01. C.B. Funk, “Subway to Cologne” [Story] (buy) It didn’t take long for the cloak of anonymity to be yanked off Story’s inaugural release, but it’s difficult to blame listeners for wanting to know its source. “Subway to Cologne” may be the best work yet from Christian Beißwenger, better known as C.B. Funk and recently revealed as half of the Arto Mwambe project. Transforming the droning sounds of public transport into a deep-house micro anthem, the tune subs humming pads for Rhodes, clamorous metal shakers for bongos, and wordless yet funky vocal drops for gals crying “house!” Its arrangements are expertly timed and its embellishments, such as the flirty flute licks, are divine. Beißwenger delivers on the promise shown in Arto Mwambe releases while leaping clear of popular pitfalls. Next time, perhaps, he’ll give in and start out with his name on the record.
02. Scott, “Memory Core” (Paul Frick remix)
[My Best Friend] (buy)
It’s a damn shame that Paul Frick’s first ever remix is relegated to digital only status, because it’s the finest track on Scott’s otherwise decent “Anytime” EP. “Memory Core” was originally somewhat messy before Frick rearranged the furniture and mades sense of its otherwise pleasurable elements. Streamlined and infinitely more floor-friendly, Frick’s version manages to keep a straight face while the vocals whisper and moan, “the girls are pretty” and “the beer is for free.” Balancing lighthearted motifs while entirely reformatting a track is no easy task, but it’s one Frick accomplishes his first time out of the gate.
03. DJ Boola, “Predator” [Innervisions] (buy)
It’s quite a vote of confidence in Romanian newcomer DJ Boola for the close knit Innervisions crew to release one of his first few tracks. But listening to “Predator,” the B side to Lil’ Tony’s unruly “House,” it becomes quite clear why they were so assured in his abilities. Its deceptively intricate melody ascends triumphantly from a thicket of knobby and swiveling percussion textures before bouncing off a thrilling counterpoint, all while maintaining a danceable groove. It’s a bit rawer than most Innervisions releases tend to be (as acknowledged in the “Basement Tracks” title), but given “Predator”’s underlying quality and lack of recognizeable peers, you know Dixon and co. are ready to vouch for their newest addition.
04. Telespazio, “Telemetric” (Arto Mwambe’s Guitar Down remix) [Tiny Sticks Records] (buy) We’ll admit it: Arto Mwambe’s remix of “Telemetric” is house musical revivalism at its most blatant and unabashed. And yet, that hardly detracts from the enormous joy we get each time its fat piano chords crash down, each time the euphoric synth riff riggles up the scale, and each time the sound of a hand sliding across a guitar’s strings winks knowingly at the indie disco palate of the original. It’s the sound of two producers going all in on their love for big cheesy house music, replete with drum roll, without shedding details to fit in with the crowd. Here’s to letting it all hang out every once in a while.
05. Krause Duo, “Box” [Milnor Modern] (buy)
The “Splitpak” EP marks one of the few times Das Krause Duo has released outside of the like-named and minded Music Krause. It also hosts one of their most accessible tracks (which is saying something) that retains their distinct flavor and approach to techno and house. The first foreboding vibes of “Box” quickly give way to bursts of intermingling scratchy, static-y and wonky drum programming. And once syncopated “horns” start lurching forward your ass starts wiggling, your mind thinks of rubber-stamped MDR 12″s. Here’s hoping the Duo steps outside more often if these are the results. We also highly recommend dB’s “Rich Kids On Cheap Drugs” from the same EP.
i’m really into that c.b. funk track, and it’s my first time hearing the tune. really digging how “deliberate” it sounds. boomp, thunk, boomp, thunk.
the only omission from all these charts i can think of is the new non-standard record by margaret dygas, which i just picked up this week and am enjoying quite a bit.
It didn’t take long for the cloak of anonymity to be yanked off Story’s inaugural release, but it’s difficult to blame listeners for wanting to know its source. “Subway to Cologne” may be the best work yet from Christian Beißwenger, better known as C.B. Funk and recently revealed as half of the Arto Mwambe project. Transforming the droning sounds of public transport into a deep-house micro anthem, the tune subs humming pads for Rhodes, clamorous metal shakers for bongos, and wordless yet funky vocal drops for gals crying “house!” Its arrangements are expertly timed and its embellishments, such as the flirty flute licks, are divine. Beißwenger delivers on the promise shown in Arto Mwambe releases while leaping clear of popular pitfalls. Next time, perhaps, he’ll give in and start out with his name on the record.
We’ll admit it: Arto Mwambe’s remix of “Telemetric” is house musical revivalism at its most blatant and unabashed. And yet, that hardly detracts from the enormous joy we get each time its fat piano chords crash down, each time the euphoric synth riff riggles up the scale, and each time the sound of a hand sliding across a guitar’s strings winks knowingly at the indie disco palate of the original. It’s the sound of two producers going all in on their love for big cheesy house music, replete with drum roll, without shedding details to fit in with the crowd. Here’s to letting it all hang out every once in a while.
I need to hear about 8 items off of Per’s list!
Paul Frick remix is so good. Thanks for pointing it out.
I’m a little underwhelmed with the C.B. Funk track we have at #1.
Give it a few more spins — it’s a grower.
i’m really into that c.b. funk track, and it’s my first time hearing the tune. really digging how “deliberate” it sounds. boomp, thunk, boomp, thunk.
the only omission from all these charts i can think of is the new non-standard record by margaret dygas, which i just picked up this week and am enjoying quite a bit.
really want that dygas record, still haven’t heard it…
I really love that Arto Mwambe mix. Works well mixing from X-Press 2 “Kill 100 (C2 Mix)”
paul frick rmx on Scott’s mbf debut release is such a huge piece of gorgeous house music, and i like Le K’s remix too.
great list