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

Amy Grant - In Motion (The Remixes)

The Christian/Pop artist's highly anticipated remix album was released today. It was announced late last year that this was in the works. A handful of some of her biggest hits were selected for this collection and they were remixed by an A-list team of remixers. Every remix is produced in an uplifting style that maintains the emotional and spiritual message of the original songs. Some of the songs will take some getting used to with the club-oriented productions. This is another rare case where every remix is well-produced and suits the songs. The remixes of "Say Once More", "You're Not Alone", "Better Than A Hallelujah", and "Stay For Awhile" (both of them) are outstanding, though every remix is excellent. The only downside of this collection is that 90% of the main tracks are radio edits and not full length or mixshow length.

Tracklisting:
01. That's What Love Is For (Chris Cox Radio Edit) (3:12)
02. Stay For Awhile (Tony Moran Radio Mix) (4:08)
03. You're Not Alone (Guy Scheiman Radio Edit) (3:46)
04. Every Heartbeat (Moto Blanco Radio Edit) (3:24)
05. Better Than A Hallelujah (Mark Picchiotti Gospel Radio Edit) (3:47)
06. Find A Way (Ralphi Rosario Big Room Radio Edit) (3:37)
07. Baby Baby (Dave Aude Radio Edit) (3:57)
08. Say Once More (Hex Hector Radio Edit) (3:32)
09. Out In The Open (7th Heaven Radio Edit) (4:04)
10. Stay For Awhile (Tony Moran Destination Mixshow Edit) (6:45)
11. Mega Mix (DJ Andy 7th Heaven Medley) (8:49)

-The album can be purchased in physical formats including CD and vinyl on Amazon
-The album can be purchased digitally on Amazon and iTunes

Grade: A+

Barry Harris - Toronto World Pride Set

Barry Harris, best known for his work with Chris Cox as Thunderpuss from 1997 until 2003. During their time together, they produced chart-topping remixes with their distinct tribal, big room sound with melodic elements for many heavyweights of the music industry including Amber, Britney Spears, Cher, Christina Aguilera, Donna Summer, Enrique Iglesias, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Holliday, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Shakira, Tamia, and Whitney Houston. Both Barry and Chris have continued to produce ever since they split in 2003.

Earlier this week, Barry released an extract of one of his live sets for Pride containing a number of brand new reworks and updates to some of the songs that him and Chris had remixed as Thunderpuss. Many of the new mixes contain elements from the original mixes they did, but they also contain contemporary sounds as well.

Part of or full tracks included in the set:
Ariana Grande feat. Iggy Azaela - Problem
Barry Harris feat. Pepper MaShay - Dive Into The Pool
Barry Harris feat. Pepper MaShay - I Got My Pride
Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U
Chad Jack - Gag On It
Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & P!nk - Lady Marmalade
Ed Sheeran - Sing
Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX - Fancy
Katy Perry - Birthday
Kon Kan - I Beg Your Pardon 2K14
LeAnn Rimes - Can't Fight The Moonlight
Madonna - Don't Tell Me
Madonna - GHV2 Megamix Part 2 ("Ray Of Light", "Deeper And Deeper", "Music")
Mary J. Blige - No More Drama
Queen - We Will Rock You
Simone Denny + Barry Harris - Drama Queen (Texting U)

Suzanne Palmer - Hide U

Tamia - Stranger In My House
Whitney Houston - It's Not Right But It's Okay

Listen and download here:

Donna Summer - Love To Love You Donna

This is the first posthumous release for the Queen Of Disco. It is a collection of brand new remixes that were produced just for this collection. This collection only covers a limited part of Donna's multi-decade career, but it focuses on the most important time when she had a string of hits.

Here is an overview of each track:

Love To Love You Baby (feat. Chris Cox) [Giorgio Moroder Remix]
This orgasmic odyssey clocking at almost 17 minutes in its original version back in the day is re-imagined in an "I Feel Love" aesthetic by Giorgio Moroder and Chris Cox. Despite the production being re-arranged as much as it has, the sensuality quotient is still very high. This song is every bit as erotic as it was in 1975.

