You’ve got to love a track that has multiple personality disorder.? Like the trend of franken-dresses in fashion, the full-on mash-up fusion of disparate genres is making current releases a lot more interesting.? For Wakanda, Belgian team Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike lure you in with a modern take on big room tribal (complete with aboriginal-sounding chants) before seamlessly jumping into banging, glitchy electro buildups.? Going back and forth between the tribal and electro gives “Wakanda” a frantic energy and unique sound which you might expect to come from a tag team set of Chus & Ceballos and Nicky Romero, just condensed into a 5-minute track.? As for the name, the reference could be geeky to tech people (a javascript platform), comic book fans (an imaginary country in Marvel comics), or sociologist (the great spirit of Native Americans). ?It’s fascinating when a single word can reference so many interpretations, just like when a track can be so much greater than the sum of its seemingly discordant elements.
Image Courtesy of Axtone.
Tag: like mike
SONG OF THE DAY: Steve Aoki & Angger Dimas vs Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike – “Phat Brahms”
Remixing orchestral/classical music for clubland always bring a fresh sound to the dance floor, going back to the techno days (with Apotheosis’ infamous bootleg take on Carl Orff’s Carmina Burina as O Fortuna) up to turn-of-the-century trance, with William Orbit’s cover of Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings,” as exquisitely remixed by Ferry Corsten). The source material for “Phat Brahms” is Johannes Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No 5,” which is instantly recognizable from its many uses in TV shows and movies over the years. The team of Steve Aoki, Angger Dimas, Dimitri Vegas, and Like Mike take the classical piece and warp it with electro, dubstep, and noise. The balance of aggression and pretty works perfectly, though the middle section hints at a kitschier swing sound. Don’t worry, it doesn’t go too far in that direction, and “Phat Brahms” is a standout track that will have clubbers requesting- that classical track. Note to DJs, make sure your light/effects people hear the track before you drop it- that middle section is a perfect time to really intensify the visuals.
Image Courtesy of Dim Mak.