Music, as a wise woman once declared, makes the people come together.

As with his 2010 studio album Believe, Progressive House DJ/producer Morgan Page‘s third effort In The Air relies on vocal contributions by talented singers hailing from a multitude of genres. As he explained of his new album: “This record exists between the club and pop worlds with a little bit of indie thrown in there as well. I wanted to try some new flavors and attitudes, while keeping my sound intact.”

Accordingly, there’s a slew of new names to add to Morgan’s ever-growing list of collaborations, including Tegan & Sara (who aren’t actually strangers to the dance scene, having already guested on the brilliant “Feel It In My Bones” off of Tiesto‘s Kaleidoscope in 2009), as well as singer-songwriters like Greg Laswell, Shelley Harland and Coury Palermo.

“In The Air,” the album’s opening track, lead single and namesake, also happens to be Page’s first #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Airplay Chart–and rightfully so, as it’s one of the best songs of 2011: Co-produced by BT, Sultan and Ned Shepard and featuring the vocals of frequent Telepopmusik collaborator Angela McCluskey, the crisp, chill-inducing powerhouse dance anthem was perfectly timed along with the changing season when it topped the chart in October: “I’m feeling a change in the air,” McCluskey hauntingly croons above the song’s pulsing beat.

The album’s second single on the other hand, “Body Work,” finds the EDM maestro working up a sweat with Canadian sister act Tegan & Sara. After the pounding club mix of the song was unleashed in late 2011, Page unveiled the album version back in February 2012; a slightly more pensive take on the track, underscoring the tender (if not slightly awkward) tone of the Canadian duo’s sexually-charged club thumper. “You do your body work/I feel my pulse working overtime/I get shy in these lights/I feel your body doing overtime,” the twins anxiously warble.

Beyond the album’s two massive singles, there’s plenty of highlights packed into the eclectic (yet cohesive) record, including “Where Did You Go?” with Jonathan Mendelsohn and Greg Laswell’s stunning album closer “Addicted,” which finds the singer achingly recounting the details of his troubled relationship atop a gorgeous, piano-tinged melody. “I might be addicted to how you always get the best of me,” Laswell sorrowfully croons above the soaring chorus.

Two of my favorite voices also make an appearance: There’s the tranced-out “Carry Me” starring omnipresent dance floor queen Nadia Ali and her distinctively melodic vocals, as well as “Gimme Plenty,” which features nu-jazz troupe Bitter:Sweet‘s Shana Halligan. (A very unexpected and happy surprise!) The songs sees the songstress singing lush Britney-like commands across the sultry, bouncing chorus: “Gimme more, gimme love, gimme plenty,” she coos.

In The Air is an absolute treat from start to finish, featuring solid production value that trumps Morgan’s previous record and plenty of soul-searching lyricism that go beyond the oft-basic themes of so many dance tunes on heavy rotation in the clubs. Every song’s a smash, filled with emotion and pulsating energy–the best qualities that EDM has to offer.

Check out a sample mega-mix of the album below…

Okay, so I kind of can’t believe this is actually happening right now but this is ACTUALLY HAPPENING right now.

MuuMuse favorites Angela McCluskey (of Télépopmusik fame), BT and Sultan & Ned Shepard have all come together to join forces with L.A.-based DJ Morgan Page for “In The Air,” the first single from his forthcoming studio album due out later this year. WHAT?!?!

The extended mix of the almighty collaborative club track–which was just released to Beatport on July 5 (yesterday)–is an (unsurprisingly) mind-blowing 7 minutes of luscious, pounding House rhythms, live instruments and signature hypnotic vocals from Ms. McCluskey. “I’m feeling a… / I’m feeling a change in the air,” the chanteuse croons on repeat.

Oh, and the lyrics were reportedly pieced together by clippings of magazine headlines. I MEAN…!!!

In The Air feat. Angela McCluskey (Extended Mix) by morganpage

Chills. Absolute chills. This is everything. I cannot wait to add this to my Summer Nights soundtrack of ’11!

“In The Air” was released to Beatport on July 5. It will be released to iTunes on August 2. (Beatport)

It’s time for a brand new MuuCast!

Fair warning: This isn’t a collection of juicy booty bangers or sizzling electro stompers–instead, it’s the stuff of dreams.

Inspired by my recent longing to travel, plenty of downtime and perhaps a touch of the holiday blues, I now present MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away, a sampling of songs with one idea in mind: To take you far, far away.

Music’s always been an escape for me, but the following collection inspires an especially strong sense of wanderlust. It’s the music I listen to when I’m looking for inspiration, feeling emotional, or–most often of all–when I’m preparing to drift into slumberville.

The playlist begins with El Perro Del Mar‘s “Change Of Heart,” my definitive come-down anthem for dulling the sound of loud drunks and creepy scumbags while riding the last train home out of Grand Central at 2 A.M., and closes with one of my all time favorites, Duke B‘s “Hey You (feat. Angela McCluskey),” which is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. (It also makes an appearance on MuuCast Episode Three!)

Regardless, it’s yours to keep. I hope you enjoy the escape!

…And the semi-awkward spoken word introduction.