Dim All the Lights (Duke Dumont Remix)
It is a shame that this one only uses so few vocals because the production was rather promising. It basically loops the same line over and over for much of it.

Hot Stuff (Frankie Knuckles & Eric Kupper As Director's Cut Signature Mix)
This song's Disco meets Rock production is appropriately minimized in this 90s House rework which incorporates a few key instrumental flourishes and hooks from the original, however, the Rock elements are sorely missed.

I Feel Love (Afrojack Remix)
One of the most influential songs in all of Dance/Electronic music has been updated ever so slightly picking up the tempo, but the soul of the song and that signature arpeggio hook that has been sampled and ripped off countless times is left intact. There have been a number of remixes of this song over the years which strayed too far and left much to be desired. This is one of the best mixes of the song ever done other than the Rollo & Sister Bliss one from 1995.

Love Is In Control (Finger On the Trigger) [Chromeo & Oliver Remix]
While certain melodies from the original were kept, this mix ends up sounding far more dated than it should.

Sunset People (Hot Chip Dub Edit)
The Disco vibe of the original is maintained though the tempo is lowered just a little. This would have worked better as a full vocal mix.

Working the Midnight Shift (Holy Ghost! Remix)
The Once Upon A Time album track is reinvented in a Kevin Saunderson/Inner City style. The industrial sound of the original is there too, just changed up a bit.

Bad Girls (Gigamesh Remix)
The song from the double album of the same name about the ladies of the evening is given an 80s synthpop styled reworking. The Disco/Rock vibe of the original has been entirely stripped away.

MacArthur Park (Laidback Luke Remix) [Instrumental Version]
It's puzzling why the instrumental was put on the standard edition instead of the vocal mix which is on the deluxe edition. It's a good instrumental, but the vocals really bring it home.

I Feel Love (Benga Remix)
After the amazing Afrojack mix, this one is totally unnecessary. There are hardly any vocals and the few teases of the original that are there just don't work.

On the Radio (Jacques Greene Remix)
The remix of this evergreen classic just sucks out all of the fun that the original had. The effects on the vocals make them sound so distant.

Last Dance (Masters At Work Remix) [Short Version]
The classic closing song at any club was already cinematic and over the top in all of the right ways, but this remix lacks the power and urgency that the original had. The orchestral elements that are there from the original feel out of place with the watered down production.

La Dolce Vita
This previously unreleased, unleaked song seems out of place on this collection because every other song has been released before in some fashion. It's a great track and sounds fairly modern courtesy of Giorgio Moroder's forward-thinking productions, but it would be more at home on a collection of Donna's unreleased songs (and there are possibly hundreds of those!).

Our Love (Krystal Klear Remix) [Bonus Track]
This one has been re-imagined as a soulful House track with a hint of electro in the bassline.

MacArthur Park (Laidback Luke Remix)
This should have been on the standard edition in place of the instrumental version. This one maintains the melody of the dramatic original which was in that epic "MacArthur Park Suite", adding some new bells and whistles, and of course some noisy electro buildups. This is still pretty decent.

Bad Girls (Boys Noize Club Mix)
This cut up rework is also unnecessary as it feels so messy and noisy.

Sunset People (Hot Chip Re-Edit)

This longer version of the mix on the standard edition is good for the clubs, but it might be too much for some listening at home unless one is into this sort of thing.

Overall, this remix collection ends up being rather disappointing with more than half of the mixes being underwhelming due to questionable production choices and the handling of the vocals. Cutting out 90% of the vocals and using just a fraction of them is not appropriate for someone like Donna. Her songs are meant to be heard with all the verses, choruses, bridge, and ad libs that made her originals so loved and memorable. The clear standouts of this collection are the Giorgio Moroder & Chris Cox mix of "Love To Love You Baby", the Afrojack mix of "I Feel Love", the Director's Cut mix of "Hot Stuff", the Laidback Luke mix of "MacArthur Park" (with the vocals), the Gigamesh mix of "Bad Girls", and the Holy Ghost! mix of "Working The Midnight Shift". 

