You’d be forgiven for not placing the man like Ralph Falcon. But Ralph is, of course, a man of pedigree. Not a household name, until perhaps you mention Murk. Then there’s Funky Green Dogs, and The Fog and all those other collaborations with Oscar G. With a good number of stone cold classics under his belt your interest has to be piqued by ‘The Dig’. Ralph’s original is a deep tribal house track, a workout of unusual and interesting elements from tribal drums, vocal chants, big strings and a huge rhythm section including some barmy kettle drums. It’s a cross between a Sasha and a Model 500 track and that ain’t no bad thing. Way out there, and a great attempt at doing something very different (but occasionally sounding like an electric Hare Krishna band), it shows moments of brilliance - but doesn’t quite work.
Prolific remixerRadio Slave - who is highly rated by many – steps to the mark and turns in an epic 13 minute mix. If any track deserves 13 minutes it’s this one, and Radio Slave actually does a good job of interpreting the track. If you’re a big fan of his former work you won’t be disappointed with this. It’s a track to lose yourself in. The arrangement is really good, but it’s too long and doesn’t get to the point quickly enough if at all. This mix will have its fans.
As so often is the case it’s the wildcard that brings it all together. The Umek Remix does exactly what a remix should do and takes a good track and makes it into a better alternative. There are two versions on offer but the extended remix is the one to go for. At 11 minutes long you’re already preparing a flask of Bovril to get you through, but actually it’s just not like that. From the start it holds your interest, the arrangement really works the elements without changing the track beyond all recognition. At four minutes you’re still interested. The breakdown adds some really nice electronic melodies over the chant, but it’s when it kicks into the second half of the track it all goes off. It’s almost progressive now, but fans of 16B or even Oxia and Popof will like this. It’s quite hard, but completely rocking.
You have to consider this release as a package, but Umek’s mix is the crowd pleaser.
Just like quick sand this is going to get you. Resistance is futile.
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