THE RECOMMENDER – VILLA

VILLA

Do you know what the ‘Iambic Pentameter’ is?  It’s something we want to discuss today as we feel there’s a similar thing found in music.  There’s a certain pace of a beat that seems to fit so well inside our heads and it’s a difficult one to pin down or describe, but when you hear it, particularly in electronic music, it just feels right.  Perhaps it’s the way it’s played? Perhaps it’s that it’s a great beat to move to, allowing steps between the beats, so you can dance with ease to it?  Perhaps it’s something to do with how it matches the beat of your heart, or on a deeper level psychologically – the beat of your mother’s heart in the womb.  The Iambic Pentameter is usually associated with the rhythm of poetry or language and where or how you stress parts of each sentence.  It’s a trick that Shakespeare mastered and is commonly used – whether we know we ‘re doing it or not – when we speak in English.  It’s about pace, comfort and being easy on the ear.  This is where we get to a new trio from Belgium called Villa, who have been found floating about the remix market rather a lot in over the last year or so.  They seem to have nailed down the art of a beat that’s so comfortable you may begin to notice that your limbs move autonomously.  It’s a beat born in the disco halls of the 70s, with that familiar thump-clap-thump-clap that’s so easy to nod to.  It’s something that they’ve used very successfully time and again with the majority of their many remixes, from Gorillaz, to Ali Love, to Moby, to Keane, to The C90s, to Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip and another disco-infused act, The Golden Filter, among others.  You may not like everyone on their selected list, but because they twist each original track into a floor-filling masterclass they bypass any disdain.  Notably, they often still maintain the original songs vocals, which is a trick all the best remixers seem to follow – to leave the bones of the tune, whilst still carving out a new piece of music.  They plan to have another push in the coming weeks of their excellent re-take on the Nacht Und Nebel’s 1984 hit, Beats Of Love, which features vocals by Lou Hayter of the exciting UK band, The New Sins, and rather fondly reminds us of the hypnotic Fan Death.  Expect classic disco strings, their signature mid-tempo and a set of sensual but equally deadpan vocals (yes, just like all the best 70s disco!).  We all know a good remix is a great way to get noticed in these modern times, but if you can back it up with a cover this fresh and original then our hearts will follow you long after the Iambic Pentameter has stopped.   (MB)

Find them here:        Myspace

Hear them here:        VILLA – BEATS OF LOVE ft THE NEW SINS

Hear them here:        DAN LE SAC vs SCROOBIUS PIP – GET BETTER (VILLA VOCAL REMIX)

Hear them here:        MOBY – WAIT FOR ME (VILLA REMIX)

Hear them here:        THE GOLDEN FILTER – THUNDERBIRD (VILLA REMIX)

Hear them here:         THE C90S – 10.01 (VILLA REMIX)

Hear them here:        KEANE – CLEAR SKIES (VILLA REMIX)

Hear them here:        MUSIC GO MUSIC – WARM IN THE SHADOWS (VILLA REMIX)