Dexter’s Beat Laboratory Vol. 36
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory is a weekly collection of songs from DA music editor and staff writer Robyn Dexter. With a taste that can only be described as eclectic — to say nothing of a name that lends itself to punnery — DA is happy to present a selection of tracks personally curated by Dexter for your listening pleasure.
Just a few weeks ago, Mad Zoo sent over an insane track from an artist they’d just signed called counsel pop. I was immediately drawn in by “fazeley industrial estate” and enthusiastically wrote it up. Only days later, the artist’s second track appeared on SoundCloud: “trino (counsel pop’s mental mix).” This one is more subdued than its predecessor but is still layered with gorgeous sound design and insane complexity that honestly transcends description. After hearing these first two releases, I’m even more excited for the artist’s debut EP, out a week from today.
Turning back time to the ’80s, We Are The Way For The Cosmos To Know Itself (WATWFTCTKI) present “Flashbacks,” a retro synthpop tune that drips with wistful nostalgia. The Danish pop act have crafted a retrospective song that’s true to its name. “Flashbacks” is brimming with pensive vocals, backed by a slow-moving, synth-laden beat. It’s a bit reminiscent of some of my favorite Goldroom songs, and that’s perhaps why I’m so drawn to it.
While I might not love Post Malone in his songs’ original forms, I’m all about some of the ingenious remixes that have been surfacing over the past few years. Like this one, for example. Oakwite has transformed “Psycho” into a groovy drum & bass rendition. While classified as a bootleg, Oakwite has crafted a smooth and clean take on the song that shows pure creativity and gives Postie’s hip-hop collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign a fresh, energetic vibe.
Los Angeles trio Wake the Wild have created the perfect feel-good anthem with their latest release, “Body Language.” They’ve intertwined elements of pop and funk for a dancefloor-primed single that’s authentically them. “When we wrote ‘Body Language’ it was just easy,” Wake the Wild say of the release. “It felt natural. Like the song was already there just waiting for us to unlock it. It’s fun, it’s upbeat, and it’s not trying too hard.” They cite influences like Disclosure and Michael Jackson in their music, something that’s evident in the cheery, bright feel of “Body Language.”
Drum & bass king Muzzy is prepping for the release of his massive EP, The Cascade, due out on Monstercat May 14. He’s kicked off the EP’s releases with “New Age” featuring Detroit powerhouse Celldweller. The track is pure energy and fury backed by top-notch quality, leading many SoundCloud commenters to relate it to respected Pendulum tracks. Fusing punk rock vocals with rapid drum & bass patterns, “New Age” shows Muzzy at his finest. The Cascade is sure to be worth the wait.