You see, if the music industry is ever to win the "battle" against illegally downloaded music then they're going to need to make their delivery systems better.
Case in point #1: Swedish House Mafia - One.
I pre-ordered this on play.com. I've tried to download it this morning (as it is supposedly released today) and the server can't handle it. Not only that, they've chopped another 36p off the EP price in order to alienate those who pre-ordered. If i'd been less patient and gone for a hooky download of it a month ago, i'd have had it there and then. Why are we being forced to wait for music that is being played on the radio and clearly ready for distribution? Its like going back to the old days of singles being promoted solidly for two months, getting released then spending one week at #4 before disappearing out of the charts within three weeks.
Case in point #2: Fake Blood - I Think I Like.
This is on Herve's Cheap Thrills label, which makes me want to buy it legitimately as i love Herve's work in general. As Scott Mills has been hammering it on Friday nights for well over a month now, you'd think an online purchase would be simple. But no. I've got to wait until the 9th of sodding August before it gets released officially or take a chance on some compilation album version which will probably be part of a contiuous mix and therefore sound terrible. Again, why the delay?
If its ready to get promo'ed out to radio stations, it'll be available via routes which won't make the artists any money. Therefore it is ready for legitimate release. Get on with it, music industry.
Monday 26 July 2010
Sunday 4 July 2010
Summer Mixtape 2010 reviews
I normally do this some time around May, but working 60 hours a week has been getting to me. Anyway, i'm going to give an overview of (mostly) the CD singles that i've gone through this morning in preparation for making this year's collection:
This post is sponsored by TDK.
Inna - Hot (AATW / 3Beat)
I didn't know 3Beat were still going - i thought their last release was Into The Future by New Atlantic. Anyways, here is a piss poor collection of remixes of Inna's fairly decent original. The UK Radio Edit has been needlessly shortened from the album version. Cahill's mix isn't bad, but feels as if it is just one minute of song repeated three times. The Real Booty Babes do some dire Clubland-esque remix which doesn't really work.
Alphabeat - DJ (Polydor)
I'd love to know why Alphabeat are being so widely ignored in the UK at the moment, because they're churning out some fantastic proper pop music. Two of the mixes emerge from the labs of Biffco (you know, the brains behind 2wo Third3) and cracking. The third comes courtesy of Doman and Golding, is highly predictable and adds nowt to the proceedings.
DJ Rebel & FTW - You Can Call Me Al (Mostiko Belgium)
God bless Free Record Shop and their bargain bin. Its a cover of the Paul Simon original, so you've got a rough idea of what to expect. DJ Rebel's version is fairly predictable, relying on a synth brass line as the main hook, whereas FTW's mix is a bit more dramatic whilst still being dance oriented. Credit should also be paid to the vocalists (Steve Lee and Steve Smith) who do a good job at making a distinct, and definitely not identikit version of the original vocals.
Professor Green ft Ed Drewett - I Need You Tonight (EMI)
Radio version is excellent, production line remix by Doman and Golding is pretty lazy.
Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo (Polydor)
Another one of only two tracks - the radio version and a truly terrible cover by Cribs frontgoon (and Nash boyfriend) Ryan Jarman.
Hurts - Better Than Love (Major Label via Sony)
Fantastic single - epic swirling and expansive synthpop lead track is worth the 99p alone, but add to that a superb orchestral b-side and its terrific value.
Plan B - She Said (Atlantic / 679)
Okay, i'll admit i was seduced somewhat by the presentation of this in a classic 45 styled die-cut sleeve. I wasn't a massive fan of the original version, but it was passable for daytime radio. The 16bit Remix isn't bad and adds some sinister electro to the original, but the two Shy FX mixes are excellent, adding some depth to the sound and taking the track off in a different direction.
DJ Supreme vs Rhythm Masters - Enter The Scene (Distinctive)
Its a classic. Prompted by a sighting of the video on The Vault, its got to go on.
Bob Sinclar featuring Hendogg, Master Gee and Wonder Mike from the Original Sugarhill Gang - Lala Song (NEWS Belgium)
Its almost exactly what you'd expect from a collaboration between Bob Sinclar and three members of the Sugarhill Gang - very retro, very disco and fairly inoffensive. The Tocadisco mix builds to a big crescendo it never really reaches. Guy Schreiner's Old School Party mix features a substantial collection of 1991-esque rave effects by doesn't really go anywhere beyond a few hook lines. The Donovan Dominator Remix is another rave-influenced affair, but possibly a few years behind Schreiner's effort.
Regi ft Tom Helsen - Night and Day (Mostiko Belgium)
Regi Penxten is a sensible man - he knows he is a big musical fish in the small pond of Belgium and that he has a huge following with a public convinced he can shit gold. To be honest, they're probably right. Although his work doesn't deviate massively from a fairly consistent Belgian DancePop sound, its accomplished with skill. If you're a fan of his other work (and chances are you won't be unless you're Belgian), you'll probably love this. On to the mixes - the Daniel Bovy remix is rather more laid back and heavy on the swirling production whereas the Dave Lambert & Housetrap version goes for the standard cut-n-shut approach of putting vocals over a backing track they don't really fit well with, which should have made it an assured appearance on Scott Mills' Floor Fillers show.
