Khidja appeared on Especial’s radar after a call from one Mr Sean Johnson (A Love From Outer Space / Hardway Brothers) to say he’d DJ’d in Bucharest and that 2 young DJ’s had closed the party with an amazing track that on enquiry turned out to be their own production.
And so Mustafa soon arrived. This was followed by Abdul and before Teressa May could get her fascistic paws on them, they were safely part of the team and handed over to the care of Timothy J Fairplay (The Asphodells / Crimes Of The Future) and fellow cross border travellers, Juju & Jordash (Real Soon / Dekmental) for induction and reinterpretation.
Mustafa is more immediate with shuffle percussion, swirling sirens and acid bubbles leading to a perfect hornbreak In the hands of Mr Fairplay though, a bigger, bolder version is seen.
The word anthem is banded around easy at times, but when aired by Mr Weatherall, this reinterpretation, with it’s stabbing bass and build, has seen howls wherever it’s heard.
Abdul on the other coin, is the calming influence. Art of Noise vocals, kick and bass keeping things simple, dub and echo enticing the slow-mo groove to swing before Eastern melodies take it away. Bass is the dominant force in the Juju & Jordash remake. A reminiscent (aka balearic) guitar is plucked from under the melody and throb to recall forgotten lands and complete a memorable debut.
credits
released March 1, 2014
Written and produced by Florentin Tudor and Andrei Rusu. Track 1 & 2 violin by Bogdan Stoian / Sitar by Andrei Dinescu. Track 2 remix and additional production by Timothy J Fairplay. Track 4 remix and additional production by Gal Aner & Jordan Czamanski.
supported by 16 fans who also own “Mustafa & Abdul”
My whole body agrees with the pace of this short but solid track list. A generous helping of acoustic rhythm samples ignited by breakbeats add extra attention to full range movement on the dancefloor. Not a beat wasted. cherub420
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