Marc Ashken - Just a Groove

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  • A huge package on offer here, so let's quickly sidestep the "something for everyone" standpoint and see what's what. FVF are yet another Irish label making headway in machine funk circles, but unlike compatriots such as Nice & Nasty, Bastardo Electrico and Staic Recordings they've opted to go down a housier, glitchier road. Marc Ashken, having come to prominence a year or two ago courtesy of Matt Tolfrey's Leftroom, debuts here with an understated piece of onomatopoeic funk. The original takes no chances, relying on a flatly-intoned vocal sample to get its point across. Miro Pajic's remix fleshes things out a little, but simultaneously leaves a lot of empty space in which a hypnotic hook operates. The vocal sample is twisted and snipped accordingly. The IAMAMF remix again puts the vocal through the blender and is an altogether jerkier affair. It's good and funky, but stops and starts too often for my liking. Pawas' "Dirty Disco" remix has a misleading title. Those expecting some sort of electro-grunge will be disappointed by the tranced-out march that they get instead. It's the lightest and most ethereal interpretation here, and again the vocals are toyed with so that this time they are stretched beyond recognition. Lee Foss of Culprit fame, meanwhile, turns in a dark, electro-tinged mix that is hard around the edges with a centre full of haunting synths. The Saso "Recyd" remix is a grind through some bottomless percussion topped off with some warm keys that don't sound too dissimilar from those in "Plastic Dreams." The Capelli & Gonnelli "Chic 2 Chic" remix is a bit cumbersome and awkward. There's little proper flow to it and it comes off like a novelty track, with its skippy rhythm topped off with similarly-pitched keys. Finally, the inclusion of an a cappella in this day and age has to be applauded, no matter what. There are too few around. So, although I sidestepped it at the beginning, there's no escaping it at the end. There's probably enough variety and cross-pollination here to justify the army of remixers recruited for this project, but per usual where such undertakings are concerned, the author finds himself rendered largely irrelevant.
  • Tracklist
      01. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (original) 02. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Miro Pajic Rmx) 03. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (IAMAMF Rmx) 04. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Pawas' Dirty Disco Rmx) 05. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Lee Foss Rmx) 06. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Saso Recyd Rmx) 07. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Alex Cappelli & Leonardo Gonnelli Rmx) 08. Marc Ashken - Just A Groove (Acappella)
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