Sunday 13 May 2012

The Phil-Harmonic Podcast Episode 31

Back to the more recognisable sound and format this week, with Episode 31 I’ve managed to find an almost perfect equilibrium between the typically electro-ridden sounds of recent offerings and the traditional melodic bosh music that featured so heavily in episodes 26 and 30. It’s an almost exact hour-hour split between the two styles and I hope it makes for a balanced and varied trip into modern trance music.

We start with a real bang in the shape of a new Jonas Stenberg remix of an oldie. There is an argument that remixing old tunes is becoming a pretty lazy way to fill up DJs’ ‘record boxes’, but, in this case, Marcel Wood’s Cherry Blossom is a huge favourite of our clubbing group, evoking amazing memories of our Uni days at Syndicate Bristol. Jonas’ remix is an ideal way to kick off proceedings.

In our proggier hour, there’s a long awaited return for vocalist, Molly Bancroft, of ‘Tracking Treasure Down’ fame, Myon & Shane 54 working their simple but effective magic on Keep Your Secrets, a brilliant new remix of Within Temptation – Sinead, a very cheesey chord combination which on its own is pretty dull but which strangely elevates the vocal onto much high planes of awesomeness, and an interesting breakdown by Store N Forward on Andy Tau’s Passport. (Fittingly titled for me since I recently received my brand new passport ahead of Ibiza after a nightmare trying to get it renewed.)

There’s also a new single by Nitrous Oxide which won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but that tackles the ‘electro/melodic crossover’, for me, in a uniquely refreshing way. That bassline drop at the very start is so deliciously funky.

The second half is more of the same from Episode 30. Plenty of driving melodic trance, ranging from the scenic soundscapes of Suncatcher’s remix of Aisuru right through to the absolutely slamming Photographer remix of melodic gem Snow Leopard – last time out I played the more Onova-esque Matt Bukovski remix. You will also notice yet another Touchstone remix; the UK based producer, Paul Johnson is absolutely on fire at the moment.

Two oldies this week. Sean Tyas & Simon Patterson’s 2008 collaboration, Something’s Up, is one I’ve been meaning to play for a while. Finally got it in this week. Our final oldie is Nic Chagall of Cosmic Gate’s Monday Bar, of course, named after Sweden’s notorious clubbing brand and party cruise. Hearing this record back now, it almost seems a million miles away from what we’re listening to today, particularly from High Contrast Recordings. That heavy, drum driven sound and the deep, moody basslines were regular features of Rank 1’s label back in the day under people like Ronald van Gelderen, Terry Ferminal and Marcel Woods. It was completely unintentional actually, but probably absolutely fitting that I’ve opened and closed with two records that were originally released on High Contrast in that 2005/2006 ‘clubbing days at Syndicate just getting rolling’ era. We were listening to some dark, tribally shit back then!

THE PHIL-HARMONIC PODCAST EPISODE 31

1. Marcel Woods - Cherry Blossom (Jonas Stenberg Remix) [Musical Madness]
2. Miroslav Vrlik - Sweetheart [Silent Shore Records]
3. Within Temptation - Sinead (Alex M.O.R.P.H. Extended Vocal Mix) [Armada Digital]
4. Andy Tau - Passport (Store N Forward Remix) [Infrasonic Recordings]
5. Tangle & Mateusz vs. Joey V - Monumental [High Contrast Nu Breed]
6. Nitrous Oxide - Tiburon [Anjunabeats]
7. Ben Gold & Tritonal - Apex [Garuda]
8. Ronski Speed feat. Stine Grove - Run To The Sunlight (Kyau & Albert Remix) [Euphonic]
9. Andrew Bayer feat. Molly Bancroft - Keep Your Secrets (Myon & Shane 54 Summer Of Love Mix) [Anjunabeats]
10. Solarstone & Clare Stagg - The Spell (Pulser Remix) [Black Hole Recordings]
11. Broning - Reinspired [Digital Society Recordings]
12. Matt Bowdidge – No Room To Breathe [Discover]
13. Daniel Kandi - Insert Generic Title [Enhanced Recordings]
14. SilverStrike - Another Chance (Touchstone Remix) [D.Max Recordings]
15. ReOrder - Aisuru (Suncatcher Remix) [Perceptive Recordings]
16. Robbie Van Doe - That's Far Enough [Discover Digital]
17. Mark Leanings - Guiding Light [Kearnage Recordings]
18. Sean Tyas & Simon Patterson - Something's Up [Reset Records]
19. Sky Motion - Revival [Blue Soho Recordings]
20. Danyella & Cygnus X-1 – Snow Leopard (Photographer Remix) [Crystal Source Recordings] <<<(Phil’s Tune Of The Episode)>>>
21. Nic Chagall – Monday Bar [High Contrast Recordings]

Ibiza Specials are now close at hand. Very excited about that. Two more episodes to roll out before then, with a guest mix on the horizon also. Take care!

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