I stumbled across this by accident whilst trawling the internet for something else entirely, but Gaudi and Don Letts have remixed EMF's calling card Unbelievable to frankly stunning effect.
The expletive-teasing, wailing guitar, keyboard-smashing original has been transformed into a downtempo, bassbin-shaking, rumbling, menacing monster that, at 4:30, is tantalisingly short and has had me putting it on a loop just to keep letting it wash over me. A remarkable transformation.
Speaking of remarkable, one of 2024's most joyous moments was Fluke returning out of the blue with the brilliant and wonderful Insanely Beautiful, in a variety of pulse-quickening versions.
Having set the bar so high, the surprise drop of second comeback single Real Magnificent on Friday proves beyond doubt that Jon Fugler and Mike Tournier are back and mean business.
I thought Insanely Beautiful was a triumphant return; Real Magnificent ups the ante even more and if this is the precursor to a full length album, then bloody hell, it'll be the one to beat in 2025...!
Getting Leah Cleaver on board was a masterstroke, her voice a perfect counter to Jon Fugler's vocals, especially so on Real Magnificent. I like the fact that the sound is unmistakably Fluke, without attempting to recreate Philly, Electric Guitar or Bullet, for example. This is the same band (well, two thirds of the original line-up) yet very much 21st century music.
Another set of top notch remixes, too. Another 'All Buttons In' remix by Fluke (is this a subtle reveal of an album title?), but whereas the ABI version of Insanely Beautiful was an instrumental, many of Jon's vocals are retained for Real Magnificent, Leah's ooohs and mmms swooping in and out of the mix, before coming back in for the chorus.
I would love to believe that the JC Remix is by the beloved genius behind The Vinyl Villain blog. However, I'm assuming it's actually Fluke's keeper of the flame Justin Credible, who has been posting unofficial, endorsed mixes on YouTube for severakl years. Either way, it's a banger.
sLEdger aka Robin Dallison is new to me, though on the strength of the remix and dub provided, someone I need to discover more about. The remix is a near nine minute dancefloor behemoth, whilst the dub ups the bass without compromising the beats. Both incredibly satisfying.
All five versions of Real Magnificent are available to purchase as individual tracks at a quid a pop, though you'd only be cheating yourself if you don't grab the whole lot.
For all of my enthusiasm and hyperbole though, the song's title provides it's own two word review: Real Magnificent.
'Nuff said.
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