Ben Westbeech - Hang Around (Remixes)

  • Share
  • Wahoo and Karizma are the latest pair to remix London soul shaker Ben Westbeech on Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings imprint. First up, let me admit that I’m a bit biased – Wahoo, aka Dixon and Georg Levin, still have a special grip on me, especially earlier work such as their remix of ‘That Night’ featuring Vikter Duplaix on vocals. These guys might be getting the media eyeball at the moment, but they’ve been pushing a deeper soul sound much longer than most care to remember. Which is why I was expecting a little more magic here. Their remix works a funk arrangement into the track alongside dollops of percussion and Âme-esque synth plunges, and the result will fit neat and deep at festivals like The Big Chill or Southport Fest. It’s nice enough, but my bet is that the new Wahoo album will be more exciting – best to hang around for that? On the AA, ex-Basement Boy Karizma steals the show, stripping the niceties out of the track and leaving the soul and bollocks of it intact. There’s real depth and flavour here, and it just builds and builds: the pads are giddy, the vocal slices are wise and the corrosive beats will make you smile like a little kid with an unlimited supply of Lego. A future classic for true music lovers. Overall, Gilles chose wisely here, but it’s the Karizma that wins out. Unlike the London weather, Brownswood is looking sure of itself these days.
  • Tracklist
      A Hang Around (Wahoo Main Mix) AA Hang Around (Karizma's Kaytronic Dub Mix)
RA