Erik Hassle - "Hurtful" - Courtesy of Island
Leave it to the Swedes to unleash another incredible pop singer/songwriter on us. "Hurtful" has been bubbling around as a Coldplay-ish pop rock since 2008. I first heard the song on a demo and knew it would be back again. The DC Breaks mix, which is actual more drum and bass sound, was the first remix I heard recently and I was blown away by how incredible Erik's vocals and lyrics resonated with the more aggressive electronic production. The Roqwell & ISancho mix goes a bit more progressive while the Wideboys mix is the commercial electro sound that we all know and love. "Hurtful" is such a strong song that it will work in any genre. This of course isn't a big shock as his previous single "Don't Bring Flowers" was a buzz record with mixes by Martin Roth and Three Fingers. Watch out for Erik Hassle in 2010.
Video (Original Version) - YouTube
Audio (DC Breaks Mix) - YouTube
Audio (Roqwell & iSancho Mix) - YouTube
Audio (Wideboys Mix) - YouTube
Sharam featuring Kid Cudi - "She Came Along" - Courtesy of Ultra
Since R&B and hip hop artists are incorporating elements of electronic dance music, it only makes sense that dance producers look to other genres for inspiration. With the tradition of storytelling, country music seems right for the plundering. First up is Deep Dish's Sharam who builds on a sample of a Patsy Cline's classic "Strange" with buzzy rapper Kid Cudi ("Day and Night") to create this country/electroHop/popDance fusion. It is often the most unique sounding records that get the attention (remember when KLF and Tammy Wynette teamed up for "Justified and Ancient"), so it will be interesting to see if fans of Kid Cudi, Patsy Cline and Sharam will embrace this track about a threesome fantasy. They should, since it is quite good.
Video - YouTube
Rui Da Silva and Jude Elliott - "Spinning"
Portuguese born DJ/Producer Rui Da Silva is best known for his international hit "Touch Me" as well as his work with DJ Vibe under the name of Underground Sound of Lisbon. With these references in mind, this "Spinning" track comes completely out of left field. It is not disco-flavored or nuDisco, it sounds like a disco record that could have been played on the floors of Studio 54 during the 70s and had an amazing response. With the deluge of 80s sounding records out there right now (and the batch of 90s techno throw backs on the way), this taste of disco era magic is quite refreshing.
Video - YouTube
Kelis - "Acapella" - Courtesy of Interscope Records
Kelis and David Guetta is an odd pairing. As someone who has collaborated with edgy electronic musicians like Timo Maas, Basement Jaxx, Bjork, and the Crookers, it seems odd for Kelis to work with arguably the most commercially successful electronic music producer of 2009. The results however are majestic. David Guetta's aggressive electro beats are counterbalanced by Kelis' lyrics about a new arrival bringing melody into her life. The obvious assumption would be that she is singing about her son but the message could easily be applied to the new presence of electronic dance music beats in pop music. Either way, it is a symphony that I hear..
Audio - Website
Ellie Goulding - "Under the Sheets" - Courtesy of Polydor Records
Welsh singer Ellie Goulding is making a splash with her debut, heart-wrench poptronica track "Under the Sheets". What the video lacks in anything interesting, save for that neat drum & glitter part, it makes up for in pure beauty. Goulding's voice and accent make for a welcome change since Sophie Ellis-Bextor's thick singing accent has been missing in action lately. The track has also received an interesting collection of remixes, from slow & glitchy (Jakwob), to dance/hip-hop/trancey (Jeuce), pulsing trip hop (She Is Danger), four-to-the-floor (The Knocks), or pure electro thuddiness (Kids at the Bar). Basically, Goulding can easily cater to your party, anytime, anywhere.
Video - Youtube
Hell featuring Bryan Ferry - "U Can Dance" - Courtesy of Gigolo Records
With the reverence that bloghouse and nuDisco has towards 80s music, it seems about the right time for the voice of Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, to make an appearance on the electro scene. Teaming with German electroclash DJ/Producer DJ Hell, the two have constructed a subtle yet powerful midtempo vibey track. With influences of minimal and progressive, the "U Can Dance" will definitely cut across genre lines. Remixes by Carl Craig, Simian Mobile Disco and Tim Goldsworthy of DFA should help as well.
Video - Vimeo
