Until now, the Tuff City Kid pairing of Philip Lauer and Gerd Janson has proved to be an intriguing prospect restricted to the realm of remix commissions. Lauer has of course been musically operating for over a decade, from early releases on Real Soon and the now defunct Kompakt offshoot Punkt, before coming to prominence as part of Arto Mwambe. Most recently, Lauer delivered his debut solo album Phillips, for Janson’s Running Back imprint, which risen into one of the most dependable outlets for off – centre house.
Tuff City Kids – Bobby Tacker EP Review
by Juno Plus on 09.07.2012 at 10:01amTuff City Kids next on Unterton
by Tony Poland on 22.06.2012 at 10:53am
Gerd Janson and Phillip Lauer will release their first original material as Tuff City Kids with the second 12″ on Unterton, the recently established sub label of Ostgut Ton.
Azari & III – Reckless With Your Remixes review
by Juno Plus on 19.08.2010 at 11:28amThe clamour and hype surrounding Tensnake’s remix of Azari & III’s “Reckless With Your Love” has surpassed the inner disco circle and spread as far and wide as Pitchfork and The Metro. That comes as no real surprise as both the remixer and remixee are certainly Premier League material. The liberal usage of C & C Music Factory splits audiences once the signature piano stabs are dropped in, but this remix alone is likely to secure Permanent Vacation one of their best selling 12 inches to date.
But yet, it’s not even the best remix on this record: that honour falls to Midnight Magic, who have already won many a heart via their debut single “Beam Me Up”. Employing a similar sound to that track, Midnight Magic’s remix has a vintage disco bump that submerged in cavernous echo, with the soaring string and horn arrangements laced over the chorus a true delight. Tuff City Kids aka Gerd Jansen and Phillip Lauer (Arto Mwambe/Brontosaurus) dispel with the vocal refrain and opt for some prime Muzic Box jack which brilliantly teases out an acid tinged variant on the original’s distinctive synth melody. The less than prolific German duo of Good Guy Mikesh & Filburt return from the wilderness with a brilliant burning deep house rework which rounds off a superlative remix package.
Tony Poland


