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

Matt Consola feat Brenda Reed & LFB - Dream Of Me

This is the latest release from the Swishcraft record label. The sensual song features the soaring vocals of Brenda Reed. Matt Consola & LFB's main mixes are circuit-oriented. They incorporate some Indian instruments, adding an exciting texture to the song. There are additional remixes by 7th Heaven, Chris Stutz, Cristian Poow, Eran Tubul & Aviv Shitrit, and Peter Barona & Bill Bouvier.

7th Heaven's mix is a nice mainstream one. Chris Stutz's is a nice techy tribal one with the Indian elements from the original. Cristian Poow's is a trance/tribal hybrid. Eran Tubul & Aviv Shitrit bring that element in too, but it's much darker. Peter Barona & Bill Bouvier's is much more anthemic.

Listen to the edits of the mixes here:


-Purchase on Beatport here and here (they sell DJ friendly WAVs)
-Purchase on iTunes here, here, and here

Grade: A

Wayne G feat Debby Holiday - Dive '13 (Part 1)

The 2004 club hit has been given a bevy of brand new mixes by Gustavo Scorpio, Isaac Escalante & Xavier Santos, Phil B, Scott Anderson (Solar City), Scotty K, Wayne G with Andy Allder and LFB. Aside from the Scotty K, Drew's mix, and the Wayne & LFB, all of the versions are circuit-oriented with Phil B and Scott Anderson's being the most anthemic. All of those are great. Scotty K's new mix is light and uplifting. It has a delightful 80s hi nrg feel. The Drew and Wayne & LFB mixes are downtempo, ballad ones.

Listen to clips and purchase here (iTunes)

A second package of mixes is planned as well.

Grade: A

Wayne G feat. Brian Kent - With Or Without You

This is indeed a remake of the 1987 number one hit by U2. This song is perfect for a remix treatment and Wayne G steps up to the plate while listing  the vocals talents of Brian Kent. Brian manages to deliver a great vocal, coming extremely close to re-creating the magic of Bono's original vocal, which is a very tough thing to do.

There is a massive package of remixes by Wayne G & LFB, Twisted Dee, Andy Allder, Sean Mac, Julian Marsh, Matt Effect with LFB, Radboy, and Club Junkies. Nearly all of the mixes are in a big room and circuit style with the Club Junkies one being more mainstream and the Sean Mac one being more underground. In addition to the main version, Twisted Dee, Matt Effect with LFB, and Julian Marsh's mixes are the best of the bunch, though every version is quite good.

-Listen to clips and purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

Barona & Bouvier feat Abigail - Surrender

This is a new collaboration of Peter Barona and Bill Bouvier with the ethereal vocals of Abigail (of "Let The Joy Rise", "If It Don't Fit", "You Set Me Free", and "Lay Down" fame). The main version has a Circuit meets Trance feel, complementing Abigail's soaring vocals and the great lyrics. The song has a melancholy feel that immediately calls to mind Talk Talk's classic "Such A Shame."

There are additional remixes by Manny Lehman, Matt Consola & LFB, Oliver Watts, Rafael M & Mr. Anderson, and Sted-E & Hybrid Heights. Manny Lehman's mix continues in a similar direction as the original, and plays up the Trance elements. Matt Consola & LFB's isn't as hard, but has an uplifting hi nrg feel. Oliver Watts also brings a Trance flavor with his mix. It calls to mind some of Valentin's work from the mid 2000s. Rafael M & Mr. Anderon's hi nrg/tribal mix is also quite pretty with the subtle piano elements. Sted-E & Hybrid Heights' mix is the most contemporary of the bunch with its aggressive Electro sound, though it works well.

Overall, every single remix is great. It's hard to pick a favorite as all are really so well done!

