Sash! feat Sarah Brightman - The Secret (Remixes)

This was originally on Sash!'s 2002 album S4. It was done in the big room Trance style that was popular at the time. A newer chilled, contemporary version at a slightly lower tempo appears on Sash!'s Life Is A Beach album released last year. Sarah's vocals are absolutely beautiful. There are additional mixes by Al King, Bodo Turner, Iwara, and Jay Frog. All are pleasant and in a similar style with the Al King and Jay Frog mixes having more of an electro flavor. The Iwara mix resembles the original 2002 version and has a great balance between the old and the new.

-Listen to clips and purchase the new versions here (Amazon)
-the S4 album version can also be purchased here (Amazon)

Grade: A-

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)

Phillip Damien - Pearls

The original song is from Sade's 1992 album Love Deluxe. It's a haunting, almost acapella song about a poor Somalian mother trying to gather rice to feed her child. While an unlikely choice for remixing into a dance song, Phillip Damien produced several amazing bootleg mixes using the album version that circulated on a white label 12". The remixes were never officially released, spawning a number of cover versions based on Phillip's bootleg mixes. Two new versions by Phillip with Michael Moog and Junior Sanchez have been released recently. Both have a current yet classic feel to them.

-Listen to clips and purchase here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Hani - Must Be That Body Language

This is a hot new release from the New York producer/DJ. The laidback, deep house track is based on the bridge of Queen's "Body Language". The production is dreamy and hypnotic with the vocals beautifully floating in. The alternate Extra Sauce mix adds some tougher bass stabs, however, it does not deviate much further from the main version. Instrumentals of both versions are included as well in addition to a dub of the Extra Sauce mix.

• Purchase the original versions here (Beatport)
• Purchase the Extra Sauce versions here (Beatport)

Grade: A

Depeche Mode - Soothe My Soul

This is the second single from their new Delta Machine album that was released earlier in the week. Production-wise, this bears a striking resemblance to their own "Personal Jesus." It has that similar swing beat and sleazy synthwork. Their live performances have played up the similarities. The song has a dark, sinister feel to it. This should easily be another hit for them.

Listen to the song and watch the music video here (YouTube)

Grade: A

Offer Nissim & Asi Tal feat Maya Simantov - Breath

This is a new vocal track produced by Israeli producers Offer Nissim and Asi Tal with longtime vocalist Maya Simantov (she is credited with her last name on this release though she went by just her first name on earlier collaborations). Maya delivers a spectacular vocal. This is not as hard and progressive as some of the other tracks she has sung on previously, but this one has that dramatic flavor characteristic of those songs. With the right edit, this one could be a hit on Dance radio. The song is even more beautiful in its Acoustic version.

Listen to and download the original Offer Nissim & Asi Tal mix:

Listen to the Acoustic version:

Grade: A

Offer Nissim feat Ilan Peled - Haw Haw

This has been a fixture of the Israeli DJ's sets for the last several months. It is a dark tribal track with an angry, foul mouthed male vocal lashing out at his lover. This track is in the same vein as Franklin Fuentes' work from the 90s, though it lacks the cute comedic moments that were routinely found in his work. The reverbed vocals mesh really well with the production. This is a fun track overall.


Listen to the song and download it here:


Grade: B+

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-

Jessica Sutta - Again

The former member of girlband The Pussycat Dolls has been embarking upon a solo career with a series of collaborations with Dave Aude and Paul Van Dyk a few years ago as well as a few solo singles. Her latest single is an infectious Dance/Pop single that is her catchiest to date. It has the greatest potential to crossover on CHR/Pop radio and help her with her breakthrough.

Listen to the song here (Soundcloud)

Grade: A

Robin Thicke feat T.I. & Pharrell Williams - Blurred Lines

The R&B crooner is back with a new party jam enlisting the help of T.I. and Pharrell Williams. The funky song is incredibly sexy and playful. This song has that je ne sais quoi that George Michael's late 80s/early 90s material had. Robin sounds amazing and rapper T.I. complements him with his verse. Pharrell's backing vocals and ad libs add further atmosphere to the frenetic track. This could be a potential dancefloor smash without the aid of remixes though this could be quite the floorfiller with the right old school House mix. This should be a smash into the Summer months.

-Check out the naughty music video featuring Robin, T.I., Pharrell, and plenty of hot dancers here (YouTube) [the video really helps you to get into the song as it embodies the fun aspect of the song]

-Buy the song on iTunes here

Kristine W - Everything That I Got (Offer Nissim and Mr. Black Mix)

Several months after peaking at #2 on the Billboard Dance chart, this remix by Offer Nissim and Mr. Black has finally been made available to stream. This dub-styled mix centers around some of the spoken parts and a few vocal samples. It's an energetic mix that would get the crowd hyped up. It ends up being one of the best mixes of the song. It's a shame the mix never came out.

Listen to the mix here:


Grade: A

CeCe Peniston vs Rosabel - Finally vs Let Me Be Myself (Danny Verde Private Mashup)

CeCe Peniston's club classic, especially in the form of the David Morales remixes has been remixed, sampled, and remade hundreds if not thousands of times in the two decades it has existed. You may be thinking, "Oh no! Not another update!" This mashup by red hot remixer/producer Danny Verde manages to successfully reinvents the song. Danny used the instrumental he produced for Rosabel and Tamara Wallace's "Let Me Be Myself" for the mashup. The result is absolutely amazing.

Listen and download here:

Grade: A

Yinon Yahel feat Meital De Razon - Share The Night

This is the latest collaboration of the producer and vocalist. Meital's gorgeous vocals take center stage on this. The production starts off hard then softens for a moment, then it builds to a hard, progressive riff. The TLV Vocal is the hard version. The In Love In NY mix is much lighter and uplifting and the riff is less aggressive. An edit of this version could have potential to cross over to radio just as that other Avicii "I Could Be The One" track is doing right now.

TLV Vocal Mix
 

In Love In NY Mix


Grade: A-

Rusty Villiers - Disco Boy

This mostly instrumental tribal release is interesting as it combines a deep voiced male vocal, some subtle Disco elements, and tons of tribal drums. There are remixes by Nick Harvey, Matt Moss, Taz, and Anndy Stamer.

Nick Harvey's mix builds with hard drums and bass to a deep Disco era bassline drop leading to peak hour synths. Matt Moss softens things up with his Electro House mix, building to a Giorgio Moroder "I Feel Love" type section. Taz's mix has an old school rave flavor recalling some of Superchumbo's work. Anndy Stamer's peak hour mix features a fierce, warped Electro riff. Overall, every mix is really great.

-Listen to clips and buy the release here (Beatport)

Grade: A

98 Degrees - Microphone

The boyband known for the hits "Invisible Man", "Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche)", and "Because Of You" have re-formed with their original lineup. The new song "Microphone" premiered earlier today. The song's rather bland lyrics have tons of innuendo and double entendres about oral sex just as Flo Rida's "Whistle" last year. This goes just a little further. The vocals and production are decent, however, the song just sounds really odd and a little creepy.

Listen to the song here (Elvis Duran)

Grade: B-