Dear Ibiza: Comeback Calvin

Though I've admittedly been a bit slow to post about it, Calvin Harris's just-leaked new single blows away all expectations. Catching the ear of countless electro freaks with his huge retro synths and uber-cheesy lyrics, his sound exploded with hits "Acceptable In The 80s" and "The Girls" in 2007. His debut disc, I Created Disco, contained some modern electronic gems, but was largely repetitive and a bit lacking in innovation. Producing some of my favorite tracks of the last two years (Kylie Minogue's "In My Arms" and Róisín Murphy's unreleased "Off & On"), his sound nevertheless failed to progress much, including his production and featured role on the great Dizzee Rascal comeback "Dance Wiv Me" from last year. After working on his sophomore effort for some time now, he's set to make a return from the sidelines this spring. Although not the album's official first single (instead, it's aimed as a forget-me-not stopgap release), "I'm Not Alone" is truly epic. Ditching all his now-overplayed trademarks, "I'm Not Alone" is half acoustic build and half rave monster. After a solid minute of MOR contemplation, the song switches into club overdrive and becomes something else completely. Many cheers to Calvin for completely remaking his style, proving all cynics wrong with an excellent dance track that I for one cannot wait to get in high quality. Preview the radio rip of the track, along with a selection of his older tracks and productions, in the playlist below.

Dear Ibiza 23/Mixed & Mashed 28: RAVE!

Inspired by my co-op's recent room-to-room party (and my room's theme of "rave"), I've collected some tracks optimal for intensive after-hours clubbing. First up, some deep basslines from Crookers on a remix of "Day N Night," with the pace kept up nicely with Benny Benassi's electric (and Grammy-winning) remix of Public Enemy's "Bring The Noise." The Prodigy heralded a new era for dance music with their legendary Fat Of The Land album, as on number one single "Breathe." The more recent Pendulum remix of classic "Voodoo People" updates their sound for the next generation. Benassi shows up again on a bumping remix of Fischerspooner's great "Never Win." Axwell regularly turns out mixes full of bass and hooks, like the roaring club versions of Madonna's "Jump" and Hard-Fi's "Hard To Beat." The last track featured is an Angello & Ingrosso remix of Eurythmics' classic "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" that takes the famed synths to new extremes for the dance floor.

Kid Cudi, "Day N Night" (Crookers First Remix) [YSI]
Public Enemy, "Bring The Noise" (Benny Benassi Pump-Kin Remix) [YSI]
The Prodigy, "Breathe" [YSI] (from Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005)
The Prodigy, "Voodoo People" (Pendulum Remix) [YSI] (from Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005)
Fischerspooner, "Never Win" (Benny Benassi Mix) [YSI]
Madonna, "Jump" (Axwell Remix) [YSI]
Hard-Fi, "Hard To Beat" (Axwell Mix - Firstclass 2006 Edit) [YSI]
Eurythmics, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" (Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso Vocal) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 22: House Pjanoo

Though far from being new (it's been available on promo 12" releases for the past year), Eric Prydz's "Pjanoo" just infiltrated the upper reaches of the charts overseas. Like countless classic dance songs before it, it's based on a simple looped house piano riff, building with the kind of huge bassline that only Eric Prydz can properly achieve. Two Prydz remixes complement his extended original "Pjanoo," a driving remix of Duran Duran's "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise" and a juicy, synth-laden rework of Pet Shop Boys' delicate "Miracles." Five classic house piano tracks bring up the rear, starting with one of the most easily identifiable piano riffs in club music on a cover of "Strings Of Life" by Soul Central. Groove Armada recall the glory days of house and disco on the soaring "Easy," a deep house workout that remains one of their finest moments. New Order were entirely capable of incorporating Ibiza trends into their music, as on 1990s singles like "World (Price Of Love)" and their Technique album. Basement Jaxx popped up at the end of last decade and changed house music with their big sound, but never abandoned their roots as on the huge Latin house stormer "Bingo Bango." Jamiroquai and David Morales made a good pairing in the middle of the 90s, turning out ace remixes like those of "Space Cowboy" and "Cosmic Girl" (featured here). For more classic house tunes, check out other Dear Ibiza posts and the Back To Love special features (parts 1 and 2) also.

