I’ve been getting over being sick the past week or so – been so busy with gigs it finally caught up with me. Doesn’t help that this week I’m DJing Tuesday through Saturday and then next week is Winter Music Conference. Trying desperately to get better before then…I may not be able to follow the rules of going to bed early and getting eight hours of sleep, but I do have doctor’s orders of no caffeine, no alcohol and 100 ounces of water a day. The worst part is because I’m severely asthmatic, when I get a cold, I almost always get a horrible cough that follows me around for near two weeks. It’s hard to convince people that you’re hacking because of asthma and not because you’re horribly infectious – especially not a good look during a gig :-p If any of you are going to Winter Music Conference, make sure you stop by the party I’m playing at the uber-plush Viceroy Hotel!

Chew Fu is back yet again, this time with a remix of Rihanna’s “Rude Boy”. The sound is a slight departure from what Chew Fu is normally known for – punchy uptempo remixes that work in a variety of sets and settings. I don’t want to call this remix mellow, but it sure is by Fu standards. Strings pepper the background and simple synths play background to “Rude Boy” vocals in full. The only complaint I have is that I can hear the time stretching on Rihanna’s vocals, which I’m quite surprised about.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/Rihanna_RudeBoy_ChewFuBumbaclotFix_Extended.mp3]
Rihanna: Rude Boy (Chew Fu Bumbaclot Remix)
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It’s been a while since anything has been submitted by Punky Fresh, the young Chicago outfit that won a contest last year to play Lollapalooza. Each time they submit something their sound appears to be more honed. Their take on I Fight Dragon’s “Money” is well thought out and has little touches that make it stand out from the pack. While certain elements like the main synth and the drums keep it squarely electro-based, tidbits like a lovely, intentionally tinny and glassy synth stutter in and out.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/IFightDragons_Money_PunkyFreshRemix.mp3]
I Fight Dragons: Money (Punky Fresh Remix)
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Definitely noticing a trend lately with taking traditionally heavy-sounding synths and using them in a way that actually makes them sound softer. Vindata does this effortlessly with a remix of Timbaland and JT’s “Carryout”, alternating between stripped sections with just drums and spare hi end and aggressive synths with no vocal. I can appreciate the way the song is laid out between the A/B/A (the thought Vindata put in is apparent) and it’s a nice touch to have a section at the end that marries the two together.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/TimbalandfeatJT_Carryout_VindataElectroRemix.mp3]
Timbaland feat. JT: Carryout (Vindata Electro Remix)
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The Deficient sent over a slew of remixes and listening to every one I was thinking “check…keep it, check…keep it”. All three remixes below have individual personality but carry common threads. Minimal, a touch of darkness and drums, drums, drums keep all three relevant to each other. There’s almost a bit of a nod to techno in them. It’s really hard for me to pick a favorite, but I have to say for once, the two instrumental tracks overshadow the one with vocals. Wonderful, driving loopiness with just the right touches of progression to make them interesting throughout.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/IWasDrunk_TheDeficientRemix.mp3]
Riva Starr feat. Noze: I Was Drunk (The Deficient Remix)
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/BrassMyAss_TheDeficientRemix.mp3]
Lorcan Mak: Brass My Ass (The Deficient Remix)
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/Gifted_TheDeficientRemix.mp3]
N.A.S.A. feat. Kanye West, Santigold & Lykke Li: Gifted (The Deficient Remix)
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Oh Shit! just released “Everybody Needs” and was kind enough to share a remix with us. The LeDoom version really, really well put together. Why do I not know this guy? A more staccato pacing gives fun bounciness underneath the vocal and is then later counteracted with a large synth that wobbles and rolls in over everything else. Completely fun, cheeky, a slight nod to disco house and heavy synths. What more could I ask for?

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/EverybodyNeeds_LeDoomRemix.mp3]
Oh Shit! & Night Drugs: Everybody Needs (LeDoom Remix)
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Buy on Beatport

The Fire and Reason have been popping up more and more lately, which I couldn’t be happier about – big fan of the band. They just sent over this new remix of “This Isn’t Love” by Per QX & Tombstone. Keeping layers of electric guitar loops pretty prominent in the mix along with Bella’s vocals gives it a nice live touch and it sounds like it could be an original in its own right.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/ThisIsntLove_PerQXandTombstoneRemix.mp3]
The Fire & Reason: This Isn’t Love (Per QX & Tombstone Remix)
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No discussion needed. Trust me.

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/igottabitch.mp3]
Black Eyed Peas vs. David Guetta: I Gotta Bitch (Spaceships & Bananas mashup) (a.k.a. Buffetlibre)
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Bonus IForgotToPutTheseUpUntilNow tracks:

[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/SecretGalaxies_BORRACHO_Remixx_CavaliersofFun.mp3]
Cavaliers of Fun: Secret Galaxies (¡BORRACHO! Remixx)
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[audio:http://www.danideahl.com/audio/03_19_10/ComputerClub_feat_Frankmusik_LosingStreak.mp3]
Computer Club feat. Frankmusik: Losing Streak (DJ Edit)
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