Dancing Astronaut’s Top 10 Tracks of April 2015

Dancing Astronaut's Top 10 Tracks of April 2015

Looking back on April, Dancing Astronaut breaks down the month’s Top 10 tracks, measured by critical acclaim, airplay, and the editorial staff’s taste-making.

April’s Top 10 spans a handful of genres and includes exciting returns and twists. Efforts include Zedd on his complextro game, the return of The Chemical Brothers, Galantis going big, Major Lazer’s hip-hop all-star collaboration, Porter Robinson’s remix for the ages and more.

Editors’ Note: For 2015, the criteria of Dancing Astronaut‘s top tracks each month is being altered from previous years; more than release dates are being taken into consideration as we all know tracks can dominate airwaves months before they are ever officially released. Our picks are those that topped our world in April 2015.

10. DVBBS - Always (Original Mix)

DVBBS have ditched the festival-catered sound that put them on the map for their latest original release. Appearing as a free download on the duo’s Soundcloud, “Always” displays Chris and Alex’s production chops in their most subdued form, replacing the blaring synths and thunderous kicks of hits like “Tsunami” and “Gold Skies” with a feel good melody and tropical house touches. A sharp departure for the main stage mayhem makers, “Always” captures the feel-good vibes of summer with a catchy hook and melodic flair instead of teeth-rattling bass lines.

9. Gesaffelstein & Jean-Michel Jarre - Conquistador (Original Mix)

Jean-Michel Jarre is one of the more important figures in electronic music in the last thirty years, not to mention an accomplished composer, producer, and performer. This month, Jarre enlisted the help of Gesaffelstein to create “Conquistador,” a haunting electronica piece with distorted 808s, choral voices, and a slew of cinematic sequences. There’s elements of both producers’ work inherent in the collaboration, from Jarre’s classic synth lines to Gesaffelstein’s more modern processing techniques

Ten Walls’ newest original is “Sparta:” a gleaming tune with the kind of bravado and grandeur you’d expect from such a name. As with all his tracks, “Sparta” bears countless hallmarks of his classical upbringing. There’s a sense of triumph inherent in the tune, from the bassoon lead in the foreground, to the corresponding string harmony in the background.

7. Zedd - Addicted To Memory (ft. Bahari)

A seemingly haphazard array of samples, apreggios, and ham-fisted synths, Zedd’s “complextro” early work (think “Dovregrubben” or even Clarity’s “Shave It Up”) ignited dancefloors instead of radio stations back in 2011. Four years later and the softspoken, classically-trained talent has significantly increased his profile and, at times, even his sound. The latest track from his forthcoming True Colors album finds Anton combining the old with the new for the single “Addicted to Memory.” Merging his complextro roots with his newfound talent for crafting radio-ready pop, Zedd enlists the help of LA trio Bahari to provide the pop hooks for his electro return.

6. What So Not - Gemini (ft. George Maple)

Upon Flume’s departure from What So Not, the duo also revealed that a final EP would be released in the coming months. That EP, titled Gemini, has unveiled its title track featuring the talents of emotive songstress George Maple. The deliciously eerie track, though having gone viral throughout the virtual sphere last Summer, serves as the countdown until the world is exposed to what is, for now, What So Not’s final productions as a pair.

5. Major Lazer - Night Riders (ft. Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott & Mad Cobra)

Major Lazer’s Peace Is The Mission is en route, due to drop in full this June. With lead single “Lean On” still burning up sound systems, the group let loose what is expected to be an album standout. Diplo and Co.’s latest record made ready for your ears debuted on FXX last night during their new animated television series. The song is “Night Riders” — a hip-hop record with signature Major Lazer at its soul — and features verses from Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Mad Cobra with Travis Scott manning the hooks and bridge.

4. Kaskade - Never Sleep Alone (Original Mix)

First debuted during a back-to-back set with Skrillex on Holy Ship!, April finally brought the Kaskade material we’ve been waiting for. The latest single to arrive from his next studio album, “Never Sleep Alone” is drenched in radio-ready lyrics and a smooth, modern touch. At home when dabbling in a plethora of genres, the latest from Kaskade is another jaunt in a new direction, executed as perfectly as ever.

3. The Chemical Brothers - Sometimes I Feel So Deserted

A lot has changed in five years since Further, but The Chemical Brothers triumphant return “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted” seems to have ignored all of today’s EDM idiosyncrasies (and for that we’re thankful.) Premiered by Annie Mac, the Brothers first original piece of work in years merges grungy breaks with industrial grime just as they did so successfully in the past. A teaser of the classic big beat electronica that defined the late 90s electronic music boom, “Sometimes I Feel So Deserted” is bookended by some frantic acid house arps and a howling, yet mesmerizing, top line.

2. Galantis - Peanut Butter Jelly (Original Mix)

First premiered at Ultra Music Festival, fans took an immediate liking to Galantis‘ freshest ID – an infectiously joyous tune now officially identified as “Peanut Butter Jelly.” The foot tapping, disco-tinged record contains elements of Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklöw’s signature crescendos, manipulated vocals and anthemic choruses, but tones down the club characteristics found in records like “Runaway” and “You.”

1. NERO - The Thrill (Porter Robinson Remix)

Following closely in the footsteps of his approach behind Worlds, Porter Robinson’s reimagining of “The Thrill” strikes listeners’ heartstrings with softened melodies and bursting distortions that fall in line with originals such as “Sad Machine” and “Lionhearted.” The raw emotion and beauty that Porter values is evident in his most recent effort – a tangible display of his commitment to quality over quantity.