By this stage, Brazilian clubbing legend Renato Ratier is a man who’s well known in Europe, a fact that’s only really fair considering his ear for a tune and his standing within the south American scene. If you’ve followed Ratier’s career to date, then you’ll no doubt be all too aware of how he nabs great remixers to rework his tunes, and it’s a trick that’s repeated again on the Soul Machine remixes, which come from another expertly chosen cast. First up is the esteemed sounds of Ratier’s original. A funky gem that’s laced with party-starting licks aplenty, it’s pure dancefloor fire that you can’t help but whistle and grin along to. Indicative of the producer’s less serious side, it’s also the sort of track that’s ripe for remixing. The first of these remixes comes from celebrated German Andre Lodemann. His remix is dark and dexterous but also quick-footed, and it certainly offers the listener an interesting alternate option. Next up we have Ney Faustini’s classic house-themed remix of ‘Old Factory’, which plays out beautifully on the ear. Full of texture and wafts of flourishing sounds, this is deep house at its most potent and primitive best. Another memorable effort comes in the shape of Kyodai, who rips up the rule book on a remix that’s fraught with tension, suspense and solid vibes. The spoken vocal breaks matters up a bit too, and this is a quirky anthem which pretty much brilliantly sums up all that’s great about this one.
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Ian Fleming
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