can hear the influences of big room festival sounds reinterpreted by BT with his trademark pristine and exceptional production. If you listen to “Surrounded” and “Vervoeren” back to back, you can hear some of those ideas reinterpreted, along with elements you might expect from a Madeon or Zedd track. Though all the the remixes keep the vibe of the original, they each have a unique flavor that blends two different sound – big room trance and electro (Super8 and Tab), ’80s synth-pop and two-step (Tony Awake), and elements of Zedd and Arty (MK Kirin). “Surrounded” maybe not grab you on first listen, but it is definitely a grower that improves with each listen.

Images courtesy of Armada.

SONG OF THE DAY:? Audien – “Ciao”

Why is he saying goodbye?? Rising electro producer Audien continues his bipolar schedule of releases – literally alternating between big room electro tracks (“Sup”) and pretty, progressive vocal tracks (“Leaving You”). “Ciao” has Audien back in aggressive electro mode with sections of guitar-led prog rock leading to stomping, energetic electro.? The fusion of electro, stadium, progressive, and rock make the track stand out from the stream of tracks ending up on Beatport each week.? If you aren’t following Audien’s music, “Ciao” might be track that convinces you to do so.? Be sure to go back and check out his remix of Arty’s “Together We Are,” one of 2013’s most uplifting vocal remixes.

Image Courtesy of Trice.