(Mantra Breaks/Finger Lickin’)

a) Soul of Man – Dirty Waltzer (Santos Another Planet Reprise)
b) Soul of Man – Dirty Waltzer (Madox Remix)

When I first heard about this remix project I was a little surprised. Two of the strongest producers on the breakbeat arm of top-notch label Mantra remixing a classic from the Finger Lickin’ back catalogue? It works, oh my it works.

I still rate Santos’ track Sabot as one (if not the) breakbeat track of 2003, so I was looking forward to his take on the Soul of Man classic. He doesn’t disappoint, and I’m left wondering what they’re putting in the water over there. Madox’s work is similarly impressive, although possibly a little over-shadowed by his labelmate.

Both mixes chug, and chug hard. Deep rolling basslines, that distinctive siren wail and the treated guitar riff of the original, Santos’ mix will rip apart any dancefloor at 3am. Madox’s mix raises the tempo slightly, switching the melody back on its self to give it an atypical sound to the original. The breakdown is also great, taking the tempo all the way down and playing with the drum pattern.

Not something you’d be likely to hear in a set from a Finger Lickin’ DJ, both mixes possibly a little too hard. It’s brilliant driving breakbeat though, harder while still remaining funky.