Milk Inc - Storm (ARS Belgium)
Another Regi Penxten effort. This one gets the vocal lead of Linda Mertens, who will be familiar to anyone who has heard a Milk Inc track in the past. Its pretty predictable Milk Inc fare to be honest, with big synths, midpaced rhythm and the odd ropey metaphor. Vinss-T's remix sounds rather British in its composition, with a worrying level of Clubland sound effects in there and there are a few dodgy cuts on the vocals (possibly from having been trimmed down to an edit by somebody on work experience). U&Me offer an electro take on the original. Dizkodude provides a polished mix which is effectively the original with the sound mellowed down and chilled out a little. DJ Geremy Thunder (who is Canadian) offers another Clublandy sounding version.
Lasgo - Gone (NEWS Belgium)
Regi Penxten's only competition to the throne of Belgium's Production Royalty is the brains behind Lasgo - Peter Luts. Thankfully they both make music which fits on to the same compilation albums. Jelle van Dael belts out the vocals in her usual distinctive style and the whole thing feels familiar, whilst not sounding like anything specific in their back catalogue. The Radio and Extended versions are backed up by two mixes - one rhythmic synth version from Sebastian Dali which sounds rather dated and a barking Dutch hardcore influenced version from Luts' knob twiddling cohort Jef Martens under the alias of Felix Project. The latter doesn't really work that well and sounds more like two songs that have been awkwardly cobbled together.
Armin van Buuren ft Jacqueline Govaert - Never Say Never (Armada/Mostiko Belgium)
The Radio Edit is a fairly laid back track for Armin van Buuren, with some awkward transitions between live and studio vocals (or at least the effects thereof). I haven't heard that sort of thing since Scooter's first album. The Alex Gaudino remix is a weak cut-n-paste affair with bits of vocals turning up all over a bleepy backdrop.
MC Solaar - Le Rabbi Muffin (Pomme via Sony)
Perhaps if Fettes Brot came from France and were charged with making a song for a musical, this is what it would sound like.
Future Presidents - The World Keeps Changing (Universal Netherlands)
This feels like its going to turn into a Michael Buble song, mixing light swing rhythms and inoffensive pop. The acoustic version does exactly what you'd expect.
Sir-G vs DJ Sake - 2 Spirits (Mostiko Belgium)
Worst act name in this list, but this is proof i'll buy anything on Mostiko if its cheap enough. The main vocal hook is the one from Jean Jacques Smoothie's Two People, with some ill fitting and rather odd ragga styled bits between. If Maxx had never happened, you might think it was inventive, but its a bit wobbly as a concept nowadays. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike offer up a remix using the female hook and a backing track that sounds very familiar from an episode of Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance radio show a few years ago. It takes eight minutes to go nowhere.
Steve Aoki ft [[[zuper blahq]]] - I'm In The House (NEWS Belgium)
Will-i-am off of out of the Black Eyed Peas turns up on this and sounds 200% more interested in what he's doing than he did on anything from the last BEP album. Gigi Barocco provides a hyperactive electro remix which is pretty entertaining. Herve goes the other way on the electro spectrum, taking it down tempo and dirty for the most part. Its not Herve's finest work.
This post is sponsored by TDK.
Inna - Hot (AATW / 3Beat)
I didn't know 3Beat were still going - i thought their last release was Into The Future by New Atlantic. Anyways, here is a piss poor collection of remixes of Inna's fairly decent original. The UK Radio Edit has been needlessly shortened from the album version. Cahill's mix isn't bad, but feels as if it is just one minute of song repeated three times. The Real Booty Babes do some dire Clubland-esque remix which doesn't really work.
Alphabeat - DJ (Polydor)
I'd love to know why Alphabeat are being so widely ignored in the UK at the moment, because they're churning out some fantastic proper pop music. Two of the mixes emerge from the labs of Biffco (you know, the brains behind 2wo Third3) and cracking. The third comes courtesy of Doman and Golding, is highly predictable and adds nowt to the proceedings.
DJ Rebel & FTW - You Can Call Me Al (Mostiko Belgium)
God bless Free Record Shop and their bargain bin. Its a cover of the Paul Simon original, so you've got a rough idea of what to expect. DJ Rebel's version is fairly predictable, relying on a synth brass line as the main hook, whereas FTW's mix is a bit more dramatic whilst still being dance oriented. Credit should also be paid to the vocalists (Steve Lee and Steve Smith) who do a good job at making a distinct, and definitely not identikit version of the original vocals.
Professor Green ft Ed Drewett - I Need You Tonight (EMI)
Radio version is excellent, production line remix by Doman and Golding is pretty lazy.
Kate Nash - Do-Wah-Doo (Polydor)
Another one of only two tracks - the radio version and a truly terrible cover by Cribs frontgoon (and Nash boyfriend) Ryan Jarman.
Hurts - Better Than Love (Major Label via Sony)
Fantastic single - epic swirling and expansive synthpop lead track is worth the 99p alone, but add to that a superb orchestral b-side and its terrific value.