Eric Prydz Selections:
Eric Prydz, "Pjanoo" (Original Mix) [YSI]
Duran Duran, "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise" (Eric Prydz Mix) [YSI]
Pet Shop Boys, "Miracles" (Eric Prydz mix) [YSI]

Classic House Piano Cuts:
Soul Central Feat. Kathy Brown, "Strings Of Life (Stronger On My Own)" (Full Length Vocal) [YSI] (from the Hed Kandi compilation Disco Heaven 01.05)
Groove Armada, "Easy" [YSI] (from The Best Of)
New Order, "World (Price Of Love)" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (from Singles)
Basement Jaxx, "Bingo Bango" [YSI] (from Remedy)
Jamiroquai, "Cosmic Girl" (David Morales Classic Mix) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Ridin' Dirty 10/Dear Ibiza 21: Dirty Grooves

Over the past few weeks, I've accumulated new music much faster than I've been able to listen to it (especially with my recent move). So, at the moment, I'm a bit low on new post ideas. Fortunately, I've got a large enough library to back me up in these brief times of stagnation. Today's post rounds up a few dirty grooves that aren't really all too related except for their fat bass and appropriateness for filthy dancing. Mason's "Exceeder" was mashed with Princess Superstar's "Perfect" to make the best thing she's ever done, becoming a huge, floor-filling hit in the process. Khia's absolute classic of song, "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" gets a delicious electro makeover from Tom Neville worth revisiting the song for. Crookers bring their traditionally enormous bass lines to The Chemical Brothers, lifting their otherwise limp "The Salmon Dance" to a new plane of greatness. Full Intention have made some outstanding club remixes, and though their mix of "Dip It Low" isn't their best, it does turn the original into a more Euro-based party track. OutKast wrap things up with one of their stranger and more controversial moments, the bumping "B.O.B" (Bombs Over Baghdad). Enjoy these while pre-partying this weekend (or this morning if you're catching this early enough)!

Mason Vs. Princess Superstar, "Perfect (Exceeder)" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
Khia, "My Neck, My Back (Lick It)" (Tom Neville X-Rated Mix) [YSI]
The Chemical Brothers Feat. Fatlip, "The Salmon Dance" (Crookers Wow Remix) [YSI]
Christina Milian, "Dip It Low" (Full Intention Club Mix) [YSI]
OutKast, "B.O.B." [YSI] (from Stankonia)

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Hits 32/Dear Ibiza 20: Sample Addicts

Sampling other songs, while not entirely recent, was arguably an innovation of the hip-hop genre. Today, while hip-hop and rap songs continue to sample heavily from older tracks, the dance genre has become increasingly reliant on bits and pieces grabbed from past tunes. While some new tracks use samples as the base of their melody, others more subtly incorporate the snippets into entirely new creations. Here I've picked out eight great tracks with prominently-featured samples. Kicking off with sample queen Rihanna, whose career kicked into overdrive with the Soft Cell-dependent "SOS," her recent mega-hit "Don't Stop The Music" brings back the classic chants from Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" to great effect. Its insistent bassline and hook-laden structure will have you stomping your feet and singing "mama say mama sa mama cu sa" in no time, if it hasn't already convinced you to in its domination of the clubs and airwaves across the globe. Jamelia earned her one of her biggest hits ever with the whip-sharp "Beware Of The Dog," built around a hook from Depeche Mode's classic "Personal Jesus." Madonna, not often one to rely on covers or lifted elements from other tracks for her own success, had her biggest European hit of her career with the ABBA-sampling "Hung Up" from a few years back, included here in an extended instrumental version. Following these pop-based tracks are a handful of club tracks, kicking off with another Michael Jackson admirer. Beatfreakz lit up the dancefloor with their great "Somebody's Watching Me," proving yet again that despite his oddities, Jackson will always remain the true king of pop music. Audio Bullys mined an entirely different pop soundscape for their hard-hitting club single "Shot You Down," taking Nancy Sinatra's famous "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" and tearing it to pieces in a heavy monster of a track. Things get a bit lighter with the next two tracks, Cabin Crew's "Star To Fall" (featuring a re-recorded sample of Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes," much like contemporaneous tracks by Mylo and others) and Uniting Nations' straightforward dance remake of "Out Of Touch." To top off your day with a slice of amazingness, I've included a rough demo of the untouchable Róisín Murphy's "Let Me Know." You may not realize it (as I didn't until recently), but the track is heavily based on a sample of Tracy Weber's "Sure Shot." By no means does sampling mean the end of originality, though, as tracks such as these clearly prove.

