Reverse Skydiving (Shadow Child Remix) - Hot Natured ft. Anabel Englund

OH MAA GAAD. This tune is huge. The original is born of DJ collective Hot Natured which is composed of Lee Foss, Jamie Jones, Luca C and Ali Love who smashed it a couple of months back with the ecstasy-inducing 'Benediction'. Dave Spoon's alter ego Shadow Child changes things up with this mesmerising, more sinister, garage infused remix introducing one hell of a drop. Props to Anabel Englund for the bang-on vocals. If ever there was such thing as an ear-gasm, this is it. 

Intentions - Gorgon City ft. Clean Bandit

Gorgon City are one of my latest and most avid obsessions. Composed of Foamo and RackNRuin, it is so mesmerising to witness what their new venture has spawned. Their sound is very much club-orientated, bass-driven with their influences of jungle, house, grime, hip-hop and garage all making something of an appearance. Their remix of Clean Bandit's 'Nightingale'along with their collab with Yasmin on 'Real' are some of the superlative examples of dance music doing the rounds at the moment but 'Intentions' featuring Clean Bandit really takes the biscuit. YES BLACK BUTTER.

Yolanda Be Cool - A Baru in New York ft. Gurruml (Flume Soundtrack Version)

'YOLANDA. I thought you said you were gonna be cool'.

Other than making me feel like I'm watching some sort of modern day re-make of the Lion King, this is an extremely powerful and emotive song. The new offering by Flume is a remix of the new Yolanda Be Cool song, skilfully mixing electronic music over tribal-y drums and vocals. Starts off as a slow burner but by the end you feel like Simba on top of the mountain.

Cockiness - Jonas LR

Never though I would come to like a song with the lyrics, "I love it when you eat it, I love it, I love it, I love it when you eat it". Not exactly subtle. But 18 year old Jonas LR gives this Rihanna track a MUCH need re-vamp, with a very pleasing result. Making my dull April feel like high summer.

Audax (Real Nice's Jah Disco Remix) - Benedict Jackson

Originally from Bristol, the Real Nice bois aka Ben Lewis and Sam Wigg Winfield do exactly what they say on the tin. Churn out real nice tunes. The first release on their brand spanking new label Real Nice Recordings. 

Beam Me Up - Close ft. Charlene Soraia & Scuba

Close (Will Saul's latest experiment) and Scuba have smashed it out of the park with this superb dance floor banger. Charlene's soft vocals are totally on point, and combined with the melodic percussion, form a formidable, alluring and 'dark-yet-ebullient' track.

Painted Faces - Jacques Greene + Tinashe

Tinashe providing the vocals for this uncharacteristically bouncy Jacques Greene track; the most recent in Yours Truly's "Songs from Scratch" series.

Jaded - Toyboy & Robin

LOVE this new one from favourites Toyboy & Robin. SO HOOKY. Getting it right every time. Lets dance.

Violent Silence - Beatrice Eli

Whilst on paper just another female singer to emerge from Scandinavia, in fact, Beatrice Eli produces distinctive, hip-hop infused pop. Her voice is reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, but the ethereal synths and mesmerising beats ensures the result is both modern and experimental.

Bringing You Down - Jonas Rathsman

Swede Jonas Rathsman caused a stir with huge track 'Tobago' back in 2011, the first record to be released under his own name. Since then he has produced a multitude of some of my favourite feel good tunes such as 'Feeling You' and 'Since I Don't Have You' but he's totally smashed it with eclectic and fresh 'Bringing You Down'.

Fixed (Maribou State Remix) - George Maple

I heard the original of this only last week, and really liked both the vocals and the gradual build up. This remix by the Maribou State boys is transformative; even more relaxing, ethereal and beautiful than the original.

Bo Peep (Do U Right) - Shlohmo feat. Jeremih

Shlohmo and Jeremih? The collaboration of dreams. Vocals and production go pretty much perfectly together. The only thing that could potentially top this would be a Shlohmo collab with Drake...

