POST CATEGORY : Remixes

Nicolas Godin – The Border (Pierre Rousseau Remix)

Five years after his debut solo album, Nicolas Godin, best known as one-half of French electronic duo Air, is releasing a new album Concrete and Glass on January 24.

Soft, electronic lullaby ‘The Border’ is a perfect entry-point to Godin’s new record,  arranged and co-produced with Pierre Rousseau – a collection of lush hymns to buildings and architectural triumphs. It is the latter’s stunning rework of ‘The Border’ that immediately concerns us today. The original lush and dreamy electronic undulations are fleshed out into an eight-minute epic. The pop warmth is retained and re-enforced by a subtle undercurrent of euphoria as rushes of soft ambient pulses and melting minimalism creates a spellbinding groove that transfixes the soul. It is a super seductive wonder delivered with poise and style, and plenty to spare.

Tune in below and keep an eye out for the album in a few weeks.

Safetalk – ‘Universal (Ténéré Remix)’

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Back in March Anglo-French trio Safetalk introduced themselves with their debut release, a cosmic hymn to the ‘Universal’.

The continental trio have followed this first transmission of lush electronic-pop with a remix package; comprised of three wonderful and wildly imaginative remixes from JeanGa and George, Posthuman & Ténéré. Pick of the pile comes French artist Ténéré, who’s re-imagining of ‘Universal’ takes a more meditative approach, delivering an atmospheric take on the track that would be equally comfortable late at night or early in the morning, as dawn unfolds. It, like the original, is a blissed-out love letter of uplifting positivity, gently building until a warm rapture envelopes you and everything else around you. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!

Listen to Ténéré’s take on ‘Universal’ below. You can listen to the full remix package here.

Gulp Share Video & Django Django Remix for ‘Search For Your Love’

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Back in December Cardiff-based band Gulp Gulp – revolving around Lindsey Leven & Guto Pryce of Super Furry Animals fame – shared single ‘Search For Your Love’ and their intention to release a second LP in 2017.

Following on from that, Gulp have shared the single’s video and a Django Django‘s ‘Nautical Twilight Edit’ of ‘Search For Your Love’. The Django’s edit adds another dimension to Gulp’s already refined warm, fuzzy, lush spacey psych-pop. Upping the tempo and the groove a tad, and enhancing the textures, luscious melody, proggy-guitars and synthy celestial vibes, to compliment the marvellous original perfectly. Rather than a full face-lift, this is re-imagining the song; creating something completely hypnotic, and topped off by Leven’s sultry vocals, this is the very essence of dreams. Just time to sit back now and let ‘Search For Your Love’ (x 2) flow over you and seep into your senses, and leave you better for it.

‘Search For Your Love’ is available now via via Tim Burgess’ independent label O Genesis and Gulp are currently working with Luke Abbott on their second album, which is set to be released in 2017.

Amber Arcades shares ‘Turning Light’ TVAM Remix

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Amber Arcades is the moniker of Dutch-born musician Annelotte de Graaf.

Earlier this year de Graff released her sublime debut album Fading Lines, on Heavenly Recordings. If you haven’t checked out the album yet, you should do so – it is fabulous and you’re missing out – it is one of 2016’s finest releases. De Graaf’s musical vision works like a dream but it hasn’t stopped her from sharing a rework of one of the album’s many high-points, ‘Turning Light’ by producer TVAM, aka Joe Oxley, who has remixed the track. Harnessing all the power from the original’s beautiful blend propulsive beats, krautrock drums and shimmering guitars, TVAM expands the blissed-out Krautrock and Motorik rhythms, while enveloping everything in a cosmic cascading sequence of crackling, frazzled electronics, spirited synths. What we are left with is something rather special indeed. A six-minute kaleidoscopic wonder of imagination and ideas that burrows into your consciousness, building into an enthralling ride of euphoric rushes, whooshes and spiralling melodies. Awe-inspiring stuff, just wow!

If there are two things you do today, make them this TVAM remix of ‘Turning Light’ and Amber Arcades debut LP, Fading Lines – you will not be left disappointed.

Public Service Broadcasting to Release ‘The Race For Space / Remixes’ & Share Boxed In’s ‘Valentina’ Remix

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Released last year, The Race For Space, was a rocket-fuelled triumph for Public Service Broadcasting, spectacularly relaying the wonder, awe, glamour and the tragedy of the space race.

Following up their stellar second album PSB are releasing The Race For Space / Remixes on June 17th. It will feature twelve reworked and re-imagined versions of their work, including remixes from Field Music, Boxed In, Vessels, Dutch Uncles, Robert Babicz, Maps and more. Before getting its full and official release, PSB have kindly afforded us a glimpse of what wonderment may lay ahead, coming in the shape of Boxed In’s reworking of ‘Valentina (ft. Smoke Fairies)’. London-based quartet Boxed In – headed up by Oli Bayston – is normally on point, be it remixes or their own work, and here, Bayston & Co. serve a sublimely sparkling piece of awe-inspiring electronica. Spurred onward by a mildly propulsive groove, it weaves delicately through the crystalline production, snappy percussion and bouts of euphoria. Incredible.

‘The Race For Space / Remixes’ is out on June 17th – you can check out Boxed In’s stunning rework of ‘Valentina’ below.

End of Season Roundup & Favourite tracks of 2015 Spotify Playlist

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Season’s greetings to everyone who follows, reads, sends music, helps or writes for the site etc. Somehow everything’s been kept on between the ditches for close to six years now and it weren’t all of you, the site would be pretty useless, so thanks a million – it’s very appreciated.