Rihanna, "Don't Stop The Music" [YSI] (from Good Girl Gone Bad)
Jamelia, "Beware Of The Dog" [YSI] (from Walk With Me)
Madonna, "Hung Up" (SDP Extended Dub) [YSI]
Beatfreakz, "Somebody's Watching Me" (Hi_Tack Radio Edit) [YSI]
Audio Bullys ft. Nancy Sinatra, "Shot You Down" (Radio Edit) [YSI] (from Generation)
Cabin Crew, "Star To Fall" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
Uniting Nations, "Out Of Touch" (Radio Edit) [YSI]

Bonus:
Róisín Murphy, "Let Me Know" (Demo Version) [YSI] (original on Overpowered)

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Mixtape 09/Dear Ibiza 19: Back To Love: Heavy Hitters

As promised yesterday, here is the second half of my personal Back To Love compilation album. Modeled after Hed Kandi's hit compilation series of the same name, the collection features two full discs of undeniable club classics. The first half featured favorites from the actual Back To Love series, including memorable dancefloor hits from the late 1980s and early 1990s. This portion features tracks I picked from across my entire library, rather than just the Hed Kandi albums, to fit the mantra of "true club classics." Kicking off with some early dub-infused acid house courtesy of Primal Scream, things immediately get heated with an absolute anthem, the David Morales remix of Jamiroquai's "Space Cowboy." It's easy to see how the track jump-started their (still valid) reputation as dancefloor mainstays. Faithless's seminal pre-trance hit "Insomnia," along with long-revered essentials like the Chemical Brothers' "Block Rockin' Beats" and Underworld's "Born Slippy," characterized the club scene of the mid-1990s, and set the tone for all great dance music to come after. Even club skeptics will have a hard time admitting they aren't familiar with tracks like Whitney Houston's empowering "I'm Every Woman" or Ce Ce Peniston's "Finally," while some older tracks from present-day hitmakers may be a bit less well known (like classic club mixes by Björk, Madonna, Pet Shop Boys, Saint Etienne, New Order and Basement Jaxx). Any fan of pop or club music will find something to love about these tracks, hand-picked by yours truly to showcase the roots of modern club music. Enjoy it!

CD2: The Heavy Hitters Mix
1. Primal Scream, "Loaded" (Terry Farley Remix) [YSI] (from Back To Love 03.04 and Dirty Hits [Limited Edition])
2. Jamiroquai, "Space Cowboy" (Classic Club) [YSI] (from High Times: Singles 1992-2006 [Limited Edition])
3. Björk, "Human Behaviour" (The Underworld Mix 110 BPM) [YSI] (from the EP The Best Mixes from the Album-Debut)
4. Faithless, "Insomnia" (Monster Mix) [YSI] (from Forever Faithless: The Greatest Hits) [previously featured in Dear Ibiza 02]
5. The Chemical Brothers, "Block Rockin' Beats" [YSI] (from Singles 93-03)
6. Madonna, "Erotica" (Masters At Work Dub) [YSI] (from GHV2 Remixed: The Best Of 1991-2001)
7. Pet Shop Boys, "Can You Forgive Her?" (Rollo Remix) [YSI]
8. Whitney Houston, "I'm Every Woman" (Clivillés & Cole Mix) [YSI] (from The Greatest Hits)
9. Ce Ce Peniston, "Finally" (12” Choice Mix) [YSI] (from The Mix: Summer 2004)
10. Saint Etienne, "Who Do You Think You Are" (Strobelights & Platform Shoes Mix) [YSI]
11. New Order, "World" (Perfecto Mix) [YSI] (from the digital compilation Best Remixes)
12. Underworld, "Born Slippy" [YSI] (from Trainspotting)
13. Basement Jaxx, "Flylife" (Single Edit) [YSI] (from The Singles)

I also wanted to take a second to give a huge, huge thank you to all the readers who visit this site every day and make it a part of their routine to check back in for new music. What started out as a humble little blog to share some recommendations with friends has grown into a big part of my life, with some pretty remarkable traffic. If it wasn't for all you readers validating my picks, I wouldn't still be doing this. So make sure to leave me lots of comments so I know you like what you hear, and make suggestions and requests, and (preferably constructively) criticize!

