uberzone

Retro-kitsch has never been more in fashion thanks to DJ Dan’s latest delve in to the future. Enlisting the help of Überzone, DJ Dan Presents: Future Retro, Evolution 3 (out today, April 6) throws back to the days when electro wizardry was born and a music revolution was well under way. As a microcosm of things to come, the third in the single series of Future Retro adopts the familiar form of one track representing days gone by and another glancing at the future, much like his debut full-length album Future Retro will do when it drops this later this summer.

Originally a number one hit on the Billboard R&B chart in 1985, Midnight Star’s funk-fuelled electro smash "Operator" had a big influence on Dan in his early years, prompting the honouree retrospective reworking.The usual suspects get dusted off from the vaults for a long overdue workout; sniffs of the TR-808 drum machine ooze from the roots of the track with the vocoded sounds of Blake Lewis gliding throughout. In typical 80s fashion, synths rule over the rhythms in an extravagant exhibition of electro-funk’d up pop with remixes courtesy of Miles Dyson, Nom De Strip and Bird Peterson.

DJ Dan & Überzone - Operator feat. Blake Lewis (Radio Edit) by nettwerkmusicgroup

On the B-side, "Chop Shop" showcases everything futuristic about Dan’s visions for music but interestingly wafts influences from the past, making it a truly visionary piece.

USAToday.com premiered the new single from DJ Dan & Überzone called "Operator," which features vocals by former American Idol contestant and USA Today Idol Chatter guest blogger Blake Lewis. Check out the video by clicking above or HERE.

Grab the Soundcloud stream of the track:
DJ Dan & Überzone - "Operator" feat. Blake Lewis (radio edit) 

"Operator" will appear on DJ Dan's third EP, DJ Dan Presents: Future Retro, Evolution 3 (April 6), in anticipation of his first full-length release, Future Retro. The track  was originally a chart-topping R&B smash for Midnight Starr in 1985, and serves of Dan's third "retro" tribute.