Heavy Rotation: soulful house and dirty basslines
Here’s a round-up of our favorite electronic music sent to the blog recently. This is all the electronic music that has been on heavy rotation here at TNLF HQ.
Gloria Estefan – Dr. Beat (Lueco cover / remix)
I’m a kid of the 80s, so Gloria Estefan’s voice and Miami Sound Machine played a big part in writing the soundtrack to my childhood. And “Dr. Beat” was one of those tracks that still sounds fresh enough to get a dancefloor moving today. The last time I heard a successful rework of the original track was when SHIHA put his spin on it. Last week I was passed a new remix of the track by an elusive producer called Lueco. The message just had a link to this track with no other information.
Devault – Zero
From a rework of an 80s banger to a dancefloor banger of today: 20 year old Californian producer, Devault, shifts the Heavy Rotation up a notch with his new single “Zero.”
Billy Inns – COAST TO COAST (Sade cover)
LA producer, Billy Inns is at it again. this time with a sick reworked sample of “Smooth Operator” by Sade. “A tech house groover inspired by a classic topline for a jazzy and soulful grooving vibe.
Marco Weber – Soulful House
Next up is Swiss beat maker Marco Weber with his new single, “Soulful House.” The track kind of does what it says on the tin: it’s a soulful house track built around a warm groove-driven beat. The track draws its character from a playful question-and-response between a Hammond B-3 and a Fender Rhodes piano. Think: Carl Craig or Todd Terry. It’s a feel-good house cut that nods to the roots of the genre while keeping the dancefloor firmly in mind.
Jimi Polo – Better Days (Michael Gray remix)
Michael Gray gives the remix treatment to Jimi Polo’s seminal track, “Better Days.” Instantly recognisable from Adamski’s infectious piano, the vocals were and still are equal parts soulful, uplifting and anthemic. It’s a reinterpretation of a golden era House classic that’s stood the test of time.
Coco & Breezy – Lie 2 U
Fueled by love and gratitude, producer duo Coco & Breezy are known for a soulful, high-energy house sound that reflects their Afro-Latina heritage. Their mantra: Free Your Soul. Here they deliver some feel-good R&B-infused house with their new single “Lie 2 U.”
Dansyn & No Static – Pressure
Alright, it’s time to turn up the pressure with the new collaboration between Dansyn and No Static. It takes just 30 seconds for their new single to build up sufficient pressure before the drop.
Airwolf Paradise – Concentrate
If you thought that last one packed a dirty bassline, you aren’t ready for the new cut from Airwolf Paradise.
Phree Direxion – The Beautiful Ordinary (Extended)
Time to ease you off the dirty basslines and basements and send you soaring again. We’ve covered the beautifully emotive house from Phree Direxion and we’re really pleased to share his new single, “The Beautiful Ordinary” here with you.
Sugar Sugar – Ascend
One way you could describe what the French electronic duo Sugar Sugar sounds like is an amphetamine-fuelled drum kit. Julien Loutelier and Axel Rigaud put improvisation and intuition at the forefront of their artistic practice. Julien creates the rhythm and Axel shapes sounds on the modular synthesizer around that foundation. By hitting the drums, which are equipped with sensors, these sounds are simultaneously triggered and progressively transformed, via an elaborate live score, which Julien works with. It’s like a mirror game where rhythms and sounds are freely exchanged.
Wandour – Movement in Time
The first single from Wandour’s forthcoming album Echoterrium, “Movement in Time”, builds directly on the project’s central vision: to resurrect those fleeting, profoundly personal moments and emotions that slip through everyday life, rendered anew through intricate sound design and gentle, haunting melody.
Sainkho Namtchylak – Lilla Evening Reimagined (Helfer remix)
This is a super interesting one. Producer Noam Helfer takes the original vocals from legendary Tuvan vocalist Sainkho Namtchylak. This reimagined version blends avant-garde throat-singing with organic house.
Pléthore – Atlantic
With their new single, “Atlantic,” the French collective, founded by musician and architect Louis Faloci, blends electronic music with soul-infused pop. The track blends a pop structure, a Kraftwerk-esque vocoder, and a powerful, minimalist rhythm. And the perfect way to wrap up our Heavy Rotation selection for this month:
Cover photo is of Coco & Breezy