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Mixtape 08/Dear Ibiza 18: Back To Love: Club Classics

I've spent the past few days compiling a real treat for club music fans. Over the course of two posts, I'll be presenting my very own version of Hed Kandi's famous Back To Love compilation series. For those who aren't familiar with the label or the albums, I'll fill you in a bit. Hed Kandi was started back in 1999 by DJ Mark Doyle as a refined dance music label for a discerning generation of club-inclined listeners. Its very first releases were Back To Love albums, documenting the classic club jams (circa the late 1980s and early 1990s) that made dance music what it is now. One disc would feature house cuts, while the second included deeper tracks, even including some R&B and hip-hop. The series is one of the few that has survived from the beginning of the label to the present day, and has shifted its focus to covering later years of club tracks (and also sticking just to house music).

I don't have as many Back To Love albums as I do of some of the label's other mainstay series (like Beach House or Disco Kandi), but I have enough albums and mixed collections in my library to pick out some favorites. The first disc in my homemade Back To Love mixtape consists of classic cuts picked from the Hed Kandi albums. The second half (still to come) will feature cuts from mainstream acts cherry-picked from across my entire music library, again unified as essential club staples. If you like what you hear, I'd recommend picking up the 2004 edition or The Mix: Summer 2004 if you'd also like to try out some other Hed Kandi flavors. I'll skip over the big commentary I usually give, as the music can really speak for itself, but I will point out some favorites. The Brand New Heavies' "Back To Love" manages to sound both retro and fresh, while "Slave To The Vibe" and "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" are funky essentials sure to keep you dancing even after a first listen. Club queen Ce Ce Peniston and Inner City also deliver groovy club bangers, just a few of the best from a great set of true club classics. Enjoy the music and stay tuned for more roots of modern club culture coming soon.

CD1: The Club Classics Mix
1. Lisa Lisa And Cult Jam, "Let The Beat Hit 'Em" (L L With Love R C Mix) [YSI]***
2. Aftershock, "Slave To The Vibe" (12" Club Mix) [YSI]+
3. The Brand New Heavies, "Back To Love" (Graeme Park Remix) [YSI]***
4. Ce Ce Peniston, "We Got A Love Thang" (Silky House Thang) [YSI]^
5. Clivillés And Cole Feat. Deborah Cooper, "A Deeper Love" (Club Mix) [YSI]^
6. Sub Sub Feat. Melanie Williams, "Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use)" (Original Full Length 12" Mix) [YSI]^
7. Secret Life, "As Always" (Gospel Radio Edit) [YSI]^
8. Inner City, "Big Fun" (Original 12" Mix) [YSI]#
9. Pamela Fernandez, "Kickin' In The Beat" (Extended Dance Mix) [YSI]#
10. Jomanda, "Got A Love For You" (Hurley's House Mix) [YSI]***
11. Joe Smooth, "Promised Land" (Original Mix) [YSI]***
12. Rhythm Is Rhythm, "Strings Of Life" (Piano Mix) [YSI]+

*** from The Mix 50
+ from The Mix: Summer 2004
^ from Back To Love 03.04
# from Back To Love 03.05

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 17: Summer Jams, Pt. III

This post isn't as extensive as the first dance music-filled summer jams post, so instead I picked out three nearly-irrefutable dance classics and a recent favorite. Modjo's "Lady" was a huge club hit everywhere, and its glittering rhythm can still be heard on dancefloors today. Stardust (featuring a pre-Daft Punk Thomas Bangalter) was similarly enormous with the French filtered disco monster "Music Sounds Better With You." The Bucketheads were another name known only for their one big hit, the thumping, instantly-recognizable "The Bomb." More recently (and with considerably less Ibiza impact), dance hitmaker Michael Gray struck gold again with "Borderline," featured here in its mostly vocal-less original mix. Whether you're lucky enough to be vacationing in the revered clubber's paradise or not, these songs will fit in perfectly with any summer soundtrack.

