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KAI ALCE

Toy Tonics welcome one of the US’ absolute legends in the game on their roster - Kai Alcé! One of the original masters of jazzy house, Kai is a prime example, someone who witnessed the genesis of Detroit’s electronic musical landscape and strives to keep that spirit alive. Being of Haitian descent laid the foundation for his musical ear starting with his childhood in Queens, New York. Some of his earliest musical influences included his mother’s penchant for soca music and the distinct Caribbean rhythms of his culture. An appreciation of jazz would be further guided by his father’s expanding audiophile home system. During the 1970s the kindling of hip-hop and the heyday of disco perked the ear of a young Kai while they were living in NYC. The Big Apple would remain a constant throughout his musical journey as the years went on, but it was the move to Michigan that ultimately shaped his artistic vision.

On this 5 track EP Kai once again makes it all feel so easy! Deeply musical, yet also instantly effective on the dancefloor, tracks like "New Life Livin" and "Slide It In" come with an ease that shows why he’s shaped the game for decades.


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Toy Tonics continues its unrelenting dominance of new disco and deep house with the utter legend that is Kai Alce signing five tracks for the label. Silky smooth with an impeccably constructed palette, these are high end, late night burners that'll transport you to basements, a red light and a feeling!

TRACK LISTING

A1. Slide It In
A2. Space Skat N Dat
B1. New Life Livin
B2. Rough Sands
B3. Strollin Thru Barcelona

The second single to be pulled from upcoming BBE album ‘Strata Records – The Sound of Detroit – Reimagined By Jazzanova’, ‘Saturday Night Special’ features remixes by Kai Alcé and DJ Amir & Re.decay, as well as The Lyman Woodard Organization’s 1975 original. Possibly the best-known piece of music from the Strata label’s diverse and innovative catalogue, the unique, low-fi, moody, understated aesthetic of ‘Saturday Night Special’ has captured the hearts of music fans and DJs worldwide. “When I first heard the Lyman Woodard Organization ’Saturday Night Special’,” says DJ Amir, “I thought it was a song from a Blaxploitation soundtrack. Once I realized that Lyman was from Detroit, I immediately thought that if there was ever a ’theme song’ for Detroit that ’Saturday Night Special’ would be it. There is such a cinematic vibe to the song full of grit, rawness, and determination that just soaks into your veins. This album/song will always be in my bag of records to survive the apocalypse with!’” When DJ Amir and Jazzanova began work on the ‘Reimagined’ project, breathing new life into the Strata Records archive, this jazz-funk classic was right at the top of the list of ‘musts’ for the band to re-interpret. “I had no idea what direction they were going to go, musically” says Amir. “The original song had been sampled more than a few times, but in my opinion, it was never done tastefully. However, from the first practice session, I knew that they were spot on with the right direction! Their version is the perfect blend of Detroit and Berlin!” Kai Alcé’s ‘NDATL’ remix of ‘Saturday Night Special’ (named, like his label, after his three hometowns of New York, Detroit, ATLanta) brings a sure-footed lightness to Jazzanova’s version of the song, making the absolute most of the track’s stellar horn solos. “After hearing the unreleased Kamasi Washington/Gregory Porter remixes he did, I knew I had to reach out Kai” says Amir. “With this remix, he stretches out the track into a seven minute groove, in the direction of a soulful house/future jazz interpretation.” Alongside his Berlin production partners, Re.decay DJ Amir turns in a low-slung rework of ‘Saturday Night Special’, using as many parts from the Jazzanova version as possible. “We tried to emulate the intro to one of my favourite jazz dance tracks, ‘Expansions’ by Lonnie Liston Smith” says Amir. Mission accomplished.

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Tasty selection of remixes, delving deeper into the already extensive Jazzanova / Strata project.

TRACK LISTING

1. Saturday Night Special (DJ Amir & Re.decay Remix)
2. Saturday Night Special
3. Saturday Night Special (Kai Alce NDATL Remix – Extended Version)
4. Saturday Night Special

Kai Alcé Ft Rico & Kafele Bandele

Take A Chance (The Dubs) - Inc. Mr. Fingers / Larry Heard Remixes

Pre-orders essential on this super limited NDATL release featuring two remixes from the legendary Larry Heard!

Mega!

TRACK LISTING

A.Take A Chance (Mr. Fingers Full Ambient Acid Instrumental)
B1.Take A Chance (Kai Alce Original Dub Mix)
B2. Take A Chance (Larry Heard Dub Remix)


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