Hybrid - Higher Than A Skyscraper

(Distinctive Records/DMC)

‘Higher Than A Skyscraper’ is the second 12” to be released from Hybrid’s second album ‘Morning Sci-Fi’, which saw the Swansea-based production duo moving away from ‘straight-out’ dance tracks towards a more dense, string-filled and band-oriented approach. In its original incarnation, ‘Higher Than A Skyscraper’ is actually one of the more dancefloor-oriented instrumental tracks included on ‘Morning Sci-Fi’, and features epic sweeping strings that resolve themselves into Hybrid’s trademark crisp breakbeats, propelled along by the distinctive basslines of New Order’s Peter Hook (who also guested on Hybrid’s most recent 12”, ‘True To Form.’)

For the A-side of this 12” release, Hybrid’s Chris Healings and Mike Truman have reworked ‘Higher Than A Skyscraper’ into a ten-minute slamming breaks mix that pretty much totally deletes Hook’s spidery basslines and injects dark lurking synthetic growling bass and chunky breakbeats to create a track reminiscent in feel to Forme’s recent ‘Kick A Hole’ 12” on Marine Parade. The only elements bearing a close resemblance to the original version are the sweeping strings (courtesy of Moscow’s Hermitage Orchestra) – the remainder of the track has been completely remodeled with the dancefloor in mind, with all of Hybrid’s trademark massive spacious breakdowns and cinematic builds present here.

On the flip, The Orb’s Dr. Alex Patterson reshapes ‘Higher Than A Skyscraper’ into his ‘Towers of Babel Mix’ – splashing water and environmental sounds accompanied by dubby synth sweeps and bleeps slowly coalesce into tribal chanting and almost Bollywood-sounding strings, before the familiar orchestral hook of the original version starts to kick in. Then it’s time for some chopped-up acoustic guitar samples over a 4/4 ambient house beat, with the Hermitage Orchestra’s swirling strings filling in the space between Patterson’s dubby bleeps and sinuous bassline. By the track’s end, things have moved into more Kompakt-esque 4/4 house (reminiscent of the Orb’s recent ‘Kompassion’ 12” release on that label), and Peter Hook’s bass twangs have re-entered alongside the thudding beats and sweeping dub FX.

Another strong 12” from Hybrid, with two remixes definitely aimed at both ends of the floor, and one of the best Orb remixes to emerge in recent years included on the flip. Well worth tracking down.

Check out: www.distinctiverecords.com

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