Nadia Ali - Fantasy

This is the latest single off of her current album. It is a beautiful ambient/electronic track in its original version. Nadia's vocals are wonderful as usual. The remixes really improve upon this already great track. There are remixes by EDX, Starkillers, Tritonal, Morgan Page, and Rachel Starr. EDX's has a chilled electro vibe which works well. The Starkillers mix is a bit more progressive and has a light trance feel. Tritonal's mix is an epic, big room trance mix with some lush piano keys. Morgan Page's mix is electro/pop oriented. It's a bit more accessible. Rachel Starr's is in a similar vein as EDX and Morgan Page's. Overall, all versions are great. The Tritonal one is the standout on this package.

This release is available at Beatport, Amazon, iTunes, and at other digital retailers. It is spread out over multiple EPs on Beatport. Extended and Radio Edit versions are available.

Watch the music video (which uses the Morgan Page mix) here (YouTube)

Grade: A+

Offer Nissim featuring Maya - Hook Up

This is their latest single. Offer has been playing this one for a few months now. "Hook Up" is somewhat of a departure from their usual songs about love and loss. This one is a bit more sexual. Maya sort of speaks/raps the lyrics instead of singing them. It may sound a bit bizarre, but it works. The original is pretty tribal and slightly electro (think of taking the fun sleazy vibe of Starkillers or Hector Fonseca's productions and combining them with Offer's usual big room offerings). The gorgeous piano breaks and key stabs make up for the lack of sung vocals. Yinon Yahel's remix sounds more like what Offer would usualy do with his tracks. There are piano breaks in his mix as well. Those not liking the original may prefer this version. Ana Paula's mix has a nice strings break. The mix has a carnival-like atmosphere. Very good too. The Dimitri Vegas and Ben Preston mixes are both in a similar vein. They are much more electro-oriented.

A great package overall.

Buy the mixes here (Star 69 Records)

Grade: A-

Nadia Ali - Love Story

This is the followup to last year's "Crash & Burn." Nadia Ali was previously the vocalist for Dance/Electronic duo iiO. "Love Story" is a Trance-lite/Electro/Pop track. The lyrics on this one are really great too. As usual, Nadia delivers a top-notch vocal performance.

The remixes by by Starkillers, Andy Moor, Scumfrog and Sultan & Ned Shepard are pretty good as well. The Starkillers mix is very Electro-ish. Not as hard and dark as some of their other work. Andy Moor's mixes are almost big room Trance-ish. Absolutely beautiful. Nadia's ethereal vocals become even more hypnotic when coupled with a Trance production. Scumfrog provides a light Trance mix as well. Sultan & Ned Shepard's is a little Electro also, but it has a stunning strings-loop running throughout it.

Overall the entire package is really great.

Beatport is selling the release at this time.

Grade: A