Plan B - She Said (Atlantic / 679)
Okay, i'll admit i was seduced somewhat by the presentation of this in a classic 45 styled die-cut sleeve. I wasn't a massive fan of the original version, but it was passable for daytime radio. The 16bit Remix isn't bad and adds some sinister electro to the original, but the two Shy FX mixes are excellent, adding some depth to the sound and taking the track off in a different direction.
DJ Supreme vs Rhythm Masters - Enter The Scene (Distinctive)
Its a classic. Prompted by a sighting of the video on The Vault, its got to go on.
Bob Sinclar featuring Hendogg, Master Gee and Wonder Mike from the Original Sugarhill Gang - Lala Song (NEWS Belgium)
Its almost exactly what you'd expect from a collaboration between Bob Sinclar and three members of the Sugarhill Gang - very retro, very disco and fairly inoffensive. The Tocadisco mix builds to a big crescendo it never really reaches. Guy Schreiner's Old School Party mix features a substantial collection of 1991-esque rave effects by doesn't really go anywhere beyond a few hook lines. The Donovan Dominator Remix is another rave-influenced affair, but possibly a few years behind Schreiner's effort.
Regi ft Tom Helsen - Night and Day (Mostiko Belgium)
Regi Penxten is a sensible man - he knows he is a big musical fish in the small pond of Belgium and that he has a huge following with a public convinced he can shit gold. To be honest, they're probably right. Although his work doesn't deviate massively from a fairly consistent Belgian DancePop sound, its accomplished with skill. If you're a fan of his other work (and chances are you won't be unless you're Belgian), you'll probably love this. On to the mixes - the Daniel Bovy remix is rather more laid back and heavy on the swirling production whereas the Dave Lambert & Housetrap version goes for the standard cut-n-shut approach of putting vocals over a backing track they don't really fit well with, which should have made it an assured appearance on Scott Mills' Floor Fillers show.
Milk Inc - Storm (ARS Belgium)
Another Regi Penxten effort. This one gets the vocal lead of Linda Mertens, who will be familiar to anyone who has heard a Milk Inc track in the past. Its pretty predictable Milk Inc fare to be honest, with big synths, midpaced rhythm and the odd ropey metaphor. Vinss-T's remix sounds rather British in its composition, with a worrying level of Clubland sound effects in there and there are a few dodgy cuts on the vocals (possibly from having been trimmed down to an edit by somebody on work experience). U&Me offer an electro take on the original. Dizkodude provides a polished mix which is effectively the original with the sound mellowed down and chilled out a little. DJ Geremy Thunder (who is Canadian) offers another Clublandy sounding version.
Lasgo - Gone (NEWS Belgium)
Regi Penxten's only competition to the throne of Belgium's Production Royalty is the brains behind Lasgo - Peter Luts. Thankfully they both make music which fits on to the same compilation albums. Jelle van Dael belts out the vocals in her usual distinctive style and the whole thing feels familiar, whilst not sounding like anything specific in their back catalogue. The Radio and Extended versions are backed up by two mixes - one rhythmic synth version from Sebastian Dali which sounds rather dated and a barking Dutch hardcore influenced version from Luts' knob twiddling cohort Jef Martens under the alias of Felix Project. The latter doesn't really work that well and sounds more like two songs that have been awkwardly cobbled together.
Armin van Buuren ft Jacqueline Govaert - Never Say Never (Armada/Mostiko Belgium)
The Radio Edit is a fairly laid back track for Armin van Buuren, with some awkward transitions between live and studio vocals (or at least the effects thereof). I haven't heard that sort of thing since Scooter's first album. The Alex Gaudino remix is a weak cut-n-paste affair with bits of vocals turning up all over a bleepy backdrop.
MC Solaar - Le Rabbi Muffin (Pomme via Sony)
Perhaps if Fettes Brot came from France and were charged with making a song for a musical, this is what it would sound like.
Future Presidents - The World Keeps Changing (Universal Netherlands)
This feels like its going to turn into a Michael Buble song, mixing light swing rhythms and inoffensive pop. The acoustic version does exactly what you'd expect.
Sir-G vs DJ Sake - 2 Spirits (Mostiko Belgium)
Worst act name in this list, but this is proof i'll buy anything on Mostiko if its cheap enough. The main vocal hook is the one from Jean Jacques Smoothie's Two People, with some ill fitting and rather odd ragga styled bits between. If Maxx had never happened, you might think it was inventive, but its a bit wobbly as a concept nowadays. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike offer up a remix using the female hook and a backing track that sounds very familiar from an episode of Armin van Buuren's A State of Trance radio show a few years ago. It takes eight minutes to go nowhere.
Steve Aoki ft [[[zuper blahq]]] - I'm In The House (NEWS Belgium)
Will-i-am off of out of the Black Eyed Peas turns up on this and sounds 200% more interested in what he's doing than he did on anything from the last BEP album. Gigi Barocco provides a hyperactive electro remix which is pretty entertaining. Herve goes the other way on the electro spectrum, taking it down tempo and dirty for the most part. Its not Herve's finest work.
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