Sundays Alternative Take: Soothing, Grooving and Dancing

Tom Swoon Vs Ale Q & Sonny Noto - Alive.

Promo words - Released through Ultra Music on September 25th is ‘Alive’, the collaborative single from Tom Swoon, Ale Q & Sonny Noto. Producers/DJs Ale Q and Sonny Noto have gone head to head with Polish artist Swoon for this track, and the results are nothing short of epic.

A stirring piece of progressive house, the tune almost bubbles into action at the start before effortless vocals soak over the top of the bass line, and complementary piano twinkles add a further expressive edge. As the electro-edged beat really starts to take hold, there is another soulful intermission - before the power and intensity reaches a dance floor ready climax.

Actually the promo words are pretty much spot on. Progressive House fans will love this energised and driving song, the vocals if anything help calm the whole thing down, so we can pause for breath.

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The Flavr Blue feat. Jarell Perry - Oxygen.

Background - After a summer of major milestones, the Seattle­-based trio the Flavr Blue is about to deliver their most anticipated release yet: The L​ove Notes​ EP, a collection that marries the group's crackling energy with a soulful musical wisdom inherited from influences ranging from Cut Copy and Miike Snow to Feist and Sade.

The band's success is driven by the way its members — lead singer Hollis Wong­-Wear, whose voice graced the Billboard Top 20 hit "White Walls" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and singer/producers Lace Cadence and Parker Joe, each with a litany of Seattle hip ­hop and R&B releases under their belts — weave their voices and eclectic experimentalist within a rich electronic landscape. It’s been that way since the beginning, when they first built tracks in a half­ bedroom turned studio in Parker's Beacon Hill town house. It grew as they translated the sounds to wild live shows, for crowds both charmed and electrified by their combination of heartfelt soul and energetic electronica. Even Questlove tweeted his affection for the band’s live performance after watching their set at the Brooklyn Bowl. In celebration of the release of upcoming EP L​ove Notes, the Flavr Blue is releasing "Oxygen" (ft. Jarell Perry).

As 'bonus' songs go this is top quality. A mixture of electro and house sounds, and a mixture of fine vocals, make this a very good track.

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Exploding Clouds - Drive The Car.

Background - Hailing from Miami, Exploding Clouds is Michael Barksdale's synth-pop project. Exploding Clouds started as Barksdale's solo experimentation's back in 2010 as an alternative to his darker alter ego, Culture Prophet. After many years of performing and producing with other bands and aliases, he decided to revisit his previous work and bring it back to life. Exploding clouds is about positivity, gazing into the horizon, and looking beyond what the eye can see. 

The recently released nine track EP features beautiful electronic ambient songs reminiscent of Tycho, Com Truise, Washed Out and Caribou.

This is a pleasing track, the song flows beautifully, with vocals that are immersed in the mix and drift along with the gentle and soothing soundtrack.

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Stevie Wonder - Superstition (Lliam Taylor Remix).

Background words - Not many artists could re-imagine the music of a legend like Stevie Wonder and do justice to one of his hits, but 19-year-old west coast producer Lliam Taylor is up to the task. Following more mellow remixes of Defunk's "Saturday Night" and Craig David's "Fill Me In," Lliam's "Superstition" remix sees him taking a harder, more dance floor-friendly edge, with lush breakdowns balanced out by groovy bass lines over a thumping house drop. The instrumental complements Stevie's vocals beautifully, and instantly modernises the classic song.

Formerly known as Kezwik, Lliam Taylor has toured with Datsik and landed at #1 on the Beatport Dubstep chart. Never aiming to be pigeonholed in just one genre, Lliam has been broadening his sound to embrace other electronic styles and has set his sights on the world of house. A true musician through and through, Lliam aims, with every piece of music he writes, "to create a song that tells a story and makes you feel something from start to finish, whether it be intense feelings or just the need to dance".

Fair play to Lliam, this has taken the original song, successfully into another style or genre, and Stevie Wonder's voice comes across so distinctly, that it is even more 'stand out' than the original. As an old Tamla Motown fan, I was ready to rip this apart, instead I have to admit, it's a remarkable version.

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Mauro Picotto - The Whistle (Radio Edit).

Promo words - In October, Picotto will be releasing his ninth studio album From Heart To Techno on his own imprint Alchemy Records. The new album finds Mauro churning out what he does best: full throttle tech-house and techno built for sweaty dance floors. Ahead of the full release of his album, Mauro has channelled his inner jazz-man for the albums first single The Whistle, which is available for free download to wet your appetite. The track features jazzy pianos, funky vibes, and, of course, a whistle-along melody as jackin percussion propels the song along to euphoric grooviness.

This just puts a smile on my face. Everything about 'The Whistle' is just so bright and fun filled. Dance floors will be in for a punishing, as soon as this one plays.

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