Purchase the Deluxe Edition here (iTunes)

Grade: C

Clara LoFaro - Born To Love You

This is the singer-songwriter's latest single. Despite being largely unknown to the masses, her music has appeared in movies, TV shows, and TV ads. Her vulnerable meets powerful vocal style calls to mind the voices of Anastacia, Billie Ray Martin, and Dido. The Pop/Rock song has a captivating sensuality quality. It has all the makings of a big hit, if only PDs and MDs would take notice of this gem.

Chris Cox has done some club mixes of the song which retain the Pop/Rock atmosphere of the original while making it a little more uptempo for the dancefloor.

-Watch the original video here (YouTube)
-Watch the Chris Cox remix video here (YouTube)
-Purchase the original here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Jade Starling feat Lee Dagger - Insomniak (Remixes)

Jade Starling is best known as the vocalist on the Freestyle club classic "Catch Me (I'm Falling)" in the late 80s. She is back with a brand new club track produced by Lee Dagger of Bimbo Jones. Jade shows everyone that she's still got it in the vocals department. The Electro House production on the main version is suitable for both the radio and the clubs. Additional remixes by Alex Preston, Bisbetic, Chris Cox, Dark Intensity, and Scott Mann transform this for the dancefloor. Alex Preston's mix has some well-timed Electro buildups and cut up beats while Bisbetic follows a similar formula, making use of lots of chainsaw effects. Chris Cox darkens things up with his big room mix. Some of the classic sounds from his days in Thunderpuss can be heard in the programming. Dark Intensity's Electro Trance treatment works nicely as well. Scott Mann's tribal mix packs quite the punch though it's not as melodic as the others. The main mix along with Chris Cox and Dark Intensity's are the best of the bunch. This is a strong release overall.

-Listen to streams of all the mixes here (Soundcloud)
-Watch the lyric video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Brooklyn Haley - Close To Where You Are (Chris Cox Mix)

This is the latest single from the newcomer. The Dance/Pop number is tailormade for mainstream and dancefloor success. The song has a killer hook coupled with great verses and a stellar pre-chorus hook which recalls Calvin Harris and Florence Welch's "Sweet Nothing". Brooklyn's fresh, youthful vocals are pleasant. She enlists the help of veteran producer Chris Cox for the club remix, turning the song into a floorfilling big room anthem.

Listen here:


Grade: A

Wayne G feat Debby Holiday - Dive '13 (Part 2)

The 2nd set of remixes of the club classic is out now. Chris Cox, Club Junkies, Jerome Farley & Joel Dickinson, LFB, LuckyDeejay, Mark VDH, Matt Consola & LFB, and Nu Collective provide the new mixes.

Chris Cox delivers a slamming update to his earlier mix. The beats are not as hard, but the overall structure including the synths and main production elements are the same. The Club Junkies mix is very mainstream. Farley & Dickinson's dark, drummy mix is really good too. LFB's mix is also on the dark side, but it has the feel of late 90s Almighty 'definitive' mixes. This adds some much needed drama. LuckyDeejay's has lots of soaring synths. Mark VDH's tribal mix has a slight Rock edge. Matt Consola & LFB's is circuit-oriented, but it will work well on mainstream floors too. Last but not least is Nu Collective's circuity mix with a touch of 90s Handbag House is lovely. Nu Collective, Farley & Dickinson, LFB, and Matt Consola & LFB's mixes end up being the best of the bunch though all are great.

-Listen to clips and purchase here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Chris Cox's Unreleased Remixes

Remixer/producer/DJ Chris Cox has done many remixes over the years both with Barry Harris as Thunderpuss and on his own. In addition to all the released ones, there are a handful of unreleased ones that the public has never really had a chance to listen to unless they check out Chris playing them live. In the month of May, Chris posted streams of a few of these in addition to many previously released ones. A few had posted before that time, but some may not have checked them out yet. These are some of the rare and even previously unreleased ones: Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me", Ellie Goulding's "Starry Eyed", Houston's "I Like That" (this was released on some 12" singles and the edit on some CD maxis but it's really rare), Janet Jackson's "All Nite (Don't Stop)", and Kelly Rowland's "Still In Love With My Ex".

