House and electronica are alive and well

Thanks to the DJ’s persistent survival via remixes, original material and worldwide touring, house music and electronica continue to thrive and prosper. Here are two CDs that burst with ideas, energy and club music.

Swedish House Mafia — Until Now (EMI/Polyeast). With this latest compilation serving as the soundtrack for Swedish House Mafia’s ongoing swan-song tour (the group hits Manila on Jan. 16), you can bet your sweetest mood ring that thousands will troop to the SM Mall of Asia Arena to celebrate and sing along to Don’t You Worry Child. That track and Greyhound — both original materials — are the obvious highlights, and we have the boys’ remixes of Coldplay tunes (Paradise and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall), and Temper Trap’s Sweet Disposition. Earlier tracks are heavy on the electronica groove, so get the album as our 2012 “recuerdo” of our hottest club nights.

Calvin Harris — 18 Months (Columbia/Sony Records). The CD album of recent Manila visitor, Calvin Harris, has already over four club hits. So, what’s not to like in this collection? The Harris formula is evident here and you can’t argue with success. The list of guest vocalists — from Rihanna, Florence to Ellie Goulding — makes the CD instant club heaven. On tracks like Here 2 China, Harris actually deviates from formula and they’re interesting tracks. There are some filler tracks that make for entertaining aural doodles. So, if ever you want an album that boasts of the more significant club staples in the last 18 months, this is the CD to get.