Welcome to the sound of ‘Community’, the long awaited debut album from Audio Soul Project. Released on 26th November, ‘Community’ features 10 tracks of deep and driving tech-house compositions, and includes vocal and musical contributions from Chi-town hero Ron Carroll, Alexander East, David Duriez and Jessica Simone.
Mazi Namvar, the man behind Audio Soul Project, has released a plethora of material under the Mazi, ASP & Studio Nova monikers. Alongside original material, Mazi has remixed for artists such as Eddie Amador, Sandy Rivera (on Defected offshoot, Fluential), Those still unfamiliar to the Audio Soul Project (AKA Mazi Namvar) name will no doubt have had their heads in the sand for the last 6 months. Since the release of the ASP ‘Community’ album in November 2001, the ambitious project of reconstructing the album, using a slew of remix names including François K & Rob Rives, Chris Lum, Joeski, Ricky Montanari, Tony Thomas and Jamie Anderson, has been undertaken. The response has been terrific, with each remixer taking to task the job of breathing different emotions & energies into Mazi Namvar’s original recordings.
The title cut, ‘Community’, receives a fat, fearsome, full bodied remix that is perfectly constructed by New York production legend François K and long term studio partner Rob Rives. To have such names associated with this project has been a thrill, and their classy remix has put a great stamp of approval on this project
Italian DJs & production duo, Ricky Montanari & Davide Ruberto, overhaul ‘Everything Is Alright’ adding their trademark robotic, house funk to the proceedings over some infectious vocals and chunky house beats whilst Rob Mello, one half of the legendary Disco Elements and also of the UKs most underrated producers, remixes ‘You Know’. Rob’s ‘No Ears’ mix is an outstanding electronic house mix that will appeal to those currently turned on by the analogue house movement.
US heavyweights doth their caps in respect to Audio Soul. Joeski weighs in with a funky & percussive mix of ‘New Plateau’ in his usual style; a bassline with head-nodding factor 10, hypnotic drums and a sleazy looping sax riff. With his own Maya label and productions & remixes for Siesta, Tango, Credence, Hooj (and his recent mix CD for NRK’s nite:life series), Joeski is proving to be one hot talent at the moment. From San Francisco’s respected Moulton Studios network, Chris Lum takes time out from his work with Miguel Migs, Jay-J, DJ Buck et al. to produce a stunning remix of ‘New Plateau’; a jazzical ride through drivin’ bass riffs, sleazy saxophones & sultry vocals…one for the deep headz…
The techier elements of Audio Soul Project have been enunciated with two great mixes. UK’s Tony Thomas, known for his work on Soma, Honchos & The End, gets on the remix of ‘Native Method’. Pure techno house with no bullshit, this re-work is firing on all cylinders, and has been championed by the likes of Satoshie Tomiie and Ralph Lawson. Jamie Anderson remixes 'Freefalling', knocking out a killer chunky locked groove mix that is a real hypnotic grower and will appeal to those of the more tougher musical persuasion. His work on NRK and Dave Angel’s Rotation label has won over many new fans, and this mix went down a treat with many tastemaker DJs. |
