Active Child, the king of white boy R&B, has never really given the uptempo thing a chance before - why would he? Similarly sensitive and loosely urban male acts such as The Weeknd and How To Dress Well were flying high when he released his forlorn debut You Are All I See, and his powerful falsetto-led anti-anthems were a calling card given out almost exclusively by him.
But on latest single "Subtle", Active Child jumps ship from to a distinctly more dancefloor-friendly vessel and the risk pays off, revealing a whole new area of talent from the melodramatic singer/songwriter.
"Subtle" isn't a word you would have ever associated with Active Child, and even less with the song he eventually names as such. He adopts a surprisingly sparse yet colourful 80s electropop backdrop and suddenly you can drawn distinct lines between Active Child's own voice and that of 80s icon Jimmy Somerville. And when the Blade Runner-esque brass synths drop the 80s transformation is complete. Mikky Ekko's Prince-flecked feature spot manages to add another level of the era to sharpen up proceedings.
"Subtle" is taken from Active Child's upcoming Rapor EP, due for release on October 22.
FOR FANS OF: Goldroom, Tensnake
Tensnake may have made a name for himself with his classic balearic house anthem "Coma Cat", as well as the old school 90s dance of "Mainline", but the German producer is far from your run of the mill European dance producer. Anyone who heard the haunting downtempo electronica of his Little Dragon "Ritual Union" remix knows this, and anyone who hears "58bpm" will realize this too.
A one-minute-twelve-second clip of "58bpm" has been circulating the internet since May - a sensual slice of 80s soul heard through the future bass kaleidoscope... at 58 beats per minute. Frustratingly short but revealing just enough to showcase just how gorgeous the track is, it makes sense as to why Tensnake has made us wait for the full 5 minute clip, now available on iTunes.
Because it's the ultimate comedown anthem - perfect to soundtrack a reluctant end to the sunniest, most joyous summer in memory. The track is so daringly slow (indeed that's the main feature) that it seems suspended in mid-air, as a single warm chord lingers tentatively above a lurching beat, as vocals seem to melt as the chorus hits.
Regular collaborator Fiora carries the beautiful vocal humbly without pretense, and what could be a flat-out sexual delivery becomes somewhat bittersweet and melancholic. Sadly destined to be underrated, the track is nevertheless the most creative and spellbinding piece of music Tensnake has created to date.
FOR FANS OF: Goldroom, Active Child, Royksopp
AlunaGeorge - Attracting Flies (Shift K3y Remix)
#2Step #Garage
AlunaGeorge's sultry anthem gets the full on UK garage treatment from Shift K3y, with popping kick drums and jittery synths, and the song seems catchier at this speedy tempo. And it's no secret that Aluna's squeaky clean voice is straight from the 1999-school of garage anyway, so she sounds right at home here.
Goldroom - Only You Can Show Me (feat. Mereki)
#NuDisco #House #Dance #Synthpop
The summery, nu disco that the LA producer brings rises like a midday sun into a ravey piano house number, laced with catchy, giggling synths and a sugar sweet Ibiza vocal courtesy of Mereki.
Justin Timberlake - Suit & Tie (Dillon Francis Remix)
#Trap #HipHop
Token trap track of the week! I may well be beginning to lose interest in the genre, but multi-talented Dillon Francis still brings a magnificent vocal mash-up at the drop of this addictive remix.
