It's not usual a single release warrants its own review here but DJ Hell 'U Can Dance' is one that does. DJ Hell has teamed up with Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry and Peter Kruder to produce a killer take on an unreleased Ferry song from yesteryear. It first featured on Hell’s album Teufelswerk but comes into its own now with remixes courtesy of Carl Craig, Simian Mobile Disco and DFA's Tim Goldsworthy.
The fanfare of the previous album single, ‘The DJ’ featuring P. Diddy, would normally be hard to trump but nothing is impossible when Carl Craig is on remix duties and over two blinding remixes he delivers gold. Both adopt Craig’s usual creative genius and madness with one mix taking on a more stabbed and bouncy groove, holding the vocal at the forefront while the other is more stripped back and pushes a darker groove with perfectly timed trippy synth tweaks and refrains. Craig’s first mix in particular is nothing short of genius - one of his best recent remixes - and is one of those records which has elements you didn't even notice at first come to life when played on a decent sound system.
Tim Goldsworthy's 11 minute mix is an interesting take - quite laid back initially but taking lots of twists and turns along the ride - adding in live percussion elements, detuned keys and drum solos to give an almost live band feel for large sections. It's one to give a couple of listens because it will grow on you. Simian Mobile Disco deliver a slow-burning and stripped back remix which chugs along in their usual understated style until kicking into top gear around 6 minutes in. It’s solid but not quite the main event in this case. Carl Craig’s two mixes show yet again why he’s almost untouchable amongst dance music's edgier remixers.
DJ Hell feat Bryan Ferry 'U Can Dance' is set for release in January 2010 on International Deejay Gigolo Records as MP3 download and 12" vinyl.
