Review:
"She Sleeps" made for a welcome surprise on Hardcourage, Falty DL's recent Ninja Tune released album, calling on Friendly Fires vocalist Ed McFarlane to add his immediately recognisable warbles to a glistening production. It's obvious single material - with the radio edit here adding further credence - and the wonderful original is further complemented by several big name remixes. Two of Lustman's fellow New York dwellers in the form of Gang Gang Dance and Ital contribute, the former adding unforeseen layers of ecstasy to McFarlane's vocals amidst a clopping beat and tropically infused melodic lead, whilst Ital goes in entirely the opposite direction, turning in a sludgy, strung out malfunctioning slab of techno. Meanwhile, 4Hero's Dego goes deep under his 2000Black alias; in his hands "She Sleeps" gets transformed into a wondrously bubbling analogue funker, not sounding dissimilar to the kind of soulful futurism Gifted & Blessed is noted for. Check the Martyn remix too, which retains only the line "I know that it's evil" from McFarlane's vocals; a neat trick that infers the sonic intent that the Dutchman crafts around it.