It’s been quite a year if I’m honest, so many great albums, lots of new musical discoveries and some splendid gigs (not enough of the latter, on my behalf). I got to interview two musical heroes of mine, namely Conor from Villagers and Cian Ciaran from Super Furry Animals, which was fantastic to say the least. I finally managed to take the plunge into podcasting, creating music podcast ‘Millions Like Us‘, with Mr. Justin Beats for 604now. It’s been lots of fun and very interesting so far, and hopefully we can kick it up a notch in the new year.

Personally speaking, the high point of the year from a musical standpoint, was the release of GruffWuff; a 19 track compilation of new, previously unreleased & exclusive tracks from some of my favouorite artists to celebrate 5 years of BarryGruff. It was amazing to to work with so many artists that hold a special place in my heart and, importantly to pull everything together and get it released on time – a lot of thanks for that goes to Stevie Moon who was yet again, a huge part of another Gruff project. Not only was it an amazing experience to be involved with but the response was phenomenal, it was heartwarming and made all the hard work which everyone did, worth it. A special thanks to everyone involved, and everyone who supported it, you know who you are. I think this will warrant a dedicated post in future.

So, for 2015, that’s almost that but before assuming radio silence over the festive period (with normal service resuming in the New Year), we’ll just have a quick round up of links and the small matter of my 100 track strong Spotify playlist of favourites from 2015 (and a sly Christmas tune below that). ICYMI, let the roundup of links commence…

My Top Albums of 2015

2015 according to members and artists from the GruffWuff Family: here

Johnny Feeney’s Albums of 2015

You can download GruffWuff for Free from here.

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2015 According to Mathew Mayes AKA Channel Swimmer

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One of my proudest achievements on the blog this year, or any year for that matter, is the release of GruffWuff; a 19 track compilation of new, previously unreleased and exclusive recordings from some of my very favourite acts over the past 5 years of blogging.

It was a truly fantastic way to mark 5 years of BarryGruff and I am incredibly grateful to everyone involved and the overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic response. As 2015 draws to a close, I have enlisted help from people who made the compilation what it was, to chat about their favourite moments and sounds from year, and up next is Channel Swimmer.

Channel Swimmer is the alias of London based Welsh beatsmith Mathew Mayes. A master of manipulation, sound manipulation that is, his is a world of lavish exploration through genres, styles and eras. Meticulously crafted, you will be lost in a sea of breathtakingly lush layers, choice samples and snappy beats, maintaining a shimmering warm glow of sheer joy happiness . An exemplary talent, always.

Before we take a look at his 2015 sound selections, you should check out Channel Swimmer’s stunning 2013 album, Alphabet, and his GruffWuff inclusion, ‘Racket’ – of which you can download here for FREE.

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Hot Chip – ‘Huarache Lights’ (Soulwax Remix)

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Soulwax have been providing us with a bountiful yield of top quality remix action of late.

The Belgian pair’s hot-streak of superb remixes continues with a brand-new rework of Hot Chip’s ‘Huarache Lights’. To be fair, the original was already a cracker, and similarly to their Tame Impala remix (see below), Soulwax have built from that base to serve up a re-imagining that is all kinds of wonderful. They flesh out the tune with increased spaciousness and dynamism before knocking the original synth up another level, and then cutting it all back entirely to unleash their funk. Impossible not to be affected by the insidious infectious of this one; it’s guaranteed to get you moving. Soulwax do tend to have a habit of doing that, right?

You can take a listen below along with some colourful visuals. The deluxe edition of Hot Chip’s latest album Why Make Sense? is out on October 24th.

BarryGruff Playlist September 2015

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A now regular monthly feature, whereby we round up all the blog action with a nice, neat and handy playlist of tracks featured during the month.

September was pretty damn good, aside from saying goodbye to summer! We had tunes from Sexwitch, Gwenno, Hinds and The Altered Hours ahead of their respective, new and forthcoming albums. There were excellent new singles from Slow Riot, Tuff Love, BUCK, H. Hawkline, Freedom Fry, Gulp & Miaoux Miaoux. Oh, and their was the launch of ‘Millions Like Us’, Justin Beats & I’s new music podcast extravaganza for 604now (if you missed them? Why not listen to episodes #1 & #2)

Also featured on this month’s playlist are great tracks from Avid Walker, Mesa Luna, Ghost Culture, Boxed In, Anderson & Peaness. So yeah, pretty good alright.

Listen to BarryGruff’s September 2015 playlist below.

Boxed In – ‘False Alarm’ & Ghost Culture Remix

 

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What’s not to get excited about a coming together from the creators of two of this year’s finest albums? Well, it has happened.

London-based quartet Boxed In – headed up by Oli Bayston – released latest single ‘False Alarm’ last month, and much to our delight, Ghost Culture has chipped in on remix duties. ‘False Alarm’ typifies Boxed In’s DFA-tinged and propulsive piano-pressed electro-pop, with an undeniably infectious groove. Although wonderful in its own right, Ghost Culture’s rework enhances these tenancies, while introducing a touch meatier percussion. Opening with a drawn-out and epic build leading toward the two-minute mark, where lively hi-hats, a touch of piano-house and mesmerizing, heavy synths conspiring to enthrall with a unique spin on dance, electronica and electro-pop. Straddling such an assortment of influences, from techno to Krautrock, describing this one is as arduous a task as it is an enjoyable and dramatic listen.

You can check out both Boxed In’s original and Ghost Culture’s rework of ‘False Alarm’ below. Both their respective, self-titled debut album’s, should be checked out too.