If you know anything about dance music’s history (or even if you don’t!) you’ll know Inner City’s ‘Good Life’. Written and produced by Kevin Saunderson and featuring the vocals of Paris Grey, it was released in 1988 and went on to become one of the defining tunes of its era, maintaining “classic” status ever since.
Some 15 years later, producers are still vying for a chance to remix it. Delivering their renditions for the first batch of 2013 remixes are Pig & Dan, Markus Lauc, Matt Smallwood, Ian O’Donovan and Dantiez Saunderson & White Chocolate.
Pig & Dan have been forging their skills over the last 10 years with production credits on the likes of Bedrock, Cocoon, Suara, Tronic and Soma who also released their acclaimed fourth studio album, ‘Decade’. Here they deliver a stripped back, instrumental version of ‘Good Life’, instead concentrating on its tough techno beats.
Glasgow’s Marcus Lauc bridges the gap between techno and house with residencies at the city’s Karnival night as well as Glasgow’s On The House, which becomes even more apparent on his reworking of ‘Good Life’, where the prominence put on the house keys is underlined with a stomping techno bass.
Matt Smallwood was named one of Carl Cox’s producers of the year in DJ Mag and has topped the artist charts on Beatport, with an impressive output on some of the world’s most prestigious labels. With a softer approach, his version focuses on more of the original’s core elements for a shimmering reworking.
Irish man, Ian O’Donovan was already grabbing the attention of many of the world’s DJs when he sent out some track demos, even before his first official release so it’s no surprise that his tracks soon got snapped up by the likes of Wolfskull, Bedrock and Aurora Borealis. With a sound compared to Detroit Techno, he was a perfect choice for this new phase of remixes.
Dantiez Saunderson is the middle son of Ann and Kevin Saunderson and has recently been impressing with his releases on KMS, proving that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. His musical partner, Kevin Castro aka White Chocolate, was born in Columbia, raised in New York and currently resides in Miami. Having last come together on KMS for ‘Logarythm’ (KMS-119), they now return for this futuristic adaptation.
In addition, a competition ran on Beatport Play in June to remix this Detroit Techno masterpiece, for inclusion on the release and on 8th August the winner was announced, with the grand prize going to Contepella for this Breakbeat version.
‘Good Life 2013 Remixes Phase 1’ is released 27th August on KMS.
Check out the story of Detroit techno as Kevin Saunderson narrates them in his own way.
Dimitri Kechagias review: The brand new remixes are coming and as it seems the right moment when everything going retro and youngers immitate or get influenced from that early house/techno sound for the beloved classic to come back. Inner City's most successful single Good Life is back with huge set of new mouthwatering jaw dropping remixes. Matt Smallwood Remix is feel good upfront remix perfect for the finest moments for the more mainstream floors. Markus Lauc Mix delivers the Big Room tech house sound perfect for Ibiza dancefloors with plenty of moments to unite the big crowds and make them scream, shout and sing a long the beloved lyrics. Dantiez Saunderson & White Chocolate Future Mix is an interesting deep tech house production with that underground air to it. Really amazing to see the son of Kevin remixing his father and he did amazing job by updating in the finest way his father eternal classic. Really deep groovy funky and inspiring music to keep you hooked for long. Pig&Dan Less Is More Dub Mix is an excellent nearly 9 minutes rendition of deep dark techno with pulsating drums and chopped vocals. Powerful, energetic, driving and body shaking will move and groove the sets of djs like Carl Cox or Dave Clarke for sure. Uncompromising techno make over. Ian O'Donovan Remix is a superb deep progressive melodic techno makeover with 4 minutes intro so its the perfect track to play as an introduction to your set and feel the hair raising as long as the organ riff is coming to the surface along with the mesmerising feel good vocals that are written on the DNA of every EDM music lover. Brilliant version with depth, emotion and haunting basslines. Lastly Contepella Remix translates the original into a dark breaks version with plenty of urban music/hip hop influences. So refreshing and different take that will surprise many. The classic is back and is Highly Recommended. Love iT
Additional info:
