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.“

Available now from Traxsource

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.”

This remix joins rockin’ remixes by Irregular Disco Workers and Lou Teti of the same “Gushing Climax” original. It’s been released through Community Recordings and can be found on Juno Download as well as other fine digital shops.

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.

Innocent (Cole Medina Remixes) :: Eighth Dimension Records – 8TH30D by Q-Burns Abstract Message

Available now from Beatport / Stompy / Juno Download / Traxsource / iTunes / Wasabeat Japan

The press release on Los Mono gives this interesting tidbit about the band: “Originally forming to compose music for a children’s TV series in Chile, Los Mono were so happy with the outcome that they decided to put it together as an album – Somos Los Que Estamos” My Chilean friend Fernando from the awesome band Rock Hudson told me these other facts about Los Mono: “The guitar player (Funky C) is good friend of mine. And the singer, Sebastian Silva, is one of the best new filmmakers in Chile. Try to see his movie La Vida Me Mata. It’s really good.” (On a side note, Fernando is a promising new filmmaker as well … check out the excellent video he directed for the Rock Hudson song “Perry Frankie Miller” by clicking HERE.)

The remixes of “Promesas” are now available on iTunes and also include a remix from DJ Afro of Los Amigos Invisibles. You can check them out on iTunes and possibly purchase them by clicking HERE (link opens iTunes application).

If you’d like to hear the original track “Promesas” by Los Mono (and peep the video) then click HERE.

And here’s my remix in its entirety, in the player below. I hope you like it.