┌───┌┐───┐
│┌──┤└┬─+│
│││││││└┤│
││││││├┐││ ─────────────────────────────────────── music for body and soul
│└┴┴┴─┴─┘│
└────────┘ 12.04.2010
freshhh!
artist: Tosca
album: Pony No Hassle Versions
label: G-Stone Recordings
cat: GSCD043
year: 2010
genre: Electronic
sub-genre: Nu-Disco, Downtempo, House
source: Cdda
grabber: EAC
encoder: LAME 3.97 --VBR-NEW -V 2
quality: VBRkbps / 44,1kHz / Joint-Stereo
size: 78,7 MB
link: http://www.discogs.com/Tosca-Pony-No-Hassle-Versions/release
─┐└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
│tracklist.
no. time track title
01 05:12 Springer (Smith & Mudd Version)
02 05:41 Birthday (Grant Phabao Version)
03 05:05 My First (Nicola Conte Version)
04 06:28 Elitsa (Kotey Extra Band Disco Version)
05 06:57 Rosa (Rodney Hunter Version)
06 05:22 Elektra Bregenz (Bottin's Disco Spritzer Mix)
07 07:04 Joe Si Ha (Spirit Catcher Version)
08 05:53 Joe Si Ha (Reverso 68 Version)
09 05:33 Oysters In May (Kalabrese Version)
10 03:57 Rosa (K & K Streichquartett Version)
total time: 57:12 min
─┐└───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
│release notes.
If you're looking for the meaning of it all, better not try to
decode this record: "Somewhat absurd... like, 'Pony'", says Richard
Dorfmeister about the conceptual side of "Pony - No Hassle
Versions". No meaning might have a meaning here. A certain lack of
meaningfulness describes the nature of Tosca pretty well; on their
equine record even more so.
Releasing an album of remixes of their most recent work stays in
tradition with the Tosca modus operandi. There's been at least one
remix album for each 'original' Tosca album to date. In the case of
"No Hassle", Tosca's 2009 longplayer, this might make even more
sense than before, since "No Hassle" was an introspective work.
"Pony" brings the more club-oriented face of Tosca to the
forefront. To put it simply, Tosca, the project of the two
Austrians, Richard Dofmeister and Rupert Huber, combines bass-heavy
downbeat music with abstract soundscapes of found sounds and
material from numerous studio sessions. When these recordings are
handed over to remixers, everything changes; texture, dynamics,
structures. Still, "Pony" is a true Tosca album; the sound
signature of Dorfmeister and Huber cannot be superseded by a remix.
LetÆs take a look at the remixers. Smith & Mudd, Steve Kotey and
Pete Herbert are three London-based producers, whose musical
credit-lines reach back to the 90's. Paul "Mudd" Murphy (with
partner Ben Smith) delivers a 'classic downbeat' --what's called
'Balearic' these days --production of "Pony"'s opening track; but
not the superficial kind that has given the genre a bad name.
"Rather brilliantly subtle, like early Fila Brazillia", as Richard
Dorfmeister states. Aimed straight for the dancefloor are Pete
Herbert's "Joe Si Ha (Reverso 68 Mix)" and Steve Koteys
collaboration with brothers Lee on their "Elitsa" remix. All three
versions share a musical heritage that points to the sound of
London dance-archetypes such as the Idjut Boys or Faze Action. And
of course there's a connection to the various former acts and
aliases of the remixers themselves: Bushflange, Chicken Lips or
Akwaaba for example Clubmusic history lurks around each corner...
Quite similar in sound to the London heads is Venetian remixer
Bottin. His "Disco Spritzer" remix of "Elektra Bregenz" is, despite
its name, more hip-swaying longdrink than appetizer. And Kalabrese,
who, being from Zurich, would call that an Apero, has made his
"Oysters In May" into anything but a mere starter. This is more
like a main course "a la Henrik Schwarz", including some additional
vocals from the young dj himself. Grant Phabao is a Parisian dj-
and producer-legend, ever since first droppping his frenchified
Rubba-Dub styles on the Pro-Zak Trax Label at the end of the 90's.
When he's not doing Reggae takes on Tosca, he's busy mixing some
riddims with the latest Q-Tip or the likes. His version of
"Birthday" sounds like something hot off the press from Compass
Point Studios in Nassau.
If you ask Nicola Conte for a remix, what you'll get is a proper
re-interpretation of your music. While others would try to evoke
such via sampling, the man from Bari takes his crew of handpicked
musicians into the studio for a new recording. His jazzy
reconstructions are always refreshingly unique like a custom fitted
Italian suit. Rodney Hunter is a veteran member of the G-Stone
family. His suprising version of "Rosa" is fairly soundtrack-ish.
No looking for the perfect Disco beat this time, none of his
trademark Rave/Funk groove workouts. The public get's to see
another face of the the man who sometimes sounds like he's a lost
member of the Stereo Mc's. The "Spirit Catcher Mix" by Belgians
Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet of Tosca's "Joe Si Ha" is designed to
be danced to and leaves nothing left to be desired. The Spirit
Catcher sound is a sure bet - as long as you dig their electronic
Disco / House take of course. To close the album, Tosca went a bit
experimental. Besides giving their music to a handful of remixers,
they also contracted a contemporary chamber music ensemble to
record an adaptation of "Rosa". The two Tosca producers then took
these recordings and re-edited them, resulting in a closing track
by the Kuk String Quartet.
If, after listening to this elegantly sequenced collection of
remixes and versions, you still long for a deeper meaning, take a
good look at Markus Roessle's horse photography. If, after that,
you're still filled with a desire for deeper meaning, you're
probably making too much of a hassle. Understand that Tosca is
about 'the meaning of no meaning'.
Free your mind and your pony will follow!!!
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
mbs is a free music's lover association on the net.
we only share the music we love, with the people we like.
keep your mind, your body and your soul open...peace.
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
nfobygucci! *2010