Artist: Jim Rivers
Title: The Remix EP
Label: Renaissance Digital
By: Antonella Sirec | 28 May 2007
Tracklist:

• 1. Nic Fanciulli - Cat Out Of The Bag (Jim Rivers 'Cat Nip' Mix)
• 2. Blue Foundation - Sweep (Jim Rivers Vox Mix)
• 3. Blue Foundation - Sweep (Jim Rivers Dub Mix)

Jim Rivers "The Remix EP"

With 2007 nearly at a halfway point, the year has proven to be much more about the quality of production work from a number of talented, young producers rather then compilations from the majority of the established names of the scene. From my perspective, the leader of the pack has so far been Jim Rivers. With each solo effort or remix work, he continues to successfully show why his work is favoured by not only the big names of the industry but also by the anonymous faces that simply love dance music as their preferred choice of audio pleasure. Released through Renaissance, 'The Remix EP' is a prime example of the many facets of Jim Rivers' constantly growing talent.

First up on this EP is the 'Cat Nip' Mix of Nic Fanciulli's 'Cat Out Of The Bag'. While I was never a fan of the original, with this remix Jim Rivers has reworked the track into a warmer sounding tune that's a definite nod towards deep house moreso than anything progressive. As such, it is now an enthralling piece of music that still uses the main melodic aspects of the original but in this version there's a sensual fluidity to the overall sound and feel of the track which allows it to have a certain vibrancy that was previously missing. For me this is a much more cohesive sounding tune which is an aspect that I found somewhat lacking in the original. As it dips and peaks in places, it continues to draw the listener into its many folds and as a result, I found myself lost in its recurring grooves. This, by far, outshines the original and the subsequent remixes by a great length.

Following on are the Vox and Dub mixes of one of this year's outstanding releases, 'Sweep' by Blue Foundation. The initial release of this particular track was a great package deal in that the original and its subsequent remixes, for me, were almost verging on the perfect. So with that in mind, I didn't quite expect those versions could be equalled or even bettered in any further way. But they are!

On first hearing the Vox Mix, the one thing that struck me immediately was that there was a tougher element introduced to the tune. This is primarily seen in the way the bass line has been manipulated and how one of the minor melodies from the original is more pronounced with a slightly acidic reworking that's only ever hinted at sporadically. Throughout the duration of this version there's a constant funk in the bass line that gives the track a more up beat yet fuller feel. While the earlier versions played up to those ethereal aspects of the vocal, in Jim Rivers' hands, it's more about the musical elements of 'Sweep' as the vocal takes a less prominent position within his version.

This musical element is more precise when listening to the Dub Mix. With no vocal to be heard anywhere other then a slight distortion, 'Sweep' really comes into its own as a purely musical composition. Much like the Vox Mix, there is much more substance to this track but where the initial tune relied on the vocal to bring all its varying elements together, this time around, lush melodies replace it and intertwine easily with that bass line. This is about as uplifting as you can get in terms of a progressive house track and as such this will work as perfectly on a dance floor as it does on a listening perspective. While there's a certain nod to the old skool elements of the progressive genre as parts of this remix reminded me greatly of VFR's 'Tranceillusion', it is an aspect that never dominates the track as a whole. As such, it stays in the here and now with great ease and only makes me wish that all progressive based tracks were produced in this manner.

What more can I say other then I completely and utterly love this release. Jim Rivers continues to prove why he is a name to watch not only now but also for the future and as he grows as a producer and DJ, so will the quality of his work which at present count has been outstanding. While never a fan of the Nic Fanciulli track, Jim Rivers has remixed 'Cat Out Of The Bag' into a tune that I not only like but continually play. With Blue Foundation's 'Sweep' being a huge favourite of mine for the year so far, his Vox and Dub Mix have added a more gratifying yet individual feel to this much loved track. Great work by a fantastic producer that continues to outdo himself at every turn. Extremely recommended.