After the release of Cole Medina’s well-received remixes of “Innocent,” Eighth Dimension and Q-Burns Abstract Message believed all versions of this classic tune had been tapped. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Italian DJ duo Presslaboys have taken everyone by surprise with a new pair of stunning “Innocent” versions. It seems that Presslaboys had prodded the remix parts from the hands of Q-Burns Abstract Message in an unguarded moment, stealthily concocting their version over a few months in their secret Presslab Records studio. Fellow Italian DJ Gianluca Peruzzi joined Presslaboys on the main mix which fuses the gorgeous vocals of Lisa Shaw to a wholly original music accompaniment. The music swells and rises above notably solid club rhythms delivering a house music potion suitable for consuming in big rooms and late, late nights. The dub pares down Lisa’s vocal and accentuates the shimmering music-scape as some seriously tough house beats point the way to the dance floor. All of this adds up to a nice surprise from Eighth Dimension, Q-Burns Abstract Message, and Presslaboys to close out the summer while warming up select DJ sets.
Graeme Park – “This has brightened up my day no end! Wonderful.“ DJ Chus (Chus & Ceballos) – “Presslaboys main mix for me. I love it!“ Scott Hardkiss (God Within) – “Fantastic! Beautiful! Brilliant! These remixes should really tear it up in both big fancy clubs and radical underground parties. Lisa Shaw’s voice is as unique as ever. Q-Burns Abstract Message is officially now on a major roll!“ Kenneth Thomas (Perfecto) – “Nice!“ Redanka (Tarrentella & Redanka) – “Good mixes! Love the dub.“
True story: Q-Burns Abstract Message once DJ’ed underneath a weighty chainsaw covered in disco ball mirror squares, rotating roundly with silver beams flying off its blade. Imagine such a devious device honed for dance-floor devastation, its rumble tuned to bass-bin frequencies as its saw cuts through beats and melody. But we’re talking about a chainsaw wielded by beardy types, waving its mirror ball excess over sunrise-stroked beach sand. We blissfully believe this could be the sound of the “Balearic Chainsaw.”
The original “Balearic Chainsaw” is an extended, beefier version of what was previously found on the “Chainsaw” single, released spring 2011 on EIGHT-TRACKS. The piano-fueled, flamenco guitar-kissed version was hidden as the last song in the single. To our surprise, friends and foes alike asked for a longer version to send resonating over the waterfront. The requests have been answered, and this new version features an added groove coda that should send your neighbors dancing into the moon beams.
Who else could be more perfect for such flights of fancy than our long-time chum Scott Hardkiss? Coming off the brilliant Technicolor Dreamer album on his own God Within label, Scott tackled “Balearic Chainsaw” with a combination of gusto and happenstance. His mix is a rising force, solid rhythms and huggable bass lines anchoring a building swarm of piano, guitar, and cosmic, acid atmosphere. Not content with such mere musical coolness, Scott enlisted the gorgeous vocal contribution of Stevvi Alexander to further the “Balearic Chainsaw” message. Uplifting ain’t the half of it
Then there’s Scott’s remarkable Dub variation. Wild swirls of sound take control of this special version, aided by the unexpected contribution of DJ Afro from Los Amigos Invisibles, supplying his own dueling flamenco guitar strums and riffs. Euphoric motion for the most summery of dance-floors … it’s a classic Hardkiss maneuver.
A party like this needs a proper come-down, and for our back-to-mine moment we’ve enlisted the reputable chops of Gazeebo, mainstay of Denver’s Community Recordings. Working out an Italo/nu-disco throb, Gazeebo’s slinky rendition hits all the tingle buttons, giving us a slow motion refuge that still packs a low-end punch. It’s fitting and superb power-down for this “Balearic Chainsaw.”
