Kaskade: Fire & Ice: Ten songs by this huge American DJ, with plenty of guest pop artist contributions. Each song gets two spins: the first is a more full-sounding, upbeat “Fire” version, and the second is Kaskade’s own ICE mix: more chill and stripped down. The Fire versions are more typical Kaskade fare (and very good, at that), while the Ice versions often sound more like electropop or alternative tracks. FCC clean. Way too many to try on this album, but for more typical Kaskade sound, I’d go for tracks 8, 1, 11, 5. For more unorthodox and less predictable try tracks 10, 20, 14.
1) Eyes (feat. Mindy Gledhill): A huge summer hit; was on our A-file as a single! Subdued yet emotional female vocals, with piano and a multiple drops. Sexy stuff.
2) Eyes (ICE): Much slower and more echo-y. Hauntingly beautiful.
3) Turn It Down (with Rebecca and Fiona): Dual female vocalists, very typical dance backing synth and beats, and predictable drops.
4) Turn It Down (ICE): Very calm beginning and end, but goes all spazzy dubstep in the middle.
5) Lessons in Love (feat. Neon Trees): You’ll recognize this guy’s voice from the way overplayed “Animals.” This track has a darker sound, with deep bass synth. Kind of Deadmau5-ish.
6) Lessons in Love (ICE): More playful, with light poppy synth over a funky bass line. Instrumental only; no vocals this time around.
7) Lick It: Kaskade collaborated with dubstep legend Skrillex on this one, with bass licks, a dancy beat, and hints of dubstep melding seamlessly.
8) Lick It (ICE): Delicate intro, almost ambient. Then, resounding bass and soaring synths sweep. Gorgeous.
9) Llove (feat. Haley): Alarm-like synths in the chorus, full sound. Not a standout.
10) Llove (ICE): Very stripped down, clapping and violins to support female crooning.
11) Let Me Go (feat. Marcus Bently): More focus on the contemplative, emotional male vocals; the synths and beat don’t play a dominant role until the middle. Syncopated guitar-like background.
12) Let Me Go (ICE): Sounds more like a sad pop song than coming from a dance DJ; guitar, slow drums, and just a hint of synth.
13) Waste Love (feat. Quadron): Jazzy bassline and falsetto female vocals, and light/unobtrusive synths and beat.
14) Waste Love (ICE): Even more jazzy, with syncopated piano chords and shakers.
15) Ice (with Dan Black): A harder-sounding track, with gigantic drops and slightly distorted male vocals.
16) Ice (ICE): Same tempo, but less dance and more electro. Melodic.
17) How Long (with Late Night Alumni): Suspenseful beginning, with whispered female vocals. No huge drop comes in to cash in on the suspense.
18) How Long (ICE): Slightly funky, with bass and echo-y vocals and a bit of horns tossed in. Sounds like you’d hear it in a swanky hotel lounge.
19) Room for Happiness (feat. Skylar Grey): Beautiful, breathy female vocals on top of musing synths, at a slower bpm than usual.
20) Room for Happiness (ICE): Melancholic violin and piano, layered female vocals. Sounds like indie/alternative. Poignant.
Kyle Vandenberg