Modjo, "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
Stardust, "Music Sounds Better With You" [YSI]
The Bucketheads, "The Bomb" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
Michael Gray Feat. Shelly Poole, "Borderline" (Original Radio Edit) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 16: Vitalic

This is a post I've had hanging around in draft form for over a month now. In case you're unfamiliar, Vitalic is one of the new wave of hot French electronic musicians. Along with David Guetta, Sebastian Tellier, Bob Sinclar and countless others, Vitalic works hard to supply the rest of the world with ace synth-driven music. His productions have a more electro flavor and often a darker edge to them than most of his contemporaries, as amazing selections like "Poney, Pt. 2" and "La Rock 01" display. Also taken from his first album OK Cowboy, the singles "No Fun" and "My Friend Dario" are right up there with the leaders of contemporary electronica. Vitalic has also started gaining momentum over the past few years for his out-there remixes. Röyksopp's seminal "What Else Is There?" gets turned into a weird, eerie extended cut, while Björk's "Who Is It?" is transformed into a hard-driving electro track on Vitalic's rare white label rework. Also notable are mixes for Daft Punk and Moby (also included here). I can't wait to see where he goes with his next record!

From OK Cowboy:
Vitalic, "My Friend Dario" [YSI]
Vitalic, "No Fun" [YSI]
Vitalic, "Poney, Pt. 2" [YSI]
Vitalic, "La Rock 01" [YSI]

Vitalic Remixes:
Röyksopp, "What Else Is There?" (Vitalic Mix) [YSI]
Björk, "Who Is It?" (Vitalic Mix) [YSI]
Daft Punk, "Technologic" (Vitalic Remix) [YSI]
Moby, "Go" (Vitalic Remix) [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Classics 21/Dear Ibiza 15: Let's Just Dance!

This post needs no explanation. There are times when all that is needed is a classic song about dancing. Here are four essentials from way back that don't need any introduction whatsoever. If at least two of them don't force you to get up and dance around shamelessly, I'd seriously recommend getting some immediate medical help! Following the basics are three more recent updates on the theme. Sophie Ellis-Bextor's massive Ibiza hit "Murder On The Dancefloor" is a fun and addictive pop classic. Dannii Minogue's cover of "He's The Greatest Dancer" is hardly a must-have or even a worthy update, but it fits the theme and will satisfy your needs for a trashy club throwaway for at least the few minutes it's on. Supafly Vs. Fishbowl get catchy with "Let's Get Down," here in a radio edit by the just-featured Full Intention (see Mixed & Mashed 17). Also necessary is The Freaks' "Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor)," unforgettable thanks to its juicy bassline and simple call to get up and dance. Toploader's "Dancing In The Moonlight" is a big change of pace from the floorfillers, perhaps best for after the party ends. It's an uplifting song that anyone can get into despite its occasional cheese factor, and is more than a little fun to sing along to.

Classics 21:
ABBA, "Dancing Queen" [YSI] (from Gold: Greatest Hits)
David Bowie, "Let's Dance" (Single Version) [YSI] (from Best of Bowie)
Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" [YSI] (from Whitney)
Madonna, "Into The Groove" [YSI] (from The Immaculate Collection)

Dear Ibiza 15:
Sophie Ellis-Bextor, "Murder On The Dancefloor" [YSI] (from Read My Lips)
Dannii Minogue, "He's The Greatest Dancer" (Fugitive Remix Edit) [YSI]
Supafly Vs. Fishbowl, "Let's Get Down" (Full Intention Radio Edit) [YSI]
The Freaks, "Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor)" (Vandalism Vocal Mix) [YSI]

Bonus:
Toploader, "Dancing In The Moonlight" [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 14: Time For The Club

Another club rewind is here, this time with a theme of time. To kick things off, check out an extended vocal mix of Madonna's classic "Hung Up," followed by a Can 7 mix of Moloko's "The Time Is Now" (as featured in the recent megamix). Jamiroquai gets funky in a white label remix of their Dynamite album track "Time Won't Wait." StoneBridge's featured singer Therese gets a nice shot at solo stardom with "Time." Jacques Lu Cont's band Les Rythmes Digitales raise the bar for throwback electro with "Sometimes," while Daft Punk get chopped up by Para One in an ace remix of "The Prime Time Of Your Life." As a bonus, check out a (decent) mash-up of "Hung Up" with another time-centered hit, Gwen Stefani's "What You Waiting For?". Time flies when you're listening to good dance music!

UPDATE: Check out the revised 12" mix of the Gwen/Madonna mash-up below. The previous link is for a rougher demo mix.

