Alex Donaldson – Page 2

Essentials: “Check That List” – Dark Heart & Bipolar Sunshine

“Check That List” is an explosive house anthem that serves as a punchy reintroduction to Dark Heart’s incendiary style. Rising LA-based songwriter Bipolar Sunshine is a charismatic presence in the track. His voice cuts through the mix to berate the listener. From the first second the track throws the listener straight into the hypnotic tumult. [continued]
Essentials: “Dirty Secret” – Dombresky

On “Dirty Secret”, Dombresky returns to D4 D4nce with one of the year’s hottest club floorfillers. Fresh off a 2022 that saw him collaborate with the likes of Armand Van Helden and secure a spot in the desert at Coachella for this year, Dombresky has started quick out of the gate with a single that [continued]
Essentials: “XX” – The Blackmordia

Massive synths and anthemic choruses underscore the Blackmordia’s stadium-ready new single “XX”. Drawing heavily from legends of 80s synth like Soft Cell, as well as hard rock and glam icons like Whitesnake, “XX” feels like a window back in time with an eye on the future. The track’s foundation is one of classic 80’s synth-pop, [continued]
Essentials: Kiro – “Kakashi Freestyle”

Kiro’s “Kakashi Freestyle” is as much a statement of intent as it is a showcase of the young Londoner’s scintillating style. Despite the allusions to Naruto and Star wars in the opening bars, This track isn’t child’s play. As atmospheric keys set the nocturnal mood a chirping vocal sample cuts through the mix whilst the [continued]
Album Review: Fliptrix – Mantra No. 9

After more than a decade in the game on both the creative and business sides, you could probably forgive Fliptrix if he was to rest on his laurels for a while. On Mantra No.9 however, the London MC sounds as refreshed and razor-sharp as he has in his career. Despite the year he has taken [continued]
Essentials: Marcel Vogel & LYMA – “Keep On Stepping”

With “Keep On Stepping”, the powerhouse Amsterdam-based duo of Marcel Vogel & Lyma keep their momentum rocketing skyward on another sleek and stylish banger. “Keep On Stepping” follows up November’s “Head Back in the Game” as the duo’s second release on Boogie Angst before a forthcoming EP. Much like the previous single, “Keep On Stepping” [continued]
Essentials: “Club Chennai” – aboywithabag

“Club Chennai”, the latest single from Indian artist aboywithabag, marks the latest in a series of hits from the rampant soon-to-be superstar. Raised between the south of India and southside of Chicago, aboywithabag (real name Sai Aditya) masterfully blends the divergent sounds of his life together into a global sonic portrait. Since signing for Steve Aoki’s [continued]
Essentials: “Voices In My Head” – Bedouin

The first single from Bedouin’s upcoming full-length debut Temple Of Dreams, “Voices In My Head” is a winding melting pot of sonic cultures and textures that draws you in alluringly and doesn’t let you go until it’s ready to finish. Bedouin, the duo of Tamer Malki and Rami Abousabe, express their shared Middle Eastern heritage [continued]
Essentials: “Talk About It” – Patricia Baloge

On “Talk About It”, Patricia Baloge brings bright and airy synthpop vibes fit for any occasion. “Talk About It” is the first release of the year for the French-Ghanian multi-hyphenate, following up a prolific 2022. The track was produced and performed solely by Baloge herself, showcasing her virtuosic versatility. It brings a classic driving synth [continued]
EP Review: Planet Unfaithful – Fatboi Sharif and Roper Williams

The first half-minute of opening track “Christ Corpse” should tell you all you need to know about Fatboi Sharif’s latest release, Planet Unfaithful. The New Jersey MC’s voice attacks from multiple angles at once, both distorted and cutting against the grain. As he wades with you through the dissonance, slurring his words and exhausting his [continued]