Gadgets

The Italo-inspired electro-disco-rock combo Mohear are known to craft a catchy song that captures retro styles and updates them for a new sound that's relevant today. "Gadgets" is their new single for Austria's Electunes label and is taken from the band's recently released full album Baby. It's driven by characterfully cool vocals from Miss Sophie lamenting how attached we have become as digital captives living in a world overrun by electronic devices. Echoing pads, synths, and a bass line travel straight to funky-town with crescendoing electric organs and guitars taking control of the breakdown.

The remixes for "Gadgets" are many and varied, with something here for most DJs of wide-reaching tastes. With previous releases on Compost, Russian producer Sportloto turns in the first version, starting off with an arpeggiated synth straight out of the Chicago house's most raw days, before introducing an organ bass riff and later spiraling into acid trippy-ness. The percussion is perfect with plenty of shuffling hats, drum flares, stacked claps, and a xylophone castanet combo that mimics the sequencing of the main synth. The Garage Remix from Mohear member DJ Enne follows with a fidgety bass sound, soulful keys, and plenty of percussive groove. The Irregular Disco Workers, made up of Italian producers Gregorio Assandri and Andrea Frittella, use plenty of guitar foreplay to warm things up before escalating into an all-enveloping rave bass line with a definite Chi warehouse feel. They also incorporate subtle acid sparks for the extra touch of heat to their remix. Viennese trio Struboskop tease out the vocals more than the other remixes, even pitching them down for some interesting interplay. They provide a more low slung and cosmic atmosphere with most of the instruments combining for a rhythmically layered track. As if the bongos on the Nu Gadget Remix don't give it right away, Dansoul is a Brazilian house producer, but with sleazy nu-disco temperament as evidenced by the '80s synths and very structured kick snare exchange. In a refreshing change of tempo, Berliner Sebastian Zangar, aka Databoy78, goes 'dub' with deep, echoing pad and stabs. Even with its many short, staccato notes, Zangar's effects create a wondrous atmosphere.