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Remixes

helix

Photo via Resident Advisor

Grime/techno/jungle hybrids have become all the rage in the UK over the past few months with producers like Peverelist, Girl Unit, Tessela and more striving to make their tracks as bare-bones and percussive as possible. Of course, Hessle Audio (specifically Pearson Sound) has been pushing this sound for years and has received many plaudits for it, but its recent popularity has opened the floodgates for experimentation. Of those dipping his toes into the mix, Atlanta-based Helix has produced some of the most engrossing results, starting with “Drum Track” off of Night Slugs Allstars Vol. 2 and continuing with Club Constructions Vol. 4. The young producer’s tracks are skeletal and, at times, harsh, but also retain a certain euphoric quality that resonates in his brief, but tactful synth work. On Helix’s remix of Chits’ “Looking So Good” (out now on Astro Nautico), the stomping kick drums are the clear focus, but percolating chord arrangements keep the track from fomenting into industrial madness and it’s this balance of mid-range tones and deep low end that allows the remix to function as something more than a DJ tool. Stream the remix below and look out for the vinyl release on 11/26.

t&a records unruly records

It’s an unfortunate fact, but most people my age first came into contact with Baltimore club and its various offshoots because of Diplo and Mad Decent. It happened. We’re over it now. Next week (October 22), T&A Records (in conjunction with Unruly Records) will release a compilation of Bmore classics to the tune of DJ Class’ “Tear Da Club Up”, Scotty B’s “Niggaz Fightin” and the one that started it all, Blunted Dummies’ “House For All”. Like that isn’t enough to keep us salivating for months, the good people at T&A have wrangled some talented young folk (DJ Sliink, Sam Tiba & MYD included) to update these classics and give them a modern, internet age spin. For our money, it wasn’t any of these new chaps who stole the show though. That honor goes to scene legend KW Griff of “Bring in the Katz” fame who took on “House For All” and clearly has not lost his ability to impart madness on everything he touches. Stream and download Griff’s remix below and hit the jump to stream Sliink, Sam Tiba & Myd’s efforts.

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victoria kim

Victoria Kim have made a name for themselves via slightly gimmicky, but highly effectual remix work and their latest effort, a direct, club-oriented remix Rihanna’s “Diamonds” is no different. “다이몬드스”  (diamonds in Korean) relies on stomping kick drums, undulating sub bass and RiRi’s original vocals with a result that falls somewhere between Hysterics’ (Girl Units) contribution to the Night Slugs Club Constructions series and Objekt’s technically proficient techno. Wouldn’t be surprised at all if this one starts showing up in some heavy hitter DJ sets in the coming weeks.

urulu

Back in August, Urulu released the Left Coast EP on Let’s Play House’s white label series. The EP overtly celebrated Urulu’s move to Los Angeles (“Pacific Coast” and “Sunset Blvd.” are two song titles), but also saw the British producer throw praise at his American predecessors in a way that we haven’t witnessed to date. The influence of Roy Davis Jr., Cajmere and The Juan Maclean is palpable in Left Coast‘s rhythmic structure, use of effects and (typical of a Urulu effort) and utilization of sonorous soul samples. Recently, the man born Taylor Freels took on remix duties for Australian duo Yolanda Be Cool’s latest single, “To Be Alone”, and the result only solidifies his heavyweight credentials. Excellent pacing sets off a shuffling rhythm, a pleasing base that is later accentuated by a surprisingly deft low end touch. It’s not hard to imagine why Los Angeles’ house denizens are already lapping up this young producer’s releases and looking eagerly to his next booking. Stream and download the remix below and the follow the XLR8R link for a free download

oneman

The past nine months have been tough, what with Oneman only appearing on Rinse.FM for two hours every Tuesday! It’s been nine months since the release of Solitaire Vol. 1, the London-based DJ’s self-released, rapid-fire mix au jus and it’s about time we receive another 80+ song peppering of the finest in grime, dubstep, drill and R&B. Like most Oneman efforts, Vol. 2’s highlights come in the form of idiosyncratic mixes between of-the-moment hip hop and ‘nuum-style UK tunes. Rising Glacial Sound artist Rabit has quite a presence in the mix, as does the drawling Memphis style presented by the likes of Lil Ugly Mane and Denzel Curry. Check out the cover art and tracklist after the jump…

