Is anyone else still sore from the blast high-grade neurunk remixes that came from part one the Neosignal X remix album? Well, with that gun still smoking, the imprint are pressing on with part 2, already due out at the end this month on May 29. It will feature remixes Neisognal classics by Mefjus, Culprate, Buunshin, Yunis and our premiere today, the Joe Ford remix Phace and Misanthrop’s neuro anthem, “Energie.” Strap in.
The original mix “Energie” sort blew the DnB when it was released in 2011 with its crazy intro which took up half the track dropped into the main beat with no buildup, its thundering drum loops, basically no break and an unexpected outro that went from abject silence to ambient sound design to 80s synths before ending in a turntable powerdown. Structure-wise, it turned DnB on its ear but despite its complexity it is still regularly played in clubs today, eight years later.
Speaking turning things on their ear, that’s what Joe Ford has done with his remix “Energie.” The intro is shorter than the original while the track itself is a full minute longer. The sine wave structure the synths is accentuated, blown out and is shifted over to the downbeat rather than having a quarter beat pause. These may seem like subtle differences but they make the track sound like it has a totally different synth melody. With regard to the famed double-barrel drum loop the original, Ford has rearranged that as well, removing it from every bar and re-inserting slightly different versions it at the phrase transitions.
The famed silence-cum-sound design-cum-80s synth outro is revampped as a break with yet again more blown out, cinematic-sounding synths. Ford then tacks about extra minute onto the end the track, using the classic stems to create two new beat structures: one that has the same phrasing at the original and a second that’s more minimal and deconstructs the famed sine wave synth even further. The two new structures loop around each other until the end, where the track drops f suddenly with an ambient flourish.
The Joe Ford version “Energie” is a masterful remix the original and, not that we needed any more portends what’s to come in part two X, is a great indication the level quality that will continue to roll out from this anniversary remix celebration from Neosignal. It stands to reason, after all, that the remixes would have to be absolute fire to stand up to the jaw-dropping originals. As the first preview X part two, Joe Ford has more than lived up to the task.
Part two the X anniversary EP series from Neosignal will release on May 29. It can be pre-ordered and select tracks streamed by clicking here. Make sure to check out the original “Energie” in the player below to compare these two bangers.