Raz & Afla recently released “The Cycle”, their first album on their Paris-based like-minded imprint Mawimbi Records. Unanimously acclaimed by BBC Radio tastemakers (Lauren Laverne, Mary Anne Hobbes, Craig Charles, Jamz Supernova), the album also met with great success with the French press, with the support of FIP and Radio Nova, but also with many DJs (Laurent Garnier, GUTS, Myd, Kamma & Masalo…). Conceived as a logical continuation of the original album, “The Cycle (Remixes)” declines its rich inspirations through 8 remixes showcasing old and new trends of the worldwide club music scene.
Under his alias Bassically, Raz Olsher offers an ultra-energizing version of “Survive”, using a classic “amen break” groove and combining it with powerful brass arrangements and a rumbling bass. These UK bass music influences are also to be found in Crate Classics’ “Walk The Walk” remix which by doubling up the tempo, transforms the original arrangement into a jungle beat.
Revisiting one of the album’s key tracks, Israeli producer Kalbata reconnects with his dubstep inclinations in his remix of “This Cycle”, also adding tasty dub techno flavours. A prominent figure of French label Blanc Manioc, Praktika offers a frenetic reinterpretation of “Mofanya”, delivering a cosmic house banger reminiscent of the productions of Caribou/Daphni. A sharp contrast with the drum & bass version of the same track delivered by Waggles, a DJ/producer based in Bristol, which won him the Mofanya remix contest put together by Raz & Afla.
Fresh off their debut EP on Terra Magica, Dirk Leyers (Africaine 808) and Felipe Salmon (Dengue Dengue Dengue) aka Los Pulpitos publish their first remix: a free-minded rework of “Kye Kye Kule”, in which they express their bass music influences and showcase their avant-garde electronic sound. Ibibio Sound Machine’s saxophonist Max Grunhard delivers an oldschool-sounding remix of “Check Yourself”, making great use of the classic TR909 drum machine and vocoded sounds reminiscent of electro productions à la Arthur Baker.
A London duo that we no longer need to introduce, Village Cuts completely reimagines “Shall Prevail”, doubling up the tempo and adding elegant marimba sounds, for a brilliant version which reminds London UK Funky, Chicago footwork or even South American marimba music!
crédits
