(08.12.06) This CD collects four vinyl releases during 2006, if you didn’t check them then I tell you that some of the reworks are quite weak, others are very good but there are three absolute masterpieces that make See Mi Yah Remixes a must buy.
The Basic Reshape of “See Mi Version” is one of those untouchable mixes, where techno and dub doesn’t sound as two distinct genres, showing once more why Basic Channel are undisputed milestones of electronic music. The Soundstream remix of “Free For All” is a nice, smooth house tune, a summer hit to play on the beach, while Villalobos uses slick sounds, bass is made from velvet, but his long remix is a bit plain. Then comes Carl Craig, and his version of “Poor People Must Work” is utterly amazing, perfection applied to techno music, I won’t spend more words because I fear they could be inadequate. Just keep in mind that if you don’t own this tune, you’re missing something very important. Tikiman’s dubby mix of “Boss Man” is good but it won’t stick in your head, Sweet Substance does better with a massive dose of submarine beats and bass, designing a spacious, uplifting dub anthem. One of the major letdowns is the Francois K remix, a producer of his experience delivers a standard jungle/breakbeat track, so stereotypical that one of the thousands of bedroom producers around the world would have done better; Vladislav Delay also offers a break based mix, but at least it’s more entertaining and the bassline is properly shaking.
The final part of the record is where you find the most refined mixes, first of all there’s Vainqueur with an ethereal version of “Rise And Praise,” and before the very last ragga remix by Hallucinator, you get the mind-blowing Sleeparchive touch on “Dem Never Know.” The minimal master starts all bleeps and clicks, with a single fat sinewave as bass, before unleashing a mesmerizing evolution of dub music: vocals are clear, a tapping beat brings you back to the roots with the help of glacial bleeps on the upbeat and a bouncy bassline that will make you jump and shiver at the same time. It’s incredible how this tune still sounds truly Jamaican with all those cold minimal elements into it.
Either buy Volumes 3 and 4 on vinyl or pick this, otherwise you’ll regret not listening to such beautiful material.
See Mi Yah Remixes is out now on Burial Mix/Indigo. Buy it at Amazon.com.
