[vakant r 02] alex smoke / tolga fidan - neds / ilsa remixes

[vakant]

this release is just out this week. hope you like it.. give some feedback if possible!

here´s the press release:

Alex Smoke/Tolga Fidan
Neds (Tolga Fidan Remix)/Ilsa (Alex Smoke Remix)
VR02
Release: December 4th

On the second release from its remix imprint VR, Berlin's Vakant label comes with the goods, turning out what might be its most far-out release to date - and at the same time, its most punishingly effective. Going head to head, Glasgow's Alex Smoke and Paris' Tolga Fidan tackle each other's tracks, twisting up knotty rhythms and gauzy electro-acoustic sounds into a battered syntax that expresses one thing: move. This is the real freaky-deeky, and the season's dancefloors will never again be the same.

A-side: Alex Smoke, "Neds (Tolga Fidan Remix)"

Relative newcomer Tolga Fidan outdoes himself in his rework of Alex Smoke's "Neds," expanding on the psychedlic sound design of his Now I´m Weak EP and demonstrating a rapidly developing structural and rhythmic sophistication. We'd be lying if we said we didn't hear a little bit of Luciano in the way Fidan stretches out his slow builds and sudden drops, but this is no imitation. Creeping 8-bit drums and understated Latin percussion lay out unhinged rhythms that stretch towards the horizon, paving the way for oily, snake-charming synth pads, thunderclaps of bass and a mournful clarinet that pipes up only to disappear in a haze. Cycling staccato blasts reference the cell-based minimalism of Philip Glass, repetitive and hypnotic. The whole thing is a perpetual field of tension that grips you tight and refuses to let you go, propelling you towards the edge of the unknown.

B-side: Tolga Fidan, "Ilsa (Alex Smoke Remix)"

Fidan's is a hard act to follow, but Alex Smoke - known for his releases on Soma and Vakant, where he also appears as Quixote - steps up with a remix of Fidan's "Ilsa" that's every bit as adventurous, and no less compromising a crowd-mover. Kicking off with dry, sandpapery percussion - woodblocks, shakers, hissing exhaust pipes - it's quickly marched forward by a lone flute and high-tuned, whipcracking toms. High-plains drifting, the track takes you along on a cinematic journey that opens up onto exotic vistas and alien melodies - windstorms and whippoorwills, dust devils and dry riverbeds. But lest Smoke's poetic inclinations get the best of him, he drops a squiggly acid bassline to keep the music grounded. By the time it's all over, Smoke scales back everything but those brittle drums from the introduction; it feels like waking from a fever dream.

[cyhl]

the poll is a genius idea

(sorry, havn't heard the release)

[vakant]

you can pre-listen the tracks here:

http://vakant.net/vr/index.php?site=releases&items=vr02

[pata]

oh man i love this sound ! ! ! alex is a real genius ! ! ! vakant is perfect concept ! ! !

[thew]

It's no secret of my affection for the label.

The concept is a good one however i am looking forward to some new and interesting sounds and artists to be added to the Vakant roster

[Shadi Megallaa]

I'm definately with Thew on this one.. I love the label and i think new artists would definately helpp.. either that or get a roooom jokes..

[J. Lovehouse]

lovely.. like everything that alex smoke does..!!

especially like ilsa remix!!

[vakant]

what about the idea that we might not want to join the big pool of labels that are sharing their roster with 20 other labels? wouldnt be a problem to fill our year with lots of releases, but at some point I would miss a bit of a label profile and we like that people could think of vakant first if they listen to alex, onur, mathias or tolga..

we´re open for new stuff though but must be a little bit special:)

whatever I said that wasnt meant offensive, just our view on things..
alex