We have guests in town this week and I am a big fan of welcoming people to Chicago with a stiff drink so…given the fantastic weather today I believe we are heading out for a glorious night of Margaritas. The past week has been fun - out to see the Juan MacLean with buddy Josh (clubs editor for TimeOut Chicago), - at Metro for private taped interview session with illustrious dubstep badass Benga - and we started rehearsals for the “Poppin’ Bottles” video shoot! You can view a little of our rehearsals in the link below. Note our fantastic lead actor (hint: mustache action)! Password to view the file is “dancin”!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

I also have a new mix I’ll be dropping sometime this week with fantastic goodies from the likes of Lee Mortimer, Hot Pink Delorean and Yuksek! To get it though, you’ll have to subscribe to my podcast! Lastly… in support of “Freaking Me Out, Part 2″ I’ll be chatting with Designer Drugs this week to talk production, plans and of course, his infamous True Pseudo remix. The text will be up probably next week but…if you subscribe to my podcast, you’ll also get the audio from the interview. BTW, if any of you have questions for Designer Drugs, leave them in the comments and we’ll see if we can’t work them in! Totally random - I’m also interviewing Paul Van Dyk this weekend for TimeOut Chicago. Leave questions for him in the comments as well.

LASTLY, if you’re not on my mailing list, or a fan on Facebook (for myself or Calamity Jane), sign the eff up - I promise we won’t inundate you with updates and the updates you will get will be totally gravy - including exclusive audio, event goodies, etc. etc.

Terror Dactel sent over this nice remix of LMFAO’s “La La La” which is making me very happy. Here in Chicago, I hear “I’m In Miami, Bitch” (or as it’s altered for the city, “I’m In Chicago, Trick”) every goddamn ten minutes on the radio but “La La La” is still hiding in the shadows a bit. This remix is just solid - great intro that starts out pretty benign with the vocal over a breakbeat and some pretty atmospherics. Then, come after the introductory break it gets into straight up electro that isn’t overworked (ah…my fave).

LMFAO: La La La (Terror Dactel Remix)
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Josh David of Breakdown sent over a host of remixes to me today. I was expecting some of the usual suspects of the moment, La Roux, LMFAO, etc… what I got was a total WTF moment when I saw…Skeelo and Kid N Play? Seriously, dude? Ok, fine, everything deserves a listen. I have to say, both of these tracks are pure fun in a bottle. They’re not cheesy at all - in fact, the vocals are integrated in such a way where you get a little taste of throwback heaven without it sounding like someone pandering to a cheeseball crowd. The Skeelo remix is a little more put together for me, and Josh tells me Mickey Slim played it at Ministry of Sound. Kudos!

Skeelo: I Wish (Breakdown Remix)
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Kid N Play: Rollin With Kid N Play (Breakdown Remix)
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Treasure Fingers is such a talented producer and I was thrilled to get this sent in to me. His remix of N.A.S.A.’s “Gifted” is nothing short of stellar. Understated with a slight disco touch feel, the remix is a gorgeous, melody-driven tune that is completely consistent throughout. A programming change at around 2:00 that drops the atmospherics keeps the song interesting without changing much at all - the construction overall is put together incredibly well and is subtle in several ways.

N.A.S.A.: Gifted (Treasure Fingers Remix)
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There are elements about Golden Gloves‘ “Pick Up The Slack” that I enjoy. I see myself using it as more of a quick transition between songs - popping it in for a minute or so or maybe layering with a vocal…overall on its own it’s a bit too loopy for my taste. The only really noticeable changeups happen with quick filtering that almost have the impression of being done live. In the right spot though with a crowded room at 3am, I could see this completely popping off. I don’t know why, but I immediately thought of mixing out of something like Sydney Samson’s “Riverside” into this…

Golden Gloves: Pick Up The Slack
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This next remix might not be something I would generally throw into a set but it’s so nicely done I wanted to include it anyway. The Disco Wizards remix of Pony Pony Run Run’s “Hey You” is definitely more low key but the little samples of guitar with looped and vox bits that then switch into loops of chords and overtly chopped vocals was more deliciousness than I could stand. Those little differences help make what could have been an otherwise simplistic remix stand apart without seeming gimmicky.

