(Compost/Creative Vibes)

It is three years since the release of Confusion, the last long player for German jazzy drum & bass maestros Fauna Flash. Continuing with the remix there, their new offering Worx features remixes they have done for a variety of different music artists, whereas Confusion, was the opposite, it was FF’s own tracks remixed. The tracks on Worx have been gathered from over 30 remixes which the visionary duo has completed in recent years, plus a few previously unreleased tracks and two brand new remixes.

Throughout the ‘90s, the duo established a reputation on the European drum & bass scene through a variety of releases including their debut album Aquarius. The follow up, 2001’s Fusion extended their expertise into the downtempo scene, utilising elements of house, dub, jazz, Latin, Brazilian, hip-hop and soul. Although it appears as though they have been quite quiet since 2002, the two Munich-based producers Christian Prommer and Roland Appel have been busy with side projects and remixes including Baby a 12 inch of Voom:Voom their project along with G-Stone’s Peter Kruder, as well as the eagerly awaited Truby Trio debut Elevator Music and in late 2004, Retreated, the Truby Trio remixed double CD.

Worx is very much a dance-floor and four-four affair, so don’t let the pair’s history and the opening track – graciously mellow and sweet vocal pop nostalgia Marsmobil by Roberto Di Gionia - deceive you. Gionia, a collaborator with various jazz musicians, and regular member of the Till-Brönner-Band, brings together nu-Jazz, minimal-electronic, lounge pop and Burt-Bacharach-like orchestrations on Marsmobil which was formed in the ‘90s.

In contrast, the next offering, FF’s remix of Fon-Kin’s Montininja, is more broken beat, bassy and funky, but keeps the sweet melodic vibe set on the opener. Fon-Kin brings together three South German DJs, Robert Vogt, Harald Zankl and Stefan Baumgartner – and this remix, although dating back to `95, and being their first remix ever, is regarded as stepping-stone of their musical career and quite frankly, is funky shizzle even now.

FF’s re-rub of Abdullah Ibrahim’s Sweet Samba takes the release up a tempo into the hip-swiveling tribal/dub/electro/house territory. Southern-African musician Ibrahim is famous for fusing traditional African music with contemporary/classic American jazz and the tribal feel is still evident here thanks to FF’s approach.

Continuing in the tribal theme, next comes, Dedicado by Rivera Rotation, a funky-tech and tribal house track, that slips splendidly into the deep tribal-dub-rub of Shaken by The Underwolves. Producer Pete Rivera of studio collective Rivera Rotation has been active spinning soul, deep house, Latin and jazz for two decades. The operator of Hamburg´s Lounge gained a name through his Music For Modern Living compilations on Lounge Records.

Grupo Batuque a.k.a. Dom Um Romao’s track Ole Ola continues with the samba, Latin vibe, but takes it to the streets, carnivale’ style with vocal percussion samples, chants and whistles. A batucada/samba collective on Far Out Recordings, this track also features a bevy of talent including, Wilson des Neves (president of the Escola de Samba Imperio Serrano), Mamao (drummer with Azymuth), Dom Chacal, Zezinho, Robertinho Silva, Aleuda, Aparacedinh and Leo Leobonz (percussionist with Mongo Santamaria and the Fania All Stars).

From tribal, FF take it jazzy with their Endless Bow by Japanese prodigy Hajime Yoshizawa, the pianist with Sleep Walker (Especial Records / Extra Freedom) and Cosmic Village, which also Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive.

For something different, FF slip into some funky disco house with guitar licks as funky as Quincey Jones in MJ’s Thriller. Minimal Compact’s Shouts and Kisses, was originally released back in the ‘80s and this remix was actually licensed from Returning Wheel, a Minimal Compact remix album which was recently released on Crammed Discs coinciding the re-emergence of the ‘80s sounds.

Continuing with the tech/electro theme, next comes their mix of Joseph Malik’s Diablo. An enchanting French accordion or wind instrument interrupts before the dark twisted acid takes over for the trippers. The original version is actually a dark Spanish tango breakbeat, dedicated to the journey of Compost singer/songwriter Joseph Malik´s favourite football team, Glasgow Celtic, as the progressed through Europe to the UEFA cup final in Seville.

Previously unreleased Rodney Hunter’s electro-disco-house ditty Take A Ride changes the vibe and direction completely, although it is equally as loopy – The funky contrasts exotically with a dash of moody strings. Hunter, co-founder of Uptight Records, started off playing bass with hip-hop band The Moreaus, which also included Peter Kruder, whose label G-Stone he went on to release his solo album on.

The other un-released track, Jubita by Megablast, the current project of Austrian Sascha Weisz / Luvlite Recordings, is equally, if not more so loopy and techno-like, however the dub bass-line gives an ultra fat and nasty vibe, once again with contrasting sounds of broken electro, warm Latin and afro vocals and rhythms.

Usually releasing rare groove-dnb-electro-downbeat on Metalheadz, Reinforced and Creative Source, Hidden Agenda a.k.a. Jason and Mark Gooding’s addition, Low Jazz Fidget, is injected with a MFF style “bass-line to die for” – adding up to become on the album’s certain highlights.

Finally, FF’s rub of German jazz musician, Klaus Doldingers’ Passport, on the track Ju-Ju-Man finishes the Worx journey on an appropriately quirky nu-jazz tip.

Although the tracks have been blended to cruise along like a mix, they’re left un-touched enough to be an excellent tool for DJs, and the variety of sounds and tempos mean the options are almost endless. If you have just turned onto the talents of the Fauna Flash duo, then the future is bright. Ironically the cover artwork for the sleeve is a butterfly, so perhaps this is a symbol of new life for the eclectic Fauna Flash duo.