Hearing that Miguel Migs would be releasing his album on Kandi I was overjoyed and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy. Miguel is one of the few people who are already a part of the family, his tracks having featured heavily on HK compilations over the years with a sound that embodies summer Kandi sunshine.
Glimpsing at the tracklist I'm beginning to get excited. I notice there are already some existing favorites, the first being So Far. It’s a blinding beach house track with a deep, groovy bassline and an enchanting vocal by L.T, something to let your mind wander to. Make Things Happen is a corker of a track, with a funky guitar, bursts of horns with ripples of electronica and percussion. Lisa Shaw is a favourite of mine, her vocals are warm and wise and seem to wrap around you.
Let Me Be is stunning, it’s so nice to hear the original as the rather saxy Petalpusher rework has been tearing apart Kandi and Sushi dancefloors all year, this version is much more chilled and organic.
If like me you were one of the lucky ones who made it to Pacha for the album launch party with Migs himself tearing up the dancefloor, you will have heard 'Shake it up'. When he dropped it the place went wild. Im not normally a fan of rap in house but this just works.. its lyrical perfection and the beats compliment it perfectly, Miss Shaw dropping in once again for some backing action.
Upon first glance Those Things Remixed seems like a great collection of remixes of the best of disc 1, but it’s so much more than that. It’s hard to put into words how good it really is. Sometime has been given an eccentric space age rework in typical Crazy P fashion. Those Things is an absolutely amazing track, that much I’m sure you would agree.. Simon Grey has crafted a whole new dimension to the track - think The Sunburst band meets Daft Punk, c'est magnifique!
Faze Action twist Fire into a spellbinding tribal groove, where Cottonbelly take a vintage reggae approach! If funk were booty, there wouldn’t be a pair of jeans in the world big enough!
Its now apparent that all of these remixes are as much a part of this album as the original versions, which is often not the case with remix albums. I could write about the whole lot of them but the folks at Kandi HQ dont give me enough words!
This album really surprised me... I have came away with so many great tracks to share with people, it massively exceeded my expectations. The blend of live instruments and electronica is gorgeous, teamed with some amazing vocalists and a host of remixers what more do you want? Miguel strikes me as a perfectionist, but someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. The music really does beat to its own drum (excuse the pun) I await future Hed Kandi Artiste albums in the future with baited breath.. it’s been a long time!