Pony Pony Run Run: Hey You (Disco Wizards Remix)
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Ooh well hell-o Dirty Monkeez and your fantastic remix! Ahem…this remix of Daniel Merriweather’s “Change” has got it all - multiple lines of synths (an upper and mid range using different sounds), fantastic vocals, piano and a seamless integration of lighter-sounding vox into an electro tune. I really do love the breakdown that strips everything save the piano and vocal, but I wish the bulk of the vocal repeated at least one more time after it kicks in again. No, the 10 seconds at the end where the vocal comes in RIGHT BEFORE IT ENDS does not count. In fact, I’m tempted to take the freaking 16 beat intro that the track has as a result of said vocal interjection and stretch it out myself.

Daniel Merriweather: Change (Dirty Monkeez Remix)
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Here comes the slightly emo and slightly guilty pleasure remix of The Dance Party’s “Sasha Don’t Sleep” by AutoRock. I feel like a suburban teenager in Hot Topic clothing that is ironic because I paid extra to have it torn on purpose. (I think THESE GIRLS would love it). On the other hand…fuck, it really is a good listen. It’s constructed like an original and actually doesn’t much read like a remix at all and is so delightfully upbeat.

The Dance Party: Sasha Don’t Sleep (AutoRock Remix)
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My favorite part of this Dance Area remix by Correct Effect doesn’t include vocals at all - it’s at 3:33 - the breakdown with the uber-computerish synth that gains more static with each bar, eventually bringing in chopped to hell vocals and then going back into the track which stays very very crunchy, taking loss of information to a fun place. Overall the synths are purposefully less finessed than other things I’ve heard lately (meaning they sound closer to a preset and there’s definitely a lot of bitcrunching going on), but I really enjoy it.

Dance Area: 24/7 (Correct Effect Remix)
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More Kap10Kurt! There’s been a lot of him around here lately. His version of Clubfeet’s “Teenage Suicide” is very dream-like, with panned trickling keys and lots of atmospherics. My only concern is that given how lush the song is, the vocal becomes lost when all the elements are in full force. It doesn’t help that the vocals are highly effected as well. Aside from that, it’s a very enjoyable remix that, while relying heavily on arpeggiated notes, does it in such a way that it sounds befitting when accompanied with all the other elements.

Clubfeet: Teenage Suicide (Kap10Kurt Remix)
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Ok let’s run down the news for this week… First and foremost - you all ROCK for helping to support our newest release, True Pseudo’s “Freaking Me Out Part 2″ with remixes by Designer Drugs and Pilotpriest! We’ve been getting so many blog mentions and we’re charting on Beatport as well! If you haven’t listened yet, you can do so on ITUNES and BEATPORT. Get it while it’s hot!

Next week I am shooting the music video for my song “Poppin’ Bottles”! We have an all-star crew werkin with us and I’ll be providing some behind the scenes footage as we go along, starting with our dance rehearsals this Saturday! If you’re in Chicago and want to be an extra in our shoot - it’s not too late. Email dani@danideahl.com with your name, phone number and a head shot.

And misc. news… Subscribe to my podcast on iTunes! I have a new monthly feature I’ll be doing for URB - kind of like a Page 6 thing for the house/hipster/electro/dance/techno/etc. crowd! My label, Calamity Jane also has a podcast on iTunes! There will be a contest announced tomorrow! I wanted a cupcake for dessert tonight, but I didn’t have one! I tried to shoo a squirrel off our porch today, but it didn’t move and it just looked me square in the eye which I thought was creepy!

On to the music.