The PL (Behling and Simpson Remix) - Typesun

Typesun are playing alongside Maceo Plex at Motion in Bristol over Easter weekend, and I'm gutted to be away from the city. This is the remix of Typesun's new single 'PL' brought to you by two other Bristol boys, Behling and Simpson. Their years of experience shine through, producing a increased tempo, house mix of this slow R&B track.

Rudimental - Waiting All Night (Kidnap Kid Remix)

Such a refreshing take on a song which has become my treadmill/exercise song of the moment. Kidnap Kid takes snippets of the vocal from this Rudimental track, replaying them on a loop. Incredibly clean and tight production as ever.

HIDEOUT HYSTERIA

IT'S FINALLY HAPPENING, THE GALDEM HAVE FINALLY MANAGED TO PULL THEMSELVES TOGETHER AND NAB OURSELVES TICKETS TO HIDEOUT IN CROATIA THIS SUMMER. Needless to say you can probably deduce from the incessant use of capital letters that I am outrageously excited. I never thought I'd see the day where this many of our group (11 to be exact) would be sufficiently organised in actually following through on long standing plans to book something together for the summer. I've never been so glad to be proven wrong.

I had actually got myself a ticket last year and was planning on going with a couple of close friends but was mortified on realising that I had work experience starting the Monday after the festival and that obviously it would run late into Sunday night and the chances of me making it into London on time for work in the morning were average to slim. But that's all in the past now and I can only help but believe that God is giving me a second chance.

The feedback I've had of Hideout over the past two years has been overwhelmingly positive mostly thanks to the painstakingly careful construction of such tremendous line ups, this year including UK Bass heavy weights Chase & Status, Skream & Benga, Rudimental, SBTRKT, Julio Bashmore and other such big names. The beauty of Pag Island itself has got to be one of the other main factors of Hideout's magnetic attraction, placing over 100 acts in and around the stunning Zrcé Beach in it's many open air clubs and of course on the notorious Hideout Boat Parties.

The notably different atmosphere to that of other Croatian dance festivals was something that came up often when talking to last year's Hideout attendees with most highlighting it's difference from the other whopping and successful Croatian festival Outlook. Although Outlook is no doubt the boss of beach festivals the emphasis was that Hideout offered a more chilled vibe, a huge factor probably being the more heavy dub and drum&bass orientated nature of the Outlook line ups, where as Hideout leans more towards the house side of things. Hideout is also decidedly more glamorous than Outlook as the majority of Hideout's festival goers opt for staying in apartments in nearby Novalja.

One of the things I am most looking forward to is being far out at sea, watching the sun go down, and busting some serious moves whilst listening to the dulcet tones of Redlight, Bondax and Gorgon City. Yep, that's right, I've got We Own Boat Party tickets AAAHHH YEEAAHHH. Unfortunately our group had to split down the middle so the other half will be heading to the likes of Joy O and Jackmaster on the Numbers Boat Party which I am absolutely gutted to be missing but as I haven't seen Redlight or the Bondax boys since back in November (too long for my liking) I had to go for the We Own Boat Party. Seeing Skream & Benga tear it up on a boat would've been a very special moment, especially as I'm loving Skream's foray into disco ventures at the mo, but alas these sold out at the speed of light.

It's hard to pinpoint a few names out of the mass of talent that Hideout has got in store for me but West Coast producers Eats Everything and Justin Martin (UK and US west coasts respectively) are up there with the acts I'm most eager to see along with the likes of Tensnake, Baauer, Ben Pearce and Kidnap Kid.

So I leave you with Hideout's 2012 highlights to give you some idea of what glorious madness awaits me and be sure to expect rave reviews the minute I'm back.

Rudimental - Waiting All Night ft. Ella Eyre (Clean Bandit Remix)

Drum & Bass quartet Rudimental have caused quite a stir with their club banger 'Waiting All Night' and although there's already a range of remixes circulating, my favourite has got to be Clean Bandit's more chilled and soulful take, supplementing it with their eccentric and original instrumental vibe, most notably the addition of strings. Can't wait to hear more of Clean Bandit's unique, creative and seamless electronic-pop. Can Black Butter do no wrong?

