It was only a matter of time until the super-prolific Kiwi producer Gene Kennedy popped up on New Zealand's fast-rising Black Sands imprint.
Kennedy's own label - Deep and Under - has passed 100 releases and he's had EPs signed by such enduring and respected names as Blockhead, King St, Nite Grooves and Paper.
Hey, his first contribution to Black Sands - part of the Natural Rhythms family - lands with two exquisitely different versions.
Kicking things off is a super-charged remix by label co-founders nineteen79, the latest project from married producer and DJ partnership Bee and Ryan Tregurtha.
They've been making waves with a string of EPs - for Black Sands and others - that have showcased their signatiure lush, rolling, deep/minimal sounds.
Their take is typical of their commitment to sky-high production levels. Road-tested in New Zealand's finest house venues, the bottom end hits hard, providing the perfect bedrock for the undulating layers of synth that make the remix as good to listen to at home as in the club.
Flecked with snatches of ethereal vocal and shimmering pads, it finds another level when the mid-point breakdown ushers in a captivating and utterly wonky lead that sounds part-siren, part-horn.
Kennedy's original mix offers a distinctly old-school flavour, perhaps not surprising given he's been spinning vinyl for 30 years or so. The bassline has a pleasing squelch and the drums, particularly the tom rolls, have a warehouse vibe. But it's the piano stabs - insistent but not overdone - that are most likely to induce a wistful look on an old raver's face.
Black Sands takes its name from the volcanic beaches on New Zealand's West Coast. Bright, warm and airy, this EP is the sound of summer, wherever you are.
The Natural Rhythms family of label also includes Grass Green Recordings, Electric Orange and Red Snapper.
Kennedy's own label - Deep and Under - has passed 100 releases and he's had EPs signed by such enduring and respected names as Blockhead, King St, Nite Grooves and Paper.
Hey, his first contribution to Black Sands - part of the Natural Rhythms family - lands with two exquisitely different versions.
Kicking things off is a super-charged remix by label co-founders nineteen79, the latest project from married producer and DJ partnership Bee and Ryan Tregurtha.
They've been making waves with a string of EPs - for Black Sands and others - that have showcased their signatiure lush, rolling, deep/minimal sounds.
Their take is typical of their commitment to sky-high production levels. Road-tested in New Zealand's finest house venues, the bottom end hits hard, providing the perfect bedrock for the undulating layers of synth that make the remix as good to listen to at home as in the club.
Flecked with snatches of ethereal vocal and shimmering pads, it finds another level when the mid-point breakdown ushers in a captivating and utterly wonky lead that sounds part-siren, part-horn.
Kennedy's original mix offers a distinctly old-school flavour, perhaps not surprising given he's been spinning vinyl for 30 years or so. The bassline has a pleasing squelch and the drums, particularly the tom rolls, have a warehouse vibe. But it's the piano stabs - insistent but not overdone - that are most likely to induce a wistful look on an old raver's face.
Black Sands takes its name from the volcanic beaches on New Zealand's West Coast. Bright, warm and airy, this EP is the sound of summer, wherever you are.
The Natural Rhythms family of label also includes Grass Green Recordings, Electric Orange and Red Snapper.
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