Bonobo – Cirrus
As much as I love this track, when I first heard it I kinda went in a bit of a depression – the production, the melodic work, is just soooo good. I still consider it one of the most important pieces of electronic music ever written – and the video is just sublime too.
Stimming – Funk Worm
Stimming heavily influenced the way I look at groove and timing in my production – especially his early work from about 5 -7 years ago. This track stands out in his catalogue because its just so funky , dirty, and has an very emotive brass section as a counter-point.
Matthew Herbert – It’s Only (DJ Koze Remix)
Koze was another artist that was simmering below the threshold of popularity and then just exploded. I love this record for the vocal and the vocal production, plus the way he uses space and effects. I think it gave birth to a whole new era of production techniques.
Hans Zimmer – Dark Knight
I like to look outside of electronic music for inspiration – particularly when it comes to composition – and there is no greater composer living today than Zimmer. ALL of his work is very influential on me, but something about the way he used dynamic range in this piece, and of course his signature Brass orchestral sound, I think its possibly his most emotive piece.
Martin Buttrich & Loco Dice – El Gallo negro
This track was HUGE in our South African market when It first got released, and apparently it didn’t become as much of an anthem in Europe, which is surprising, because its such a great record and way ahead of its time. I just love the melodic percussion and that big, sustained baseline which was very unusual at the time it was made, an absolute classic.
Luciano -Rise Of Angel
I know this a strange record and never got very big, but I heard him play it at Pacha in 2013 when he had the Vagabondos residency there, and something about the way it held the crowd was just amazing. Its totally not my style in terms of what I would play as a DJ, its so full of olympic sound major chords, but it just works.
Burial – Moth
The lead in this track is totally unique, one of a kind and I’ve never heard anything like it since. I even made a re-edit to make it more friendly for the dance floor.
Nils Frahm – Said And Done
I wanna be tough and act like I didn’t cry to this record a thousand times, but I did. There are so many beautiful live performances of it, but the best one was during the Boiler room x Dimensions opening he did in Amsterdam. Its one of the most perfectly melancholic pieces of piano music ever made, the epitome of everything I try to achieve when I compose. I consider it a love song without words, just incredible.
Talisman & Hudson – Leaving Planet Earth (Dousk Remix)
I had this on vinyl about 10 years ago and played it every single st for about 5 years. Not sure what happened to Dousk but man, he was ahead of the curve. The baseline is so devastatingly fat and the build up still gets me every time.
David August – Epikur (Original Mix)
I love all of Augusts work but this track is a perfect early morning tune, with plenty of melancholy and some very emotive chords. I don’t get to play it very often but when I do its a treat.
Ryan Murgatroyd Something Said Remixes (Get Physical)
Get Physical will end 2017 and start 2018 with two remixes packages that find first Ian Pooley, then Super Flu, rework Ryan Murgatroyd’s essential ‘Something Said’ track from the label’s latest Words Don’t Come Easy compilation. South African Ryan Murgatroyd is a Cape Town based producer who has amassed a fine discography over the last decade. Now signed to labels like Defected and Get Physical and a regular at Hï Ibiza with Black Coffee, his ‘Something Said’ was a real standout in this year’s compilation, not least for the way its popping drums, lithe percussion and colourful melodies did such a lively dance. At its heart though were the wonderfully pained vocals, courtesy of one of South Africa’s true rising stars, who for now shall remain nameless which were layered over the top of the groove whilst a tumbling bassline helps flesh out the inventive and original sound. This original version is available on both of the remixes packages.
The first package also comes with two remixes from long time Berlin house head, Pooled Music boss and respected producer Ian Pooley. His first fine remix is a full fat house track with vamping chords injecting energy and urgency to the slithering hi hats and mid-tempo kicks. It’s a set building tune that sweeps you up and carries you along before the chords drop out and reveal a pained bassline. The dub mix removes the longing vocals to focus more on the chords and bass and result in a warm and melodic house groove that is effortlessly timeless.
Long time Monaberry associates and German stars Super Flu remix for the second package. They showcase their trademark mix of minimalism, deep and tech house in a track that is filled with tension as it bumps through the night. It’s a tribal feeling track that builds through ever larger drums and chords and the original’s vocals lend it a moody feel that makes it all the more dramatic.
Ryan Murgatroyd Something Said Remixes Get Physical (GPM419/GPM424)
