Desert Dwellers 'The Great Mystery Remixes Part One' Review

Artist: 

The Desert Dwellers

Title: 

The Great Mystery

Remixes Pt. 1

Label: 

Desert Trax

Released:

21^st September

Earlier this year the Desert Dwellers released 'The Great Mystery' which they consider to be their most diverse to date. To celebrate they embarked on a re-mix project of established and up-and-coming artists from across the globe with the intention of being just as diverse. The second part will be released in late October with contributions from Emancipator, Whitebear, Sixis, Mystral, Supersillyus, Halfred, Master Minded and many others.

Moving back to the release in question they begin with Liquid Stranger a producer whose releases are just as diverse, but whether he's focusing on dub-step, reggae or chill you can be sure there's plenty of low frequency bass. His take on 'Wings of Waves' is light and summery with flutes and chimes and subtle yet effective use of speaker shattering bass. Following on from the enticing opener is Gaudi's take on 'Our Dream World' where he's clearly put his knowledge of vintage synthesizers and gadgets to get this ethnic dub chugging along nicely. If you're not suitably impressed by the re-mix talent employed so far they're not slipping with Kaminanda joining the throng and taking on 'View of Laniakea' which he's kept down-tempo and melodic utilising the chorus and strings at times some of the fx tease and fool you it's going to go mental and then he pulls back at the last second.

At this point I'm guessing the album moves to the up-and-coming (well at least for me as it's an artist I'm unaware of) with the Tribone Re-Stomp of the title track. It's an interesting style slightly harsher than it's predecessors with an electro feel to the bass line, plenty of psychedelic twists before the atmospheric breakdown where the emphasis is placed on manipulating the Arabic vocals and strings while the final section pulls it altogether. I'm not overly familiar with Twin Shape either and their Lost Tribe re-work of 'The Sacrament' fuses spacey synths and harmonic voices with psy-bass and synthetic dialogue. Following on Acid Crunk pioneer An-Ten-Nae offers an alternative take of 'View of Lanaikea' where he masterfully manipulates the vocals and strings over intermittent choppy breaks.

Once again we move into the up-and-coming territory with AtYya's take on 'Birds Over Sand Dunes' slower and more minimal than the original echoing the vocal samples with a series of looped sequences and gated vocals sections which are pleasant in places but it didn't grip me overall. Land Switcher move back to the realms of psy-bass with their take on 'I Dropped It' with plenty of rapid loop sequences and drum rolls over the dubby main body they still manage to keep an overall down-tempo feel to the piece. While Drumspyder keeps us firmly placed in the east with his trademark doumbek infused alternative to 'Our Dream World' although much lighter than Gaudi's in places it still chugs along nicely in the appropriate sections.

Govinda deliver what I would describe as a minimal psy-bass take on 'Crossing Beyond' and once again maintain the eastern feel of the piece throughout. Finally, we're back were we started with the Hibernation alternative to 'Wings of Waves' a light and harmonious rug thrown over a slow and bass-heavy floor.

Reviewed by Woodzee.

Links https://desertdwellersmusic.bandcamp.com/

HÄANA 'Leya' Review

Artist: HÄANA

Title: Leya

Label: Desert Trax

Released: 8^th June

This is one of the first times I've come across New York based Icelandic cinematic sonic bass producer and violinist HÄANA and on by the strength of this release I'm glad I have had the opportunity to experience more. She's graced the stage with the Rolling Stones, Kanye West and Moby as well as appearing on releases with Irma Thomas, Beats Antique and An-Ten-Nae and performances at various music & yoga festivals around the world (Lightning in a Bottle, Envision, Wanderlust and more). Drawing inspiration from Massive Attack, Phaeleh, Trentemøller, & Ólafur Arnalds in her own productions.

This release begins with the original version soft synths and piano instantly bring the Massive Attack influence to mind and the ethereal voices and strings that follow only strengthens that feeling. I have to say I really love this piece of classical electronica.

First up on the re-mix duties is acid crunk pioneer An-Ten-Nae who drops the bass like a concrete slab but then lets the ethereal vocals do the work while the music winds like an old fashioned watch before the bass rejoins and the piece is allowed to flow with some excellent emphasis on the violin. It's a really cleverly constructed re-mix and the only fault I can find is like the original it's rather short.

Next up is Kaminanda, who utilises the ethereal voice and piano to the max with lots of little well placed glitches, bubbles before the violin takes precedent he's applied his psy-dub techniques to perfection with his take and is the first to push the piece over the 7 minute mark.

Haj I Ji who is a new name to me opts for the shorter length again and growls a slow paced deep bass and military like drum underneath the piano and strings like a dark brooding underworld looking up at heaven.

Twin Shape who is another unfamiliar name to me finish the release with an atmospheric intro, psychedelic synths and chugging bassline before the ethereal vocals lift it into an almost progressive style with the brakes on. As with all the previous takes it has it own appeal and does the original justice.

It seems to me that HÄANA has stepped out of the shadows to bask in the sunlight and I wish her all the best. Going by this release she has it all going for her … musical and vocal talent, a good ear for music with the ability to transpose it into her own productions and if that wasn't enough on top of that she appears to be photogenically easy on the eye.

Review by Woodzee.

Links

http://thisishaana.com/