Madonna, "Hung Up" (SDP Extended Vocal) [YSI]
Moloko, "The Time Is Now" (Can 7 Soulfood Mix) [YSI]
Jamiroquai, "Time Won't Wait" (Groove Assassin "El Beako" Remix) [YSI]
Therese, "Time" (StoneBridge Extended Mix) [YSI]
Les Rythmes Digitales, "Sometimes" [YSI]
Daft Punk, "The Prime Time Of Your Life" (Para One Remix) [YSI]

Bonus Mash-Up:
Demo Mix
Gwen Stefani Vs. Madonna, "What You Hung Up For?" [YSI]
12" Mix ***updated***
Gwen Stefani Vs. Madonna, "What You Hung Up For?"

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 12: Another Day on the Island

With the heat and sun taking hold with no signs of letting up, the Ibiza season is just around the corner. Though I have yet to make the trek to the ultimate clubbers' getaway, I've been enjoying the sounds of the island for years. Well-documented by countless compilations, it's easy to get a clear picture of a standard Ibiza soundtrack. Here is a mix of tracks, dating back across several past summers, that evoke images of bright days by the poolside, surrounded by fabulous friends and tourists. Listeners of dance radio in San Francisco may be familiar with the first track, as Chris Lake's "Carry Me Away" has recently become an airplay staple. A throwback to past seasons in the sun, StoneBridge's "Put 'Em High" remains a club classic. Taken from Hed Kandi's excellent triple-disc Ibiza set Es Vive/Base Bar 2005, two little-known tracks by Liquid People and Rockers Revenge would no doubt easily fit on a playlist at the famed Es Vive pool or pre-clubbing spot Base Bar.

Chris Lake Feat. Emma Hewitt, "Carry Me Away" [YSI] (from Beach House 69)
StoneBridge Feat. Therese, "Put 'Em High" [YSI] (from Can't Get Enough)
Liquid People, "Ice Cream Parlour" [YSI] (from Es Vive/Base Bar 2005)
Rockers Revenge, "Walking On Sunshine" (Hott 22 Samplelicious Mix) [YSI] (from Es Vive/Base Bar 2005)

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 11: Spring Kandi

Spring is here, which (at least in California) means lots of sun and, by necessity, lots of big, upbeat dance music. Here is a selection of some of my favorite spring-appropriate tracks featured on past Hed Kandi compilations. For those who haven't heard of Hed Kandi, it's a popular dance label based in the UK that regularly puts out themed compilations filled with only the best dance music. In the past few years, under the new ownership of dance giant Ministry Of Sound, some of the albums haven't been up to the old standard and have gone a bit commercial, but their vast back catalog and still-consistent quality control ensure a huge library of classic titles. The tracks here are picked for their very "up" sound, perfect for sunny listening, and are taken from their excellent Disco Kandi and Beach House series (plus one Serve Chilled track). My favorite Hed Kandi theme, Twisted Disco, isn't represented here, but look out for some of those cuts later on. The music can speak for itself, so I won't explain too much this time. For an excellent update of a house favorite, look no further than the "summer bootleg version" of Basement Jaxx's classic "Good Luck." StoneBridge provide some essential Latin flavor, while Ian Pooley and Moony are perfect for days when it's actually warm enough to enjoy the weather. Last, for a taste of summer, check out Defender's awesome "Bliss."

Basement Jaxx Feat. Lisa Kekaula, "Good Luck" (Summer Bootleg Version) [YSI] (from Disco Kandi 05.04)
Ian Pooley, "Heaven" (Tonka's Bass&Beats Tool) [YSI] (from Beach House 04.04)
Moony, "Dove (I'll Be Loving You)" (T&F vs. Moltosugo Club Mix) [YSI] (from Disco Kandi 05.02)
StoneBridge Feat. Isabel Fructuoso, "Clorophilla (Put A Little Love)" (T&F vs. Moltosugo Mix) [YSI] (from Disco Kandi 05.04)
Defender, "Bliss" [YSI] (from Serve Chilled 59)

Check out Hed Kandi's website for more great dance music!

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 10: Cheesy Euro-dance!

