Dexter’s Beat Laboratory Vol. 73
Dexter’s Beat Laboratory is a weekly collection of songs from DA managing editor 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.
Listen in playlist format here.
After months of anticipation, Gammer‘s much-hyped remix of Ran-D’s “Zombie” has finally arrived. Its comment section is full of fans saying “finally!” – and with good reason. Gammer plays up the emotive intensity of the original, which was initially performed by The Cranberries. Ran-D redid the vocals himself, and Gammer uses them to drum up anticipation for the quickly building drop. It’s ready for festival stages around the world with its energy-loaded hardcore beat.
The Lion King‘s “Circle of Life” has been making its way into the EDM scene for years. It’s popped up in Skrillex sets, been remixed by Mat Zo, and most recently, revamped by Wuki. Uploaded to his Wukileaks channel on January 10, this edit of the iconic track sees the classic introduction worked into a grooving house anthem. It’s primed for the dance floor and guaranteed to have all listeners embracing their inner “hakuna matata” attitude — even 24 years later.
Russia’s Sound Quelle was a huge presence on Silk Music’s channel in 2018, so label has kicked off their 2019 with a three-track EP from the multi-faceted artist. In the Esalia EP, he’s teamed up with Referna for tracks like “Lauria,” an ethereal deep house number rooted in an easygoing bassline and dreamy vocals. This nearly six-minute track has an otherworldly feel to it and features a minimalist synth melody that drifts in and out of progressive beat.
In their latest, Win & Woo take a journey across the pond to craft a new original, “Tea Time.” The duo have fashioned an infectious house beat around a catchy British vocal sample that declares “it’s time for tea,” making this track one of their most entertaining to date with the help of some cowbell. Win & Woo have called the track “something fun for being awesome to us in 2018,” promising even more to come in 2019.
In his debut Mad Zoo appearance, Canada’s Brock Wilson has created an intriguing and diverse two-track EP. “hollow shell” is a thrilling and slightly spooky track that showcases the artist’s curiosity and experimentation in a variety of electronic styles. From glitchy, grinding bass to an eerie, minimalist melody, Wilson shows us what he’s all about. “I’ve never really been good at making bangers or high energy songs, but I’ve always been interested in tight mixing and sound design.” It shows, in the best possible way.