The fourth and final semester of my graduate work in Design & Technology at Parsons here in NYC has commenced, and the greatest challenge of my fledgling career is now upon me. In advance, there isn’t much hope for weekly activity around here, but I’ll be back to normal by May. I have continued to explore and collect, and will share the best of my explorations as often as possible.

Tolga Fidan – Double Edge Sword – (single)

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I just posted about at the end of 2011, and he’s already stepping up to the plate in 2012 with this fantastic track. Gotta love the tone of those keys, I am thoroughly enjoying Fidan’s approach to infusing pop in some form into each of his compositions. The EP features a solid remix from deep/tech house veteran, . Tolga Fidan is shaping up to be one worth keeping an eye on this year.

Taylor & Costes – Spank It (Things Happen Remix) – (single)

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Not sure if Things Happen is the name of this Taylor & Costes remix, or the name of an actual DJ/producer (enough of the ambiguous google-proof naming conventions, guys!), but this is some funky shit. I love the build and release of this track, and the authentic, well-executed flavors of electrofunk. Strictly Groove is on-point as usual.

Jersey Shore Guido – For That (Pauly D’s Fist Pumping Mix) – Doz Go Tak EP

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Speaking of ambiguous naming conventions, this absolutely killer edit of Hall & Oates has to take the cake. Check the name of the track above and try to find anything about a DJ other than the guy from Jersey Shore who calls being a “Guido” a “way’a life.” The only hints of the identity of the editor was D-Sounds, who also was ungoogleable, and a reference to this balearic edit’s popularity for a time in Ibiza clubs. A perfect example of how well-composed choice classics from pop masters like Daryl Hall and John Oates can be revitalized with minimal additions.

Soul Clap – Dreams of Tomorrow – R&B Edits

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While on the topic of edits, Soul Clap released this edit of Lonnie Liston Smith on the limited Wolf + Label Black label, which is generally a vinyl-only affair, likely the reason it passed under my radar until now. I was obsessed with this track when I heard my friends Lock & Kirk, who DJ fun, deep, low-key all-vinyl sets as Half-Handed. Through this obsession, I discovered via YouTube comments on the track that it incorporates the kick from the Lee Curtiss track Smoking Mirrors…so technically it’s a mashup edit with almost no additions, but the edit, like the dub, begs a question of original composition– is it a new track or is the edit simply an outsider’s after-thought of the original production process?

Posted in Music Posted by on Jan 25 2012 11:59 am

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