F! Girls Reunion

Who wouldn't remember the late-at-night lifestyle show F! on Studio 23 back in the late 90s and early 00s -- Cher Calvin, Daphne Oseña-Paez, Angel Aquino, and Amanda Griffin (who replaced  Cher in the last 3 years run of the show).

I remember my BFF Jason and I used to pretend as Daphne and Angel respectively whenever we do shopping, visit a spa, eat at a restaurant, even listening to music - we would give our commentaries and blurbs the F girls way. 

I used to compare them to the Charmed Ones (Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, and Alyssa Milano) but instead of doing witchcraft, they are TV hosts. And when Rose McGowan replaced Shannen (who got booted out of the show), just as Amanda Griffin replaced Cher (who took on an opportunity with FOX News), it was kind of a perfect comparison. At first, Rose seems to not have any chemistry with Alyssa and Holly just as Amanda seemed an underdog to Daphne and Angel but later on proved that both replacements were as effective as their incumbents, just in a different manner.

So when Daphne and Cher tweeted about getting together with Angel, and Amanda on Mornings @ ANC, I got so excited and really wanted to watch the episode! It will be a historic moment that all four of them would be all together.

Below is the Monings @ ANC episode (links courtesy of @DaphneOP)

Were you also an avid follower of F? Share some of your thoughts--

Album Review: Madonna - MDNA

Madonna's 12th studio album MDNA offers some familiar futuristic EDM sound with a touch of Madge. This could sound like her previous work Hard Candy, when all artists at the time were aching to be Timbalandised. As Madge is known to cope with trends very well and can transform into what is relevant, she manages to score an album with today's sound - electronic dance music. Working with producers like Benny Benassi, Martin Solveig, Ray of Light collaborator William Orbit, among the few, Madonna proves yet again why she has the staying power in the business. However, for fans as myself, I feel the album does not deliver a seemingly come-back attempt from a 4-year hiatus, and also that hope for a Ray Of Light ish smash album also dissipated. 

The concept of MDNA, in reference to MDMA drug, or an abbreviated version of Madonna, or Madonna DNA rocked my brain for a couple of months. Those months I have anticipated that she will deliver an in-your-face album to all of the princesses threatening her of her Queen of Pop throne. But to no avail, I feel that she wasn't able to do so. Perhaps with album sales, she did prove her loyal following. But as a loyal follower myself, I feel she has again succumb to the pressures of the post-GaGa pop world. I was hoping she would be setting new trends and not trying to prove why she is the queen. Although some good tracks were produced, there are no tracks sounding they could pass the test of time. But it might be too early to judge so let's see.

On a lighter note, I want to highlight some of the tracks that are worthy listens: Gang Bang sounds like a sequel to Revolver and its video could only be aptly directed by Quentin Tarantino; other tracks like I'm Addicted (where she repeatedly sings MDNA then it turns out to be MDMA in the end), Turn Up The Radio, I Don't Give A comply to today's standard of what an EDM-inspired track should be. Another track that sounds like her previous hits: Beautiful Stranger for I'm A Sinner; and Ray of Light for Beautiful Killer. Do check out the deluxe edition, as it has some great add ups.

Track list

01. Girl Gone Wild
02. Gang Bang
03. I'm Addicted
04. Turn Up The Radio
05. Give Me All Your Luvin'
06. Some Girls
07. Superstar
08. I Don't Give A
09. I'm A Sinner
10. Love Spent
11. Masterpiece
12. Faaling Free

Deluxe:

01. Beautiful Killer
02. I Fucked Up
03. B-day Song
04. Best Friend
05. Give Me All Your Luvin' (Party Rock Remix)
06. Love Spent (Acoustic) (iTunes pre-order only)

Let me know what you think--

Album Review: Ashley Wallbridge - The Inner Me

All eyes on Ashley Wallbridge - one of 2012's most promising EDM acts, and Armada Records latest recruits. Hailing from the United Kingdom, the young producer now presents to the community The Inner Me, his debut artist album after a hard work in the studio, flowing inspiration, and fine-tuning.

