It's All About Chicago

Thursday, November 19th, 2009 >> Blog
Written by Dani Deahl

So since my first track on here is way Chicago-centric (which makes me super happy), I’m going to take the opportunity to remind all you local people that I have a LOT of stuff in the city coming up. Bon V on December 4th, Social 25 on December 7th, Angels & Kings on December 17th and then most likely Crescendo for NYE (will know more about that in the next couple of days). You can always email me at dani@danideahl.com for info and guest list. Why nothing for November? Because the only things I plan on doing next week are eating, watching TV (yes, I will be a good sport and watch football) and hibernate. I’m in charge of nearly all the cooking as well, which is fine by me, I enjoy it. Anyone have favorite recipes? By the way, here is some food for thought (pun intended). Guess how many calories the average person consumes in a Thanksgiving meal? If you said the astronomical amount of THREE THOUSAND, you’re right.

BTW, you’ll have to excuse the fact that I’m not talking about the tracks as much in this post. I got over being sick the other week but now have a sinus infection as a result and it feels like someone punched me in the right cheekbone. Kill me now.

So anyway, let’s talk The XX. They’ve been getting a fair shake lately with lots of bloggerific mentions, and with good reason. This newest take is an unusual one. Chicago rapper Jams Dean lends his vocal over “Heart Skipped A Beat” and makes it all about my dear city with fun references, some of which you might only know if you were from here. It could have turned out to simply be a novelty tune, but it’s crafted well and the vocals sit nicely over the instrumental. Listen for shoutouts to Debonair Social Club and Kid Sister. I can’t wait to play this.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/thexx_chicagogirls.mp3]
The XX: Heart Skipped A Beat (Jams Dean Chicago Girls Remix)
Download

IT’S DJ KUE! Last post it was a remix from FnDannyBoy, who we hadn’t heard from in a while, and now his buddy DJ Kue, who we also haven’t heard from in a while. He always picks tracks a little off-kilter and as of late, has been going the indie route, a deviation from the rock-centric selections he was known for. This time it’s “Always” from Bent, and Kue doesn’t overly increase the intensity of the original. Instead, he really takes his cue from the existing material, and builds the sound around it. The result is dreamy, and quite laid back considering what he’s delivered before. It works though, and is a touch more sophisticated.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/Bent_Always_DJKueRemix.mp3]
Bent: Always (DJ Kue Remix)
Download

Ok, I played with DJ Broadway Streetz a few weeks ago and that night, he mentioned DJ Jem and I probably made a face. I had no idea that he was working with Jem for a new project. Oops. Here’s where I came from – the only experience I had with DJ Jem were these Bmore tracks that sometimes got sent over, and they weren’t very good, from the production to the mastering. In any case, I just got sent over a track called “Feel The Bass” which is by The RadioAktives, that aforementioned collaboration between Broadway Streetz and Jem. I listened to it, and I admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The production was definitely up several notches from what I had previously heard and it wasn’t Bmore (whew). With a full rap vocal on top and a beat more reminiscent of hip hop, not house, this is not a track I would often have opportunity to play, but I could see it working at the right time.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/FeelTheBass_Extended.mp3]
The RadioAktives: Feel The Bass
Download

Kids At The Bar have delivered this hard-hitting remix of Ellie Goulding’s “Under The Sheets” and somehow made it sound like it was supposed to be an evil electro track all along. Pitching down her vocal and chopping it, droning synths and a bit of wobble all pair together nicely, and surprisingly play a nice counterpart to breakdowns that brighten up with the original vocal in full.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/UnderTheSheets_KIDSATTHEBARRemix.mp3]
Ellie Goulding: Under The Sheets (Kids At The Bar Remix)
Download

Hyper Crush has been getting a little rotation on the Internet lately due to the recent remix Benny Benassi did for them. Now they have a little gift for us, their take on LMFAO’s “La La La.” Not only do they up the electro ante, but they make an appearance on the track, injecting their own vocals midway through. The fusion is seamless and sounds as if it should have been there all along. I posted about Hyper Crush way the eff back on this blog and I hope they’re getting a bit more attention – their look is still a little trite, but their sound I still think has potential.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/LALALA_HYPERCRUSHREMIX.mp3]
LMFAO: La La La (Hyper Crush Remix)
Download

Oh Breakdown, how do I love thee. As you can tell in my previous post, Breakdown and I have a brief but epic history of drunkenness, dry humor and strange visits to oddly decorated clubs. Josh David of Breakdown sent over this remix the duo did of Bounce Camp’s “Good Beat” and if you’re a disco house fan, you’re in luck. It’s also worth mentioning it’s a lighthearted, bouncy track which is quite different from what Breakdown normally delivers. Just listen to the goodness below. By the way, can I mention how awesome it is that disco house is coming back? This is what I was practically raised on. I LIVED on Mark Almaria’s colored tape series and anyone who knows what I’m talking about knows how much of an institution they were around here. Oh yeah, and the blue one was my favorite.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/BounceCamp_GoodBeat_BreakdownRemix.mp3]
Bounce Camp: Good Beat (Breakdown Remix)
Download

AND the bonus tracks:

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/amandaviking.mp3]
Amanda Blank: Shame On Me (Viking Remix)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/Paparazzi_RedlightRemix.mp3]
Lady Gaga: Paparazzi (Redlight Remix)
Download

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/11_19_09/Sonora_CumbiaAction_DaphuturRemix.mp3]
Sonora: Cumbia Action (Daphutur Remix)
Download