Yellow Tape by Murr

Rising Toronto producer Murr (New Kanada, DNH) delivers his first EP for 530Techno after several previous remixes. On ìYellow Tapeî he works with long time vocal collaborator Rosina Kazi for a strong original that conjures visions of the blippier, more romantic side of techno. Remixes come courtesy of Vancouver techno and visual arts duo The Automatic Message, Seattle electro artist 214, and the on fire Toronto duo Hermans for a release that really brings the dark, underground heat to the summertime dance floor.

The original contains a mysterious, almost impenetrably cool sheen capped with a sub rattling bass line to shake the floor. Rosinaís vocals float in on gossamer waves of ethereal bliss that gives the track a very distant, emotional tint. The haunting string melodies on top are gorgeous in both deepness and somberness, lending themselves to a soulful but melancholic feel overall.

The Automatic Message (From 0-1, Kalimari) cranks the original to eleven and turns it in to a full-bore Sheffield-style chunk of techno. This is peak hour starkness for techno DJs who like to bring the big heat. The duo deftly ties together the cinematic leanings of the visual work with a blistering industrial influence that is impossible to ignore

Seattle artist 214 (Hypercolour, Fortified Audio) creates post-modern electro beats for his remix. Itís a nice blend of the modern Detroit sound with tasty analog vibes and the retro soulful template disseminated by the genreís forefathers. 214 taps in to that age-old spirit but avoids the retro pitfalls with futuristic sound collage melodies that are simply twisted.

Toronto duo the Hermans (Extended Play, The Deep North) provide a wicked b-side blast of oft-kilter, bass line heavy tech-house for the final remix. An undulating, driving pulse anchors this track as it syncopates the beats and mixes up the rhythms to keep things fresh and lively. Other elements here are muted and dubby for a radical retake of the original that is provides a suitable conclusion for a genre busting EP.

lateral trax for lateral minds