The success of Kiwi live D&B act Shapeshifter’s The System Is A Vampire has enticed the electronic scientists at Hospital Records to call upon their finest producers to redub and remix some of their favourite tracks from the album. The System Is A Remix EP features remixes from the likes of Hospital’s own masterminds Netsky, Logistics, State Of Mind and The Upbeats... and the result? A heart-jumping, head-pounding goldmine of downtempo drum and bass tunes which is sure to leave you bouncing off the walls.
State Of Mind ensure that Shapeshifter’s opening track Dutchies doesn’t get away lightly. P Diggs' soul vocal belts out ‘Hold on’, and already your skin starts to tingle. Over the soft synths and smashing cymbals, his voice sets the anticipation for the first drop. As Diggs becomes louder and stronger, the synths climb and the two-step drum and bass comes crashing down - but that’s just dipping your toes in. The synths come creeping back - still climbing - then the drums cease ready to drop you back in. Wait a few seconds more and you’re thrown in completely as the heavy beats jump in and thrash around with the LFOed synths. The track continues to tease you with its various drops and reverberating synths, using samples of Diggs vocals to make sure you’re still jumping in the darkness of the near-jungle bass.
The genius is of this track is that I only had to listen for a few minutes before ‘welcome to the ride’ was twirling around in my head. To me, that seems to be the main point of having such great soulful lyrics belting out above electronic backbones: they make sure you store each tune in your brain’s personal music library. Dutchies is sure to be a memorable drum and bass Autumn floor filler.
Belgian DJ superstar Netsky takes The Touch and makes it his own. The track sees his trademark trickery of chilled intros, breezy pianos and crisp vocals fuse with deep drum and bass and house elements to create his unique dancefloor tunes. Soft, echoing vocals float above the tinkling of a windswept piano, shortly accompanied by a loop of electro keys. This chilled first layer is quickly cut and replaced with housey synths, two-step beats, and 8-bit soundsbefore the drum and bass is turned up and the mood changes completely. The smooth house synths remain over the deep basslines as Netsky samples the vocals and throws them around in his usual fashion. Vocals and synths are faded and reverberated throughout the track to bring in the various drum and bass drops, but they don’t seem to change much and are seemingly repeated for the rest of the track.
Although their original remix of Twin Galaxies was a roaring success, The Upbeats decided to do another one but with a VIP retouch. They continue with the running chilled theme for their intro, but like to tease you a bit more with it. The echoing vocals and ghostly pianos drift across a quiet jungle sample, before leaving generous space for your mind to drift into a quiet, heavenly place where the various sounds echo into the distance. When the soulful vocals are brought back, the beat gains pace and drops in the drum and bass. The Upbeats play with their synths and samples, using every type they can get their hands on to twist and turn this 7 minute track. Occasionally a piano chord or two tries to calm the frenetic energy, and seems to succeed for a split second before the drop bounces back, bringing with it jungle bassline elements.
Cambridge born drum and bass DJ Logistics puts his mark on downtempo track Lifetimes, twisting the chilled melodies with a distant drum and bass backdrop. Breezy synths and looping electro bubbles soften the intro as the crisp vocals and two-step drums layer the track. Although the intro is light and breezy, the continuing ghostly synths take a backseat behind reverberating synths and the clashing drums. The track only has one substantial drop in the middle; where the drums and wobs disappear to enhance the solitude of the vocals and drifting synths. The drums then pick up the pace, and return with their drum and bass licks behind the soulful vocals. Much like Netsky’s remix, the track continues with much of the same themes throughout; fading different elements in and out to enhance the vocals or intensify the drum and bass.
Each track on this EP twists chilled elements with pacing basslines to create a variety of downtempo drum and bass tunes. Hospital Records have really used this opportunity to showcase their most talented artists; who have proven their worthiness in each track’s clean cut production.