DL: MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away

Oh, and apologies for no actual Utada on the tracklisting–I just thought her cover for Single Collection Volume 2 made a perfect match for the MuuCast’s mood!

To see the full tracklisting, click “Read More”!

Read More…

One of my favorite sweet chanteuses from many of Télépopmusik‘s works, Ms. Angela McCluskey, has wandered her way onto a Schick commercial campaign recently, featuring a brand new track called “I’m Not The Girl,” produced by LMNTL (a name that, until I spelled their name out just now, eluded me in its meaning. Wow.) The singer announced in a MySpace bulletin that the track was now available from Schick for free–not that she entirely loves this version of the song:

we did it a few weeks ago ..I;m still not convinced this should be the verison…as I know the vibe you all liked was the ah ah oh oh bit lol but the agency insisted on a song…whichyou might like…Im not too crazy about it …for more chilled electronic which is what the commercial is check out my telepop stuff….not too many words just a cool vibe…

Anyway, I think the song is gorgeous–perhaps a bit more structured and wordy than her usual work, but still just as airy and pleasant as anything else.

Just because she’s not in love with the song doesn’t mean I can’t be after all.

DL: LMNTL – I’m Not The Girl (featuring Angela McCluskey)

Click to stream the latest (though not necessarily newly recorded) song added to Angela McCluskey‘s MySpace: “End Of My Rope.”

What’s that you’re hearing? Why, it’s the lulling stum of guitars and a vocal performance born straight out of the Courtney Love school of swagger!

But most curiously (and quite undetectably), it’s the chilly sound of Icelandic winter.

During the dullness that was the European promotional press junket for her 2006 album, The Things We Do, Angela survived on the music of Icelandic band Bang Gang to keep her going through a mindless series of interviews while shacked up in her hotel room. So when she was offered the opportunity to fly out to Iceland for a recording session with Bang Gang’s lead, Bardi Johansson, she jumped on it immediately…thus producing “End Of My Rope,” recorded in December of ’06 and due for release on the songstress’ upcoming record under Republic Project.

Make sure to have a read through Angela’s incredibly witty account from three years ago of her journey to record with Johansson: From braving the winter chill to encountering Jason Priestly’s face on the telly, she’ll have you murmuring “So that’s why they call it Iceland!” at least once per paragraph.

Click below to hear more from Angela McCluskey!

As anyone should already well know, Télépopmusik is one of best electro trip-hop acts around these days. Of the wide range of collaborators through the Télépopmusik collection, no artist is more representative of the classic Télépopmusik sound than the incredible Angela McCluskey. (Who, by the way, happens to have a lovely discography of her own right.)

Just a few days ago, a track called “Hey You” cropped up on her own MySpace. While I can’t guarantee it as a new Télépopmusik creation, it sure sounds like it. The song has since become a staple of my nighttime soundtrack. It’s both ethereal and absolutely essential, bursting with rich, textured layers and heavenly vocals.

Sadly, I have discovered in my incredible frustration that I cannot rip the track or find it elsewhere. I suppose that’s intentional…No bother, then. Please check out Angela’s MySpace here and listen to the track on repeat. I’m sure you’ll find yourself playing it on repeat the whole night through as well!

Finally listening to the debut album of Madita, I completely take back any and all comparisons to the work of Feist. This is nothing like Feist. Her new single may have shards of folkishness, but if it is anything like her debut, it’s merely a speck of musical diversity found in the greater scheme of things. Madita’s self titled debut is an incredibly rich and varied jazz-tronica album, with tinges of Latin-based beats, lounge music, and bouncy trip-hop. Each track is pulls toward a new direction; there are no common threads amongst the album’s tracks. Some feature Madita as a breathy lounge singer such as “Letter to You,” floating amongst liquid sound effect and ethereal landscapes. Then there’s “Monotony,” a track centered around hectic Latin-tinged trumpets and piano, never fully departing from jazz. Even more unexpected are Madita’s vocals in “Wannabe,” which very well could have been performed in the Noisettes’ set list, with its yelping, bitterly beautiful vocal stylings nearly identical Shingai Shoniwa. And then we have “Got,” which may have been recorded by Róisín Murphy during the Ruby Blue sessions. Her singing additionally bears resemblance to a less ambient Natalie Walker, and on the more trip-hop focused tracks, Angela McCluskey. Madita’s vocal ability is like a wonderful and unexpected mix of singers, meshed into one compilation. Her lyrical skills strangely work. I’m not sure if she fully grasps the English language (see phrases such as “steamy toilet”) but it nonetheless flows along with the song. The music itself is in the vein of Bitter:Sweet, but much less bouncy. This is the jazz record that Kylie always dreamed of recording. For those who don’t know, Kylie’s always dreamed about recording an album of jazz standards. This beat-heavy album is a perfect combination of pop with nu-jazz that would be utterly perfect for her to explore. It’s a musical style that I absolutely adore. Please give the selections a try!

DL: Madita – Got
DL: Madita – Wannabe
DL: Madita – Letter To You
DL: Madita – Ceylon

If you like what you hear, be sure to buy Madita online at Amazon.