James Curd has beaten his own path from cult indie band Greenskeepers (a favourite of John Peel) to a respected DJ and beat-merchant over the last few years. His new EP In With The Old, In With The New shows off the range of styles that the Chicago-born producer has got under his belt. We chased him down to find out what tunes are floating his musical boat so far in 2010, and he admits it wasn’t an easy choice.
Artist: In Flagranti
Title: Ex Ex Ex
Label: Codek
Genre: Techno, Electro
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Despite plugging away at excellent filth infused disco releases on their own Codek imprint since the turn of the century, In Flagranti’s rise to prominence in recent times has been mostly down to the sheer amount of remixes they’ve been commissioned to undertake.
The Swiss duo have lent their trademark sound to acts on labels as diverse as Kitsune, Rong/DFA, Phantasy Sound, Permanent Vacation, Backyard and Bang Gang in just the last 18 months yet the Sounds Superb series of edits they compile is rarely mentioned beyond the realm of obscure discoteria fans, and their album Brash & Vulgar was released last year to no real fanfare.
This might all change with “Ex Ex Ex”, their new single which features the vocal talents of long term collaborator Natalie Smash (nee Smith) which is a joyous excursion into glam rock meets farmyard discopogo with a potential for crossover stunted only be the usual smutty artwork. That this is the first In Flagranti release in which they are the object of remixification, with a slew of their former subjects returning the favour, should be seen as notice of their intent.
Bear Funk’s resident Italian Bottin turns in a Ze Records inspired reimagination, sometime Gomma artiste Golden Bug continues his excursion into heavily percussive electro house and is topped in the lysergic house stakes by the perennially tipped Riton. Relish boss Headman eeks more life out of the punk funk template whilst Hercules & Love Affair’s Andy Butler stays truer to the tempo of the original which builds from a haze of deep synth into a right disco chugger. It’s left to In Flagranti’s NYC neighbour DJ Wool of The Glass to turn in the outstanding treatment which is all Hi NRG Italo and has Disco Bloodbath anthem written all over it.
Review: Tony Poland
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In Flagranti have released a teaser video for their upcoming single “Ex Ex Ex”, which comes with a sterling remix package.
Artist: In Flagranti
Title: Sounds Superb Vol 6
Label: Codek
Genre: Disco/Nu Disco/Re-Edits
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
The imperious In Flagranti continue to channel their love of obscure 70’s danceteria, imaginary bands, anagrams and disregard for copyright laws with this, the sixth installment of their Sounds Superb series of edits. The somewhat murky nature of these releases means that the original source material is never disclosed, which delights the countdown loving disco trainnspotters and frustrates music reviewers in equal measures.
The standout track on vol 6 is “Psuedo Wind” by Sanda Doris, with a typically percussive beat combining with a vocal sample familiar to fans of L-Vis 1990’s best work before dropping into a male vocal cover version of Diana Ross’s wedding disco classic Upside Down.
The spirit of Melvin van Peebles is channeled throughout Exotic’s “Sip Lace”, a moog heavy blaxpoitation funkateer that is perfect early set fodder. “Fried Fence” is further demonstration of the Brooklyn duo’s penchant for slap bass and rough vocal editing and “Calico Quiver” takes the disco to the Carribean with a steel drum heavy two minute track that drops in disco strings to perk things up.
Review: Tony Poland
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Where to begin? Christmas is looming fast, and the usual slew of quality releases came through the Juno doors this week.
Artist: In Flagranti/Rory Phillips/G & S
Title: Electric Fling
Label: Codek
Genre: Disco/Nu Disco/Re-Edits
Format: Digital
Buy From: Juno Download
Despite plugging away at filthy disco workouts for years, it took the reissue of “Business Acumen” on Kitsune to really put In Flagranti in the hearts of the club going public. Not that the Brooklyn based duo will complain as since then, they’ve been called upon to create a slew of remixes, complemented by a superlative album and a continual pilfering of obscure discoteria with the Sounds Superb edit series. They end a superlative year with Electric Fling, the aural result of a spontaneous jam session between the duo and some of their London based kindred spirits in G & S and Rory Phillips and presented in the requisite 70s porn imagery.
Surprisingly In Flagranti’s effort, “Erector Set”, is probably the least impressive of the three track EP, being a somewhat understated slow burner. “Portable Control” by G & S (aka ex Nightmover Matt Waites and Say Yes! resident Nadia Ksaiba) functions at a similar tempo, but certainly retains the interest of your ears with synth washes and cowbell aplenty.
Rory Phillips contributes the standout track here with “Solar Breakfast”, his first original production, which is a beast of a track and reminiscent of In Flagranti at their finest. After a year of awesome remixes of The Units, Jackpot and The xx, this track certainly marks Phillips out as one to watch.
Review: Tony Poland
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At Juno Download, our exclusive digital release of house prodigy Hunee finally arrived, as did the re-edit compilation of legendary New York label Ze Records, which features iconic acts like Kid Creole & The Coconuts and Was (Not Was).
Relish boss Headman has teamed up with Dieter Meier from legendary electronic music act Yello for his latest single.
The Swiss pair worked together on “Gimme”, which will be released this month as a single ahead of the new Headman album due out early next year.
The remix package for the release includes efforts from In Flagranti, Kango Stein Massive, Bang Gang and the Surreal Stroll (a collaboration between Headman and Daniel Wang).
The 12″, CD and digital versions of “Gimme” will be released on November 23. You can sign up to receive an email alert for this release by clicking the eye next to the artists name at both Juno Records and Juno Download.
