Hot on the heels of Hype & Soul Recordings’ well received single from Jeromy Nail comes a special sonic surprise for dance music denizens high and low. After months of detective work and negotiation, Hype & Soul forged a relationship with Richie Fontana, one of the last remaining members of renowned disco-era act The Skatt Bros, and were granted permission to release this updated version of the classic track “Walk The Night.” This is one of those cool cuts that gets nods of recognition whenever it’s heard; a slinky, dark groove with rousing vocals, hefty guitar, and serious late night appeal. Hype & Soul’s in-house production team Sulli & 5657 boldly tackle to tune with an aim to bring it to underground house music dance floors, full stop. While keeping the original vibe intact, S&5’s version pumps up the BPM and layers a stronger kick under some snappy house music rhythms making for an effective peak time version. For a take that’s closer to the original, look no further than Rong Music’s NYC disco champion DJ Spun. Spun’s Disco Edit is just that, elongating the intro and outro and keeping the depraved low slung vibe of “Walk The Night” in place. For a more mangled treatment, Spun also presents his Rong Music Distorto Mix which dubs out the original adding heaps of low end and an electric, gritty feel. Prime after hours basement tackle, here. San Francisco bay area DJ/producer Sparkinzi (Selekta Recordings) is on hand for a dubbed-out driving house music version in a Sound Factory-esque dark room vibe. Deep house elements share the stage with thick drums and a pounding bass line making for a definite DJ set enhancer. Philadelphia’s DJ Dennis, proprietor of Selekta Recordings, also tackles “Walk The Night” with big house music energy in his sights. Like Sulli & 5657, Dennis uses the vocal, surrounding it with beefier house music rhythms and a rolling, solid low end to update the cut for today’s nightclub speakers. Finally, TekFreaks are a duo based in San Francisco but also frequent inhabitants of Burning Man’s Black Rock City. They take the jam onto the playa and hang it outside during a sandstorm resulting in a ragged-edged electro rumbler that shows elements of the original now ordained with pink fur boots and giant steam punk goggles. All in all, these six tracks make up a diverse and exciting package that confidently thrusts The Skatt Bros into the year 2012.
Nick Warren - “Wonderful stuff. Spun’s disco edit is like the `glitter band on E.”
Ewan Pearson - “It’s such a classic - so it’s Spun’s Disco edit for me here.”
Justin Robertson - “The DJ Spun edit is top revival pressure. I’ve been playing this a lot again recently.”
Jim Stanton (Horse Meat Disco) - “At last someone who knows what they’re doing with an untouchable record like this! Bravo SPUN on his disco edit and dark dubby thing. 5 stars!”
Mark Farina - “Great. Classic tune.”
Phat Phil Cooper - “Great, loved the original … nice freshen up of the classic track.”
Chris Duckenfield - “Spun manfully handles this big beast!”
Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Major release! DJ Spun’s edit is my fave, and the Sparkinzi mix is very good, too.”
JD Twitch (Optimo) - “All time classic that I feared was untouchable but some nice reworks here.”
OOFT! - “Spun’s Disco Edit will come in handy for sure. Also digging the Sparkinzi remix - big house!”
DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great remix package on this timeless classic.”
Cosmo Vitelli - “This is forever in my box. The 2 Spun remixes/edits will be very useful.”
Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “At first we thought ‘oh no- you just can’t!’ A few listens to both of Spun’s mixes changed that. True to the original - this is the key. Also, Tekfreaks make a valiant effort to modernise the sound.”
DJ Morpheus (Lysergic Factory) - “I loved and played the original version to bits, but the DJ Spun mixes, and the DJ Sulli & 5657 mix, and the excellent breakbeat mix from Sparkinzi are all adding something fresh to the old classic. Top stuff!”
Michael Stukes (Mystic Vybes Radio Show) - “This is how you revisit a classic!”
Additional support from Rayko, Robin Lee (Faze Action), Sleazy McQueen, Dirt Crew, Tiago, Justin Harris (Freaks), Gavin Hardkiss, Social Disco Club, DJ Schwa (Shades Of Gray), Makossa & Megablast, Eric Duncan (Still Going), Stereo 77, Nico De Ceglia, Jota Wagner (Colors Sound System), Rick Preston, and Psychemagik.
Available now from Beatport.