Featuring 17 brand new unreleased tracks, his debut album 'The Inner Me' reveals many new faces of Ashley Wallbridge. Awakening with a deep, down-tempo track, the album slowly but steady unfolds into a mix of progressive, trance and even some sound score classic music. Commisioning vocals from the likes of Audrey Gallagher, Meighan Nealon, Matias Lehtola, musical synergy with producers like Andy Moor, and Kobalt Infusion and of course the bright, unique sound of Wallbridge himself, make this an album with character and power. The album also contains a re-worked version of the track he first got noticed - Faces (with Andy Moor) and a few more hit tunes like Mumbai Traffic, and his current entry to the Universal Religion 5 collection Vision

Track list:

01 Emotions
02These Walls (feat. Elleah)
03 Kopanang (feat. Kobalt Infusion)
04 Careful
05 Zorro
06 Faces (with Andy Moor) (feat. Meighan Nealon) (The Inner Me Mix)
07 Soul Seek
08 Vision (The Inner Me Mix)
09 Meta4
10 Mumbai Traffic
11 Keep The Fire (feat. Elleah)
12 Ibiza
13 World To Turn (with Andy Moor) (feat. Gabriela) (The Inner Me Mix)
14 Bang The Drum (feat. Audrey Gallagher)
15 Feel Again (feat. Matias Lehtola)

iTunes Bonus Tracks:

16 JYNX (The Inner Me Mix)
17 Sunrise

What do you think?

Album Review: Trance Nation 2012 (Remixed by Cosmic Gate)

The annual Trance Nation compilation from Ministry of Sound Records is out now, and this time the remixes are by one of my all-time fave duo Cosmic Gate. 

Following 2011's remix by Rank 1, this compilation shows no slowing down from it's predecessor. Expect ergasmic tracks from Trance giants like Sander van Door, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, and from new contingents like Andrew Bayer, Arty, and Mat Zo all wrapped up with a bough on it by Claus Terhoeven (a.k.a. Nic Chagall) and Stefan Bossems (a.k.a. DJ Bossi) collectively known as Cosmic Gate. Compiling some of their favourite producers, remixers, and artists over a 2CD release, Nic & Bossi perfectly capture the future sound of the genre. The duo explains: "It’s an honor for us to be mixing this international, established and influential brand mix series by Ministry Of Sound and be the next ambassador after respected colleagues and friends like Above & Beyond, Andy Moor and Rank1!"

One note worthy track that really caught my attention and ear drums is Cosmic Gate and Andrew Bayer's track Nothing Ever Lasts. The said track headlines the first cd. This 2-CD goodie is such a good listen you wouldn't even realise that two hours had already passed just by listening to it. It then ends with a CG classic Fire Wire 2011 remix (that can also be found on CG's Back 2 The Future Remixes complilation)

Track list:

CD1:
01. Cosmic Gate & Andrew Bayer – Nothing Ever Lasts (Extended Intro Mix)
02. Jerome Isma – Ae - Speed
03. Nic Chagall & Duderstadt Feat. Relyk – Alone With You
04. Cosmic Gate – Crushed
05. Boom Jinx Feat. Justine Suissa – Phoenix From The Flames (Maor Levi Remix)
06. Sunleed – Rasalhague
07. Temple One Feat. Neev Kennedy – Love The Fear (Tom Fall Remix)
08. Mat Zo – Bipolar
09. Emma Hewitt – Colours (Cosmic Gate Remix)
10. LTN – Ordinary People (Anhken Remix)
11. Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic – Always Exotic
12. Alex Kunnari Feat. Ben Andreas – Taste The Sun (Tom Fall Instrumental)
13. Space Rockerz Feat. Ellie Lawson – So Out Of Reach
14. Matt Davey – Castaway (Daniel Hairston Lonely Road Remix)

CD2:
01. Cosmic Gate with Myon & Shane 54 and Aruna – All Around You (Extended Intro Mix)
02. Ost & Meyer – Scarlett Heaven (Dan Stone Remix)
03. Ummet Ozcan – Cocoon
04. Tiesto – Flight 643 (Nash & Pepper Remix)
05. Cosmic Gate & Arnej – Sometimes They Come Back For More (Stoneface & Terminal Remix)
06. Above & Beyond – Formula Rossa (Nitrous Oxide Remix)
07. Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Be Your Sound (Extended Mix)
08. Cosmic Gate – The Theme
09. Kyau & Albert – Are You Fine (Arty Remix)
10. Sander van Doorn, Adrian Lux – Eagles (Album Mix)
11. Cold Blue – Coconut
12. Gareth Emery – Tokyo
13. Marcel Woods – Accelerate (Chris Schweizer Big Room Mix)
14. Cosmic Gate – Fire Wire (Cosmic Gate’s Back 2 The Future Remix)

If you have this compilation or have listened to this record, do share your thoughts--