F*&%ing Winter

Friday, December 4th, 2009 >> Blog
Written by Dani Deahl

Yesterday it snowed. Today there is a frost on the ground. Up until this point I’ve considered our fair city lucky because it’s been bearably cold… However, my friend Josh Ferguson (who is the dance editor for TimeOut Chicago and runs his own blog Dialogue Incorporated), burst my bubble last night when he reminded me over a whiskey and root beer that winter here tends to run through May. For the moment though, I’ll count my blessings that there’s no snow on the ground and it’s *only* 25 degrees. Remind me again why I don’t live in California??

For those of you who want to come out to gigs – I’m playing tonight in Chicago at Bon V, tomorrow at Tocco in Chicago, will be in Atlanta on the 11th, Jacksonville Beach in Florida on the 16th, Angels & Kings in Chicago on the 17th and then will be spending Christmas in Mexico (YEAAAAH), but am coming back to play Crescendo in Chicago for NYE. If you’re around for any of these dates and want to come, don’t hesitate to email me at dani@danideahl.com and let me know so I can take care of you! And on to the music…

I’ve posted remixes of Roxy Cottontail and Larry Tee’s track “Let’s Make Nasty” before and now there are four new boots. Talk about drool-worthy. This track is becoming such a secret weapon for me and I’m thrilled to see additional remixes. The four following versions, courtesy of Flavo, take the Afrojack version of the tune and interject additional portions from ATFC’s “I Called You,” David Guetta’s “Toyfriend,” SonicC’s “Stickin” and Anjiro Rijo’s “Primary Priority.” I could honestly play out each one of these versions – they’re all done well.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Nasty_Toyfriend_Flavo_Bootleg.mp3]
Larry Tee, Afrojack, Roxy Cottontail & David Guetta: Nasty Toyfriend (Flavo Bootleg)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/ICalledUNasty_Flavo_Bootleg.mp3]
Larry Tee, Afrojack, Roxy Cottontail & ATFC: I Called U Nasty (Flavo Bootleg)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Nasty_Priority_Flavo_Bootleg.mp3]
Larry Tee, Afrojack, Roxy Cottontail & Anjiro Rijo: Nasty Priority (Flavo Bootleg)
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Nasty_Stickin_Flavo_Bootleg.mp3]
Larry Tee, Afrojack, Roxy Cottontail & SonicC: Nasty Stickin’ (Flavo Bootleg)
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Breakdown is back with another freebie, much to my delight. The dynamic California-based duo has been pumping the tracks out lately, even scoring a remix for Deadmau5. I’m glad in the middle of everything they’ve found the time to make room for the blogs. Their remix of “Get A Reaction” from pop-rockers Flamboyant Bella is more sophisticated than past productions. Before you start wondering what I mean – I don’t say that as a negative comment at all. Rather, while past Breakdown tracks have had more of a ‘blog-house’ feel with relatively unpolished pieces, this sounds more like something that could work in big electro rooms and more underground venues. It’s nice to see a slightly different sound from Breakdown.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Flamboyant_Bella_Get_A_Reaction_Breakdown_Vocal_Remix.mp3]
Flamboyant Bella: Get a Reaction (Breakdown Vocal Remix)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Flamboyant_Bella_Get_A_Reaction_Breakdown_Remix.mp3]
Flamboyant Bella: Get A Reaction (Breakdown Remix)
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Kid Cola has remixed Vampire Weekend’s new (and free) single “Horchata.” I personally LOVE Vampire Weekend but the group has gotten more than its share of scathing reviews for this latest piece of work, like misc.music critique that they are “still pushing the tired, overused, African influence.” I don’t believe a group has to reinvent its sound with every album and Vampire Weekend is damn good at what they do. “Horchata” is a fun, percussion heavy song that comes right in time for the bleak winter months. Kid Cola’s remix uses only the hook and strips away most of the percussion, substituting electro-heavy synths instead. Some additional nods to the original come in though and overall the production is smartly done.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Horchata_KiD_COLA_Remix.mp3]
Vampire Weekend: Horchata (Kid Cola Remix)
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Popular Damage sent over two remixes, one of Digitalism’s “Taken Away” and the other of Zoot Woman’s “We Won’t Break.” The Digitalism mix adds creative touches, like extreme stuttering synths and hi hats which take away the slight organic touch the original track has. It’s a pretty mix that can still be played peak hour. The Zoot Woman remix, on the other hand, is not as polished and I was left scratching my head at the discrepancy. I feel like it’s good enough to be played out, but the lack of finesse and unnecessary wide percussion pans take away from the final product.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/pd_digitalism.mp3]
Digitalism: Taken Away (Popular Damage Assimilation)
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/pd_zoot.mp3]
Zoot Woman: We Won’t Break (Popular Damage Remix)
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The RadioAktives are back again, this time with a remix of Birdman’s “Money To Blow.” This is definitely a CLUB tune and quite fun. I love the heavy drums that pepper the track and the sparse synths add enough interest for an electro head like myself to throw it in the virtual crate. Nice shoutouts to Chicago as well – always a bonus for me.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/MoneyToBlow_Radioaktive_RMX.mp3]
Birdman: Money To Blow (RadioAktive Remix)
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When I first heard Eriq Johnson‘s remix of Polymorphic’s “Rock On” I thought, what the hell…all the synths are over compressed and crunchy as hell. Then the middle of the track came along and I heard the crystal clear stabs and vocal and began to wonder if the crunch was intentional. So I listened again, and a third time, and the track started to grow on me. I could probably only get away with this on a proper system and it’s a bit reminiscent of older industrial-influenced electronic music but it still has a place for me.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/polymorphic_rock_on_eriq_johnson_remix.mp3]
Polymorphic: Rock On (Eriq Johnson Remix)
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And some relaxing bonus tracks to bring ya back down:

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Only_Grey.mp3]
I and I: Only Grey
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Feeling_Good_Troublemaker_Remix.mp3]
Nina Simone: Feeling Good (Troublemaker Remix)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/12_03_09/Hormones_Wake_Up_Remix.mp3]
Bona To Vada: Hormones (Wake Up! Remix)
Download