Soma’s been really busy this month providing my ears with plenty of new stuff, so much so I’ve been struggling to listen to it all and think up some words. But I’ve found a bit of time to crawl out of the gutter I had been occupying this Saturday to wax lyrical about Soma’s forthcoming.
Let’s start with the new Hi Fi Sci Fi compilation. Number four in the series is mixed by Scott turned Catalonian Funk D’Void. The bar has been set high, extremely high with his predecessors Ewan Pearson, Luciano and Alex Smoke all churning out sublime mixes. So what could be done do to keep pace or even set the bar higher? Funk D’Void has answered by bringing us a mix using breathy bright melodies and moods to create the energy and progression. This CD stands away from the K fuelled moody and dark but instead we are brought a distinct “happy” and melodic flavour which flies, glides and dives throughout.
On first listen I wasn’t too impressed, my exact thoughts were, “why is he playing this airy fairy shit?” Granted my first listen was during an after party binge where the K fuelled moody and dark fits in quite nicely. So ever the fair gentleman that I am, i gave the CD another go and I can say this CD really comes into its element in the right scenario. This CD is built for the wind down, the chilled out and the laid back. The intricate melodies and sweeps just suit these settings making the listener feel like a clichéd bird flying through the clouds at afternoon sunset. Serious, it really does. Deepness from H Foundation as well as Francois Dubois and Jimpster remixes add great atmosphere, whilst Apparat’s mix of Drip and Artec’s Comunickate applies intensity and edge.
If you listen to this at the right time it can be a great mix, I do wonder if Soma is releasing this bad boy too early as it is perfect for those lazy summer afternoon outside, inside or travelling about. This mix is solid and is definitely up there with the other Sci Fi Hi Fi CDs, but is it better or even the best? Not quite I’m afraid, Ewan Pearson’s and Alex Smoke’s efforts still pip it for me. However this is still a great effort and a breath of fresh air from Funk D’Void. 7/10
Next up are the new remixes from Lets Go Outside and their track I’ll Lick Your Spine. The original was a brilliant. It was a strange and eerie work out with a very breaky feel to it, one thing that I was sure of was that it was made to make you freakout which subsequently meant it featured a lot in my record box for most of last year. For the new year the remixes come from Massi DL and Ivan Smagghe with Tim Paris as well as the original mix from Repeat Repeat. Massi DL reshapes the track into a more familiar techno form using the breathy vocals and synth stabs from the original. It is very typical sounding, but it is done well and there is no doubt it will definitely work the floor nicely.
Slam - Staccato Rave
Silicone Soul adds two remixes. Their darkroom dub has a classic tribal workout on the percussion with the computer synth sounds being used to slowly layer up the intensity of the track. This mix is probably my favourite out of the lot. The Hypno House mix is a friendlier mix for I guess the “electro” house floors out there. I can see this remix slotting in easily but still standing out from the run of the mill. 7.5/10
Vector Lovers - Raumklang
And finally. Vector Lovers and his Raumklang release. Stand out tracks on this release is Derailleur’s Submission mix of Dusk Panorama and Little Plastic Figures. Derailleur’s mix is a great acid work out with classic acid squelches riding throughout and spacey pads give it its uniqueness. Little Plastic Figures pushes a round evil bass from the get go alongside pumping kick drums and intermittent echoes of haunting synths. Making it a nice dark little number. 6/10
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