#deep dance

[iheartmoosiq]

Springtime is usually when wildflowers bloom. But this summer, we’re getting our own prismatic, vibrant showing from Ed MacFarlane, Edd Gibson, and Jack Savage, better known as English dance punk and indietronica dignitaries Friendly Fires. On August 16th, Friendly Fires will release their new album Infloresecent on Casablanca / Polydor. As such, we’ve already been privy to a bevy of polychromatic songs from the trio. Run The Wild Flowers is their latest new song, as premiered via Apple Music’s Beats 1 as Zane Lowe’s “World First”. This one’s more of a sprawling electronic opus versus their usual frisky strutting numbers. Deep resonating beats and a hypnotic sleekness bind the euphoric, club-fueled track in a manner that echoes exhilarating, mesmeric hits from the likes of Elderbrook, Bob Moses, and Rüfüs Du Sol, but with the equatorial vitality and lushness that we’re much accustomed to from Friendly Fires. Pre-order Inflorescent, here. Friendly Fires returns to the road for their long awaited new album this fall. Join the jubilation at The Fillmore in San Francisco on September 26th. 

[iheartmoosiq]

I know it’s been a very long and testing wait for a whole new record of Bag Raiders songs, but boy, has our patience been well rewarded! Jack Glass and Chris Stracey released their self-titled debut album in 2010. On September 6th, nearly 10 years after that first full length, Horizons arrives. The now fabled Australian indie dance and electro pair, whose greatest hit Shooting Stars had a sudden revival not too long ago (that even spawned Bongo Cat memes), began unleashing new tracks off of Horizons earlier this year. Wild At Heart, featuring Mickey Kojak, is a luscious, dance genre blurring treat, while Lightning with Kite String Tangle is easily one of my dance favorites of the year, a song worthy of its name, a true banger of a dance track that feels like Bag Raiders teamed up with Caribou and Rüfüs. You can listen to both of those below. But let’s revel in brand new track How Long, featuring our Australian fave, Panama, shall we? It’s a more introspective piece compared to the prior two, with a glossy sheen and more of that Caribou and Rüfüs multi-dimensional sonic magnificence, with the hypnotic rhythm of Elderbrook and Camelphat. How Long, which premiered on Triple J’s Home & Hosed, stemmed from a concept brewed in Bag Raiders’ LA home about waiting for love to come back around. It was brought to life by lyricist and Panama founder Jarrah McCleary. The track represents one’s strong emotional longings in love, while its instrumentals balance a cold and icy vibe.  Bag Raiders say on the single: “From the first meeting to being in the studio, he’s [Jarrah] been great to work with. It’s great working with people who bring something different and help you get out of your own headspace - which is sometimes exactly what you need in order to do something new." Panama says: “I was immediately into the idea as I grew up hearing a lot of Bag Raiders and other Modular artists of that era. I think Bag Raiders are very unique as their music has been able to transcend that earlier period and still stay relevant today. I tend to shy away from writing big pop songs and focus more on the emotion of the music. I think 'How Long' is a strong representation of that way of thinking.” 

Buy/stream the excellent new song, here. Pre-order Horizons, here. Bag Raiders will be touring Australia this month. Ticket info can be found, here.

[iheartmoosiq]

I’m thoroughly convinced that Robyn and Yaeji need to deliver an original together, or even a mini-EP, after the latter gave the former’s Beach2k20 this slick steamy, snazzy and sharp remix. That’s right, Queens based Korean-American production sensation Yaeji is the latest exceptional artist to put her own spin on one of Robyn’s critically acclaimed tracks off her recent album Honey. “‘Beach2k20’ was an instant summer jam for me,” says Yaeji. “The left field arrangement and dancefloor motifs mixed with Robyn’s relaxed vocals transported me to a beach somewhere I’ve never been. My remix tries to keep those elements that make this song so special, with updated percussion, synths and a call-and-response portion from Robyn and I so that you can bring the track to a dancefloor (and have a good time).” This Honey track has never been more syrupy sweet with its caramelized sugar and deep,hot beats. Snag the remix, here.