(Note: These are all Soundcloud links and not download links)

Kat DeLuna - Stars (Remixes)

This is the latest single from the starlet who had a big hit with "Whine Up" several years ago. "Stars" is another club track. It has an 80s feel during the verses. The song immediately calls to mind Alexis Jordan's Stargate-produced "Acid Rain" minus the hard electro breaks. The song is extremely catchy. Kat sounds great. There are some remixes by Chris Cox and Steven Redant. Chris Cox's mixes are nice and peak hour-oriented. Steven Redant's are harder hitting with the pulsating production. Overall, both did a great job.

Listen to the original here (YouTube)

Listen to the Chris Cox mix:
 

Listen to the Steven Redant mix: 

Grade: A-

Artist Feature: Crystal Waters

Known for her soulful and sultry vocal performances, singer-songwriter Crystal Waters has been a major force in Dance music for almost a quarter of a century.

Leah LaBelle - Lolita (Remixes)

This is the latest single from the rising R&B singer. The song is sensual and funky in its original version. Leah's vocals are intoxicating.

There are some remixes by Chris Cox, Sick Individuals, and Sidney Samson. The Chris Cox mixes have that dark anthemic quality that was characteristic of his work with Barry Harris when they produced together as Thunderpuss. The Sick Individuals and Sidney Samson mixes are produced in an aggressive Electro/House style and are on the noisy side. The Cox mixes are the best of the bunch.

-Listen to the original version here (YouTube)
-Listen to the main versions of the remixes here:


-Buy the remixes here (Beatport)

Grade: A- (for the original)/A (for the Chris Cox mixes)

Chris Cox & DJ Frankie feat. Crystal Waters - Oh Mama Hey (Remixes)

The main versions for this mega-collaboration were released a few a weeks ago. Chris Cox and DJ Frankie's production is very poppy, with the usual blend of electro house. The lyrics especially delivered in Crystal's voice just make this track so infectious. The main version could easily be on radio right now.

There are remixes by Stonebridge vs. J-C, Koko, Vanity Police, Trent Cantrelle & Jquintel, Steven Redant & Phil Romano, and Rosabel. Of the main versions, the Chris Cox Dub has just enough of the vocals and the dark production makes for a great tease into the original. Of the remixes, the Redant & Romano and Rosabel mixes are the best. Redant & Romano's mix is really synthy and tribal. Rosabel deliver two dark circuit/tribal mixes. The dub is particularly exciting with all the loops, buildups, and drops, but overall the vocal mix works the best.

This is a great track.

Listen to clips and buy the remixes here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Exposé - Point Of No Return 2011

80's girl group Exposé is back with a rework of one of their biggest hits. Chris Cox is at the helm of this new version. The classic synth hook from the original is beautifully incorporated into the semi-chilled production. It has some hard sections and huge buildups. Featuring new vocals, the Cox mixes do a great job of introducing this dancefloor classic to a whole new audience. Also included is a new 'original' version (the 2011 Version) which unfortunately feels a bit watered down production-wise in comparison to the re-recorded version from the 80's which featured the current configuration of the group and even the original first version which also had another group configuration and name (X-Posed). At times, it sounds like they are singing over a karaoke instrumental. The Chris Cox mixes are the perfect update. There's just a radio edit and club mix. The new vocals do sound drastically different from the familiar original, however, it must be noted that they do not sound overprocessed or have extensive autotuning (T-Pain type).

An exclusive CD single featuring these three versions is for sale on their website here
(there's no word at this time about whether these will be available for purchase digitally through one of the digital music retailers)

Grade: A- (for the new Chris Cox mixes)

Martin Clancy & The Witness Protection Programme - You Can't Stop The Rain

After last year's "Flat Foot" comes the latest neo-Disco offering entitled "You Can't Stop The Rain." Just as infectious as the previous single, this one is a little more modern. The bassline has a mid 80's hi nrg feel to it. The vocals are light and airy. The main version is lovely. There are remixes for this by Richard Morel, Timmy Loop, Stonebridge, Emjae, Chris Cox, Matt Joko, and DJ Yiannis. Richard's mix is soft and light Disco. Timmy Loop's mix is similar to the original, but the bassline is more prominent. Stonebridge's funky house treatment is bassline driven too. Emjae's vocal mix has a fun electro swing beat production. The dub is more circuit-oriented. The remaining three are circuit-oriented. Chris Cox's mix has a darker bassline harder synths, while the Matt Joko mix has some electro/tribal elements. DJ Yiannis' mix is very tribal too. Overall, every single mix is really good. It's very rare that every mix manages to be so thoroughly enjoyable. The Richard Morel, Stonebridge, and Chris Cox mixes are the standouts in addition to the original.

