Having made more then a dalliance into the outright mainstream from time to time in his DJ and production exploits, but he definitely knows how to throw a good sounding four-to-the-floor beat down. In fact, he’s capable of putting out really well crafted techno/house tracks that just sound solid.
Timo Maas, as you no doubt know, has been around for a long time. He’s not exactly what you might consider underground, having made more then a dalliance into the outright mainstream from time to time in his DJ and production exploits, but he definitely knows how to throw a good sounding four-to-the-floor beat down. In fact, he’s capable of putting out really well crafted techno/house tracks that just sound solid.
Mr. Maas has teamed up with Brian Molko of gender bending Placebo fame. A curious combination maybe, but as it turns out quite an interesting one. The track – taken from a forthcoming full length album expected in Spring 2012 – is a mix of early electro stylings with big fuzzed out guitar sounds. Quite aggressive sounding with punky drums and the very recognizable, slightly ‘misunderstood teenage angst’ oriented vocal outpourings of Brian Molko. It’s good, not what you might expect at all. It reminds me of that big synth sound that was pioneered by outfits in the early ‘90’s like Young Gods, or maybe even the mighty Meat Beat Manifesto. Given the relative fame of the pair, I imagine the track will get quite a lot of attention, but it’s the remixes that really struck me. In particular, the Sam Young reworking, and also the &Me version. Sam Young has taken the track and turned it into a really deep tech number that bounces along with head bopping simplicity. It ticks a load of the right boxes for me. The vocals have been cut up and mashed about completely so as to just give a nod to the original, but without being tied to the song framework of the vocal. The &Me remix is in a similar vein; deep, bouncy and infectious.
I’m not sure this will be a DJ must-have, but for the more skilled and innovative vinyl technicians out there, I can see this being worked into the right set with great effect.
College 84 is available on Rockets & Ponies.
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