Eddie Amador vs Eddie Cumana featuring Alan T vs Papa Joe - "Now" - Courtesy of Kult Records
A common criticism of tribal house music, prevalent in the US club scene, is that after years of bastardization it has regressed into a cliche of pots and pans beats with random divas screaming about dysfunctional relationships. So when an inspirational and uplifting track like "Now" comes along, the standard is definitely set a notch higher. Stepping out of the box by featuring a male vocalist (Papa Joe) and MC (Alan T) and adding a touch of electro to the beats, the production by the two Eddie's definitely hits the mark. With lyrics like "Go after your dreams" and "From this day forward I live my life," this could be a response to Prop 8 and the rightwing demonization of gay culture. Or it could be a universal "I Will Survive" for all of us living through these horrible economic times. The video features Alan T (resplendent with his trademark bullhorn) and Papa Joe in the clubs and on the streets running into club favorites like Lula, Michael M, DJ Alyson Calagna, Perry Twins, Larry Tee and Boris who all join the party. If you buy one tribal track this summer, here you go.
Video - YouTube
Pop Inc - "Looking 4 the KLF" - Courtesy of Modo/Ninthwave
Sometimes nostalgia is a good thing and it's about time to push forward from 80s new wave to 90s retrorave. In the early 90s, a pair of prankster producers, Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty, formed the KLF and revolutionized acid house and pop music to create what became known as stadium house. Utilizing samples, creating the earliest mashups, and adding live elements to rave music, the KLF collaborated with everyone from Tammy Wynette to Gary Glitter. It is no wonder that Lolly and the crew of Pop Inc find such inspiration in their work. Reinterpreting and updating the KLF sensibility is no easy task and they manage to maintain a sense of humor with this faithful tribute track. Listening to "Looking 4 the KLF" will make you want to jump on a transcentral or at least catch a ride on the ice cream van.
Video - YouTube
Armin van Buuren featuring Jennifer Rene - "Fine Without You" - Courtesy of Armind
I started getting requests for a new trancey rock song called "Giving You Everything" and was having problems sourcing it. People were calling the radio station, requesting it at the club and emailing me trying to identify it. Here it is - the new Armin Van Buuren song "Fine Without You" featuring the vocals of Jennifer Rene. We all know who Armin van Buuren is - a top ranked Dutch superstar DJ (read interview here) - but did you know Jennifer Rene is a vocalist/dj from Indianapolis, Indiana? "Fine Without You" is from Armin's latest CD Imagine.
Video - YouTube
Daisy - "Everytime" - Courtesy of Robbins
The sign of a really good popdance record is when it grows on you with each listen. The debut single from Daisy, "Everytime," is nice upon first listening and it draws you back to listen to over and over again. Daisy comes from Gothenburg in Sweden, the hometown of Ace of Base, which isn't surprising considering the easy flowing hooks of this pop gem. She wrote the lyrics in English from a Swedish production by Mikael Albertsson who has worked with Stoneyboy, Agnes, and Velvet. Daisy is well known among producers as a great demo singer and it's nice to see her break into the limelight with her own project. Just as there is a British invasion of electronic popdance right now, there seems to be a Swedish one as well with Agnes, Gathania and Daisy all storming dancefloors around the world.
Audio - YouTube
Brazen - "What's Love Got To Do With It" - Courtesy of Big In Ibiza
A dance cover of an 80s pop song - sounds almost trite at this point, yet there is something to be said for a good quality update of a classic. The catalogs of Madonna, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, and Michael Jackson have all been pillaged by dance covers, so it was only a matter of time that someone would take on Tina Turner. Producer Brazen (aka Fonzerelli, Yer Man, etc) is probably best known for his Basshunter remixes. For this track, he found a vocalist who would do it justice by not imitating Tina Turner but modernizing the vocal stylings to fit a 00's europop context - powerful and clean yet not overdone or overprocessed. The original mix is popdance with electro elements and a nice guitar-centric breakdown while remixes by Filip Le Frick and Love Assassins take it in different direction (tribal/latin house and discohouse.) Let's face it, this comeback anthem by Tina Turner will not be recognized by the majority of clubbers right now - so to them its a new song. Is this the dance song that will cross over to major market success? Who knows. Is it a song that clubbers and their parents can both enjoy? Definitely.
Video - YouTube