These Duotone tracks were just sent to me via a friend in Canada. There were a smattering of originals and remixes and only a few spoke to me so I pulled them out. They all follow the same format - nice heavy synths (they also tend to use the same synths in all their songs), crunchy snares, and they tend to love the high end range for filling in their melodies (something that you don’t see a ton of right now) - it helps make them not overly dark. The real star here though, is their remix of Yuksek and Amanda Blank’s “Extraball.” It’s an oh my moment as it has a simplified synth melody (that works in the remix’s favor), a luscious long build up that features a large section where the meat of the track is brought in via lo-pass filter and spare choppiness in just the right sections.

Yuksek feat. Amanda Blank: Extraball (Duotone Remix)
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Duotone: Say Want & Do
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Duotone: She Hits On Me
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Duotone feat. Rebekah Star: You Better Dance
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I’m a big Stereoheroes fan and the guys have come a ways from the first track they sent my way. Their remix of Pony Pony Run Run’s “Hey You” is quite solid with synths complimented by tiny bits of guitar and the bulk of the melody deliciously sliding away when the vocals come in, creating a bit of drama. The sounds are nice and crisp and they avoid the pothole I most often gripe about - their vocals are nice and bright, loud and with a slight stereo on them. Ahhh…..

Pony Pony Run Run: Hey You (Stereoheroes Remix)
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I’ve always been a big fan of The Glass and I’ve been itching to get clearance to post their latest single “Wanna Be Dancin’,” a song which has already been highly praised by the most respected outlets. Finally…the email came, along with a remix by Fantastadon. If you haven’t heard “Wanna Be Dancin’” yet, it’s utterly smooth with vocals delivered with the utmost melancholy. Touches like piano riffs during the chorus and airy pads round out this superb single. The remix manages to blend the dreamy elements from the original with crisper synths that suddenly make it a hard tune fit for peak hour.

The Glass: Wanna Be Dancin’ (Radio Edit)
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The Glass: Wanna Be Dancin’ (Fantastadon Remix)
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Ok, yes this next song is a 128, but a) it’s awesome, and b) it was sent to me by DJ Spiller. If you don’t know who DJ Spiller is may you forever be banished from DSquared. DJ Spiller as in the man who made “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)” - one of my FAVORITE house tunes of all time. This song is a remix of a single by Glitch, an artist on his label. The Density mix of “Emotion Commotion” (it must be noted, by Glitch AND Tommie Sunshine), has a nice deceptively slower tempo that’s heavy on percussion and light on synth work. The result is a dramatic mix that begs to be danced to.

Glitch feat. Tommie Sunshine: Emotion Commotion (Density Mix)
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Barletta knocks it out of the park with this latest remix of the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feeling.” Nice sidechaining action that’s not overdone and super clean sounds with some inventive percussion including what sounds like some reversed sounds adding a little something different to the mix. His productions seem to continually get better with each one he sends in.

Black Eyed Peas: I Got A Feeling (Barletta Edit)
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Two different takes on Master Shortie’s “Dead End” here from Chew Fu and Don Diablo. Don Diablo is slowly growing on me. Then again, his stuff lately has more meat to it, as evidenced by this mix which has super dark and intense layered synths that alternate with slightly more lighthearted patterns with picked electric guitar and vocals. Then as soon as you’re used to that - bam - back into the evil. The Chew Fu mix is typical of the artist, chunkier and built as a fun party track.
BONUS: CHEW FU DOWNTEMPO REMIX OF DAFT PUNK’S “MAKE LOVE.”

Master Shortie: Dead End (Don Diablo Knows You Like It Hard Remix)
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Master Shortie: Dead End (Chew Fu GhettoHouse Fix)
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Daft Punk: Make Love (Chew Fu & Substantial Small Room Sax Fix)
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How do I describe the noises in this Hot Pink Delorean and Knowlton Walsh remix of The Faint’s “Get Seduced”? Like I want to hurt someone and dance all at the same time? That seems pretty accurate. That is one mean-ass synth these guys have here playing front and center. In the main part of the track it plays off some guitar and glitched-out vocal, but to me the most original and catchy part is that damn noise that kicks in at 1:00. I would love to see them rework it or do something completely separate where that loop is the main star.

