StoneBridge: retro-futuristic clubture

A German editor, as well as his magazine’s photographer, complained to us recently on account of there being just a very few stars you can place on the cover and expect them to push the circulation. There really has been devaluation of Global Stars and evidently there are no more Elvis, or David Bowie, or Mick Jagger, or Bob Dylan, or even Sir Paul McCartney-like figures; there are no international megastars and if you’re thinking Ozzy, Beyoncé, Kylie, Britney, Eminem, Robbie Williams, Coldplay…

… You are only partially correct. The reason being that although all these people are popular, it is not on the scale of Eminem, who is the only one to truly be called the ‘King of Pop’. [Although his notoriety appears to be waning fast.] The rest are only successful in selected territories, or with certain age-groups. Total devaluation of stardom and just temp-fame types, with nothing to offer but delusion of grandness that is no more than a well-crafted ‘public image’. Limited, very limited…

Part in bringing this ‘downfall’ of mass-icons - alongside Reality TV that turned Ozzy ‘Prince Of Darkness’ Osbourne into Homer Simpson of Heavy Metal - is down to ‘clubture’ that contributed to dismantling of the pop-star system. What was rarity in the Pink Floyd’s case has become the norm nowadays - faceless ‘stars’ and über-exposure of celebs. How many songs you love and have no idea how artists look like? [And, do you care?]

StoneBridge has seen his career head skyward over the last 6 months with the Swedish producer/respected remixer/DJ joining that exclusive clique of club-practitioners-turned-hitmakers: ‘Put ‘Em High’ swiftly became the tune in Ibiza last summer and a No.1 club smash twice over and, when released nationally last Autumn, it stormed to No. 6. At the beginning of the year another single smashed into the charts: ‘Take me Away’.

Both tracks - featuring the exquisite vocals by Therese, a compatriot bombshell who is currently recording her maiden solo disc - are featured on the ‘Can’t Get Enough’, a set of attractive songs for a special listening pleasure. Using retro gear the sound is kept warm, less techno and easy-on-ears.

StoneBridge, having remixed the cream of the global house scene, turned to his circle of friends to feature on the album: the aforementioned divine Therese, Ultra Naté, Chris Coco, Julie Morrison, Kenny Thomas and Jay Soul. These varied guests certainly contributed to the disc’s diversity.

For discerning music lovers, also fast off the mark, there was a complimentary CD included with the deluxe version of ‘Can’t Get Enough’. The disc featured previously unavailable mixes of ‘Freak On’ by Ferry Corsten and JJ.Stockholm, ‘Put ‘Em High’ by Ian Carey ‘Gotta Give It’ by Tom De Neef and ‘Gotta Give It’ Airplane Club Mix. It also carried the superb mixes of ‘Put ‘Em High’ by the Sharp Boys (Original Vocal Mix), Danny Bonds and the Lief Mix. As well as featuring mixes of ‘Take Me Away’ by Stone’s Re-Rub and DJ Bomba Mix.

Music for majority of moves and all positions.

8/10