A malicious groove! Axwell goes solo on his remode for “Sinister”
A malicious groove! Axwell goes solo on his remode for “Sinister”
85%Overall Score
• Remode magic here
• Tribal tech house
• Less elements, high energy
Usually not involved in lone endeavors as usual, and when he does, Axwell usually has a gem to share. Nearly two years since his previous single, the Swedish moniker decided to give a special “remode” treatment to a new release involving Thomas Newson and Corey James. “Sinister” is bewitching and infectious; hence the title, probably.
The term “Remode” is perhaps seared into the memory of many listeners. Be it the one for “Center of the Universe” or “Belong,” that’s when Axwell means business with the hard-to-forget edits.
Fashioned in a tribal tech house style, the track immediately brings the signature sounds of both its creators: Thomas Newson, who has been singularly focused on the house scene for a while now and teamed up with Corey James on this one— who recently released “The Underground”— a release on the analogous imprint SIZE records with HIISAK and Roland Clark, also receiving an edit duty from the other SHM member, Steve Angello.
Here the motif is lean and clean: Axwell’s veteran experience is abundantly evident from the first moment. A marimba lead sound— or at least close to that— becomes the center of attention with its teasing riff. Soon after, a club 909 kick and toms powered bassline initiate the drop. Most of the tension and hook come at the breakdown: ear-candy arrives with a female vocal chant, as a gnarly stab synth plays underneath and dramatizes with an off-beat rhythm. The drop jumps in after a riser with the same synth, proficiently bringing other percussions and the vocals to put up a dynamic finale!
The talent of already two established artists combined with the professor’s ingenuity is why “Sinister” despite being lightly packed, stores enough energy to rattle the dancefloor.
