Check out two strong progressive house tracks from superstar DJ and producer, Kaskade.
Start Again – Kaskade feat. Becky Jean Williams
Kaskade’s iconic Dynasty album helped propel him into the forefront as EDM music was coming up around 2008. With soothing vocals, calming guitar chords and brain-melting synths, “Start Again” is just one of many songs showcasing the musical depth and variety that Kaskade is well-known for. Dynasty was probably one of Kaskade’s last albums of the ’00s-’10s that had a very strong progressive house focus (Fire & Ice had a more dance-pop, dance-house feel; Dynasty seemed very trance-influenced).
Just listen to another signature track from the album, “Human Reactor” featuring Polina, which features a heavy progressive electronic/house vibe over entrancing and uplifting vocals melding seamlessly with rising synth arpeggios.
Human Reactor – Kaskade feat. Polina
And I’ve woken up to sobriety
Just another day you’re not with me
Wish I could escape reality
And drown in the beats I’m so lost in
[Deep House / Club EDM:] Marcus Schössow – Mr. White (Original Mix) [Remix] [Reuben De Ronde Remix Blend] from Trance the Ultimate Collection 2007
EDM Origins’ post today will feature the Swedish electronic producer and DJ, Marcus Schössow and two epic EDM tracks of his, the entrancing “Mr. White” and his epic ambient Nu Progressive remix of John O’Callaghan’s “Take It Away” Both tracks exemplify the core values and foundations of EDM. “Mr. White” and it’s many remixes make successful blends of the original’s use of “female robot” vocals (a la Knife Party), the rhythmic toy or video game synth chords (a la Eric Prydz) and that infectious backbeat present in all today’s club bangers, the 2007 single was way ahead of its time. Two of the better cuts of the song are the “Original mix” and the version of the song that was mixed and included in Trance: The Ultimate Collection 2007.
*epic [Chill Ambient Trance] John O’Callagan – Take It Away (Marcus Schössow’s Nu Prog. Remix)
“Take It Away” is a much more trance-house inspired tune, but just as epic and golden in the world of ambient music. Starting out as expected for a vocal trance tune, the song quickly sheds its cookie-cutter frame as layers of deep house sounds envelop the listener and heavenly, soothing vocals reminiscent of 4 Strings or Tiesto begin. As if this wasn’t good enough already, the song halfway through showcases haunting vocal effects during an a capella, and shortly after drops the unforgettable, addictive melody that caresses the aural senses until the end of the song.
Both tracks are worth checking out, simply for how good they are on their ownbut also as exemplary cuts embodying the core values of electronic dance music.
Check out this massive club dance remix of Hilary Duff’s “Sparks” from Ron Berk. This remix only improves upon the original and adds some very interesting layers of sound and ambient noise making such an energetic rave-ready remix feel calming and deep at the same time. Check out the song above and find more from Ron Berk on his Soundcloud.
Hold my hand, let’s chase the sun,
we both know something’s begun
nothing feels that real without you
wanna learn so much about you…
This EDM Origins post is on the electronic, dance song “Raindrops” by Stunt, one of my personal favorites in my adolescent years. “Raindrops” channels the energetic dance music and rave scene rampant in Europe and the fledgling soon-to-be-movement in the United States. This came at a time where a few years prior and around the 2000s, it was not uncommon for American electronic producers and artists to release their music on European labels and markets due to the fact the demand was just not there in America. My, how far we’ve come. Take a listen to this pumped up club track and reminisce of those golden years with me!
Next up, from the moon man, Kid Cudi, himself is electro-inspired masterpiece, “Ride 4 U”. With back-up support from the top-notch “real hip-hop” rapper Chip Tha Ripper and the eclectic California-based electronic/rap band, Far East Movement. The beat is simply crack, produced by none other than one of Cudi’s right hand producers, Dot Da Genius. Check the song out, drift off, or simply ride out to “Ride 4 U”…
Paul Van Haver, better known to the world as Stromae is a Belgian rapper, singer and producer who helped accelerate EDM’s rise to the main stage as well as advancing French music on the international market. Best known for his infectiously catchy house single “Alors on Danse” (“So We Dance”) which received special remix treatment from Kanye West got major airplay in the US.
