Zeep Dreams Remixed

Remix veterans and comp winners supply a 4 –track barrage of Brazilian beats

Zeep Dreams finally sees the light with a massive 12” and download release featuring heavyweight and veterans on the scene Da Lata (Patrick Forge & Chris Franck) and Afronaught (Bugz in the Attic) punching a string of right handers and basslines to boot. Underdogs and remix competition winners, John Johnson and DJ LK respond to the challenge with some deft footwork and some surprise dance-floor sonics keeping a truly competitive edge to proceedings.

In September 2007, Radio Magnetic (www.radiomagnetic.com) hooked up with Far Out Recordings and the fight was set – ‘Zeep Dreams’ parts were made available through their website to download and Benji B (BBC 1XTRA) was to be the fight adjudicator. Over the course of the autumn, over 50 remix entries passed through the
Far Out Recordings email server and were quickly whittled down to 20 by the Far Out staff and passed onto Benji B who would then decide which cuts would feature on the limited 12” pressing and download album. The
lines were drawn, stakes were high and the mission was clear. Seconds out….

The choice of Da Lata as remixer was an obvious one for the label. One of the first Far Out tunes to garner club-hit status internationally was Da Lata’s version of ‘Ponteio’ in 1995, the third ever 12” released on Far Out. Da Lata went on to sign two albums with Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures imprint, remix world renowned artists such as Sly and Robbie and Femi Kuti and release mixes on Especial, JCR, Talkin Loud and Far Out Records. Chris Franck of both Zeep and Da Lata explains: “This dark but soulful mix was inspired by the African input on “Zeep Dreams’. I guess you could call it electronic house music but the afrobeat is the driving force.”

Afronaught is a leading light in the broken beat genre, his Bugz in the Attic collective having led the charge since time. More recently he’s been treading the Puerto Rican step with a string of collaborations and releases with singers and percussionists based in San Juan. Orin Walters slams some sucker punches into the release with a sub-bass line destined to destroy. Watch out for the mid-track breakdown with Nina Miranda’s vocals melting into the fore but without a blip on the dancefloor.
Step forward competition winners John Johnson, DJ LK and referee, BBC 1XTRA’s DJ Benji B! John Johnson’s interpretation could be described as a percussive house workout but very much in the vein of a Spiritual South production. This track is likely to be a favourite with the house and techno massive as well as the Brazilian/broken beat fraternities. DJ LK’s vibe is much more experimental but in line with this 12”, he keeps the tempos at around 125 BPM. An electro break cum baile funk groove sets the vibe with neat vocal effects and a dark array of electronics.