The fight for diverse and conscious voices

Too much serious stuff and not enough time to post music links leaves a lot of open tabs. Some really great stuff in here for all kinds of different sounds. Let's do two familiar names returning, two fantastic remixes, two pure mash-up delights, and close with two long-form pieces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g0cYLVrCz4
First familiar artist: the mix man is back. This was released around the 4th of July and I just heard it this week, which tells you how busy I've been. DJ Earworm produces another finely tuned megamix, this being his Summer 2013 mash. I've been lukewarm on his last couple of efforts, which I think have suffered from the restricted starting material. Here he's working with pop hits as usual but rather than trying to produce a dance-floor banger he's come up with a lighter summer tune. Yes, it's got some dance moments and will no doubt get club play but the feel of the track is different and better. Of course, if you don't like current pop hits you probably won't like this either, but such is life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Tyu8yRPlyIw
Shifting gears: Morcheeba is back. I haven't heard anything new from them in a couple years and that's sad. This is the first single off their upcoming album, set to drop this fall. Skye is in her usual fine form, and the band's sound builds complex and interesting layers around her - everything from vocal trancey to jazz-swing.

http://audioporncentral.com/2013/07/jennifer-lopez-live-it-up-jesper-samuelson-remix.html
I am absolutely floored by this remix. Jesper Samuelsson, a Swedish house producer, has taken J. Lo's recent self-promotional electro-pop confection "Live It Up" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BofL1AaiTjo). I don't actually dislike the original, and rather like Ms Lopez. This is such a complete re-imagining of the tune that I'm not even sure you could recognize the original in it. It's house, it's smooth, it's got a little funky edge - really a fine work by a new name.

http://audioporncentral.com/2013/07/nina-simone-feel-good-skyphos-remix.html
In our second remix entry, Skyphos (who I think is Ben Sanders of the Netherlands, and not the d&b artist who records as "DJ Skyphos") has produced a melodious, beautiful, ambient soulful remix of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Y11hwjMNs&feature=youtube_gdata). Simone's original is bare, clearly gospel-inspired, and big-band sounding. Skyphos has taken out the big band and given us modern electronica, a lovely update of a classic.

https://soundcloud.com/mashupgermany/mashup-germany-watching-the
This first mashup comes from Mashup Germany, who I think is still the most underrated masher working today. Here he's working with "only" six main tracks, plus lots of cool supporting snips, and weaves them together artfully. It's definitely got dance sensability but it's mostly a feature for smooth transitions. I swear if you don't look at the track list you really can't tell where he's blending one track into another. This is off the "Mash of the Titans" compilation, from which I'll have more later.

https://soundcloud.com/hotcouture/last-night-a-dj-saved-my-life
For the second remix I wanted to show a different style. Hot Couture (https://myspace.com/hotcouturefr) a French remix team have put together two of my favorite dance tracks: Stromae's "Alors on Danse" and Indeep's "Last Night a DJ Saved My Life". Of course, there are some additional samples laid in, which I'm sure you'll recognize. I really like Hot Couture's style here - the sounds bounce back and forth but the whole holds together remarkably well.

http://audioporncentral.com/2013/07/riva-starr-hand-in-hand-full-album-stream.html
I thought I had blogged Riva Starr before, but it appears not. Starr is a UK-based house DJ and this is (as far as I know) his first full-length album. Every track features a different guest performer and the styles change accordingly. The whole thing is superb and it's hard to pick out just one favorite track. Maybe "We Got This Ting" (https://soundcloud.com/rivastarr/9-riva-starr-feat-roots-manuva) his collaboration with Roots Manuva. The fact that the track features some hot-stepping Caribbean-style horns is purely coincidental, I assure you.

https://soundcloud.com/nickraymondg/hardwell-live-electric-daisy
It's been a long time since I've blogged a full-length set, but this one is a winnner. It's Hardwell (http://www.djhardwell.com/) doing a nearly hour-long prog-house set at Electric Daisy Carnival earlier this year. If you need a track for your high-energy workout, or you think this is the kind of thing to get you moving (which I do) then give this a listen. Sadly there doesn't appear to be a download link. Like any full set there are a couple of weak spots, but the majority of the set is high-energy good listening and I love how he just drops in clear vocal bridges.

Really this should be titled "music that has been sitting around for a while as I try to decide what to make of it." None of these are really stand-out awesome, but all are pretty good in their own ways. With one exception this is a much more mellow sound than I usually blog about.

http://audioporncentral.com/2010/07/marina-and-the-diamonds-oh-no-video-and-grum-remix.html
http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Marina_And_The_Diamonds/track/Oh_No_Active_Child_Remix
Marina and the Diamonds might be the best new thing to cross my screen this time around. She's no Florence (but then, it took me a while to warm up to Florence) but she's young. Give her time. I saw the APC posted video first and really liked it. "Oh No!" is a fairly standard pop tune, but the lyrics caught my attention. How many 23-year-old girls write songs about knowing exactly who they are and what they want to be, and warn their listeners not to let their possessions possess them? Yeah, it's not exactly profound but it is head and shoulders above most of the pop schlock. In addition to the lyrics, she has an interesting voice; she does need someone to write better melodies for her, though.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Eli_Escobar/track/Love_Thing_Part_3_Only_You_Feat_Amanda_Blank_Video_Edit
Eli Escobar (http://myspace.com/eliesco) is a DJ with a very smooth electro-house style. He uses more muted and fuzzed out electro effects and keeps his beats going but not too loud or thumpy. He also changes things up a lot as the tracks play, which I like. Some electro DJs just drone; Escobar flits across styles and samples to keep things lively.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Morcheeba/track/Even_Though_Surfing_Leons_Afternoon_Remix
Morcheeba are not a group lots of people have heard, particularly lately. Their sound tended to be ambient and trance-y with very strong lounge blues influences. Most of those influences came from vocalist Skye Edwards who has just rejoined Morcheeba, stronger than ever. Her voice is more mature now, but it retains the sultry smoothness that I love. This is the kind of stuff I like to close my eyes and just stream. Chemical enhancements optional.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/School_of_Seven_Bells/track/Half_Asleep_Lusine_Remix
School of Seven Bells (http://www.schoolofsevenbells.com/) is just two female vocalists but their production is rich and layered, giving much more of an ensemble feel. The style is dreamy and ethereal but with reasonably solid beats. This is no Cocteau Twins, but it's not bad. My sole complaint is that I wish they'd use more real backing instruments and less synth stuff.

http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/Pill/track/On_Da_Korner_Prod_Needlz
Pillz (http://myspace.com/gangstapill) wins for "most surprising sample" this week. If I had to pick a vocalist for a gangsta rapper to sample it would NOT have been Suzanne Vega. But the sampling works. Also, Pillz doesn't seem infatuated with "niggas" or "bitches" which is pretty much an instant turn-off for me. It's still gangsta rap, which is certainly not everyone's cuppa, but it works for me.