Picture a comfortable room filled with smoke, some burning candles and two guys sitting, waiting:
Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber, hosts of the evening. They have invited their artist friends to bring their versions of the Tosca J.A.C. album tracks. Excitement is in the air- the output of this session is still uncertain:
The first guest to show up is definitely a special one: Burnt Friedman, well known for his works as Nonplace or Flanger, a man who musicwise lives on a whole different planet. He is smiling knowingly as he enters the room in his striking purple polyester suit. The man's got style. We start listening to his great version of John Lee Huber and it's clear that this is an excellent opener for the Souvenirs album. The party has just begun...
Frost & Wagner from Germany arrive. They deliver a dub-infused mix of Superrob feat. the legendary Earl Zinger - we like it like that!
Suddenly the phone is ringing. It's Plantlife's Jack Splash, who is calling to let us know his Heidi Bruehl mix is on the way. A lush downbeat homage of the original track. Better make it a fedex express ...no way we can wait for that tune much longer!
Just about time for DJ DSL to join the gang. Big applause for him and his splendid version of Rondo Acapricio! No doubt, this guy always stays focused on his hip hop roots but reliably adds some extra flavours the very special DSL way.
Who is next: It's the man in a sharp suit called Senor Coconut with his interpretation of The big Sleep in that typical latin-bigband style. Hey brother, pour the wine…Dean Martin once sang. Brilliant idea. Big toast to Senor Coconut!
All guests are well entertained, the vibe is still relaxed, but there is much more to come: Hans-Peter Lindstrom, remixer of the moment, has put his hands on Zueri, elegantly translating the original track into a space disco session - simply wonderful!
The place gets quite crowded now, time to put on the fancy dancing suits and shake a leg as Henrik Schwarz takes us by surprise with his harmonica style version of Superrob.
We party wild as Mr. Stereotyp comes up with his two mixes of Pyjama - one closer to the jazz beat original, the other a bass-heavy dub rocker. No cooling down once Makossa & Megablast take over. This new signed G-Stone duo is in top-form, demonstrating true producer potential when delivering Heidi Bruehl in an up-tempo beat version. Good old friend Rodney Hunter instinctively nods his head to the beat. He opens the window to let some sunshine in while we are enjoying his version of John Lee Huber. Yeah, he's a cool cat.
We relax a little bit again along with the elegant dub version of Superrob feat. Ras Donovan by Felix and Daniel Haaksman. Both have been part of the family since the very beginning. Good to have them here.
Berlin female singer, lyricist and poet AGF steps up to take a leftfield approach on Naschkatze. Just about time to eat some candy and get ready for Monsieur Urbs as he puts his delicate touch on Forte. Deeply cinematic!
Finally our boys from Madrid de los Austrias spice it up once more with Damentag, rounding up this unforgettable session.
Well, tosca is one of the biggest names in de downtempo scene -ok, i know, they do other things than downtempo as well- and they systematically have their albums remixed. They took this to an extreme with "different tastes of honey" where they had one track of their second album mixed by so many artist, they could fill an album with it. I have a lot of respect for the Tosca work, but this remix-collection makes me feel tired. I guess there are some decent tracks on it, but nothing worth writing about. There is nothing that makes me want to listen to this album twice. Its the first time that happens to me with a Tosca recording.
I prefer to forget these souvenirs and remember their previous work.
There have been some changes in Tosca's sound, J.A.C introduced a more mature and melancholic approach on music. On the other hand, Souvenirs is very experimental and different from what we are used to. This album has not been received very well because people have trouble adjusting to this new sound, so different from the original. But I think people should understand that a remix album will never receive the attention a Tosca original will get. If you start you audition expecting J.A.C-like music you are in for a rude awakening. I mean, there are 16 track remixed by 16 people, each one of them with a different view on music. So I think we need to be reasonable and opened-minded when it comes to Souvenirs. It's good to see the G-Stone collective experimenting a little. 7.5/10 - good audition, relaxing and very experimental.
The best four tracks, for my money, are, in no particular order:
Superrob (Frost & Wagner Mix)
Rondo Acapricio (DSL Mix)
Pyjama (Stereotyp Need No PJ's Mix)
Superrob (Haaksman & Haaksman Mix)
I am surprised at a negativity in some reviews. This is an excellent remix album in a world where remix albums rarely hold together.
Richard Dorfmister and Rupert Huber is about to introduce their own fun-park, which they’ve built together with their friends, for everyone who’s keen on quality and diverse music. I’ve been waiting for so long to come across an album like this once again. ’Coz this remix album has got personality. It works in private scene situations just as well as in any café upon the afternoons and it also wouldn’t stand out of line at night in any clubs. Perhaps, it’s due to the fact there’re a few songs returing several times on the album each time in different remixer’s version yet there’s one song ’Pyjama’ which has two quite dissimilar and freakishly bouncing Stereotyp versions. The eastern vibes flavoured remix of ’John Lee Huber’ by Burnt Friedman is just as interesting and taking us to imaginary places as the camel rider version by Rodney Hunter. Being coloured by catchy kazoo melodies, the Henrik Schwarz rework of ’Superrob’ is not as dynamic as the versions of Haaksman & Haaksman and Frost & Wagner since it turns that pulsate upside down the upmentioned remixer duos let to develop. It’s all amusingly the same for the song of ’Heidi Bruel’. The two of Makossa & Megablast made a strongly trooping version which hasn’t got too much in common with the soft, soul alike reading of Plantlife. One could start to feel sad that songs like the funk-hoper ’Rondo Acapricio’ or like the accapulco sea coast driven ’The Big Sleep’ have got only one remix versions each, but then the cure is obvious. It’s Tosca’s brand new track on this album: Souvenir which is just like a visit to a fun park’s Magic Castle. Could not be told, have to be listened. Thanks for the souvenirs Tosca, we’ll make the rest of the winter with it!
