The Brazillian/South American dance music meme seems to be getting big this summer. If you go back and listen to the original version of “Tania,” released by Harry Choo Choo Romero, you might be surprised to realize how current it sounds. The groovy track with sexy beats, stuttered sampled vocals, and a Latino soul feel (like classic Masters at Work) would fit in any 2014 nu-house or deep house set. The song title comes from Brazilian artist Tania Maria, whose voice is sampled from her record “Made in New York.” ToolRoom reboots the track with new mixes by Filterheadz (tribal with a hint of electro), Purple Disco Machine (slowed-down tempo with a spaced-out feel and an addictive beat that both clashes and blends perfectly at the same time), and Riva Starr (keeping the basic feel of the original and speeding it up with a bit of a tasteful Klubbheads feel). All three remixes are quality and it will be interesting to see who they get for the part two package. Those who are enjoying the Fatboy Slim ‘Bem Brasil’ tracks should definitely check out “Tania” as well.
Sometimes too many cooks can make the broth better. The new club track “Blow,” on Subliminal, is one of those tracks where different influences come together to elevate it to a higher level. Seemingly coming from three different backgrounds, the three producers- Harry Romero (big room tribal/electro), Armand Pena (commercial tribal), and Alex Alicea (indie/progressive) construct an electro/tribal hybrid track with pounding energy, big build-ups, and catchy hooks that act as a bed for Crystal Waters’ party-hyping lyrics. While I am not sure if the reference to Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” is intentional, the eternal life of clubland is like that fire that always burns. The song is all about having a good time and being ready when its the party is about to “Blow” up. You can just imagine this track being played in a big room with the countdown leading to a massive explosion or pyrotechnics. Commercial DJs should reach for the Keylow remix, which has a rhythm line that is quite similar to David Guetta’s “Sexy Bitch.” The video captures the nightlife of Lincoln Road on South Beach with several scenes filmed in the Mova Lounge. As someone who’s had the honor of spinning at Mova with Crystal Waters performing, I can attest that its a hot spot that definitely explodes with a party vibe.
