A very happy (though slightly belated) 60th birthday to Daniele Gaudi, born 12th July 1963.
Shakatak by Gaudi has been constantly in rotation at Casa K (or out and about) since it was released at the end of March.
The blurb from Dubmission Records pretty much tells you all you need to know:
Straight to the head of all bass warriors and sound system disciples,
Gaudi drops a killer new cut with two versions, both designed for moving
and grooving!
Shakatak version #1 is a militant steppa aimed straight at the dancefloor, with version #2 being all about half-tempo dub.
With one foot in the past and one in the future, Gaudi's old school analogue attitude combines with his new school electronic approach to make for one hell of a bass heavy sonic ride!
Shakatak version #1 is a militant steppa aimed straight at the dancefloor, with version #2 being all about half-tempo dub.
With one foot in the past and one in the future, Gaudi's old school analogue attitude combines with his new school electronic approach to make for one hell of a bass heavy sonic ride!
The video edit comes in at under 4 minutes, the full-length single version tips over the 6 minute mark and is essential, the bass threatening to punch a hole in your speakers at any moment, propelling the rhythm and music ever forward.
Gaudi's ReRub on the digital "flipside" takes it down a notch or two but is no slouch either. His long-time love of dub, electronica, analogue and dialogue comes together perfectly in these two versions.
Shakatak is available on Gaudi's Bandcamp site, along with over 60 back catalogue releases, including his debut solo album from 1991 and tributes to Ennio Morricone and The Smiths, the latter (and several other releases) showcasing his love of the theremin. Hearing the likes of Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want with the instrument taking the place of the Manchester Racist is a unique experience.
I was peripherally aware of Daniele Gaudi from some of his remixes, but I didn't really start a deeper dive into his music until 2021, thanks to his stunning remix of Ital Orb (Iron Chair) by The Orb. I've since bought a couple of Gaudi's collaborations with The Orb, Youth and Pete Namlook as well as the mammoth Remixes 1995-2020 collection. The latter has gone up in price since I purchased it but £35 for 121 digital remixes works out at about 29p per track which I think is still excellent value, given the quality within.
If you're new to Gaudi though, start with Shakatak and you really can't go wrong.
Love some Gaudi. I'm not familiar with the Smiths tribute, which sounds intriguing. I've been wrapped up in his "100 years of Theremin" album for quite a while. Everything I've checked out of his has been a treat. I've held back on the remixes collection for whatever reason, but you're right, its a steal at the cost per track and the quality included.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mooz. It took a few listens but I like Gaudi's theremin-infused take on The Smiths. You can try before you buy here
Deletehttps://gaudimusic.bandcamp.com/album/gaudi-theremin-tribute-to-the-smiths
Yeah, the remixes collection was a daunting prospect when I first bought it but the quality and consistency is remarkable. I think prior to The Orb and Youth collaborations which I bought around the same time in 2021, I only had one Gaudi track - a remix of Taxloss by Mansun - so buying Remixes 1995-2020 was a significant and immediate increase! It cost me £25 (as part of his 25th anniversary promo) and was worth every penny. I'm slowly catching up with Gaudi's other releases, but there's a lot!