house montage

First off, some goods from a friend over at ILX. Smooth Touch was one of those Strictly Rhythm monikers from the early '90s that released one single that defined a sound at the time, and what a single it was. "House of Love," here given the remix workout from one of its producers and NY house legend Erick Morillo along with Ani Phearce, is a sweaty, attitudinal number that makes people want to slam. Never underestimate Morillo, my friends— the man did co-produce "I Like To Move It," after all.

Smooth Touch- House of Love (More/Phearce Mix)



Next, a flip to more ponderous techno from Derrick May, who worked with techno-ambient luminaries System 7 on a lovely record called Mysterious Traveller back in 2002. "Icon (Montage Mix)" is a mix of a lush, magisterially European synth loop smashed with May's acidy Detroit rhythms. Perfect for the fall, this is one that gets a lot of play on my headphones.

Derrick May/System 7- Icon (Montage Mix)

Tomorrow, some more.

sailors beware

Okay, so I told a little fib-- the mix isn't coming today. Probably tomorrow or Monday, at the latest. Sorry for the delay, but I just don't have the time to do it this weekend, as many old friends have come to visit for a bit and the schedule is packed.

But I do have a special treat for you: an old school, totally destroying remix from Carl Craig. Much has been made of the man's 2007 remix work for Junior Boys and Faze Action, but he was still working it back in 1994, as can be heard on his astounding take on System 7's "Sirenes." The single version of the track also features remixes from Laurent Garnier and Marshall Jefferson, but Craig puts them both to shame with some breaks-oriented techno that might very well be among my favorite works of the moment. The kicks are heavy, the hi-hats and snares are crisply pervasive, and the synths are luscious and wailing throughout. The well-defined bass-line also brings a great deepness to the track. Perhaps what is most interesting about the remix, though, is that it is very much in line with what Craig has been doing recently-- melodic lines and secondary synth bits are looped and come in at specific moments to build maximum drama, so that at times the track is truly sparse, while at others it is very wet and very full.

System 7- Sirenes (System 7.1)(Carl Craig Remix)

Tomorrow, a classic from Jeff Mills, and maybe that mix!