In further testament to the Dutch explosion that has truly overrun global House music, Nicky Romero has continued to prove himself an unmovable asset to the country’s well-received stronghold. With an arsenal of remixes for the likes of David Guetta and a frantic tour schedule for 2012, Romero has excelled all expectations with a smooth run of well-focused tracks for the likes of Spinnin Records and Wall Recordings. As his reputation has continued to soar on a global scale, it seems evident that we have not seen everything that this graciously tipped newcomer has to offer and at only 22-years-old, few producers are leading this generation of House artists with more enthusiasm than Romero.

Dipping into Electronic music’s rich heritage and borrowing the unforgettable charm of Schoolly D’s ‘Gucci Again’, Romero escapes the indolent remix routine by injecting his own furious stamina into an unforgettable piece of Dance music. Infused with acid leads and mechanically tuned rhythmic play, this somewhat unexpected turn for the young Dutchie emphasises not only the energy of his studio output but the variety which an artist amid one of the most hotly stereotyped movements can bring to the equation. Keeping it reassuringly Dutch in spirit but universal in sound, his journey to the high-end appears eminent and with a successful and somewhat brave intrusion on musical history to his name, world domination should prove relatively simple.

Nicky Romero – Generation 303 [Musical Freedom] – Beatport Link

Nicky Romero – Generation 303

Words by Dan Carter

We have heard a lot of positive noise from Sweden over the past year, but one man has shone the light for its diverse Electronic movement since the days when you could see the Swedish House Mafia for less than €55. Boasting stints alongside Defected and a forthcoming compilation for Toolroom Records, John Dahlback has remained a productive member of the global House movement with back-to-back club floor favourites and a glowing presence on the international club scene. Despite outgrowing his hometown of Stockholm after such bangers as ‘Blink’ and ‘Pyramid’ caught the attention outside, his imprint Mutants has continued to invest in pure and well-executed talent from across the board, making even louder noise for Sweden’s worst-kept musical secret.

Sporting a rising array of synthesised leads, Dahlback’s initial launch into Escape is one of anthemic builds and emotive melody, comfortably placing it amid the realms of 2011’s positively strident influx of stadiumesque floor-fillers. But what goes up, must come down. Luckily, Dahlback returns from his euphoric climb in a concise and driving breakthrough of bulky beats and highly tuned synthesisers to bag the Swedish producer what could be the first peek of a fresh faced component to his driving global appeal.

John Dahlback – Escape [Toolroom Records] – Beatport Link

Update: Official video added

Words by Dan Carter

Amid the untimely coupling of Trance and House music, many have found their demise. At the victorious sector of this newfound union stands Progressive Trance visionary Jochen Miller and Armin Van Buuren approved Dutch stronghold Rank 1, three Dutch assets who have proven undeniably conversant in refuelling the Netherlands Trance legacy with back-to-back stormers.

Propped up by a momentous vocal offering from Belgian singer-songwriter Sarah Bettens, the trio’s perfectly orchestrated melodic play and rigid drums mark something of a breakthrough for the genre in terms of its viscosity from start to finish. If this impressive collaborative effort from three of Holland’s hottest Electronic assets is anything to go by then the Dutch are still in firm control of those essential euphoric moments.

Rank 1 & Jochen Miller feat. Sarah Bettens – Wild and Perfect Day [High Contrast Recordings] – Beatport Link

Words by Dan Carter

Since ditching his DJ Funkadelic moniker, Daan Romers has made affirmative progression with his blissful Electronic stylings under the guise of Dannic. Already boasting tracks for Flamingo Recordings and Hardwell’s Revealed label under the guise of his former alias, the Dutch newcomer marks a fresh chapter of his impending musical legacy with ‘Doster’.

In true Netherland style, Romers’ outing of rising synths and excessively rapid lead play mark the perfect induction for his new nom de plume, dealing a potent blast of hard-hitting yet well-structured Electro House that touches on the rich Progressive vibes that his country has become synonymous with. With debut collaboration alongside Hardwell ‘Kontiki’ for the same label and further remix Duties for Dutch peer R3hab’s ‘The Bottle Song’ on the horizon along with a debut stint at infamous London nightspot Ministry of Sound, Dannic is one European newcomer we urge you to keep a very sturdy eye upon.

Dannic – Doster [Revealed Recordings] – Beatport Link

Dannic – Doster

Words by Dan Carter

Responsible for countless chart-worthy offerings and an artist roster that lacks of fame but hints strongly of talent and aspiration, the new year promises to be another big one for Macarize as one of Holland’s finest Progressive House acts prepares to make her debut on the label with a new remix of hers. Where the original saw itself become one of Macarize’s hottest assets last Summer, Amsterdam-residing Kristin Schrot, better known as Miss Nine, saw it fit giving Audible’s ‘Summit’ an even more impressive remodel. Adding a blissful synth progression and a playful break-down to the already summerish original, Miss Nine’s Macarize debut flaunts with its presence as her possibly best work to date.

Audible – Summit (Miss Nine Remix) [Macarize] – Beatport Link

Audible – Summit (Miss Nine Remix)

/Anton

Meanwhile the original has planted itself as a comfortable asset to Nick Littlemore and Peter Mayes’ fourth studio album under the moniker of Pnau, the Tommy Trash remix has made an equally impressive impression as the indisputed headliner of it’s very remix package. Red hot off the Swedish House Mafia-approved remix for Ladi Dadi and with his debut single for PinkStar, titled Cascade, planted firmly on Beatport’s top 10, this decade’s arguably most game-changing character within electro-house continues to make some serious moves towards the créme de la créme of clubland as his playful take on Pnau has finally released. Flipping from clangerous sound combinations and Nick Littlemore’s distinguished vocal into that rugged, signature drop of his, the winds seem to do nothing but continue to favour this Australia-born, London-based DJ and producer.

