There will be no complaining about the Melbourne winter this week because the Shuffle Button is coming to you straight from Bali. So in light of the fact that the writer of this esteemed post has escaped dreary winter and is sitting in a tropical paradise, we’re doing warm weather songs again!
Ninetoes – Finder (The Path)
Before Kygo, tropical house was a subgenre that had to share the limelight with other flavours of house music. It was played only at day parties, usually taking place around a pool or on a beach. Even still Ninetoes managed to make a song that transcended subgenre purgatory and firmly implanted itself in dance music consciousness.
Featuring distinctive steel drums, “Finder (The Path)” transports you directly to a tropical paradise. It’s hard not to like a song that conjures up images of laying on a lounge chair in the sun sipping on a cold cocktail.
It’s happy, summer music that sounds right at home at Ibiza, the Caribbean, or Bali.
Shy FX feat. Maverick Sabre – Call Me
Continuing from last week, we’re shining the light on a different side of jungle by moving onto some soulful grooves from Shy FX. In “Call Me”, the British drum and bass giant shows that he brings more to the table than just a ragga flavour.
The track couples Maverick Sabre’s crooning desire with Shy FX’s fast bass-line with melodic overtones. It’s the kind of jungle that fits right at home in the dying minutes of daylight.
Cedric Gervais – Do It Tonight
It seems like everybody is jumping on the disco train and Cedric Gervais of “Molly” fame is no different. Yes, this song is by that guy. Make no mistake “Do It Tonight” places itself firmly in the rapidly expanding new disco-pop genre. However, pop done well is something that we can all get around.
Annie Mac described it as “Fairy Floss” which is an apt description for a groove that’s all sugar. Even though there’s not much substance, you can pop this track on the radio and just enjoy a fun tune with excellent production. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Daft Punk – One More Time
Ok, we’ll admit that last blurb was a bit cynical. To warm us back up we’re throwing in a song made by artists with unassailable intentions.
“One More Time” is an all-time classic song from an all-time classic album (Discovery) made by an all-time classic group.
So much has already been written about this song that we’ll let it speak for itself.
Dimension – Techno
Well the daytime tracks had to end at some point. Electronic music always seems to make its way back to late nights and dim clubs. In this case, to the tune of dark and moody drum and bass.
If the name Dimension sounds familiar, a song named “Techno” may sound a little incongruous. But this track is the marriage of two genres that you didn’t know you needed. With heavy tones and a vocal consisting in part of counting in German, Dimension does his best to bring Berghain to London.
The combination yields a high energy and hectic song that inspires you to get up and skank out. This hyped up roller is a perfect song to bring us to a darker place.
CHOON of the Week
Calvin Harris feat. Kelis – Bounce
Calvin Harris has made a name for himself in part by his practice of producing big beats for massive pop stars (he even dates some of them). But before Taylor Swift and Rihanna, there was Kelis. Come on, “Milkshake” was everywhere in like 2003.
Not only does “Bounce” fit with his collaborative tendencies, it also has his trademark production style. The fun and bouncy (no pun intended) beat that underpins the song moves into your head and pays rent. Yea he makes songs that dominate the radio and pop charts but it’s because he’s incredibly talented.
There’s no arguing that Calvin Harris’s productions are easily digestible yet distinctive. The impressiveness comes from the fact that it’s a talent that is not as easy as armchair producers would like to admit.
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