Alexander Lewis - Off Guard

Alexander Lewis' latest track makes me wonder whether he had the name or the production first. "Off Guard" is an intentional departure from the trombone trap he's become known for, saying he didn't want to be labelled "a single genre artist and [get] caught up in the monotony of making the same style of song." He's even gone so far as to not use any genres or hashtags on Soundcloud at all. And what does it matter, it's definitely different, but it's still Alexander Lewis. The brass still plays a big part, but instead of the parading strut we're used to, we get a more swinging stride. The intense orchestration is lifted for a more playful, fancy-free and indeed, unexpected feel. As I said above. the name "Off Guard" is perfect: not only does the instrumental catch you that way, but the lyrics play into that same notion. You couldn't possibly have expected to fall for an Alexander Lewis track like this, yet here we are.Download "Off Guard" for free via Hive here.

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KRANE - Nobody But You

Maybe you know him from his incredibly successful sample packs, or perhaps his epic output in the past 3 years. No matter what, it's highly unlikely that you haven't heard of KRANE. I first came across him with the utterly ingenious "Dollar Sines," and have since fallen for his work with Alexander Lewis, Keys N Krates, Ekali and others. Aside from his incredible originals and rigorous remix catalog, he's also become known for giving away free bootlegs, the latest a 13 track mix of mashups, edits and rejected remixes. So yeah, I think we've sufficiently established that this is man making waves, and churning out music at a maddening rate, which includes today with "Nobody But You."

Just one look at the album art and you should be able to grasp the time and space "Nobody But You" takes place. It's undeniably Blade Runner reminiscent, and almost Nero-esque in its essence. The connection to Nero continues in the soundscape KRANE's created with an enveloping atmosphere, driven by big bass drums and a perilous piano. There's a kind of danger to the delivery of this neo-noir future, especially as established with the wailing siren in second drop. Of course it includes KRANE's trademark rattling snare, and suffice it to say, it works perfectly in the explosive energy of this tech driven future landscape. Rounding out the track, and perhaps completing the story, is the vocal that not only gives the track a necessary human feel, but one that reminds me of Keys N Krates. It is the beacon of hope that the hero of this picture clings to. "Nobody But You" is the perfect combination of cold heartless technology and the human heart behind it. Enjoy it via your preferred service here.FOLLOW KRANE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

San Holo vs Kanye West - Lights (Nitti Gritti Remix)

There's remixes, DJ tools, edits and mashups, and then there's what Miami's Nitti Gritti has done here. "Lights" combines the epic brass arc of Kanye's "All Of The Lights" as covered by Alexander Lewis and Brasstracks, while managing to maintain the indie electronic sparkle of San Holo's "Light." To have the horns rise in revelry from out of the ethereal chorus of "I just wanna see the light" is one thing, but to have Rihanna join in is sheer magic. Even when the two tracks are most oppositional (1:17ish), their mixture actually seems strong. Especially towards the end of the track, Nitti Gritti's mixing mastery shines through. He's able to flip back and forth between the two ingredients, whipping together an entirely new and appealing original. Brighten up your day with "Lights," available free via Hive, here. FOLLOW NITTI GRITTI: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Sinjin Hawke - Onset (KRANE & Alexander Lewis Remix)

Ever since Sinjin Hawke teased First Opus with "Onset" the beginning of last month (as covered here), it's been a go to track just about anytime I want to play music. It's hard to count it as the best track of the album, when just about any track could take that title, as First Opus is in my ears not just one of the best albums of the year, but one of the best I've ever encountered. With such epic design and majesty you can expect a tidal wave of remixes in hopes of capitalizing on the genius Hawke has rolled out. While most remixes will fall somewhere short of the original, you can always trust the likes of  KRANE and Alexander Lewis to bolster the badassery of whatever they touch. Add KRANE's god-like sound design and the brass balls of Alexander Lewis' trombone to the already exceptional and sublime Sinjin production and you've got some can't miss magic. Download the remix free via Hive, here. FOLLOW KRANE: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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