Kaskade – “This is really nice, beautiful vocal and perfect summer vibe. Dig it.” Nick Warren – “Great mixes by Scott and the Gazeebo reprise is ace.” Anthony Pappa – “My favourite is “Gazeebo’s Reprise” and l will play this out.” diskJokke – “Lovely tracks, full support.” Ric McClelland (Scope) – “A very nice package.. I’m digging the original, Hardkiss dub, and the Gazeboo Reprise.” Gavin Hardkiss (Hawke) – “F**king stellar … these mixes will be played all summer.” Justin Harris (Freaks) – “I love Scott’s dub, and the original works, too, in the right place.”Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The Gazeebo Reprise is my favorite, but the extended original is nice, too. Spacey!” Greg Fenton (DMC Update) – “Great set of mixes, hard to choose a favorite.” Ray Mang – “Gazeebo’s got some depth! Quite like the Hardkiss Dub, too.” Will SumSuch (UrbanTorque) – “Nice package with a real sense of fun. I like it a lot. The Hardkiss dub is the one for me.” Marco Fullone (Radio Monte Carlo) – “A Balearic sound masterpiece!” Kosmas Epsilon (Proton Radio) – “Original and Gazeebo mixes are pure bliss! Amazing songs.” Dj Nova (Rodon FM Greece) – “This is the absolute Balearic release of 2011! Es Vedra found its soundtrack this year.” Harry Avers (NOICE!) – “F**king amazing Dub by Scott…. love the guitars.” DJ Naz (Buddha Bar) – “Ah, balearic classic! Absolutely superb. I see this working super well at the beach parties this year in Ibiza.”
Some intentionally watery (and slightly naughty) remix action, this time inflicted upon Colorado’s Gazeebo for their NC-17 rated Adults Only series. My latest trip is imagining a flowing river as I work on my productions, having the musical elements develop and dissipate naturally, like floating past structures on the shoreline. I’m playing some big, bouncy bass guitar run through a who-knows-what effect, its riff sort of being the melodic anchor. Staccato synth arpeggiations flow (yes) in and out and I’m happily able to include some cheap-sounding string pads. Head-bobbing beat-smith and a slinky disposition meet underneath a flashing red neon light. You’re never too old to get carded at the door at this club. Have a listen:
Since its original release on the Astralwerks album Invisible Airline in 2001, the Q-Burns Abstract Message song “Innocent,” featuring the vocals of Lisa Shaw, has seen many reappearances and remixes. The first mixes by King Britt and Lovesky released as part of the Re-Routed collection on Eighth Dimension were soon followed by stunning reworks from Joey Negro and Magik Johnson for Britain’s NRK label.
Years later, Eighth Dimension was contacted by House Arrest label impresario Cole Medina requesting to revisit this track, one of his favorites, for an even newer remix. Being a big fan of Medina’s excellent work, which includes his top notch remix of Sleazy McQueen’s “Anna Due” and his many sought after re-edits, the label promptly handed over the “Innocent” parts anxious to hear the result. Cole Medina did not disappoint at all: he promptly delivered three completely different, fantastic remixes of “Innocent.”
The first of Medina’s mixes is the Nue Boogie Mix with its soulful, low-slung disco funk. Dramatic percussion and an unrelenting keyboard riff play against Lisa Shaw’s expressive vocal providing a dose of ear-pleasing musical tension. Cole’s Bottom Heavy Tunnel Mix increases the tempo with a late night club-ready house mix. Over the insistent four-on-the-floor rhythm a healthy wash of reverb is applied to Lisa’s vocals giving this one a decidedly big room feel. The delicately sparse arrangement is tailor made for booming in an after-hours warehouse. Finally, Cole turns a total 180 with his Why Love Sucks Mix, a downtempo treatment comfortably placing the song in Portishead territory. Lisa Shaw suddenly takes the role of chanteuse as cabaret piano and emotive strings hover over the plodding, trip hop beats.
Cole Medina‘s return to “Innocent” precedes future singles and projects from Q-Burns Abstract Message including the upcoming “Dark Roots” and the mysterious “Balearic Chainsaw.” Keeps ears locked on Eighth Dimension for more exciting sounds to come.
My love affair with everything South American continues! I’ve just remixed a cool band from Chile called Los Mono. I was exposed to the band via the promotional efforts of Giant Step. They played matchmaker by forwarding my positive comments on the band to the label, Sonic360. I’m glad they did because the result is this tripped out, Latin-vocoder infused, dancefloor ready remix that I’m quite proud of. You can check it out after the fold.