Perhaps one of Stromae’s most powerful and moving songs is his 2010 single, “Te Quiero”. Mixing a powerful Spanish phrase with even more powerful lyrics in French, Te Quiero has less of a dance party feel then Alors On Danse but maintains much of Stromae’s signature house feel. Check out the song and music video above…
[Notable Lyrics:]
Je voudrais être son ombre [I want to be her shadow]
mais je le déteste… [but I detest her]
Te quiero [I love you]
Même au bout du monde [even at the end of the world]
et bien, qu’elle y reste [and well, let her stay there / there she’ll stay]
Te quiero [I love you]
Oui, je l’aimais tellement [yes, I love her a lot]
et je l’aime encore [and I still love her]
Je n’aurai pas le choix, non [I won’t have the choice, no]
Jusqu’à la mort [until I die…]
Got two throwbacks for you today. Our first comes from the wildly popular rapper, RiFF RaFF, the Diplo label mate who got his start on MTV’s “From G’s to Gents” thug-makeover TV reality show. RiFF RaFF has since been all over the music scene, especially as he has evolved in his sound. This single, “Judo Chop” is one of his more popular songs. If you haven’t heard it, check it out above.
Keep On Dreamin’ (Mat the Alien Remix) – Little Jinder
Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming…
Keep on dreaming… (you gotta)
keep on dreaming… (it could all fall apart)
Next up is a great remix from accomplished and established Swedish electronic-dance pop singer, Little Jinder. This special remix from Mat the Alien puts a whole new chill-ambient spin on the original song and has a much more vibe-able beat and bassline. Check it out and download it for free on Mat’s Soundcloud.
EDM producer/group Autograf was lucky enough to be honored by being called upon by alternative rock/trip-hop group Fatboy Slim to remix their single “Mad Flava“. Putting an absolutely amazing future feel to the song, I almost didn’t know what to coin this genre of music. Maybe all these Future modifiers (in front of House, Trap, Dance, whatever) should just all be condensed into FUTURE. That begs the question, what will we call it when it is the future, say in 20 years?
Sillyness aside, Autograf has more than their fair share of stunning remixes. Be sure to check out their songs on their Soundcloud, where you can download them for free! Next up for our ORIGINS post (below) we highlight some Progressive House remixed by Michael Conway as well as a legendary trance track from Trance God DJ, FerryCorsten,“Down on Love” from his monumental album L.E.F.
This is probably the second remix of Avril Lavigne song that I actually like, and this will take first for the best (in my opinion) as the general feel of this awesome, beat-building progressive house remix of “Alice” from EDM producer Michael Conway is much more widely applicable to any situation; compared to the eurobeat-ish, happy hardcore sound prominent in the Revo-luution remix and Nightcore’s take on that same remix (below):
Hello Kitty (Nightcore Revo-luution Remix) – Avril Lavigne
Trance: Down on Love – Ferry Corsten
Finally, last but no way in flaming hell, least. Is smash trance-track “Down on Love” from Dutch trance, EDM DJ and artist Ferry Corsten. Well known for working with and remixing tunes from the likes of DJ Tiesto, Above & Beyond and more Corsten has been a signature name on the scene since the early to mid-2000s (much like Kaskade, Benny Benassi and several other DJs who “came up” during this time period).
Released back in 2006, I was a high school junior when Corsten’s second studio album dropped. I copped it of course, during a time where the cashier at Best Buy looked at my funny, or as if I was crazy, this black teenager buying EPs from BT (Emotional Technology) or the even more rare, obscure and EDM foundation builder, Norweigan group, Röyksopp’s The Understanding. Below you’ll find two standout singles from BT and Röyksopp and two more deeper cuts.
Communicate – BT (also check out “The Great Escape“)
Learn to use your words so we can…
Communicate, communicate
communicate, communicate now…
What Else is There (Jacques Lu Cont Mix) – Röyksopp [2005]
It was me on that road,
but you couldn’t see me
too many lights out, nowhere near here,
I’ve got a golden ear,
I cut and I spear —
and what else is there?
Only This Moment (Original Mix) [MV] – Röyksopp [2005]
Only This Moment (Röyksopp’s Forsiktige Massaje Remix) [2006]
LUMiNOUS Musings 