- Holmes Ives makes a welcome return to Shinichi with ‘8 Letters’, featuring the lush vocals of Avalon Frost. Mixes comes courtesy of Mark Knight & Martijn Ten Veldon and Richard Earnshaw.
The Original starts with simple beats and percussion as it works up into the first part of the mix which includes dirty electro stabs that bounce along nicely with the beat and tribal drum elements. More electro melodies are introduced as the vocal comes in and plays along with the beat and complements it well. The variety of sounds including the big electro hooks, gives this mix depth and groove. The vocal is not overused and doesn’t try and overtake the production value here. Quality stuff.
The Mark Knight & Martijn Ten Veldon Skunk Funk Mix is a nice techy affair with tightly programmed beats and percussion that really give this mix its funk. An array of electro hooks are introduced early as the track climbs into the vocals. Again, the vocal constantly makes the production bounce but the nice synths, superb hooks and more bleeps are the main attention seeker here. Midway, the track drops suddenly into a huge breakdown with the vocals and a bass heavy sample and as the mix comes back into the beat, more synths are added and lift up the feeling. This is tech-house goodness.
Getting into a more funky vibe, the Richard Earnshaw Remix lays down some laid back house styles with that West Coast flavour. The hooks this time are moved towards a piano sound while a light guitar plays in the background. The vocals are given a bit of extra treatment while the track continuously grooves along. Very smooth.
This is a great follow up to the first disc which featured a more solid house and progressive sound. Shinichi deliver something for everyone.