Grade: A+

Athene Noelle - Innamorata

"Innamorata" is the debut single from the singer/actress/dancer. She puts a new spin on the classical "Moonlight Sonata." It is an unusual blend of opera and electronic music which works quite well. Athene's vocals are mesmerizing and hypnotic. There are remixes of this by Johnny Vicious and Chris Cox. Johnny takes things in a dark but chilled direction. It has that electro sound that has been characteristic of his recent work, but some of the trancey portions call to mind his work in the early 2000's. The dub has an early 90's rave feel. Chris Cox's mixes have a slightly more epic feel to them and are more suited for this type of song. Both are quite good though.

Grade: A-

Barry Harris featuring Simone Denny - Drama Queen (Texting U)

After some time away, Barry Harris (formerly of mega remixing duo Thunderpuss) is back with his first new track entitled "Drama Queen (Texting U)" featuring the vocals of powerhouse singer Simone Denny. This song immediately calls to mind those "my man is no good" type of songs which were a mainstay at the beginning of the 2000's. Lately there has been quite a shortage of such songs. Of course, there's a modern spin on it with the texting aspect of it. Vocally, Simone is great as usual. The lyrics are fun and oh so relatable. The production on the main mix is top notch. Perfect for peak hour play. Edson Pride hardens it up with his mixes while Wayne G & Andy Alldrer softens it. Wayne and Andy's XXL London Dub is nice and hard as well. This is a solid track with a solid remix package.

Purchase the digital single here (Amazon)

Grade: A

Tina Sugandh - You Without Me

This is the followup to last year's club hit "Break Me." On "You Without Me", the Indian-American singer showcases more of her unique voice. It shows a more soft and sensitive side of her. The lyrics are really great. The chorus is very memorable. Excellent vocal performance.

This has been remixed for the clubs by Chris Cox, who also did "Break Me." He takes things in a darker, but still somewhat uplifting direction. He adds the right amount of vocal effects that make her vocals sound even better.

Check her out on MySpace.

Grade: A

Tina Sugandh - Break Me

The Indian-American singer songwriter is ready to maker her proper U.S. debut. Signed to Razor & Tie, her first album will be released in the late Summer/early Fall. Having gained prominence from exposure on Asian Variety Show, the South Asian version of Entertainment Tonight as a contributor and from her colorful performances. She has contributed songs to some Hollywood movie soundtracks and even sang the theme song for the ABC comedy Hope & Faith. "Break Me" is a Dance/Pop song with plenty of Indian instruments. Sitars, tablas and dholaks are there in plentiful supply. Her vocal performance is pretty good. She could be compared to Shakira in some parts of the song because of some of the vibrato, however, the similarity ends there. This one could be a floorfiller in Dance clubs just as Greek Despina Vandi did with "Gia" nearly four years ago. Remixes by Chris Cox are to be released at the end of the month. Tina is one to look out for in the coming months. Listen to "Break Me" here.

Grade: A

SK8 - Amnesty

After the controversial "Tina" only had lukewarm success in 2006, she has returned with a song that will put her back on top. She began in the early 2000's with the single "My Imagination" which generated a considerable amount of buzz. She followed that one up with "Amazing Grace" and "Nation" in 2002 and 2004 respectively. She even recorded a cover of Madonna's "Crazy For You" in late 2005 which had a main mix by Chris Cox, however, it wasn't very well-received and never saw a proper release. Chris Cox has remixed this one as well. The song is not about immigration issues as the title might suggest. The lyrics are much deeper and bit more intelligent than on her previous offerings. This is her strongest vocal performance to date. The main Cox mix is a dark and tribal, calling to mind some of his work as part of Thunderpuss. Additional mixes available on the CD maxi and digital single. It's an all-around great track.

Grade: A