With the Lounge/Electro reworking in full effect on a wide variety of music that arrived on the scene during much of 2007, so far, 2008 is looking very similar although some artists releasing their select singles to the masses are a bit harder, edgier and eccentric, such as (Alison) Goldfrapp's latest single "A&E."
Miss Goldfrapp continues the now long-standing tradition of keeping the Electro momentum going but adds a more relaxed, downtempo flavor piled on top of an already soothing, lounge-y song. The original version encompasses that but then abruptly stops there. Then again one of a single's main focuses is to provide a few variations or takes of a common theme, something all of us dance afficionados have a commonality towards.
Although "A&E," from the full-length album "Seventh Tree" is a bit of a departure from her "Supernature" album, Miss Goldfrapp's vocals compliments the overall picture in a broader sense in that this is one of the few songs on the new album that attempts to cut a wide swath. Unfortunately her overall sound doesn't sound memorable—at least not yet. I'll even go out on a limb and say that she sounds like very early Sarah McLachlan and I could see her very easily incorporating a groovier sound to accompany her lyrics, just as Sarah McLachlan has done. Or am I going a bit too far out on that limb? I think it comes down to creativity, arrangement production as these three values are intrinsically linked especially when it comes to Dance and Electronica music.
The "Maps Instrumental Remix" sounded like a deleted track from U2 and Brian Eno's collaboration from the Passengers Soundtrack during the mid-1990s. The 5:35 track is also reminiscent of the excellently directed heist-gone-sour flick courtesy of Michael Mann, "Heat." The track is easy-going and ethereal and makes for an interesting choice to accompany the rest of the single but perhaps it's a little too Ambient-sounding?
I had never previously heard of producer and remixer Gui Boratto. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native has produced various tracks working with various associations from the likes of top record companies from around the world including BMG, EMI, Plastic City, Kompakt, K2, and many more.
The "Gui Boratto Remix" is one of the highlights of the single just for the fact that it can be somewhat danced to although it would easily translate better in the background versus the foreground of some low-light lounge. While the Electro sound is still very much apparent, a familiar House beat encompasses the track. The sound is sleek, dark and sexy without being too aggressive.
The "Gui Boratto Dub" is vocal-less and in a way is almost as good as the remix and well worth playing in a lounge (or wine bar) but if I had to choose a side, I'd go with the remix as this ranks as a virtual instrumental although I liked the fact that it's not as repetitive as other (dancier) Dubs.
The "Hercules & Love Affair Remix" became my other favorite. This slow burning, bump-n-grind fiesta minus the hands up variety contained a neat tribal vibe accompanied by Goldfrapp's soothing and sexy vocals laid on top (pun) of a funky bass line that I liked the more I played it.
In all fairness, I dig that dance remixers and producers are continuing to take a measured stab at infusing that Electro sound into some of their remixes but in the end what matters is that a patron walks out of a club or lounge yearning to hear what s/he danced to sooner rather than later, and this single doesn't quite do the job but it's a strong effort. My question is this: is the Electro sound getting overplayed. To me a lot of it sounds the same; will it subsequently fade away? I just hope that the new crop of remixers and producers (Deadmau5, for example) as well as many current staples within the industry can weave and breathe some new variations and remixes to the tune of actually sounding novel rather than going with the flow so that current, new and old throngs of club and lounge-goers will be happy knowing that the Electro sound will be preserved for decades to come.
