Bogota Records return with a follow up to their truly special summer hit “Guide Line”. Where that was a statement of intent, their new single “Breathe Easy” aims to cement the winning combination of producers Ivaylo and Slammer with singer Renate. It’s another thick mix of Bogota style balanced by perfectly arranged remixes, each molded into their own strong identity and building on the solid foundation set by the original.
Ivaylo is a Bulgarian native based in Oslo, at the head of Bogota Records, and Slammer is the label’s sound technician. “Breathe Easy” is the latest of their numerous planned projects. Renate is a good friend of Ivaylo and they have worked together previously, highlighting her delicate vocal delivery over smooth house productions. Their coupling has already proven itself to be a memorable and enduring collaboration, so it’s not surprising the two have set a goal of eventually performing live together.
Let’s start off by noting how clear it’s becoming that Renate’s voice has a uniquely, distinguishing personality that is hard to place, but easy to love. She always delivers with an understated sweetness characteristic of what the music world has come to treasure in Scandinavian pop with indie and experimental leanings. Where it gets tricky is the smoothed over, soulful diva accents that bring to mind wonderful jazz and chill out performances. On “Breathe Easy”, Renate’s vocal nuances work to completely pull the listener in once again, teetering on the wait for her to deliver closure while also hoping it never ends. Meanwhile, the production efforts of Ivaylo and Slammer depend on hard drum programming and a murky low end while the synths take an elevator softly towards a bright, arpeggiated climax.
The remixes flow from Oslo to Bulgaria, from the Bay Area to Barcelona. Kelvin K (Lost My Dog) is a transplant between England and the States’ West Coast. He’s very well versed in the American house music sound, having performed with a lot of its key DJs and producers (Larry Heard, King Britt, Jovonn, and more). His Playin’ Old School Mix does what it says on the tin with a perfectly rounded bass line, lovely Rhodes keys, and sharp horn stabs that bring to mind better times for the musicality of house productions. Norwegian Jarle Bråthen‘s productions have made their way onto a few releases for Prins Thoms’ Full Pupp label. That should lend a clue as to the squelchy, somewhere between acid and Italo disco direction of his cosmically inclined remix. It makes for a very spacious club tune. Sound Solutions is a two years running meeting of the minds between Bulgarian DJ / producer Ognyan Gurkov and musician / composer Iasmin Issinov. Together they start their remix of “Breathe Easy” with lush strings before introducing a futuristic soundscape with their synth work, contrasting this with vibrant piano notes. It builds up into a euphoric release. Arildo, a good friend of the Bogota label and owner of Cymasonic Recordings, finishes off the release with a mechanical, but funky remix. There’s a springy, percussive shuffle on top of a bludgeoning bass sound as well as deep, dusty pads that mirror the low end flow.
Abicah Soul - “I like this Arildo remix … super!”
Alvaro Hylander (DeepWit Recordings) - “Delicate yet powerful. Another bomb on Bogota Records. I’ll be playing all of these.”
Natural Rhythm - “The dreamy vibe on the Arildo mix is very nice!”
Sumsuch (Colour and Pitch) - “Fantastic release once again. I’m loving Bogota Records right now!”
Hollis P Monroe (Renaissance Infinity / The Black 80s) - “I like all of these and the vocal is sweet. Looking forward to trying them out.”
Spettro (Bedrock / Crosstown Rebels) - “I’m really diggin’ the vibe and production on Kelvin K’s Playin’ Old School Mix … it’s perfect for deep sets or pool side.”
Jaymz Nylon (Nylon Trax) - “Modern, soulful, and funky equal the perfect ingredients. The original and the Arildo remix are my favorites and satisfy both sides of my DJ brain.”
Al Bradley (3am Recordings) - “Very cool release. A tough call here between the Jarle Bråthen and Arildo remixes … both really superb deep works.”
Tyler Stadius (Proton Radio) - “Good choice of mixes. Jarle Bråthen’s acid mix works for me.”
Tom Conrad (Adaptation Music / SSRadio) - “It’s difficult to choose between the Sound Solutions and the Kelvin K mixes … both are fantastic. I also love the hypnotic original.”
Louis Hughes (6th Sense Music) - “It’s always nice to see a Kelvin K mix and this one is really great. Another strong release. Well done.”
Michael Fossati (Spirit Of House) - “Kelvin K’s gorgeous and melodious remix is the one for me.”
Joey Silvero (Distant People) - “Real deep feeling in the Arildo mix … I will be playing this for sure.”
Bogdan Taran (Dance Box radio show) - “The Arildo remix is a good piece of deep underground house.”
Jamie Topham (CD Pool) - “Dope original track from Iyalo & Slammer … very UK-centric and current in sound with a beautiful vocal performance from Renate. Cool remixes, too, with that emotive Sound Solutions remix sounding pure genius in arrangement. A seriously good release from Bogota.”
Now available from Beatport and Juno Download.