'Late-To-The-Party' Anthem of the Week - Western Disco - The Sun ft. Lura (Black Box Remix)

The biggest problem with Western Disco's "The Sun", remixed for radio by Black Box, is summarized in the top comment of its YouTube video. User usscience muses "Makes me happy! I wish it had started the summer instead of ending it."

Although sometimes a big, euphoric summer track that misses the 'May-August' peak period can redeem itself by converting to an winter club anthem, some songs are just meant to be enjoyed in the sunshine - particularly those that reference the "sun" directly. So whilst this season-specificity means Western Disco's debut single is twice as effective in the summer months, it looses its momentum when there's nothing but grey sky and drizzle outside the window.

Of course, that's not to say the track will be swept under the rug for good. A good deal of our summer hits are slow burners that become big the summer after their release - look at "212" in 2011/12 and "I Love It" in 2012/13. So although Western Disco are left to clean up the party poppers after summer 2013, I've a sneaking suspicion that come May '14, we'll be hearing "The Sun" everywhere.



- Joe Copplestone, 4/10/13

Claire - Games

German quintet Claire are the next in a long line of acts putting a singer/songwriter edge on European dancepop. With their debut single "Games", a convincingly cracked British accent from lead singer Josie Claire carries a sultry pop melody over a sugary Balearic dance backdrop. A male and female vocal duet towards the end, bringing to mind both Mausi and Friendly Fires at once, and the track is a perfect love song to lazy summer afternoons.

The debut EP Broken Promise Land is out in September.

FOR FANS OF: Chloe Howl, Mausi, Friendly Fires

Party Tracks of the Week! (FREE DOWNLOADS)

The Knocks - Modern Hearts (feat. St Lucia)
#Dance #Euro #Indie

Gloriously uplifting indie dance from these guilty pleasure connoisseurs with the lush St Lucia adding an irresistible 80s new wave vocal.

Laidback Luke - Pogo (feat. Majestic (Congorock Edit)

#Hardstyle #Electro

The craziest mix of a lot of crazy mixes of this crazy hard electro anthem. This mix doesn't so much encourage "jumping on a Pogo" as bash you over the head with said Pogo repeatedly  with each merciless overdriven kick.

L.A. Leakers - Do It (feat. Problem & Jahlil Beats)

#HipHop #Rap #FREEDOWNLOAD

Like a slightly more eager version of "Rack City Bitch", Problem drawls his horny teenager flow over a sickeningly money-hungry beat. Download this one for free on soundcloud below:

Loadstar - Distance (feat. Lloyd Yates)

#DnB #Dubstep #Breakbeat

Taking the gravelly male vocal trend to new heights, the flat-out rabid vocal of Lloyd Yates wrenches every inch of emotion out of this unhinged and apocalyptic Drum & Bass track, a highlight from Loadstar's volcanic and brilliant "Future Perfect" album.