Bizarre combinations usually make for mind-blowing collaborations, but in the case of Michael Bolton and Lady Gaga the outcome has been somewhat of a luke-warm mediocre connection. Granted, I wouldn’t call myself the biggest fan of either artists, but their joint effort Murder My Heart just seems like an excuse for the worn out Lady Gaga to plaster her name on, in order to grant Bolton some modern attention for his comeback. Well, at least we can thank our lucky stars that she’s not biting M.I.A. for this feature. Even though the track is probably great for some background music while you’re driving an unknown route that needs your attention more than the radio music, Boysnoize Records’ Strip Steve has managed to serve up an immensely strong remix that would probably be hazardously distracting for my road trips, but I’m not complaining. In his wondrous rework, Strip Steve succeeds in cutting out Bolton’s characterless vocals and scrambles up whatever is left of Gaga’s voice into smashes of warm echoes in between nostalgic chords and a deliciously energetic beat. There’s something about the overall feel of this track that somehow translates like the scoring of a tragic love story that would get even the toughest of guys shedding a tear or two. Melancholy, affection and regret with a twist of proud bass. With a naturally binding sound that feels like it builds up almost chronologically, this remix is a retold fairytale that you’ll want to hear over and over again.

MICHAEL BOLTON FT. LADY GAGA – MURDER MY HEART (STRIP STEVE REMIX) (320 kbps)