Page 40 - We Rave You Magazine | February 2023

REVIEWS > EDITOR’S PICKS

JACK SPILSBURY
FEB 2023
Utah Saints - Something Good
Editor’s Picks: Once again I’m desperate for a blast of nostalgia within the music I’m listening to, this month I’ve found myself revisiting my eurodance-pop
and the British masterpiece in my opinion of clubland. The song in question which I’ve been re-obsessed with in February is the 2008 remaster of
‘Something Good’ from the British electronic musical duo Utah Saints. The song is unique and energetic, it always entices me to dance and never
fails to put a smile on my face.
Whether it be the tracks’ synths, vocal chops or hypnotic sound, ‘Something Good’ is a certified banger that I will always play at pre-drinks,
TRACKS CHOSEN BY THE TEAM OF EXPERT WRITERS AT WERAVEYOU afterparties and everything in between. If you haven’t seen the music video also you are severely missing out, shot in Cardiff, Wales the video
features running man dance moves and perfectly encapsulates the vibe and humour of the time, a true gem in the world of electronica music. It
hands me nostalgia as I was a frequent visitor to bars and pubs that exactly mirror the one featured in the music video. If you’ve never heard this
song or watched the video please do as you are only doing yourself an injustice.

Elderbrook and Rudimental - Something About You
Recently I’ve found myself more infatuated and obsessed with the English producer and DJ Elderbrook. With recent releases the likes of
the Deadmau5 & Kaskade Kx5 project collaboration titled ‘When I Talk’ only built upon my respect for the musician. Taking a deep dive into
Elderbrooks portfolio of incredible hits I stumbled on the huge collaboration with Rudimental titled ‘Something About You’, which is one track I’ve
had on repeat throughout this month.
Containing a melodic and delicate sound ‘Something About You’ plays into my music taste, of slightly down tonal soundscapes and delivering
ELLIE MULLINS a vibe of subtle and soft piano notes before delving into a powerful and aggressive drop. Vocally ‘Something About You’ stands out as well, with
male vocals showcasing tantalising and gripping notes that are an invitation for the listener and the chaotic lover affair he describes. I’m not the
only one who has been infatuated by the track, with the song climbing up global charts and being certified silver in the United Kingdom since its
Skrillex, Bobby Raps - Leave Me Like This summer 2019 release date. ‘Something About You’ isn’t made for the club or festival scene, but that’s its strength, I suggest you check this one out
for yourself if you haven’t already.
As part of the new releases that Skrillex has been blessing up with lately, this one with Bobby Raps is by far my favourite so far. One that has
been on repeat, to me ‘Leave Me Like This’ strikes a pleasing balance of this new multi-genre sound and his older style that set the dubstep
scene on fire all those years ago.
SAMANTHA REIS
With bass house being one of my favourite genres, it is really no surprise as to why I love this release so much. Packed full with energy, the
vocals run alongside the soundscape seamlessly, all creating what is a pleasant listening experience. As always, as if I had any doubts,
Skrillex killed it once again. York - On The Beach (Eli Brown remix)
I’ve been listening to this song more often than would be advised, as the vocal gets so caught in my ear that I see myself humming
it at various times of my day. ‘On The Beach’ is a classic for more than one generation. I think it’s phenomenal that there are different
decades’ versions of a song, as fans of various ages can love the same track. The original by British singer-songwriter Chris Rea
was released in 1986 destined to be the big hit it turned out to be. A decade later German electronic duo York released their second
Zeds Dead, GRiZ - Ecstasy Of Soul
single ‘On The Beach’. York were known for their catchy guitar hooks and that’s what they sampled from Rea’s original.
Thanks to the Spotify algorithm, I stumbled upon this track by Zeds Dead and GRiZ which has fast become an obsession of mine. As
two leading acts within the bass scene, this is a huge collaboration and I’m surprised I didn’t find this earlier. The most recent chapter of this track is a techno rendition by Eli Brown, who has taken York’s track and turned it into a modern-
day banger. The main characteristic of ‘On The Beach’ remains, which makes this remix so good. The guitar is there, like a portal
‘Ecstacy Of Soul’ is a track that I feel is one of the best examples of a collaborative sound, as you can tell so clearly that Zeds Dead
to the past, but everything else is modern. The cymbal explosions and the rattling bassline make it a treat for those who like to
and GRiZ spent a lot of time and effort thinking of ways to mould their different styles together.
dance. For me, simply brilliant.
Foals - Late Night (Solomun remix)
Without meaning to be a reference to the editorial on vintage beats, I’ve been taking a little trip back in time and listening on
repeat to a song that means a lot to me. Foals have been over time a desirable and valuable raw material for great remixes.
