Some Traks

A-Trak recently produced Kid Cudi's 'Poke Her Face', a song of which I am not a fan - mostly because of the title, but also because of everything else about it.

However, seeing his name crop up again reminded me of all the good times. Like the time I heard his remix of Boys Noize 'Oh!', and the time I heard his remix of 'Idealistic' by Digitalism. He's a man of many talents, and remixing seems to be at the forefront of them - although he apparenlty also models (sometimes), is half of a record label, is half of Chromeo's brother, and is Kanye's current tour DJ, which explains his association with the aforementioned 'Poke Her Face' song (which Mr West features on.) But none of that is particularly important.

So, on to the songs... Both tracks show his flair for vocal sampling, and both are very solid tunes. His remix of 'Idealistic' is fast-paced, and it marries dancefloor-friendly wobbling bass with a grinding, distorted synth melody (for want of a better word) and a very tight snare, which is half-clap half-rimshot, and whole clubtastic. His Boys Noize remix uses the same kind of drum sounds, although the bass is slightly more punchy, and the hi-hat gets more of a say. Overall the song is less reverb-flooded and sharper, and the vocal sample and sirens give it a more aggressive feel.

Basically, they're both bangers. They've been out for a fairly long time, but for those who haven't heard them...

Digitalism - Idealistic (A-Trak Remix) Buy
Boys Noize - Oh! (A-Trak Remix) Buy

(His remix of Kanye's 'Stronger' is also one of my favourites, and one of the better mixes of that particular track. Well worth checking out.)

The Dance Off (pt. 1)

Sometimes, albeit it very rarely, I sit down and I listen to some banging electro and I think: "This banging electro that I've sat down to listen to isn't really doing it for me". And by that I don't mean 'doing it for me' in any kind of sexual sense, because that would sound a bit gay and weird. In fact, I'd be pretty surprised if anyone thought that was what I meant.

So that's two sentences wasted.

Any way, when I have these particular moments of lost faith, I find myself turning to another genre. Which is usually garage. Because to be honest, old school garage has its moments. And when it has them, it has them big time. 'Love Shy' is quite possibly one of my favourite tunes of all time - not, obviously, because it is some kind of fantastic original musical accomplishment, but because it just sounds happy. It sounds like the producer just bounced up and down on his keyboard when he made it. It sounds like they were on E, and somehow injected that E into the actual song. Quite probably, most people won't have the emotional attachment I have to garage. And for that reason, I've stuck Kristine Blond's old classic next to Mr Miyagi's more recent dance remix of 'Up In The Blue', which is also awesome, and is less sickeningly commercial and pop. But I know which one would make me dance if I heard it at a funeral.

Neither, because that would be sick... But 'Love Shy' would make me want to dance.

Old Mr Dodger and Craig David were once the very essence and lifeblood of the garage scene, bringing it to the mainstream with more success than almost anyone else. 'Woman Trouble' is my particular favourite of their many collaborations, mostly because 'Rewind' is so overplayed, and I reckon it trumps the Gooseflesh remix of 'Taken Away' for sheer euphoric danceability any day of the week. Although the Gooseflesh remix is definitely a pretty handy tune, and one of my recent favourites - I'm sorry to say I ignored it for a few weeks after I first got it, alas. But I am now repenting by playing it about 5 times in the last half hour.

You can make your own minds up about which you prefer - but I know which songs will stick with me for a good few years to come.


(The garage songs, in case I haven't been clear).

Kristine Blond - Love Shy Buy
Jake OH - Up In The Blue (Mr Miyagi Remix) Buy
Artful Dodger feat. Craig David - Woman Trouble Buy
Digitalism - Taken Away (Gooseflesh Remix) Myspace* awesome

*Apologies if mediafire is being a bit funny, they've definitely got some server issues at the moment.