Protostar - Overdrive (ft. Emma McGann)

Back with his fourth single in as many months, Dunstable DnB producer Protostar has a hit on his hands with "Overdrive." With two versions, including an instrumental and a vocal cut featuring "Where I Belong" collaborator Emma McGann, "Overdrive" takes me back to one of my favourite times and sound periods: the early 2010s, particularly Nero's Welcome Reality. More than just the powerful female vocals of McGann and Alana Watson, I'm reminded of this era's brilliance through the futuristic soundscape, similarly punchy percussion and buoyant, striding synths. Of course Nero are more widely associated with dubstep, but it's nearly impossible to separate it from DnB and the two are often paired perfectly. Here with "Overdrive," the imagery Protostar creates is both bright and dark in the same sound, like a mix of neo-noir and sci-fi films (think Blade Runner 2049 and Tron: Legacy). It is punchy and propulsive, yet is not at all overwrought or over-the-top. A good headbanger, easily enjoyed with or without its expertly treated vocals, "Overdrive" is a welcome addition to 2020, a year in which DnB continues its assault on the collective consciousness. Add it to your catalog via Monstercat, here.FOLLOW PROTOSTAR: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER
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Nero share two demos in honour of 28/08

Six years ago British trio Nero released their debut album Welcome Reality. The concept album was driven largely by an 80s electro inspired future, first established in the lead track "2808" and immediately followed by "Doomsday." This dark and moody atmosphere always made me imagine them as the perfect pairing with a neo-noir film, a la Blade Runner. With a reboot in the works, we could only hope that Nero would find themselves a part of the project, and while that may still happen, we've been blessed with a demo they did (below). In honour of today's date 28/08, they made that demo available free, alongside a new version of the epic "Innocence." Stream and download both below.FOLLOW NERO: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

Nero - Crush On You (Animal HÖuse Remix)

Florida based production crew, Animal HÖuse, who first appeared on Soundcloud in January with a remix of "White Iverson," are quickly becoming known for their unique brand of beastly bass bootlegs. Having already remixed A$AP Ferg, Benny Benassi and Cassie, their latest is a delightfully daring dub remix of Nero track, "Crush On You." As always the Floridians have offered their track for free, here. Upon first listen I wasn't positive whether Animal HÖuse were remixing The Jets' original, a la Nero, or whether it was a remix of Nero themselves. There is no lack of original content here, although there certainly is a lot of Nero's now legendary instrumentation. I recently found myself re-listening to much of Nero's Welcome Reality and while the groove of "Crush On You" was my favourite of the album, that was were my enjoyment ended. There was just something disjointed about the original Nero dubstep drop that just didn't jive with my indulgence. However, Animal HÖuse seem to have remedied that derangement. This version flows much more smoothly while still offering that essential element of electronic anarchy.

Doc Brown offering up the line "back to the future" is the cheeky capstone that perhaps best describes this union of old and new, and making the old new, yet again. After having played Dom Dias' downtempo remix of The Jets' "Crush On You" on Bump In The Hump, I'm glad those classic vocals have received another revitalization, more in the way I'm used to hearing them. Art, and therefore music, is cyclical and referential, it is a mirror held up to society, but society has been a mirror in and of itself for years now. Animal HÖuse (knowingly or not) have perfectly illustrated the postmodern conundrum of originality. Everything is a reference to something that has already happened before, once again, knowingly or not. The key is quite simple, just be and just do you, and the end result will be virtuous and valuable. Animal HÖuse have done just that, and in doing so have opened the door for bedroom producers around the world to remix their favourite tunes guilt free.

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