Looking at the UK singles chart for the past month, I began to get a bit irritated by the ridiculously long run at the top of Basshunter's "Now You're Gone." I had thought the days of Euro-dance clogging up the charts were long gone, but, as I always love a good beat, I decided to finally check it out. After one listen, I was hooked. Turns out the track, which had already been a huge European hit long before its UK launch, has a catchy melody rivaling many established Euro-dance favorites. Here it is below, along with some very guilty pleasures in the shape of some old-school dance hits, including the foreign-language favorite "Dragostea Din Tei." Also featured are Hi_Tack's Michael Jackson-sampling "Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)," rising star September's single "Looking For Love" and Infernal's huge European hit "From Paris To Berlin" (taken from an older post that has long since expired). If it makes you feel any better, you can blame their presence on your iPod on me (because I know they will end up there in heavy rotation!).

Basshunter, "Now You're Gone" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
O-Zone, "Dragostea Din Tei" [YSI]
Hi_Tack, "Say Say Say (Waiting 4 U)" (Radio Edit) [YSI]
September, "Looking For Love" [YSI] (from the forthcoming US-exclusive album September)
Infernal, "From Paris To Berlin" [YSI]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 09: Synth-tastic

Since the sun has at last decided to show its face again in Berkeley, it's time for some big synth-loaded club anthems. Near the top of my list of favorite remixes is Jacques Lu Cont's awesome remake of Gwen Stefani's debut solo hit "What You Waiting For?". Packed with enough bass and 80s-throwback beats to brighten any listener's day or night, it's the closest Gwen will ever come to being a dancefloor diva. Next on the list of hot mixes is the Tiefschwarz dub of "Kinda New" by Spektrum, which featured on one of my favorite dance compilations, Hed Kandi's Twisted Disco 02.04, a few years back. Its razor-sharp beats make for perfect late-night club music. Keeping up pace with that the deep bassline of that mix is the Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso remix of "49%" by Röyksopp. After an almost interminable build-up, it turns into a roaring club track suitable only for the most ambitious clubgoers. Last, but far from least, is the anthemic club revisioning of Goldfrapp's classic "Number 1" by the consistently-amazing team of team of Alan Braxe & Fred Falke. As if the original didn't already have enough synthesizers for an entire room full of new rave acts!

Gwen Stefani, "What You Waiting For?" (Jacques Lu Cont's TWD Mix) [YSI]
Spektrum, "Kinda New" (Tiefschwarz Dub Mix) [YSI] (from the Hed Kandi compilation Twisted Disco 02.04)
Röyksopp, "49%" (Angello & Ingrosso Remix) [YSI]
Goldfrapp, "Number 1" (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Main Remix) [YSI] (from the remix album We Are Glitter)

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 08: From The Vaults

Here's another batch of newly converted tracks from vinyl, this time featuring dance tracks. On (yet another) fruitful trip to Amoeba, I picked up a copy of Aloud's 2004 club hit "Sex & Sun" on 12", featuring great mixes by Thin White Duke and Eric Prdyz. In the bargain bins of hole-in-the-wall Poobah Records, I found ancient 12" club promos of Underworld's "Moaner" and Natalie Imbruglia's "Smoke," the latter of which included some awesome club and downtempo remixes that I didn't even know existed. They're still more proof that good music is always waiting to be found for those who are willing to search.

Aloud, "Sex & Sun" (Eric Prydz Remix) [zShare]
Underworld, "Moaner" (Long Version) [zShare]
Natalie Imbruglia, "Smoke" (Allister Whitehead's Pan Fried Mix) [zShare]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!

Dear Ibiza 07

This post doesn't have a specific unifying theme or idea behind it like most of my others. As always, though, it is backed up by great music. Here are three tracks currently getting attention in the clubs. First up, Rihanna strikes gold for about the tenth time in the last twelve months with her upcoming single/club promo track "Breakin' Dishes." Her Good Girl Gone Bad album is just cranking out the hits, and each of its singles has had some awesome remixes, like this featured club mix by Soul Seekerz. Next, The Chemical Brothers get a much-needed rework of recent single "The Salmon Dance." This remix by Hervé makes it the club stormer it could have been, far eclipsing the disappointingly lackluster original version. Last, a recent hit by Freemasons, with their dancefloor cover of Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited." It isn't their best single, but does employ their trademark addictive beats quite nicely. Now get dancing!

Rihanna, "Breakin' Dishes" (Soul Seekerz Remix) [zShare]
The Chemical Brothers feat. Fatlip, "The Salmon Dance" (Hervé Remix) [zShare]
Freemasons feat. Bailey Tzuke, "Uninvited" [zShare]

***Note: Links removed***

Save to del.icio.us!