(A Higher Sound)

Most dance music folk from Sydney will know Craig Obey for his dj work but many people from the rest of Australia may not have heard of the talented chap. Craig’s production credits read like a page from the dance bible. Having already made a name for himself as part of Funk Corporation, Obey has also done remixes for Disco Montego, Aviators, Paul Mac, Hi Fi Mike, The Rockmelons, Love Tattoo and many more. While his Platinum Groove Project captured the No. 1 spot on the national dance chart in 2001, Craig now returns at the helm of Electrik Force project with coolin@the.bar.

The original mix is a very loopy club house number aimed clearly for the big dance floor. Funky house meets electro punkish mash up type thing is basically what it sounds like. It is extremely filtered and sounds very French, Daft Punk-ish even. The entire track is littered with cool effects that help to create some diversity amongst the loops. The track is centred on the coolin@the.bar sample, which is repeated almost all the way through the track. The loops are broken up with some flange and backward kicks and they sit well over the warping electro bassline. A screaming pitch build toward the end is really catchy and introduces a twinkling piano bridge, which pulls everything together. This mix is pretty stock standard but it is a catchy track that will definitely get much play within the clubs.

On the flip on this 12” is probably one of the best Australian remixes to hit a piece of wax, Big call I know but this track is huge. The Aviators take on coolin@the.bar the Coolin In The Sky mix is a masterpiece. Delayed synths float over a chunky house beat as wisping wind type effects and some lovely strings introduce striking orchestral stabs. The stabs set a great atmosphere on the track, it sounds so different in the introduction to what the track actually becomes. The stabs build with a rumbling bass and some synths and efx and guitar sounds to create a brilliant build up. Just before the drop there is a slight pause, lo fi effects and the coolin sample make a brief appearance before everything turns around, the beat kicks back into a brilliant electro house stormer. The synths are diverse and plentiful and play off each other really well. This is daft punk style electro house with a distinct retro feel, yet it still holds a very fresh sounding approach to big room house. The vocals in this mix are used more as a background rather than a lead like in the original. Toward the end the guitars and synths are respectfully distorted and lead the track out really well. This mix is amazing, definitely one to keep you eyes out for.

So there isn’t much more I can say, the Aviator mix is killer, it’s brilliant. The original is pretty good but nothing on the remix. Check them both out.