The Faint: Get Seduced (Hot Pink Delorean and Knowlton Walsh Remix)
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Dan Sena of Dim Mak was soooo excited to get this remix he did of N.A.S.A. he actually did it a little prematurely and then had to tell everyone to sit tight for a bit. I don’t blame him though - this remix is completely fun. Yes, it has a completely unfriendly dj intro, but with a little creative mixing, you can get that hit at around 2:20 to kick the dancefloor in the arse. If it were me, I think I would boost the vox slightly (it gets a little lost when the additional top melody comes in around 3:00) and the sounds need to be a bit crisper. It’s less noticeable from 3:00 on, but earlier the mainline sounds a bit flat and it doesn’t help that the snares and hi hats are on the muted side as well. A little EQing on the fly though and you’ll be right as rain.

N.A.S.A.: Way Down (Dan Sena Remix)
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Big fan and supporter of Buffetlibre over here, so when they sent over their new remix of Patrick Wolf I knew it would be stellar. With super arpeggiated synths (something I’m not hearing as much now…) making up the bulk of the track, it might have a melodic quality but this is something to drop primetime. The breakdown with the violins is stellar, especially when the bells kick in right before 3:00. I don’t know what it is about violins…I’ve always thought they’re such an emotional instrument to use in electronic tracks (when done right, of course).

Patrick Wolf: Who Will (Buffetlibre Remix)
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That’s right, “Freaking Me Out Part 2″ has officially dropped and you can buy it today on Beatport (or other MP3 sites), or pre-order for iTunes where it will drop Tuesday, June 2nd. Oh how excited am I! So finally, you all can grab the Designer Drugs mix that you’ve all been dreaming about…but not here - you gotta buy that shizz. Here though, you’ll find samples from all the mixes and a full version of True Pseudo’s new extended mix. BTW, if you don’t have the Nadastrom and ULTRNX mixes yet either, we just can’t speak anymore.

BUY ON BEATPORT

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Check the feedback on “Freaking Me Out Part 2″!

Larry Tee:
True Psuedo are true originators. This new release suggests that these boys are heading for big things!!

DJ Dan:
Love the nu-disco indie dance vibe on this release! Really fun and electric disco treat!

Villains:
These tracks will get our support. The original was really well done and the remixes are bangin!

Tittsworth:
Really well produced!

Wolfgang Gartner:
Digging the Designer Drugs & Pilotpriest Journey mixes on this one - Pilotpriest remix is REALLY good. Thanks for sending!

Hot Pink DeLorean:
Playing the Designer Drugs remix every set! Tune is a banger!

True Pseudo: Freaking Me Out (Extended Mix)
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True Pseudo: Freaking Me Out (Extended Dub)
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True Pseudo: Freaking Me Out (Designer Drugs Remix)
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True Pseudo: Freaking Me Out (Pilotpriest Journey Mix)
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True Pseudo: Freaking Me Out (Pilotpriest Journey Dub)
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So excited! True Pseudo’s “Freaking Me Out Part 2″ drops tomorrow and on June 2nd (depending on when the sites update)! There is a new extended mix of the original, and of course, the Pilotpriest mix and the Designer Drugs mix that everyone has been coveting. Will post all the samples and a FULL version of the extended mix here tomorrow so make sure you come back and check!

By the way, got some new gems to pass along - and no, not new tracks (although those are below). First off, I have a new podcast! The latest entry is the full audio from my interview with Tiga! SUBSCRIBE HERE. Also, my label Calamity Jane Recordings has a new podcast with mixes from our artists! SUBSCRIBE HERE.

