March 31, 2023 - Faux Poly
Oh how the time flies. It feels like an eternity ago that Techno Time Travelers Joe and Warren released their seminal Running In Your Area. The reality is that it’s only been 6 short months since those dark, room-bursting tracks saw the light of a crowded dance floor. The actual reality is that it’s been over a year since the original release to the moment of this writing. The even more true reality is that I am very behind with all things music. Time to make up for lost time.
Faux Poly: Remixed 001 is the first in a planned series of quarterly remix releases that the FP bosses plan to dish out. The pair cast a wide net to invite producers to reimagine any previous piece from the label’s catalog, stretching and imbuing and growing the collection in new and exciting ways. The selection this quarter contains specimens from Kassian themselves along with pieces from London’s Jay Carder debut EP Entropy.
Before us lies a veritable variety of vintages, a buffet of bouquets of which to sample. Joe and Warren and Jay polish up a few glasses, and we get to tasting. The cork pops on the revisioning of ‘Off World Vehicles’ by Stockholm’s Skudge. Unfussy but with a hint of spice, the track hits hard and deep and firmly rooted in its origins. New-comer and New-Zelander Emanuel takes Jay’s ‘Eva’s Stoned’ for a spin, dialing up the tannins to draw the cheeks back. There’s sharpness here as the tones open up to the air, revealing hidden layers as they breathe. Demi “Sad Eyes” Riquisimo is up next with a twist on Jay’s ‘So Carelessly.’ It’s a full-bodied composition, with radiating dark fruit sweetness that undulates behind thick choral pads and bright plucky synths.
Aromas float us back to the Kassian side of the tasting, with a DJ Crisps rendition of ‘Actions’ that starts off a bit single note but evolves over time, offering a citrus kick on the finish through sharp cymbal play. Arms & Leg’s own Kristin Velvet picks through the essence of ‘Actions’ as well, exploring funkier flavors and adding an unexpected depth through repetition to the equation. As the evening progresses, we move towards the heavier and darker vintages with two takes on ‘Akkala Falls.’ DJ Counselling dives deep into the smaller, subtle details, bubbling up in spirals of natural fermentation. Oscar Farr strikes a more decisive balance between a mellow evening by the fire and a bonfire bash, with warm undertones cutting through icy synth lines rife with digital distortion.
Laughter and conversation echo out amongst the waves. The lights dim, the music swells. A glass breaks. Joe and Warren and Jay sweep aside the amassed bottles and procure a container of something stronger. Londoner Liebus’s take on ‘No Clear Shape’ disregards the palate, ripping through the roof of the mouth and burning bridges with sharp anise notes as it goes. Sweetness peeks through the current of breaks, but not overpowering the complexity of herbs and spices on offer here. The tasting transitions to an evening of dance, each track offering a unique and captivating experience. We’re thankful this is going to be a regular thing.🍍