[iheartmoosiq]

We’ve been fervent supporters and fans of UK artist Georgia since she thrilled us with her first releases several years ago, dazzling us with her dark experimental approach and riveting drumming on songs like Move Systems and Nothing Solutions. We even purchased her debut EP on vinyl, that’s how deep in love we were with her audacious and edgy approach on electronica and dark pop. It’s no surprise that we’re also head over heels for Georgia’s latest single, About Work The Dancefloor. You can revisit our feature, here. After all these years, we still haven’t caught Georgia live, and had to miss her few sets at SXSW earlier this year. While we lick our wounds, at least we can dance our hearts out to some sensational remixes of her recent single, including this retro-styled dance remix by talented Kentucky native, The Black Madonna. It’s been out for at least a month now, but we’re still addicted to it, and will likely forever be stuck on it. But let’s not stop there! About Work The Dancefloor also gets a heady Chrome Sparks meets Flume like edit by UK producer Happa. Extend your dance party with a deep pumping tech house edit by Gabe Gurnsey, too. About Work The Dancefloor is one versatile track when it comes to remixing potential, and these producers do it all with exhilarating panache.

[iheartmoosiq]

On the heels of SG Lewis’ highly anticipated Dawn, the final installment of the British songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer’s three part concept album ‘Dusk, Dark, Dawn’, comes a spectacular remix of Dawn single Flames by Lastlings. The track, which features 16 year old Australian breakthrough artist Ruel, gets a riveting workover by Australian sibling duo Lastlings. They transform the song into a four to the floor deep house cut, whose hypnotic heat transports us straight onto a sweaty dance floor on a pitch dark night. It sure doesn’t feel like our sun will be rising anytime soon, and we’re not complaining. We could dance forever, lost in the thumping beats of this edit. Stream SG Lewis’ Dawn, here. Alternate streaming options for Lastlings’ remix can be found, here.

[iheartmoosiq]

If ever you doubted Skrillex’s skills as production royalty, this new edit of Kelsey Lu’s Due West will clear out your apprehensions. We’re already incredibly fond of the original song from NYC talent Kelsey Lu, as well as the spectacularly lush music video for the song. Revisit our feature, here. And now, Sonny Moore has provided us with a ridiculously good dance remix of the track, turning the resplendent ballad into a deep house and future garage scintillator. It’s an immaculately mixed beauty that frames Kelsey Lu’s oohs and aahs such that she starts to sound like an irresistible blend of Kelsey Lu and Kiesza. I’ve been dancing my heart out to the remix since it dropped last Friday. The original version of Due West can be found on Kelsey Lu’s acclaimed debut album Blood, produced by Rodaidh McDonald and Skrillex, out now via Columbia Records. Grab the new remix, here.

[iheartmoosiq]

So, new Hot Chip is kind of a big deal, right? I’m sure there are countless people celebrating, now that the renowned English alt dance and synthpop outfit has announced their new album A Bath Full Of Ecstasy, out this June. Alexis Taylor, Joe Goddard, and their gang of skilled musicians have also shared its lead single and a music video for the song. Hungry Child is a slick and muggy house groover that feels kind of like a Haelos, Jungle, and Disclosure composite. In other words, it’s a bit different from their usual fare, but it sure is delectable with its deep throbbing four-to-the-floors, silky gliding vocals, and luxuriant production. The video for Hungry Child was directed by Samen Kesh and stars actors Martin Starr and Milana Vayntrub deep in an ill-fated lovers’ quarrel. You can listen to Hungry Child via Soundcloud below if you’d rather hear it in all its glory without the video’s dialogue. Pre-order A Bath Full Of Ecstasy, here, before it arrives on June 21st via Domino.

[iheartmoosiq]

Crooked Colours’ Hold On is a fresh new iteration of the Australian three piece’s electronic brilliance. We want to hold on to this glistering cut off their highly anticipated second album Langata for all of eternity. The dance trio invites us to move our bodies without abandon with the luxuriant simmering track, whose sumptuous beats and life affirming lyrics leave us endlessly excited for the arrival of Langata on May 17th. Speaking about the track, Crooked Colours’ Leon De Baughn says: “I remember the idea for this track first came to me while I was driving home from the beach.  We had just got back from touring in the US and getting back to our summer inspired this track.  It started with the chords and the floating vocal line that ended up building into a club beat with the bouncing bass line.” Tickets for Crooked Colours’ upcoming Langata tour in Australia are already moving quickly. Hopefully, they’ll travel the world again after their native tour is done and finished. Pre-order Langata, here.