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Who Am I Remixes

Mike Steva

Yoruba Records
YSD83D | 2017-03-31  
8
Kecak
Anthony Nicholson Afrodiscospace Remix (9:55)
14
Who Am I
Mr. Raoul K's Afrothings Remix Shortplay (9:59)
16
Oasis
Arno E. Mathieu Democratic Vox Mix (9:56)
19
Who Am I
Manoo's Journey To The West (8:42)
It would be a disservice to call Yoruba’s release of Mike Steva’s ‘Who Am I Remixes’ simply a remix album. The music is far too sophisticated and intentionally reinterpreted to be reduced to the notion of a remix; these songs have been re-imagined by super talents. Seasoned listeners are forced to confront a collection of sonic essays that pull from the electronic music vaults and put the original rhythms through a highly specialized reconstruction process. The album’s overall feel offers true heads the opportunity to astral travel and respond through meditative body movement. Many of the tracks are dance floor bangers, re-envisioned with appropriate touches of minimalist techno, African-centred drums and classic house vocals. This is intelligent music contributing to the development and the musical prowess of anybody with the vocabulary to understand the fusion and the cinematic score that inspires the visualization of each composition. The school of producers whom Mike Steva selected not only carry his message into the next realm of sound, but offer an additional tapestry. ‘ReSolution’, featuring vocals by Osunlade, has three guest producers. Seven Davis Jr. uses silence to speak for the music, with frequent pauses and strategic displacement of the original vocals. A heavy bass line and the layering of sounds builds necessary anticipation as Seven Davis Jr. gives us the best of a 90s-sound making ‘ReSolution’ a classic consistent with early roots of soulful house music. “It’s time for a resolution” is repeated throughout the track, which is effective in its call to action to think, dance, blend, create and move towards rhythmic stability and maybe even world peace in the process. Alex Barack offers a new wave inflected sound with his version, which is pleasantly unrecognizable from, but hints at, Steva’s original track. Musically this version is the place where Duran Duran meets Frankie Knuckles, or Frankie Goes to Hollywood meets the Paradise Garage for that matter. ‘ReSolution’ is characterized by emotional piano and smart synths throughout. Lastly, Simbad brings a somewhat drum n bass texture to the track, playing with algorithms and situating the sound in a UK context.

The song ‘Freedom’ re-produced by Rob Paine is complete with sci-fi synths. This is the quietest groove on the album, but still the dancer is invited to improvise using the drums as a compass. The tension between the future and the ancient come together to offer a map that leads you away from the mundane and the musically predictable. DJ Jeff’s iteration of ‘Freedom’ brings a bigger bump to the thump and gives you something likened to aural cosmic storytelling.

The remixes of ‘Oasis’ are equally engaging. Hallex M’s remix comes to life with sounds of nature as a score. This is what an oasis sounds like, a world we get to inhabit through an array of samples of creatures and nature, quite possibly from another planet or a “secret life of plants”. Clima Records label boss Arno E. Mathieu’s versions of ‘Oasis’ are haunting and an appropriately dark otherworldly soundscape, a journey with a heavy Afro-techy feel.

The song ‘Kecak’ leaves no room for questions. Dhundee’s takes on a classic hip-house sound, great samples of the voices coming through to push the crowd right over the edge of a hype mix. Hallex M’s second production on the album is his take on ‘Kecak’, and here he offers a darker, techier rendition. The ballroom dance scene will find their lives in this! The Afrodiscospace music produced by Anthony Nicholson was created with house loyalists in mind. He creates a wall of sound filled with the history of house music. Remixed to perfection, it pulls on the heartstrings of those who have followed house music since its inception.

Mr. Raoul K’s versions of ‘Who Am I’ are another stand out. Absolutely rooted in Afrohouse, it speaks to a more concentrated gathering of followers of the drum, hints of Ifa and ritualistic rhythms describe the heart of this track. The vocals of Bianca Maya Foulton paint words onto the groove about the perils of invisibility and the pondering of a love identity. Manoo’s Journey To The West remix is an unexpected easy listening hip-hop version that uses the vocals as a percussive instrument. A head bop will incur, it promises some good funk and encourages a freestyle in your mind.

Of the remaining tracks The Louie Vega Dance Ritual Dub of ‘Weekend Love’ is noteworthy. Vega puts a classic Masters at Work swing on it giving us a touch of familiar framed with a new voice. Rocco delivers soulful tech-trance on ‘Pelagonia’ with distant Middle Eastern horns holding up the bass. Rocco’s deep Afrohouse vibes are exchanged for a deeper abstract Berlin rave like tune. Finally, Craig Smith’s remix of ‘Moment in Time’ is a mature mid-tempo house cut that takes its time, and in doing so offers a relaxed come down from an extended ride.

Mike Steva’s music is a fresh breath of air to the house music scene. The line-up of legendary and emerging producers selected to take part in this project did so understanding the weight of Mike’s presence in the scene and Yoruba’s history of quality artists to reinforce the label’s sound. Pick this one up.

Mike Steva 'Who Am I Remixes'

1. Mike Steva featuring Osunlade ‘ReSoulution’ (Seven Davis Jr. Club Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Rhodes, Synth, Keys & Bass by Damian Smith
Vocals by Osunlade
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Seven Davis Jr.

2. Mike Steva ‘Who Am I’ (Godson's Cosmic Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths & Bass by Mike Steva
Vocals by Bianca Maya Foulton
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Rick Wilhite

3. Mike Steva ‘Freedom’ (Rob Paine Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths, Pads, Bass by Mike Steva
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Rob Paine

4. Mike Steva featuring Motty & Siobhan ‘Weekend Love’ (Louie Vega Dance Ritual Dub)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Horns, Rhodes & Bass by Damian Smith
Vocals by Motty & Siobhan O'Rourke
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne & Paper Press Studios, Melbourne
Remix Produced, Mixed, & Arranged by Louie Vega
Keyboards, Rhodes, Piano, Synth Bass by Axel Tosca
Drum Programming by Louie Vega
Mix & Recording Engineer: Yas Inoue
Recorded & Mixed at Daddy's Workshop, NJ
Sample ‘Feels Good’ Taken from ‘Shout ‘n' Out’ by Lood, courtesy of MAW Records
Special Thanks: Osunlade, Steva & Fam, Dance Ritual Fam, Roots NYC Fam
Mastered by Martin Iveson @ ARCo Labs

5. Mike Steva ‘Freedom’ (DJeff Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths, Pads, Bass by Mike Steva
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Djeff

6. Mike Steva ‘Oasis’ (Hallex M Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Marimba, Keys & Synth by Damian Smith
Flute by Kolai
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Hallex M

7. Mike Steva ‘Kecak’ (Anthony Nicholson Afrodiscospace Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Kecak recorded in Ubud, Bali
Remixed by Anthony Nicholson

8. Mike Steva ‘Kecak’ (Dhundee Wet Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Kecak recorded in Ubud, Bali
Remix Produced & Mixed by Dhundee
Live Percussion by Bassil & Nova Edwards
Engineered by Michael Edwards

9. Mike Steva ‘Pelagonia’ (Rocco Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Rocco

10. Mike Steva featuring Osunlade ‘ReSoulution’ (Alex Barck Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Rhodes, Synth, Keys & Bass by Damian Smith
Vocals by Osunlade
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Alex Barck

11. Mike Steva featuring Georg Levin ‘Moment In Time’ (Craig Smith Remix)
Written by Mike Steva & Georg von dem Bussche
Produced by Mike Steva
Drums & Percussion by Mike Steva
Keys by WhoMixedMozart?
Moog by Osunlade
Rhodes & Synths by Damien Smith
Bass by Damien Smith & Mike Steva
Vocals by Georg Levin
Recorded @ Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Mixed by Osunlade @ The I’lle Mobile Studios, San Francisco
Remixed by Craig Smith

12. Mike Steva ‘Oasis Resolution’ (Atjazz Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Marimba, Keys & Synth by Damian Smith
Flute by Kolai
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Atjazz

13. Mike Steva ‘Kecak’ (Hallex M Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Kecak recorded in Ubud, Bali
Remixed by Hallex M

14. Mike Steva ‘Who Am I’ (Mr. Raoul K's Afrothings Remix Shortplay)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths & Bass by Mike Steva
Vocals by Bianca Maya Foulton
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Mr. Raoul K

15. Mike Steva ‘Oasis’ (Arno E. Mathieu Democratic Dub)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Marimba, Keys & Synth by Damian Smith
Flute by Kolai
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Arno E. Mathieu

16. Mike Steva ‘Oasis’ (Arno E. Mathieu Democratic Vox Mix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Marimba, Keys & Synth by Damian Smith
Flute by Kolai
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Arno E. Mathieu

17. Mike Steva featuring Osunlade ‘ReSoulution’ (Simbad Solution Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion & Rhythm by Mike Steva
Rhodes, Synth, Keys & Bass by Damian Smith
Vocals by Osunlade
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Simbad

18. Mike Steva ‘Who Am I’ (Mr. Raoul K's Remix)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths & Bass by Mike Steva
Vocals by Bianca Maya Foulton
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Mr. Raoul K

19. Mike Steva ‘Who Am I’ (Manoo's Journey To The West)
Written, Produced & Arranged by Mike Steva for Deeper Roots Music
Drums, Percussion, Rhythm, Synths & Bass by Mike Steva
Vocals by Bianca Maya Foulton
Recorded @ the Deeperoots Dojo, Melbourne
Remixed by Manoo

Executive Producer: Osunlade
All Tracks Published by Yoruba People’s Music (ASCAP) / Sony ATV Music except ‘Moment In Time’ Published by Yoruba People’s Music (ASCAP) / Sony ATV Music & Edition Muting The Noise/SMV & Co. GmbH
All tracks P&C 2017 Yoruba Records except Track 4 P&C 2016 Yoruba Records

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