When Rob Rives first released ‘City For Sale’ last year it struck a deep chord and galvanised dance-floors as a crowning peak of his 15 year association with Francois K’s great label. Quite simply it’s the best house track to emerge from New York City for years, perfectly capturing the thoughts of many who lament the place’s inexorable slide into a millionaire’s-playground-meets-Disney-mall. His voice intones a list of vanished clubs while bemoaning the sky-high rents which are driving the artistic underground elsewhere, all over a suitably dramatic hotbed of a groove. These new remixes hoist the track to skyscraper dimensions, kicking off with Pete Heller’s pulsating version which manages to inject that glacial, early 90s Nu Groove style into the stabs and throbbing undertow [also coming with Instrumental]. N.Y. veteran Les Patterson then turns in a beauty; deep and percussive, making a breathtaking backdrop for the vocal exchanges. Finally, Scandinavian DJ-producer Roberto Rodriguez takes the classic NY house route with strings, stabs and keys working magic for ten minutes, in both vocal and dub versions. A towering set which hits hard both physically and emotionally.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs