Music Monday: Ekko & Sidetrack – Let the Light In 2020 (ft. Reija Lee)

Haven't had time to write over the past week unfortunately. Been getting back into the swing of things at uni and had personal stuff keeping me occupied, but I will be looking to return to frequent posts over the coming weeks as things settle again. That said, here's another Music Monday just to keep the dust from collecting on the blog. 

This week, we're ditching the underground for an indulgent helping of unabashed big-room DnB. Their 2017 original was plenty energetic, but Ekko and Sidetrack's 2020 mix of 'Let the Light In' ramps up the drama for a dancefloor smasher that goes above and beyond the euphoria of its predecessor. 

All the elements that made the 2017 version so good are there: the dramatic lead synths and Reija Lee's understatedly powerful vocals both remain almost untouched. This time, however, we're treated to an extended build-up, a weightier drop and a bass section that drives the track with a grit the original tune just didn't have. It's hair-rasing stuff, and a massive improvement on the original overall.

So click play and have a listen. It's awesome.

Belated Music Monday: Monty & Alix Perez – Cursive

Mad dash to finish assignments yesterday so didn't get the chance to upload a Music Monday, but here's a belated one: an excellent collab between two of the DnB scene's foremost innovators, Monty and Alix Perez.

These two always deliver whenever they work together, and their latest track 'Cursive' is no different. Retro rave stabs, soulful vocal hits and swelling metallic reverbs build the intro before switching into a weighty and funky drop. As always, the tune is impeccably mixed: every sound is crystal clear and the stereo processing during the drop just adds to the energy and intrigue.

Typically sterling work from these two. Give it a listen – it's excellent.

Music Monday: BCee & Blu Mar Ten – Protected Secrets

I've decided to do a lighter weekly post in order to give some variety to the heavier stuff I'll be publishing on here, as well as give me a reason to write something when I'm not sure what else to talk about!

Enter: Music Monday. Every Monday I'll be sharing a tune I've heard in the previous week that I think is especially good. It'll mostly be drum and bass, because drum and bass is the best genre of music ever to exist, but on occasion it could be a house tune or maybe even something instrumental. I am a proud fan of ultra-twee and cheesy indie-pop, so watch out for those.

To kick off the series, here's a beautiful little collab from two household names in liquid drum and bass: BCee and Blu Mar Ten. 'Protected Secrets' has all the hallmarks of the soulful sound that has largely captured the liquid scene in recent years: natural breaks, shuffling shakers, atmospheric textures accompanied by menacing bass tones that stop the tune from ever sounding too airy. Topping off the track, DRS, the lyrical Duracell Bunny of DnB, lays down beautifully-written bars with trademark sincerity.

Give it a listen – it's very good. I'm currently in the midst of some fairly intensive essay-writing at the minute for my MA, so things might be quiet on here until after next Monday. That said, the essays I'm writing concern Nitzan and Bichler's 'Capital as Power' and the Latin American debt crisis of the 1980s, so I might do a piece on both once I've submitted them.