Words by Justin Turford
It’s not often that I get excited by a remix package but this beauty ticks all the right boxes. Two new slinky Afro-groovers from the electronic music producer team Arnau Obiols and KAYYAK get the heavyweight remix treatment from Prins Thomas, Medlar & Dele Sosimi and Rahaan, and every single track pops in their own way!
This is the duo’s third release for the legendary German label Compost Records. Their debut EP, 'Chang'an' saw them blending acid synth lines, killer acoustic percussion and the evocative vocals of South African Singer B’utiza and Mozambican vocalist Tcheco, their second release was the single 'Tunacheza', which was also featured in the compilation 'Future Sounds of Jazz Vol. 15'.
Their new release is made up of two new compositions, ‘Faith’ and ‘San Diago’, and they continue in a similar vein with a super-organic sounding production sound with traceable imprints of various West African influences from Manu Dibango’s makossa sound to the blurred geographical lines between afrobeat, highlife and jùjú. There’s also a deep, psychedelic disco edge to both tunes with the remixers amplifying or isolating what they need to bring their own magic to their reworks.
‘Faith’ in its original form is a swinging afro-disco number with ace top end percussion and an earworm bassline that instantly catches the dancing gene. Twinkling keys, funk guitar and a razor-sharp sax hook exemplify the hugely influential makossa sound, contemporary touches include the housey vocal refrain, the druggy vintage synths and skipping snares hinting at a German motorik past as well as an African one.
The British producer Medlar joins up once again with Fela and Femi Kuti’s former keyboardist and all round afrobeat ambassador Dele Sosimi for a more tightened up take on the tune. The original’s loose charms are squeezed just a touch with expertly minimal drum programming, a cheeky new keyboard line and a less spaced-out arrangement to make it just that bit more dancefloor ready.
‘San Diago’ rolls with a sexy combination of live sounding afrobeat drums and electro drum machine boops. Layers of keys, from the hypnotic to the Fela-inspired freestyle build upon the intricate bass and guitar combination, while the shekere shuffles and the groove gets deeper into itself. It’s an addictive piece that gets two very different reworks from the Chicago house/disco don Rahaan and Norway’s premiere disco-naut Prins Thomas.
As might be expected, Rahaan drops in a 4/4 kick drum but he resists the urge to straighten out the original’s groove too much so that we have ourselves a loose-footed take on the tune that sits somewhere between a Loft-style roller skating jam and deep afro-house. Like Arnau Obiols & KAYYAK’s own sonic visions, his remix sounds beautifully organic with Patrick Adams-esque analogue synths and warm reverbs floating over his perfectly slack drum programming. Hugely tasty!
Arnau & Kay by Ben Portis
Prins Thomas wraps up this excellent package with his masterly take on ‘San Diago’, his version turbocharging up the hypnosis with echoing digital claps, a half-step kick pattern and subtle modulating synths that build in tiny increments of intensity. Probably the rework most geared to a long beat mix, one could imagine its seven and a half minutes length being stretched out even further such is its class.
A highly impressive little package that I expect to hear being rinsed all over the festivals this year! 9/10.
Released on April 12th 2024
BUY HERE! https://compostrecords.bandcamp.com/album/faith-san-diago-ep