J.Wiltshire

Apart from finding out that J.Wiltshire is a plasterer in Havant (probably not the same person) I've also managed to find out that the house DJ J.Wiltshire is yet another ridiculously young and able producer hailing from Winchester. It's crazy to think that the kid is barely 18 but is making house tracks with such a nuanced, mature and refined quality, particularly as he only started making music on a laptop a year and a half ago with a little help from his friend Bareskin. They're both recently signed to Hypercolour which boasts an impressive roster of the finest House and Techno talent which obviously bodes well. All three of these tracks have a melodious, intimate and almost dream-like quality which has got me absolutely hooked. Can't wait to see what's in store for this guy. 

Addicted (Polkadot Remix) - DrDr

Brighton trio DrDr are currently making waves with the soulful R&B inspired vocals of Donna Curson and the UK bass/garage/future garage and/or bass (what do we even call it anymore) inspired beats of producers Chris Campbell and Joe Woods. Polkadot gives it a more bouncy house twist in this remix.

Treat Me Like Fire (Star Slinger Bootleg Mix) - Lion Babe

Star Slinger is a real life wizard. His remix of New York duo Lion Babe's 'Treat Me Like Fire' is even more upbeat and feisty than the original by putting the infectious vocals on a loop and upping the tempo. Tight as ever.

Somateria - Polkadot

Polkadot first posted a cheeky teaser of this back in October and I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for the full track. FINALLY here it is. Another sick garage-esque house banger from young Sam Bevan.

All I Can Give - Panda

Panda, aka old friends Callum, Charlie and Benny, are set to release their debut EP on Bondax's JustUs label next month and BOY am I excited. Similar sunny vibes to that of Bondax and Armeria channelling that deep house bass line, soulful vocals and energetic, lively beat. I foresee big things for Panda this year...BIG THINGS.

Animaux - Kidnap Kid

The B-side to the So Close EP, in true Kidnap Kid style 'Animaux' is just as bouncy and catchy. It also helps that he's really really good looking.

I Loved You - Blonde

Eton Messy founder Adam Englefield has not stopped since the swift take off of his Youtube channel. He DJs as Beluga Boy and is now producing with one half of Thieves under the alias Blonde. Their production endeavours first caught my attention when they sampled Justin Bieber's 'Boyfriend' in their debut 'Talk To You' turning it into something that I actually enjoyed listening to despite its origins, which is a testament to their superior musical skills. However they've managed to top it with the upbeat, garage infused house track 'I Loved You'.

Doing It Wrong (Figgy Remix) - Drake

In this remix of 'Doing It Wrong', New Yorker Figgy alters the original almost beyond recognition speeding up the tempo, making it decidedly more up beat and giving it the house treatment whilst maintaining elements of the R&B.

Bondax's Love Making Minimix

Oh Bondax how I love you. Funky, sexy, soulful. Love making minimix.

Remedy - Waifs & Strays

Music veterans Waifs & Strays first caught my ear with their infectious tune 'Yeah Yeah' back in 2010 and have been working their deep house magic ever since. Released on Futureboogie Recordings, 'Remedy' is mesmerising and seductive.

Deliquesce - Bodhi

Welsh duo Bodhi are seriously channelling that 90s house vibe that's proving so popular at the moment, and doing it with considerable flare and style. The build in tune 'Deliquesce' is so beaut, can't wait to be listening to this loud in the summer sun. 

Body Music - Alunageorge

Becca and I were massive AlunaGeorge fans very early on in the game and it's great to see them getting the recognition they deserve for their hugely original, innovative and captivating take on electronic pop. I am eagerly anticipating the release of their debut album on the 1st July but until then am making do with the title track for the album 'Body Music'.

Lay Me Down - Sam Smith

Remember Sam Smith from Disclosure's chart topping hit 'Latch'? Well, here he is laid bare in all his acoustic glory. Stunning.

What You Need - Armeria

Yet another young (and northern) producer on our hands here. Armeria aka Jake Norman first caught my attention with his melodic and soulful track 'While I've Got It Together' - a chilled future garage tune spliced with R&B elements. This led me to listen to his soundcloud on repeat so I was ecstatic when new track 'What You Need' emerged. Definitely worth the wait - chilled sunny vibes.