Sounds of 2015, nos. 65 to 61

Back we are again now with the next edition of "Sounds of 2015". We're more than a third of the way through the year's hits, and there have already been a few surprises and some songs which I think have been unfairly neglected in more recent times. Let's see what this week brings, and as ever I'll start by mentioning my rules for song inclusion:

Rule 1: Still available in the same or (1b) similar form direct from the/an original artist.
Rule 2: Available from a third party, with reason to believe the artist is fine with this.
Rule 3: So famous that it would be plain silly to leave it out.
Rule 4: Being unlisted is not, on its own, grounds for exclusion. 

Guess what, folks, it's another week when I can feature all five of the songs! This is very unlikely to be the case for the entire rest of the chart, but I'm not going to complain when it happens! Here's the track list:

65: PrinceWhateverer – Left Behind
64: SquareHead – Tricks Up My Sleeve (remix)
63: Foozogz – I'll Fly (remix)
62: Silva Hound – Diamonds
61: Ferexes – Blank Space

Next, it's time for the actual songs, and the perhaps equally terrifying prospect of Logan rambling on about them. Off we go, pop pickers...

65: PrinceWhateverer – Left Behind

 

Rule 1: uploaded to YouTube 4 Jul 2015
Today's collection is led off by the extraordinarily durable and similiarly prolific PrinceWhateverer. My British compatriot is very much in metallic mode here, with this look at the struggles of Applejack as her remaining family struggle to go on after the deaths of the Apple Parents. I'm not one of the fandom's greatest fans of metal, especially its screamier aspects, but look (and listen) beyond that and the lyrics are really quite heartbreaking: "It's hard to fake a smile / When you've drowned in denial", for example. This song was included on the artist's REINVENT album the following year, and consequently you can download it for £1 from PrinceWhateverer's Bandcamp.

64: SquareHead – Tricks Up My Sleeve (remix)

Rule 1: uploaded to YouTube 10 Oct 2014
We had a 4, SquareHead's song last week with the "Battle of the Bands" remix, and this time it's the turn of the same artist's "Tricks Up My Sleeve". As might be considered somewhat appropriate for a song about a magician released in October – albeit October 2014 – this interpretation of the Rainbow Rocks track has just a little bit of spookiness about its sound. The old-school electronic bloops may not be to everybody's taste, but I'm rather fond of them. Trixie would doubtless be pleased! You can grab the HQ version of this remix as a name-your-price download on SquareHead's Bandcamp.

63: Foozogz – I'll Fly (remix)

 

Rule 1: Uploaded to YouTube 21 Jul 2015
Although it's a long time since Foozogz last released mostly MLP songs, his releases from his time in the forefront of the fandom's music scene are still widely remembered and played. This 180 bpm adaptation of Rainbow Dash's song to Tank is a pretty characteristic one, with a fast beat and a whole lot of bouncy instrumental breaks. As a YouTube commenter says, this remix has something of a different atmosphere to the rather heartstring-pulling show original. Possibly not my favourite Foozogz track, but then the version in the episode isn't my favourite Daniel Ingram creation from that era either. You can get it in name-your-price form from Foozogz' Bandcamp.

 

62: Silva Hound – Diamonds

 

Rule 1: Re-uploaded to YouTube 16 Jul 2015
Do not adjust your set: this song starts out very quiet indeed – but it doesn't stay that way! Another of the fandom's legendary musical names, Silva Hound is still occasionally coming out with MLP-themed tracks. In spite of the track name, this one isn't about Diamond Tiara but Rarity. Silva Hound goes somewhat back to his roots here, with strong influence from the French House style he was known for in his early days, but allied to what he calls his "Cool Friends" style as well. Lots of carefully selected vocal chops and a real dubstep dancefloor filler, one that was played live at BUCK 2016. If you want it in high quality, head over and get it for $1.29 from Silva Hound's Bandcamp.

61: Ferexes – Blank Space

 

Rule 1: Re-uploaded to YouTube 10 Jun 2015
Another appearance in the chart now for animator/songsmith Ferexes. We're in dubsteppy territory again, so as ever with this genre it might not be to everyone's taste (I'm not a huge dubstepper myself, as you may just possibly have guessed...) but I do like the contrast here. On the one hoof there's the usual wubbiness, on the other a much quieter and more reflective tone, one which nicely suits Ferexes' own animation of a slightly wind-blown Derpy contemplating nature. A slightly unexpected show lyric chop quite late on, and a reflective moment at the very end, but otherwise there are few major surprises here. You can pick up the song in whatever format suits your pleasure for $1 on Ferexes' Bandcamp.