Whitney Houston - My Love Is Your Love (Audio Assembly Remixes)

This was the title track from the late R&B powerhouses 1998 album. It was a big hit on all formats, most notably on the club charts with the fantastic remixes by Jonathan Peters and Thunderpuss. This song remains a favorite by many to this day and was the inspiration for last year's hit "I Got U" by Duke Dumont which included some lines from the song re-sung by a new vocalist. 

Just as the Lifetime network biopic featuring re-recorded songs by Deborah Cox is to premiere, remixing team Audio Assembly has released 3 newly remastered mixes of this classic. They retain the essence of what made the Jonathan Peters and Thunderpuss mixes so memorable but they put their own unique spin on it. The longer, extended version nearly clocking it at 15 minutes features a gorgeous drop into a downtempo piano section. All 3 mixes are excellent.

Download and stream all 3 mixes here:

Grade: A

Billy Waters - I Say

This is the debut release from remixer/DJ Billy Waters. Already known for having completed a number of remixes (as part of trio Audio Assembly and with other collaborators) during the last 2 years, it was only a matter of time before he would branch out into original productions. "I Say" is a dark, tribal peak hour track with a few manipulated male vocals sprinkled throughout it. This will fit well into circuit and afterhours sets. In addition to the main version and an instrumental, there are several DJ tools including beats, synthapella, and an acapella.

Listen to previews of all the versions:




Purchase the mixes in MP3 and WAV formats here (Juno)

Grade: A

Raven O - Hold On To Faith

Multi-talented performer Raven O's latest single "Hold On To Faith" is a piano-driven inspirational song. It is very much in the vein of Kim English, Vernessa Mitchell, and Sabrina Johnston's brand of club-oriented Gospel music. Produced by Gomi, the main version features positive lyrics and uplifting choir harmonies. Raven plus the choir make for an irresistible combination. Audio Assembly really take this one to church with their anthemic remix treatment. Every aspect of the remix production is excellent.

-Purchase the original mixes here (Amazon)
-Purchase the Audio Assembly mixes here (Amazon)
(Beatport has these as well)

Grade: A+

Inaya Day - Never Had Another Love

This is the latest release from Ms. Day. "Never Had Another Love" is not the powerful, inspiration anthem that one would expect from her, but it's still very good. However, she does sing about how wonderful her current love is. All of the versions except one are aimed at circuit and big rooms. The original is a nice mix of tribal and electro. The Alex Botar & Micky Friedmann and Audio Assembly club mixes are the closest things to a big room anthem. The former provide hard and aggressive tribal mixes while the latter adds a fun rock element. Dave Rose's mix has a tribal/synth-pop type of sound. The Oxford Hustlers mix is the lightest one of the bunch and has the greatest potential on dance radio and in mixshows. Finally is Audio Assembly's R&B mix. This has a UK 2 step, light breaks kind of sound with some of the sounds heard in the Audio Assembly club mixes. This is a nice addition to the package. Overall, every version is excellent.

Purchase the CD single here (Perfect Beat)

Grade: A

Nick Harvey Presents Halo - Pure Love (Remixes)

The highly anticipated remix package for "Pure Love" has been released today! Vibelicious, Aulden Brown, Audio Assembly, Matt Moss, Taz, and Brent Hensley provide the remixes this time around. Vibelicious provide a chilled, yet danceable mix. Aulden Brown's minimal electro/house mix is good. Audio Assembly's interpretation is drummy and driving. Their mix best utilizes the vocals. Matt Moss's circuit-oriented treatment is energetic as well. Taz's mix is a tribal dub using only some of the vocal. The real action kicks in during the second half. Brent Hensley's mix is tribal as well. His mix calls to mind some of Hex Hector's darker mixes from the earlier part of the 2000's. Closing out the package are two dubs by Nick Harvey and Audio Assembly. Nick Harvey's dub is a minimal, percussive piece suitable for afterhours. This one would also work well when layered with the break of a synthy track. The Audio Assembly dub is largely based on the vocal version, but is a bit more underground sounding. Overall, every mix on this package is really good.

Purchase the digital single here (Juno)

Grade: A

Junior Vasquez feat. John Michael - Xtatic

This is a brand new track from the legendary DJ/remixer/producer. Almost an instrumental with a few hypnotic vocals by John Michael every so often, this track is perfect for a wide variety of sets. The Audio Assembly mix is dark and minimal, taking on an almost industrial feel at times. This is perfect for afterhours. Nick Harvey's mix is perfect for peak hour play with the tribal drums and blinding synths. Also included are acapellas of the main vocal and the static effect, and bonus beats of Nick's mix. The beats are exciting as well. Overall, this is a fun track.

Purchase the digital single here (AudioJelly)

Grade: A

Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends (Audio Assembly Remix)

This was the 4th single of their 2004 album American Idiot. The emotional song was an alternative/rock midtempo in its original version. The song never did have any proper dance mixes or remixes, aside from a few extended versions which were in the same vein as the original. Audio Assembly has stepped up to the plate to update this. The 10 minute mix begins with mild techy-tribal beats and synths with just a few vocal samples. It builds for nearly 3 minutes dropping into a production similar to the original--without the beats. The percussion, plus some haunting church bells come in a little later. Billie Joe Armstrong's vocal performance is already haunting and beautiful, and doesn't lose its impact even with a club-oriented production. This mix is truly spectacular.

Listen to the mix here:
Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends (Audio Assembly Sanctuary Mix) by djbillywaters

Grade: A+

Taylor Dayne - Facing A Miracle (Remixes)

This was the official song that this years Gay Games VIII this past Summer. It brings dance diva Taylor Dayne back to the scene after a short break. "Facing A Miracle" is a midtempo synth-pop track in its original version. Although some of the lyrics may seem a bit cliche initially, Taylor's vocal delivery makes them more powerful.

There are some alternate versions and remixes for this by SoundFactory, Audio Assembly, and DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates. The Pop Up Symphonic mix is a bit dramatic while the Electro African Groove mix adds some ethnic flavor.

SoundFactory's mixes are dark and anthemic. The club mix meanders a bit, and is rather busy at times, while the radio edit is more concise, keeping all the good parts. The key change feels a bit forced in the club mix. The dub bears only some resemblance to the vocal mix.

Audio Assembly's mixes have a milder, subtle production, allowing for the vocals to truly shine. The drums are really great. Additional DJ/production tools including an acapella are available too.

Finally, there's the DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates mix. It's a Eurodance-styled mix with hints of trance, calling to mind Valentin's work. Overall, the whole package is really solid.

-Purchase the original and alt mixes here (Amazon)
-Purchase the SoundFactory mixes here (Juno)
-Purchase the Audio Assembly mixes here (Juno)
-Purchase the DJ MichaelAngelo & Gabriel Gates mix here (Juno)

Grade: A/A- (it's somewhere in between and A and A-, like a 97.5%)

Ultraviolet Sound - Suck My Kiss

This is the latest single from the electro/dance/pop act. Featuring the vocals of Sarah Hudson, "Suck My Kiss" is a cute, fun song with a twist. The song is so catchy with both its chorus and that "la la la" hook. The original is dance/pop at its finest. There are remixes of this by Johnny Vicious, Future Lovers, and Audio Assembly. Johnny Vicious offers a circuity mix which maintains some of that retro charm of the original. *Audio Assembly's mix is circuit-oriented as well. The uplifting strings and spacey synths are really good. Overall, all mixes are great.

*The Future Lovers mix was not available at press time.

Listen to the original here (the player is at the top of the screen)
Grade: A