There’s something about their songs that makes them appealing to the dancefloor and that’s why ‘Late Night’, from their 2013
album ‘Holy Fire’ earned renditions from some artists including Solomun. Released that same year on a remix compilation,
Solomun’s version was reissued in 2016 on his VA album of selected remixes.
RYAN FORD
This remix was one of the first tracks that made me a fan of Solomun and listening to it always takes me back to that moment.
The original from indie rock formation Foals is slow, contemplative and melancholic. Solomun took those feelings and gave them
punch and rhythm, so that we could purge them into the dancefloor. The layers are varied and undulating, surrounding magic
that soaks you in an exquisite and fluid rhythm. Yannis’ vocals are given a clubbing and contemporary guise, without losing the
Jen Payne & Leo Wood - Toca’s Miracle (Kevin Mckay Remix)
spotlight they deserve. It will be a favourite forever.
One of my earliest dance music memories is listening to Fragma’s ‘Toca’s Miracle’ on a compilation CD, probably around the age
of just 4 or 5 years old. Everytime I now hear it, it brings me a sense of early noughties nostalgia, and at the moment that often
comes from remixes of the original anthem. One of the latest that I have had on repeat, is Kevin Mckay’s remix of Jen Payne and
Leo Woods take on it, which brings something a little different to the table with its subtle twists. CREIGHTON BRANCH
What I like about it in particular is that it doesn’t draw too much away from the original, yet adds a little more tech house groove
underneath the tracks unmistakable topline. Obvious rhythmic adjustments here and there certainly add a breath of fresh Rihanna, Calvin Harris - We Found Love
danceability to the record, that is sure to bring out the energy on the dancefloor. Without little re-edits of anthems like these, their
legacy may not continue, and this certainly does the original justice and wouldn’t go amiss in a lot of the mainstream DJ sets we Yep. You can 100% blame the Super Bowl for bringing me back to this masterpiece. In my eyes, this is one of those tracks that
are hearing at the moment. is as close to perfection as it can get. For nearly an entire year, this song took over the world, and even 12 years later, it has yet
to get old. I forgot how addicting this one is because after you relisten to it, it is hard to stop after one time. Between one of the
most iconic chord progressions this industry has ever seen met with the one-of-a-kind vocals from Rihanna, this has turned into
a timeless classic in pop and dance music. A song like this rarely breaks into the mainstream spotlight being as dance-heavy
Art School Girlfriend - Good As I Wanted as this, but these two artists pulled it off. This is also a track that shows simplicity goes a long way. Harris does not try to overdo it,
nor does he muddy the waters with a bunch of useless elements. He creates a beautiful melody and blends that with the voice of
Once again, the Spotify algorithms have thrown me another gem as it has done so many times before. Like many of our readers, I
Rihanna and rides with it the entire duration, and it’s perfect. As Harris is starting to return to live events, it must be absolute bliss
love discovering new artists, exploring new timbres and establishing new favourite artists as might be the case with this song. Multi-
instrumentalist Polly Mackey makes serene electronic productions, like ‘Good As I Wanted’ which took me by surprise upon first listen to hear this one in person.
for its smooth melodic arrangement.
What’s most impressive about her is the way she seamlessly sews her own vocals into her productions, adding that extra authenticity venbee, goddard. - messy in heaven
to the melodic chord progressions in this track in particular. I also appreciate the way the track builds up in multiple different ways
throughout the course of its 5 minute run-time, with different elements ebbing and flowing in the space for a dynamic mix. With no I heard this on the radio a few weeks back for the first time and was so upset to just now discover it. This song is currently my
doubt I will be checking out more of her stuff when I get the chance, as she offers a blend of electronica that is perfect for just kicking favorite listen in my entire rotation. I don’t know much about the two artists on this track, but I was hooked the second I first heard
back and relaxing to, compared to some of the other stuff I listen to especially. the guitar at the beginning. It starts at soft and slow, but don’t be fooled, at about 20 seconds in, a Drum n’ Bass beat (which I am
always happy to hear) comes in. From there, venbee and goddard. deliver a beautifully crafted piece of work that is not over the
top and in your face but, more so, a delicate listen that is pleasing to the ear. The chords in this song are some of my favorites
from any track that I can remember over the last few years. These two were not on my radar before this track, but now I will be
watching closely for the releases to follow.

40 we rave you.com feb 2023 41