A typically intense seating at Ils’ moody cinema. His quality Paranoid Prophets holds a lofty position above his competition, on the basis of his productions never being rushed, bearing a fluidity with a killer instinct that is always sure to explore the space and time around it rather than going in blazing guns akimbo.
Lone Riders is his slipstreaming version of playing an out-of-town, toothpick-chewing cowboy. Punk-ish guitar twangs provide the exotic intrigue alongside harmonicas shipped in from the Wild West (or nearer to home, Dub Be Good to Me). Ils speeds through, leaving the locals to choke on his vapour trails, helped by an excellent Vanessa Smith vocal smitten at the stranger’s mystery while sounding just as enigmatic. Def Inc’s mix does Ils justice; synth-centred and modestly more barbed, but appreciating the original’s poise and holding of permanently bated breath, particularly as it’s in no rush to really get going.
Hate is an Illness is another expert, finely-tuned glider. Though the soul diva vocal sounds a little more on the sped-up side, it compliments Ils winding his way through, poring and probing on a crest of emotion – despite crunching drums - with an awesome breakdown ordered to cause a goosebump epidemic. On a mission to get him to lighten up (the opening minute alone is a complete U-turn), NAPT rearrange the symptoms with a toothy bassline ride and more of the jump-leads treatment. Refusing to read the script in context of both the source and the package as a whole, there’s definitely more dancefloor presence here to oppose Ils’ climactic agenda that remains a class apart.
Click the pic to listen to & buy the tracks (album versions):
