Music

Top 5 Dance Releases: May Edition

by Ciaran Thompson

Each month, tons of new music from many taste-spanning genres is released into a fast-consuming, unforgiving audience; it can be tough to get a handle on what’s new before it’s on to the next. In an attempt to highlight the standout releases, at the end of each month, AUX staff re-cap the month in Punk, Metal, Indie/Pop/Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, and Electronica/Dance with the top five releases in each. Consider it your cheat sheet for year-end lists.

Top 5 Dance Tracks:
May Edition

 

Martin Solveig – “Ready 2 Go” feat. Kele
	Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke put out his debut solo album The Boxer last year, and on it he showcased his love for some trance-inspired tunes. But you really haven’t heard Kele enter the dance realm until you’ve listened to his collaboration with Martin Solveig on “Ready 2 Go.” If the original isn’t enough, this release also comes with a remix by Electro-House DJ Hardwell.

Green & Falkner – “Ceylan (Antillas & Dankann Mix)”
	Following the release of “Rush” via Starlight Records, the project known as Green & Falkner (comprised of Josh Green and Elef Tsiroudis) has come out with “Ceylan”, along with a remix from Italy’s Antillas & Dankann. The original takes some time to get to get moving, but its large climax is worth it. Meanwhile the remix is just an effing madman from start to finish.

Deadmau5 – “Raise Your Weapon (Madeon Extended Remix)”
	French producer Madeon has stepped into the limelight at the tender age of 16 with his remix of Deadmau5′ “Raise Your Weapon.” The original, piano-tinged track was released on the Canadian DJ’s fifth studio album 4×4=12 from last year (featuring UK singer Greta Svabo Bech). In addition to Madeon’s incredible mix, the release includes some dub step remixes from Stimming and Noisia.

3rd Planet – “Freedom”
	Progressive trance at it’s best, “Freedom” by Ukrainian/Russian duo 3rd Planet comes with an original edit and original mix version that both are equally suited for the dance music fan intent on possibly seeing into the future or at least having something to run really fast to. If Dutch DJ/Producer Ferry Corsten flaunts it on his website, you know it’s worth at least a listen or two.

Daniel Szabo – “Budapest/At The Break Of Day”

It makes sense for a list of dance tracks to finish with something on the softer side, in an attempt to evoke some feeling of emotion or nostalgia for the last half hour or so of music that was pumped into your brain. Progressive trance DJ Szabó Péter Dániel’s, aka Daniel Szabo’s, latest record contains the tracks “Budapest” and “At The Break Of Day”. The latter does just that as it smoothly builds to something not so much intense or epic, but treads coolly on the zen line to make it a great end to the night or uplifting start to your day.

Surprises, disappointments and albums to watch for next month

Surprise of the month: It’s not necessarily a surprise to hear of Canadian DJ Deadmau5 putting out something that’s good, but along with the original “Raise Your Weapon,”  the remixes offer even more solid fist-pumping tunes. The fact that remixer Madeon is only 16 is also incredibly awesome.  

Disappointments: Moby released his 10th studio album Destroyed this past month and while there are a number of good songs, it failed to deliver on some of the more upbeat numbers that made albums like Play so memorable. It’s a solid record (the slow-downed/ambient/epic tracks are still there), but it might be the last time the DJ will ever be considered part of the ‘dance’ genre.

Out in June: We hope Wolfgang Gartner will finally release his as-yet-untitled debut LP and Kanye West will put out the “Lost In The World” remix he was working on with Tiesto. We’re mostly excited for releases by people we’ve never heard of. That’s the beauty of dance music.