As the weather gets warmer, our roundup picks are sizzling up. This week’s edition features offerings from Apashe, Spor, Shogun, Craze, and more.
APASHE x VLADIMIR CAUCHEMAR – RIP [KANNIBALEN RECORDS]
Distinguished Belgian native Apashe continues to set a new precedent for electronic music which each subsequent project in his discography. Following the reimagined release of “I’m A Dragon VIP” earlier this year, the Montreal-based artist offers another stirring fusion of classic orchestral music and electronic music with his new collaborative single “RIP” with Vladimir Cauchemar. To further expand on the collaboration, Apashe and Vladimir Cauchemar star in the haunting music video counterpart for “RIP” which explores impending world doom and the lasting effects of global warming and war. While still maintaining some of the hard-hitting bass elements that Apashe is known for, “RIP” also traverses into house music sensibilities, offering an even more dynamic landscape for us to enjoy.
SPOR – THROW DOWN LET GO [MAU5TRAP]
Jon Gooch – more commonly known by his Feed Me moniker – returns to his drum & bass alias Spor with “Throw Down Let Go. Having stepped away from his drum & bass alias for two years to focus on Feed Me, Spor’s ultimate return to the spotlight came earlier in April with “Let Me Be,” a cerebral work of high-octane sound design. Now, the creative continues to journey through his forthcoming Cave EP, delivering his sweltering, vocal-driven “Throw Down Let Go.” Gooch explains, “Often I find drum & bass requires an organic component to offset how digitised it can become, and much of what I hear sounds sterile and too controlled to me. Georgia from Liinks brought exactly what I felt was needed, it’s always magic when as soon as you hear someone’s vocal you know it works, I am just the framework after that point to carry the message.”
CONJURE ONE x JEZA – WOLVES AT THE DOOR (SHOGUN REMIX) [BLACK HOLE RECORDINGS]
Returning to the release radar with his first offering of the year, established force Shogun is back with a remix of Conjure One & Jeza’s new single ‘Wolves at the Door’. Transforming the darker tones and emotive sensibilities of the original track, Shogun takes ‘Wolves at the Door’ and delivers a club-ready trance hit. The remix sees the addition of a warped bassline, surrounded by a pulsating rhythm. With oscillating synths and a propelling soundscape, Shogun’s rendition adds a new dimension to the track, taking listeners to a hypnotizing atmosphere with layered, pulse-raising percussive elements. Showcasing Shogun’s musical style, he’s delivered another palpably addictive, anthemic hit that is sure to set dance floors ablaze.
CRAZE – STUCK ON YOU FT. PALMER REED [SLOW ROAST RECORDS]
Two talents with diverse musical backgrounds find common ground via the single “Stuck On You.” The track exquisitely fuses the best parts of both acts, who have both written, performed, and produced extensively in their long-running careers. Craze and Palmer Reed first connected through the late Big Makk, a talented DJ/producer who was a mutual friend. Then feeling creative chemistry between them, they both had an itch to set studio time and pump out a vibe that they knew was meant to be. Palmer eventually sent Craze a hook, which he had deep inspiration for and thus motivated him to put his production skills to the test. Now, “Stuck On You,” is immortalized and has been nested within Slow Roast Records, his successful joint imprint with Kill The Noise. The track channels a hypnotizing and gratifying aura from start to finish, the rise and fall of the intensity level is like an ocean wave that sweeps control of the listener’s mental state and positions it to feel swiftly satisfied.
BURKO – CAN’T STAY HERE EP [THERE IS A LIGHT RECORDS]
One of today’s most notable up-and-coming electronic musicians, Burko, has been gaining strong momentum since 2020 with the release of his debut EP, “Put Me In A Trance.” Since then, Burko has been collaborating with other electronic artists and releasing his own music as he continues to establish his style as an artist. “Can’t Stay Here” is another example of Burko’s innovative approach to music while showcasing his talent. Burko’s “Can’t Stay Here” EP transcends musical genres to blend electronic elements with deeper themes to create a soothingly hypnotic atmosphere on the dancefloor.
The EP opens with the track, “Can’t Stay Here.” The 5-minute song is a progressive masterpiece that is destined to swoon listeners into the night with its rhythmic beats and dreamy female vocals. The track is paired with ”Reflection,” a 7-minute hypnotic dance anthem that welcomes listeners with an ethereal melody before gradually building to a higher-energy sound.