There’s some crazy events on the horizon as well - got some pending dates from coast to coast (and out of the country) that I should be able to post soon! I do need a break though - geez, between two weekends ago (see two posts ago) and last weekend…its been nuts. I nearly got into a full fledged girl fight (NOT my fault!), got tipsy with the editors of Bad Girls Club and pretty much emptied Bang nightclub in Cincinnati of their Patron with my friends. Christ, what happened? A lot of you have been asking when I’ll be playing in Chicago next - it’s on the horizon - details to come soon :)

So to whet your appetite for the electro bombs I’ll be dropping your way tomorrow, here’s a good handful of tunes that have been sent over. There’s some awesomeness here - I think you’ll be happy!

Santiago and Bushido are from my neck of the woods (thats’s Chicago for those of you who don’t know) and they always create massive bombs. How excited was I to see a cleared 320 file from them in my inbox the other day!! Their remix of Prairie Cartel’s “Beautiful Shadow” is built for a big room - alternating between vocals and a dubbed feel with looped goodness that keeps it driving throughout. The synth is fairly simple but catchy and overall it’s a little different from what I would expect from the duo. Fire!

Prairie Cartel: Beautiful Shadow (Santiago & Bushido Remix)
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Two tracks in from Dave Dirt this time - one is “Bring The Noize” (just guess what that’s a remix of) and the other is called “Switch.” I actually think “Switch” is produced a little better than “Bring The Noize” which suffers from flat drums and a synth I find a little too spastic. It’s still good, but would be even better with those two items tweaked. “Switch” is more pulled together with a solid synth loop that layers up at points and is highlighted by a vocal stab.

Dave Dirt: Bring The Noize
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Dave Dirt: Switch
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Ok we all know I love my buddy Tittsworth and give him props whenever I can. Two remixes of his track “Drunk As F*ck” have come my way by Meterhead and Top Billin so I had to feature both. The Meterhead mix is more laid back with a plucky bass guitar, hints of a synth that sits in the background and minimal amounts of percussion making it more of a chilled out take that could sit well at the beginning of a night. The Top Billin remix is completely different - raving it up with tight drumrolls and an amusing simplistic bassline that walks up and down in an 8 count. It’s nothing you have to think too hard about, but fun to drop in for a couple minutes.

Tittsworth: Drunk As F*ck (Meterhead Mix)
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Tittsworth: Drunk As F*ck (Top Billin Remix)
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Remixes abound for AC Slater’s “Hello!” and here’s yet another from Thrills & Tony Rocky Horror. With a wobbly dubstep-esque synth that dominates with tinny percussion (it actually works here) and omg, cowbell, this is a track that would appeal to people in both the dubstep and electro crowds. Not for the faint of heart - it’s a bit speedy and pretty much in your face.

AC Slater: Hello! (Thrills & Tony Rocky Horror Remix)
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More from Don Diablo - this man is a machine. This time it’s a remix though. Noisia’s take on “Hooligans” is really quite nice - one of the things I’m always iffy on with Diablo (and I think I have mentioned it before) is that his stuff to me always sounds on the verge of being underproduced. This remix though is beefy, even in the breaks with pads riding underneath multiple synths that build up momentously into a hard, yet rhythmic crescendo. If you can’t tell, I’m quite a fan.

Don Diablo: Hooligans (Noisia Remix)
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Cold Blank’s 808 remix of Surkin’s “Radio Fireworks” is nicely done. A little understated, but still quite banging. I think it would have been easy to go overboard here and instead, the synth sits front and center without being overzealous and the supporting elements fit in nicely from the choppy vocal stabs to the perfectly placed percussion. Nice ravey lo pass filter break towards the end btw. Seems like there’s a lot of that going around right now.

Surkin: Radio Fireworks (Cold Blank’s 808 Remix)
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Rock the f*ck out with this remix of Popular Computer’s “Darling” by Give Me A Kiss. Seriously, I feel like headbanging. Maybe I’ll fish out a lighter on the breakdown - who knows? Intense guitar action here with a serious break that starts with some epic claps and layers in the synth followed by a drop that kind of comes in out of nowhere. I would be particular about where I used this track but I feel like if you have that golden opportunity, this could make everyone go berserk.

Popular Computer: Darling (Give Me A Kiss Remix)
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