2020 Repress

Tracklist:
A1 Abidjan feat. Yakomin
B1 Addis
B2 Musica Electronique feat. Insaac Students

Red Axes are very excited to present the first part of their new project called: "Trips", a multi media venture combining music, film and travelling across the globe in pursuit of extra ordinary collaborations.

Niv Arzi and Dori Sadovnik are seeking to discover new grounds and sounds, and to record local musicians, indigenous instruments and present workshops for youth music schools.

In March of 2017, the Israeli duo touched down in Africa for the first time, and set up camp in both Ethiopia and Ivory Coast, yielding In Africa, a triple header EP which features three slices of contemporary body music, with both East and West African musical motifs.

The project will always present a musical release, on vinyl and digital, that was created on the trip, accompanied with a documentary, showing the whole journey.

The Music;
A1 sees Red Axes and seven-piece Ivorian band, Yakomin, intertwine mechanical drum-machine passages with breathing, live percussion and recordings of instruments indigenous to the West African costal region. Amuse’s dusty, afrofunk-leaning synths pair excellently with the celebratory singing and rhythms by students from Abidjan’s Insaac Music School. Addis Sababa’s overdriven, analog electronics escort lesser-known wind and plucked instruments to the sunny finish line. in trademark Red Axes style.

The Film;
An accompanying documentary by Nimrod Von Keren, entitled TRIPS #1 - Africa, is soon to be unveiled, which showcases the magic moments behind this first-of-many, transcontinental, nonstandard collaborative experiences.

The Show;
On August 23rd, we will present a one of a kind performance with 3 of the amazing musicians we worked with in Ivory Coast, from the band Yakomin. The show will happen at "Sacred Music Festival" in Jerusalem, and this is the most amazing closure, the band and Red Axes could have dreamed of. The artists will prepare a special set up of tracks recorded together, and new organic interpretations for their biggest tracks.

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Format Notes: 2024 first-time 12" reissue pairing of previously hyper-rare tracks, 140g vinyl, mastered by Simon Francis


Track List:

A1 Falling In Love
B1 Happy (Love Mix)

Release Notes:

Two seminal 12" mixes of a pair of enormous tracks from Surface. Housed in the super-rare and - until now - French-only picture sleeve of the eternal "Falling In Love", we've backed that classic with Be With's favourite deconstructed mix of the swirling electronic soul / synth-driven slow jam "Happy". These sought-after versions have never been paired on the same record before. This fresh Be With edition ensures these legendary tracks now sound, looks and feel as sensational as they deserve to. You know what to do...

American post-disco/R&B trio Surface were a New Jersey vocal group made up of Bernard Jackson, David Townsend and David Conley. The majesty of boogie ballad "Falling In Love" was their first single, released in 1983 on Salsoul Records. The mellow magic of this track is loved the world over; it's a feel-good smooth boogie jam that's forever coveted. The slick, crystal clear beat, the legendary minimoog bassline, the melody, Karen Copeland's superb vocal, the great flute solo (referenced on the cover) all of it is literally perfect and beautifully encapsulates that mid 80s international club vibe. This here is the original Shep Pettibone mix in its entirety - it's the only one you really need.

Flip for the legendary "Love Mix" of 1987 hit single “Happy". You all know the original. At least, you *should* all know it. But the "Love Mix" is a deconstructed, boldly produced mix which is the one the heads have turned to for so long. Yet, in our opinion, its hypnotic groove has flown under the radar for too many years. This killer remix begins with Jackson's spine-tingling isolated vocal, cleverly subverting expectations by actually delivering the first words of the original's second verse "You must be Heaven sent...Sent into my life...And I compliment you baby...Baby" before a heavy 808 drum kicks hard with echoey handclaps. It's super sparse and a dubbed out slow-mo boogie banger like no other. The synth bass, atmospheric synth pads and synthesized flute glide in and out with effortless style and the whole thing is a wonder to behold.

It's a slow jam, for sure, but crafted in the straight up funk tradition, using the digital tools of the day and this sparser than sparse version almost sounds like a precursor to UK Street Soul. A unique combination of undeniable funk, electro beats and an earnest, youthful tenor; it should be slamming out of every jeep forevermore.

Simon Francis remastered the original audio for both tracks and Cicely Balston's precise cut for Alchemy at AIR Studios ensures this 12" well and truly slaps. The immaculate Record Industry pressing will ensure this incredibly sought-after treasure finds a home in many more collections, this and every year. Simply flawless.
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Tracklist:

A1. Phonk D – Cheek
B1. Phonk D – Cheek (Soundstream Remix)


Shortinfo:

With Cheek, Phonk D serves up another good vibe sample work. A catchy disco loop meets funky percussions, a few filter tweeks and off you go...
For the 10th anniversary of the label, a long-awaited wish has come true:
House and Disco icon Soundstream from Berlin has a take on the tracks and left his magic on one of his ultra-rare remixes.



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