-Listen to clips and purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A+

Roald - Moment Of Glory

This is a new release from the Swishcraft record label. They have been on a roll with their recent releases. This uplifting hi nrg/dance/pop track has a strong 80s flavor from the production to the vocals. 7th Heaven, Bright1, Cristian Poow, and Matt Consola & LFB provide the remixes. 7th Heaven's mix is very synthy and pretty. Bright1's mixes don't stray much from the original. Cristian Poow's mix is a tad darker. Matt Consola & LFB's mix is harder too but maintains the original's integrity. Overally, Matt Consola & LFB's mix is the best of the bunch but all of them are good.

-Listen to clips of all the mixes and buy the single here (Beatport)

Grade: A-

Mars and Vans feat Adam Turner - Amazing

This is a gorgeous new release from the Swishcraft record label. It features the vocals of Alt-Rock sounding Adam Turner. The Original Club Mix is a funky big room House mix. It makes best use of the vocals. The Mixshow edit of that one shortens it just enough for easier mixing. Matt Consola & LFB Swishcraft's mix is harder and more anthemic. Nick Bertossi's mix is in a contemporary Electro/House style. Cristian Poow's mix is in a similar style as the original but has harder beats and sounds a little more Almighty-ish with the synths. A minimal piano ballad mix called the Moonlight mix is included as well. The song works quite well in this arrangement.

The Original Club Mix of the song is featured in the promo video for Abercrombie & Fitch's new store opening in Munich, Germany.

Overall, every mix of this is really great, however the Original, Matt Consola & LFB, and Moonlight mixes are the standouts of the package.

Listen to clips of the song and purchase at the following places:

• AAC files available at iTunes
• 256 KBPS MP3s available at Amazon Radio Edits | Club Mixes 
• WAVs available at Beatport|

Grade: A

Wayne G feat Alison Jiear - I Just Wanna Dance 2012 (U.S. Mixes)

This is the part 2 update of the cult classic. The first release happened earlier this month. Rosabel, Manny Lehman, Joe Gauthreaux, James Torres & LFB, and Griffin White & Aaron Christopher provide the additional mixes. All of the versions are big room-oriented.

Rosabel (the production duo of Ralphi Rosario and Abel Aguilera) deliver a hard and dark dub centering around some adlibs, vocalizations, and spoken parts. They have a knack for producing some really fierce dubs and this one is no different. Manny Lehman's mix is very tribal and energetic. He also incorporates the slow section from the original. Joe Gauthreaux's mix is dark as well with a massive synth running through it. James Torres & LFB's mix is minimal and would work as a great segue between electrohouse and tribal songs. Griffin White & Aaron Christopher's mix is quite dark as well. Overall, the Rosabel and Manny Lehman mixes are the best of the bunch even though all the mixes are quite enjoyable.

Purchase the digital single here (iTunes)

Grade: A

DJ Pornstar - Don't Wanna Wake Up

This is the debut single from adult film actor Dominic Pacifico. The club-oriented track is very fun, and energetic. The vocals are heavily autotuned and manipulated giving them a computerized feel which actually works well here. There are plenty of remixes including the original, Matt Consola & LFB, Cristian Poow, and SpekrFreks ones. The original is a delectable radio and club-ready Electro-House production. Matt Consola & LFB's mixes are harder and darker but maintain the vibe of the original. Cristian Poow's mix has that 80s synthpop with a bit of circuit feel. The SpekrFreks mix is in an Electro/Dubstep style. The original and Matt Consola & LFB's mixes are the best of the bunch. Overall, this is a solid release.

Listen to clips and purchase the single here (Beatport)

Grade: A-

John LePage featuring Debby Holiday and LFB - Heaven

This is another diva anthem. Featuring circuit diva Debby Holiday, "Heaven" is a pretty, happy, and uplifting song. The main versions are circuit-lite oriented. Jamie J. Sanchez takes things in a harder direction while maintaining the pretty vibe of the original with the addition of lush piano keys. Wayne G's mixes are also in a similar style. These are much more piano-driven. Finally is Jeff Poirier's dub which is really hard and fast-moving. There are plenty of vocal loops and and buildups and breakdowns. Overall, all are really great.

Purchase the digital single here (Masterbeat)

Grade: A