THE BEST MUSIC: NEW & OLD
Bringing you an italo-infused chuggy house number from London-based producer and DJ Joseph Ashworth. I mean this in the best way possible – it sounds like the kind of track that would have been used to soundtrack a 90s motorbike racing game. Love it.
Shout out to Ben Gomori’s Turned On podcast for the tip.
I think I’ve identified a trend of dance-music duos releasing soulful, electronic albums this Summer. Well, I can name two. Dam Swindle have added their names to the list alongside Chaos in the CBD, with the release of their third full-length album, Open.
I’m a big fan of almost everything Dam Swindle put out (see here, and here). And that’s no different for their new album, Open. But that’s not to say that it is more of the same from the Dutch duo. This album is wide-ranging and exploratory, with touches of synth-wave, ambient and soul. Chuck it on and play it front-to-back. You won’t regret it, I promise.
Bonus album: here is that Chaos in the CBD record I mentioned
One last look back at the year that was. Soundcloud playback never gets the same recognition as Spotify wrapped, but boy does the algorithm deliver.
You can find HME’s top played of 2024 right here. Expect some familiar names from the worlds of house and disco, and maybe some new ones too. Enjoy.
I’ve been taken by surprise by this one. I find Kidnap a bit hit-and-miss. When he’s on, he creates catchy, accessible, soulful electronica. But when he’s off, his music begins to feel generic and uninteresting. So I was caught off guard by the way I kept reaching back for this album.
The featuring artists are central to its success as a release. They each contribute their own character and energy, while Kidnap maintains the coherence of the album’s feel and flow. The tracks with Gabrielle Alpin are top notch, as is Chelou’s (shout out Adam!).
Photo credit: Candice Joelle
There’s no prizes for figuring out which disco classic has inspired Coburn with this one. The Queen of Disco’s energy comes through clear and strong in this reimagined, club-ready version, released 30 years later in 2006.
Bonus track: if the name Coburn is ringing a bell, it might be because of this number from 2005
Dutch duo Dam Swindle have a very impressive hit rate. Here’s another, this time with a little help from Adryiano on the remix.
Oh, and here are my thoughts on another.
We are now deep into Autumn in the UK, but if any track is going to transport you back to sunnier climes then it will be Dare Myself. In fact, it might just transport you back further – it has a really uncomplicated energy that feels ready-made for MTV Dance circa 2007. Pretty infectious. Enjoy.
This track was released in May on Future Disco. I came across it on the excellent Future Disco Radio. They release weekly mixes with guest artists and label boss Sean Brosnan (no, not Pierce’s son).
“Oh I’m missing you for all the sun you shine. There’s a colour missing from the rainbow. Given time we will be dancing once again. I’ll be listening to hear your calling”
I wonder if you’ll be with me on this: I’ve been listening to and loving Crazy P for a long while; they’ve given me a lot of amazing moments, most memorably seeing them at Great Suffolk Street Warehouse, Metropolis and Printworks. But I’ve never really taken the time to find out about who they are. And it is only today, with the sudden, tragic death of lead singer and all-round badass front-woman Danielle Moore at the young age of 52 that I’ve read more about her and the group.
There are much better places to read about her life (including here). But I’ll just say that she is a massive loss, and she will be missed for her music, her individuality and her presence. There aren’t many electronic groups or producers out there that infuse the level of emotion they do in their music, while maintaining a powerful groove.
Here are my top 6 tracks, but it could easily have been a longer list. Mark my works, each of them have the power to give you goosebumps. RIP Danielle.
Nothing beats Heartbreaker. An all-time classic with an instantly recognisable and beautifully elongated intro.
Like a Fool has another classic and beautifully shimmery intro and just gets better and better with the vocals.
The build to the second drop in Cruel Mistress is from another planet.
This one is really built around Danielle’s vocals.
Open For Service really gets going 3 minutes in – a kitsch disco-infused set-opener.
Finally, from 2022, Medlar’s Remix of The Witness.
Post #365, would you believe it?! And we have a whole new visual identity to celebrate the milestone. You could now read a new post every day for a year* – what a year it would be.
Journey is Bondax’s second full length album, and it’s a real treat just in time for the summer. Feel good electronic music to soundtrack escapades in the sun. The album sits somewhere in between Flight Facilities’ blissed out electronica, and Disclosure’s high energy dance music – and for me, that’s a very nice place to be.
They have a great set of vocalists on the release, including one of my all-time favourites in Andreya Triana, also Tara McDonald and SHELLS; you can read my post on Fade (feat. SHELLS) here.
* Yes I know we are in a leap year
There aren’t many more consistent house producers over the past few years than Fort Romeau. Now he has released a sumptuous 8 track number called Romantic Gestures Vol. 1 on his own Romantic Gestures imprint. RA describe it as vibey and romantic, which gets at half of it. What makes it special for me, is that these tracks are as at home in your headphones as they would in a big room club. Punchy house music made intimate. Lovely stuff.
Make sure you stick around for the second half of the release, when it really gets going. Here are my thoughts from the last time I raved about him, and specifically the last track on the album Be With U.
HARRY'S MUSICAL EMPORIUM 