[a]pendics.shuffle & Mr.C :: Something Strange Part 2 (Adjunct Audio)

All in all, another great release from one of the genre’s leading labels.

[Beatport] The Legendary Mr C of “The Shaman” fame released a collaborative track with the great [a]pendics.shuffle on Adjunct in March (2012) entitled Something Strange. Despite the potential for something splendid, I personally think that release was not the earth shattering event it might have been. It was OK, but possibly relied a bit too heavily on the name associated with it then the actual content. But given that it does have the gravitas of Mr C, it’s no surprise that there is now this remix release rearing its head.

If anything, this little EP is more interesting and arresting then the original. The A side is completely taken up with Mr C’s own remix, which turns in at a fairly hefty six minutes plus. Six minutes is not that long really, but this acid soaked track simply plods on without much development, or indeed interest, making those minutes seem like a fairly long time. Having said that, there is a certain nostalgic charm to the sinister synth pads and 19901 style squelches. Dare I say that again, too much is given over to the notoriety of the main protagonist involved here? Mr C has been a pivotal and pioneering figure in the underground dance music and early rave scenes, the ones that I in fact grew up in, there is no question on that count, and so it is with a certain amount of trepidation that I voice even a slightly negative opinion. But there you are.

The two remixes on the B side however are another story entirely. Remix one is by Jordan Lieb (aka Black Light Smoke), and it’s a beauty. Displaying the kind of disregard for the original’s feel and structure that usually accompanies a good remix. Full of bizarre whispered and screeched vocal samples, eastern European folk sounds, strings and trippy carnival atmospheres, this deep house number really forges it’s own direction and is much the better for it. This track is much more in line with the majority of releases that come from the Adjunct label, which is definitely a very good thing indeed. Subtle and understated with a lot of very interesting none cyclical audio events drifting in and out, Mr Lieb has produced something that will work really well from a DJ perspective, but also from a home listening one.

Mikael Stavostrand provides the third remix, a minimal deep house roller that verges into that rather grey area that might be tagged ‘sexy house.’ I’m not a big fan of the whole sultry whispering thing, but this track touches very lightly on that area, and I’m more then willing to overlook it considering the track itself is really rather good. Again, fairly understated, but with deep driving rhythms and plenty of clever production.

All in all, another great release from one of the genre’s leading labels.

Something Strange Part 2 is available on Adjunct Audio. Buy at Beatport.

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