Clare Maguire’s new single The Last Dance is a good catchy song. With Chase & Status’ help it’s a great song! Unremixed, it is simply a very good pop song, Chase & Status, however, have turned it into something reminiscent of classic club hits. With echoes, a dance beat and added effects that perfectly compliment Maguire’s dark and brooding voice it’s huge, further proof that Chase & Status can do no wrong when it comes to creating phenomenal tunes that can appeal to even the most indifferent of dance music listeners (namely myself). They are perhaps one of the only acts who can consistently produce fantastic songs and remixes that can be enjoyed as huge “club bangers” or simply background radio fodder. This is one of the best remixes I’ve heard in a long time with perfect beats to enhance and not detract from Maguire’s talent; instead it is pushed to the fore and her strong vocals and fantastic songwriting are promoted throughout.
As a self-confessed lover of rock music, it is very rarely I come across a dance song that I immediately fall in love with, but I Need Air by Magnetic Man is exactly that. It contains all the hallmarks of a classic, huge, dance tune, but the lyrics help enfuse this piece of dubstep with a bit of class. I am by no means a dubstep expert and often struggle to see the appeal of it outside of a club, due to the frequently repetitive nature of dance music in general. However, every now and then along comes an exception; I Need Air is one of those. I cannot pretend that the lyrics are exceptionally sophisticated but they blend perfectly with the music to give a song worthy of becoming a club classic another level which makes it a fantastic song in its own right, independent of setting. And, actually, more than just being that rare dance tune that I enjoy, it has helped me understand why dubstep has become the force it has among dance fans, as it is perfect for a night out forgetting all your troubles, but equally can be enjoyed as a track in its own right when you are in the mood for simply sitting and listening. So I present to you a track that has begun to educate me in the ways and appeal of dubstep, and which I look forward to seeing live at Reading Festival at the end of the month…
