illywhacker - Smokin' Aces - 2020

Before we begin!!!

The Smokin' Aces playlist is now available to follow and stream on Spotify, it'll be updated weekly with all the tunes featuring in these blog posts.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4oV9djxq6DviiZQgroTClE?si=xHHI31N7RXSux1_pEfcTnQ

Week 15's tune of the week actually features in Episode 005 of my False Promises mix series (listen using the Mixcloud player at the top of the website); I discovered this track when preparing new music for the episode, a task that usually begins weeks before the episode is due to air. The record in question is a remix of a track titled 'Fire In The Jungle', originally by Berlin-based electronic music legend, Oliver Koletzki, who has become a favourite of mine in recent years. However, as good as the original production is, it's the remix by Turkish duo, Lunar Plane (consisting of identical twins Emre & Mert Altinok) that I fell in love with and opted to share with you in this post!

LP have stayed relatively close to the sound of the original production, though I feel their remix suits my tastes a little more with the sound design and arrangement of the track. Both versions of the track contain awesome Afro House-like rhythms to fuel the groove, so if rhythm is your 'thing', check this out. For me, it's the infectious the piano riff that is the winner here, for some reason it reminds me of a saloon, like out of the old 'Western movies'; it's the image that pops into my head every single time I hear this, especially when the brass section comes in too! The piano riff is a little more complex in the original version, but Lunar Plane's edits simplified it into a couple of more digestible loops, increasing the complexity of the loop/riff as the breakdown progressed to build tension and excitement. The layering of the brass section towards the end of the breakdown in their version is what really gives the track that feel-good vibe before giving way to the drop; from there, the kick and Melodic Techno-like bassline riff take centre stage to drive the next wave of energy and emotions into the listener's ears. This is certainly a track I won't tire of any time soon!

Check out the rest of Oliver Koletzki's and Lunar Plane's music if you enjoy this tune-of-the-week!

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMK5Us3vxQ

Oliver Koletzki - Fire In The Jungle (Lunar Plane Remix)