Pnau – Unite Us (Tommy Trash Remix) [Ministry Of Sound] – Amazon Link
(Worldwide release coming shortly)

Pnau – Unite Us (Tommy Trash Remix)

/Anton

Once the Netherlands hottest underground House asset, Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano have become the blue-eyed boys of their genre. Strong enough to join the ranks of Steve Angello’s Size Records and brave enough to take on Tiësto’s ‘Lethal Industry’, the duos accession to the big time has been one of extensive energy and persistent musical stamina. But well over a year after its premiere on Pete Tong’s first Essential Selection of 2011, the devastating Dutch duo return to Size Records with their maiden voyage of 2012 ‘Markuzza’. With the signature rhythmic precision and belligerent synth play, James and Marciano return on top form to build on the vivid hype accumulated throughout 2011. As one of their country’s most interesting Electronic Dance Music outfits to date, this is one inaugural outing that will not go unnoticed.

Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano – Markuzza [Size Records] – Trackitdown Link
iTunes Link

Words by Dan Carter

Adding to the momentum of the success stemming from their well-oiled House interpretation of Tiësto’s Lethal Industry in late 2011, Dutch duo Sunnery James and Ryan Marciano kick the new year off by giving the newest Ferry Corsten single a dose of their universal production qualities. Whilst the original is due to see itself becoming Corsten’s inaugural release for 2012 with its hard-lined, trance oriented appeal and a mighty vocal on behalf of up-and-coming, Sheffield-based singer Ben Hague, the James and Marciano take reflects upon a dynamic synth progression, momentous pitchbends and a memorable, acid-influenced drop to potentially set the standard for this Dutch pair’s music outlet in 2012 high.

Ferry Corsten feat. Ben Hague – Ain’t No Stoppin’ (Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano Remix) [Flashover Recordings] – Beatport Link

/Anton

Originally released in early October of 2010, Style Of Eye and Magnus The Magnus‘ ‘Antidote’ single is back to get itself a second official remix, coming off the immense cut by Pleasurekraft. Chopped up vocals, distorted sounds and hard-lined baselines all turned the distinguished original victorious and led it to having lived the underground scene for about a year by now. As it ups the ante for a floor-filling and big room-suited Sebjak take, the timeless cachets of Antidote seem to be quite the successfully re-appearing array of sounds. With his club-banging characteristics leading himself into indenture with Steve Angello’s Size Records and EMI, the rise of Sebastian Jakobsen thrives further as he adds a splendid blend of hefty beats and a mysterious break to ‘Antidote’ for it’s second remix now out via Tony Senhore’s Horehaus Records.

Style Of Eye & Magnus The Magnus – Antidote (Sebjak Remix) [Horehaus Records] – Beatport Link

/Anton

Having already established the fact that he is a producer of great measures, Joseph Youngman, professionally known as Wolfgang Gartner, continues to impress as he ups the ante for his first release in 2012. Unlike his regular, fiercely sounding electro-house progressions that have sealed him a place amongst the créme de la créme of clubland, Gartner’s newest offering represents a considerably brighter side of his studio output. Following the successful release of his debut album on Ultra Records late last year, Youngman returns to the well-renowned, America-based record imprint for the release of a record that is nothing short of spectacular. Consisting of an energetic, synth-like lead and some vibrant bottom layers, ‘There and Back’ unfolds another side of Gartner’s already limitless versatility and sets a new standard for the American that is potent enough to shortly face another Grammy nomination.

Wolfgang Gartner – There and Back [Ultra Records] – Beatport Link

/Anton

Having seen his somewhat monotone signature drops fuel his name to regularly appear in the live sets of electronic dance music aristocrats like Swedish House Mafia and Tiësto among others throughout last year, the new year has thus far shown this Aussie’s true versatility and so it seems to continue as the now London-based Thomas Olsen, professionally known as Tommy Trash, releases his new remix for Steve Aoki. With significantly more visible influences from the Progressive house scene, this top-notch take on the hard-lined original of ‘Ladi Dadi’, featuring Wynter Gordon on the vocal duty, holds a considerably more gentle appeal as opposed to his fierce predecessors yet with a tad of that robust Trash sound and some heavy-stepping kicks still in the equation.

Steve Aoki feat. Wynter Gordon – Ladi Dadi (Tommy Trash Remix) [Ultra Records] – Beatport Link

/Anton

The life and times of German House mogul Moguai have taken something of a turn for the best over the past two years. In an explosion of vintage Electro House that has dazzled Mau5trap and Size Records alike, a consistent injection of energy from the rising producer has seen him scale the globe with jaw-dropping force.

Amid the hysteria, his follow-up offering to ‘LYVE’ for Deadmau5’s distinctive musical empire has caused quite a stir from the outset and after much speculation, it is safe to report that the eclectic German producer does not disappoint. Making unpretentious movements from warming opening number ‘Smyles’ to closing Kosheen collaboration ‘Out Of Nowhere’, there is something innate in the familiar yet seamless approach of Moguai to the full-length concept. Impressively encompassing the influence of Aussie Electro fuzz master Tommy Trash for a jaunty fusion of his own ageless sound for ‘In N’ Out’, Mpire does not only honour the positive noise already made by the rising producer, but further builds on one of the most diverse musical outputs available to the industry. Not so much a collection of tracks, but a kaleidoscopic journey into an industry now somewhat in vogue, Moguai proves that a vast musical empire need not be as predictable as his European peers have made it.

Moguai – Mpire Album [Mau5trap] – Beatport Link
iTunes Link
Spotify Link

Words by Dan Carter