Last year,
Watch Clan released the rather wonderful We Are One, the first in a series of three EPs
from the highly acclaimed album, Radio Babel.
And, with the second, they’ve only gone and made another cracker containing
two tracks with three remixes of each.
First
track, Hasnaduro, opens with the Shazalakazoo Remix (I kid you not), and, from
the opening chaos ensues a high powered drum and bass track with overtones of
Dutch House wrapped around lyrics of cultural convergence. The Kosta Kostov Remix concentrates on the
guitar riff from the track making it a lot harder and rockier without losing
its original feel. There are bits of
aciiiiid in here too. When Watcha Clan
released We Are One, they managed to put out five versions of the same song
which were so different to style that there was no feeling of repetitiveness in
sight; they’ve done it again here.
The third
version of Hasnaduro is by Dr Cat and starts with a slow, stomp beat. Again, very different to the previous two
versions, driven by an electronic bassline and plenty of looped vocals
excerpts. Main vocalist Sista K is moved
out of the mix with Nassim Kouti drafted in.
A powerful mix with the instant chorus really embedding in your
head. With such a catchy song, maybe the
multiple mixes are there to engrain themselves in you – a clever marketing
ploy? Possibly, but it works. Loads of extra sounds and effect thrown in
for good measure. Wonderful stuff.
With band
members from France, Corsica and Algeria and drawing influences from urban
electronic and the folklore of North Africa, Israel, Turkey and the Balkans,
you get some idea of how diverse their sound can be, and, I was rather excited
to find versions of the lovely 17th Century Hebrew poem Im Nin’Alu
on the EP. Made famous by Israeli Ofra
Haza it’s compelling listening comparing the divide between rich and poor. If you’ve never heard her version, you really
should look it up (or, click here!)
The
versions of Im Nin’Alu here are a great tribute to Haza, bringing the beautiful
song back to life, she would be overjoyed to hear such superb versions had she
still be with us today. The Dr Das Remix
plods along with a ‘stomp’ drum. Lovely
vocals from Sista K, reaching out into a phat bass melody. The Maba Bo Remix has a reggae dub effect and
continues to engage you. There are some
great echo effects and additional instrumental thrown in, a wonderful galloping
drum after a minute and a half. A very
different version to the previous mix and thoroughly entertaining.
The final
version starts with a sexy, swirling wind instrument (I have no idea what it
is!) Again a very different version,
more slinky and embedding itself into your head. You will be singing the melody to this all
day long, I guarantee it!
In summary,
Watcha Clan come up with the goods again.
Remixes that differ so much that you really have no sense of
repetitiveness at all. I love this lot!
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