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REVIEW: Above & Beyond feat. Alex Vargas - Blue Sky Action incl remixes & music video out on Anjunabeats

A Pete Tong endorsed anthem and immediate festival favourite, Above & Beyond's "Blue Sky Action" (feat. Alex Vargas) has been turning heads globally throughout the summer of 2014. Emotive and atmospheric in typically epic proportions, "Blue Sky Action" now sees a series of reworks from some of electronic music's hottest acts, plus an anthemic re-imagining by the band themselves. 

Debuted to 10,000 people live at this year's Radio 1 Ibiza weekend, the Above & Beyond Club Mix supercharges the lead riff in trademark stadium-sized style. Offsetting the rich vocal with a big room bass fuelled groove and iconic, hands-in-the-air release, the club mix perfectly captures the intensity of Above & Beyond's live show. 

Channelling a vintage Balearic trance energy, Scotland's Graeme Shepherd better known as Grum makes an impressive label debut with his woozy progressive take. Taking things deeper still is Anjunadeep regular Meramek, whose subtle use of vocal and bass heavy approach are perfectly designed for the contemporary dance floor. Having already found traction with Radio 1's Friction, Hospital Records regular Logistics completes the package with a soulful reworking which stays true to the original's melodic roots. 

iTunes (USA): po.st/blueskyaction







Dimitri Kechagias review: One of the main reasons that I wanted to attend the 2nd weekend of Tomorrowland festival in Belgium was because of the fantastic dj set of Above & Beyond at the mainstage. I was waiting for this and I must confess I enjoyed every single moment and every single track that the beloved group choose for the Tomorrowland people. One of the big tracks that were played on this dj set was the brand new single Blue Sky Action featuring the perfect singer Alex Vargas. You can not imagine how it was to watch the sun just above the Tomorrowland mainstage and that track played by Above & Beyond. Of course I would love to see Alex Vargas performing live the vocals as an extra treat but I guess that is impossible to have it all. Now the full package of this gigantic release is ready for action and includes magnificent remixes that add totally different and surprising perspectives on the magical original version. First of all the Above & Beyond club Mix is a powerful modern neo trancer with chunky fat groove, energetic electro inspired bassline melted in one with cool synthy melody too. The result is a powerful punchy groove that becomes the perfect soundbed for Alex Vargas vocals to come in along with nice trancy synths on the background. The track slowly builds anticipation and nicely lands the spaceship in the breakdown that we get classic Above & Beyond melodic themes combined with some indie rock touches as well adding a certain dynamism and mainstage energy that the track needs. The euphoric synthy stabs come to the surface unashamedly to raise the hair from your back and drive the crowd super excited. The climax is tailor made for mainstage action without doubts packed with euphoric synths, emotional piano chords and fun-tastic vocals to singalong together as one. Grum is definitely one of the most upcoming and quickly rising producers from the underground who wait their big moment to enter the official charts and become household name. His nearly 8.00 minutes is a colourful odyssey of sounds that follow the classic British progressive house sound and recall in a way the Sasha & John Digweed Northern Exposure sound with Vangelis & Jean Michel Jarre influences as well. Packed with great new synthy melodies, mouthwatering grooves and cinematic atmosphere is one of those remixes that will travel your mind Above & Beyond reality. Alex Vargas sounds colder and distant as the voice becomes an instrument rather than being the focus element of the track. The remix is offered in its dub version as well for those who want to enjoy Grum action in its full glory. Meramek has already some cool Anjunadeep releases and here he delivers an exceptional deep house meets electronic eclectic house version that will attract your attention straight away. With UK garage house influences and without application of the full vocal the remix sounds perfect for the more uplifting parts of your deep house excursions. Finally Logistics remix is the inspiring and truly creative drum n bass version that starts with cool intro to allow the vocal to shine and create the emotional impetus for the liquid drum n bass to come in and carry away the listener for relaxing, soulful and calming journey that sounds right and exact for the next Cafe del Mar style compilation. I would love to see an uplifting trance remix on that package that Above & Beyond can dedicate to their old school fans! #PureClass #PureGold Love iT



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