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nadus

After giving Yeezus’ “Send It Up” the club treatment last month, the Brick Bandits reppin’ and Philadelphia-based Nadus has contributed his impressive abilities to Travi$ Scott’s WondaGurl produced, and A$AP Ferg featuring “Uptown”. The original has been lighting up traps and trunks for for a minute now after it was originally released as part of Scott’s Owl Pharaohs tape, but it seems like Scott is on the verge of a major leap that will likely see his back catalogue exposed to far more attention. The track’s menacing, chord progression and creative use of a number of flows (from both Scott and Ferg) make it a perfect subject for Nadus’ rhythmic use of vocals as the synth work is virtually kept intact and used as a hypnotic base for a menagerie of vocal stabs. Word on the street is that Nadus will be releasing an EP through Belgian label Pelican Fly in the near future so if you’re not familiar with his expansive remix catalogue then get clickin’.

sinjin-hawke1

Last week, Sinjin Hawke let loose a remix of DJ Assault and Socalled’s ghetto house number “Sleepover” and today, we’ve received another Hawke remix of DJ Funk’s “Three Fine Hoes” in what appears to be an attempt to delve into the unfairly maligned sub-genre. In typical fashion, both remixes are bombastic as hell and built around some crisp, huge sounding horn stabs. I remember the latter having an especially large impact on the dancefloor at the Witness 3.0 event at 1015 Folsom in San Francisco, but both are sure to have an especially long run in DJ sets the world over due both to their enormous capacity for genre busting goodness and their always wonderful freeness. Stream Hawke’s Funk remix below and catch the Assault & Socalled jawn after the jump.

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gunplay isaiah toothtaker

A few months ago, we featured an interesting Blue Sky Black Death remix of a to-be-released song by Gunplay and Isaiah Toothtaker called “Frownin'”. The combination of Miami’s Gunplay and Arizona’s Toothtaker seemed left field at first, but both MC’s flow together impressively and the song is a cauldron of reckless abandon, vivid street realism and cutthroat punchlines. Yesterday, a full Frownin’ EP (mixtape?) was released featuring both the original measure and a bevy of remixes from producers as varied as Low End Theory regular Free The Robots and mashup bloggers The Hood Internet. It’s a mixed bag quality-wise, but their are quite a few interesting takes on the originals, the most engrossing coming from Robert Vaughn aka PrisonGarde’s (formerly retired?) Sixtoo alias. This isn’t a tape you’re going to want to listen to front to back, but the tape takes an interesting approach and the artwork is brilliant. Stream and download below.

dj sliink

You’ve probably heard Cashmere Cat’s remix of Miguel’s “Do You”. You’ve probably heard people talking about this whole Jersey club thing, whether they’re dissecting stuttered kick drums or making an uncomfortable passing reference in a trap think piece. You’ve probably listened to songs by DJ Sliink, Trippy Turtle, DJ Kiff, Uniique and the rest of the gang. Now it’s time to listen to DJ Sliink’s edit of the former. It’s predictably excellent. We will be playing it constantly on full volume in the proverbial office for quite some time. Enjoy.

Perfect Strangers

Way back in 2012, West Coast beat maven Devonwho released the two part Perfect Strangers tape, a didactic mixture of club influences and psychedelia-tinged hip hop production. Feeling that Perfect Strangers deserved an official release, Portland label Dropping Gems has taken it upon themselves to re-release the tape on cassette and to draw from their wide net of Pacific Northwest-based producers to include six ( ! ) brand new remixes. Devon has worked with Dropping Gems in the past through his cerebral Wires For Salu nom de plume and Perfect Strangers represents the fullest manifestation (to date) of both artist and label’s collective vision. The cassette/digital re-release is set for an August 13 drop, but you can pre-order both here. To celebrate the re-release, we have been gifted the opportunity to premiere a remix of “ghostpt2” from Seattle-based producer Denley. Whereas Devon’s music generally inhabits a rather subdued context, Denley blasts “ghostpt2” into space, giving it the sort of bombastic sheen we’ve come to expect from producers like S-Type, or even DJ Toomp. It’s a departure from the original’s intention, but Denley’s triumphant synth work gives the remix enough legs to operate as a truly large reinvention. Stream/download below the remix below and be sure to pre-order the cassette!