Dexter’s Beat Laboratory Vol. 110
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.
I’ve loved Maduk and Dennis Pedersen‘s “Miles Apart” since its release last spring and was intrigued to see that Fox Stevenson had done a remix of the tune for Liquicity‘s Reflections Part 3. In true Fox Stevenson fashion, the producer has flipped the tune into a more energetic iteration, complete with his own harmonies underneath Ella Noël’s. It’s flawless.
Tobtok‘s name seems to be popping up everywhere, and his funky vintage style of house music keeps drawing me in. His latest is a collaboration with Adam Griffin and vocalist Hayley May. With a bold, anthemic melody and steady grooving beat, “The Stand Off (I Want You)” is irresistible. The Swedish producer knows how to craft tunes for the dance floor, and this is ready for just that.
Last month brought the arrival of a new Dimension song, “If You Want To”—an aggressive drum ‘n’ bass number with a dramatic, foreboding tone. Here in the following month, the British producer has reworked his own song into an electro interpretation, fueled by the sultry spoken vocals. This one has a more laid-back feel, but its underlying orchestral elements give the tune a bit of an eerie feel.
At long last, the second remix EP for The Midnight has arrived via Silk Music. It’s been more than two years since the release of the first one, but it appears lush remixes featured on this new collection have been worth the way. This take on the Nocturnal song is breathtaking, as Kobana builds a rich sonic landscape with his progressive house-inspired version of the song.
Essenger‘s new single, “Tether,” combines a wide range of styles effortlessly. It opens with a wistful guitar melody, leading into a nostalgia-fueled verse from the producer, who does his own vocals. “Tether” drips with emotion from start to finish and seems to encourage the listener to look inward and absorb the very soul of the song in a raw and real way.