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2LP
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H 004LP
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Arriving on transparent blue vinyl, the fourth installation of the Hardspace series brings six new re-interpretations of Len Faki's favorites via his Hardspace alias. Starting with a true classic, the gem that is Josh Wink's "Sixth Sense" picks up on the original's tight plastic groove and creates some serious low-end rumble. A less obvious choice, Aoki Takamasa's minimalist dub from Japan, gets a complete makeover in the Hardspace edit, using driving percussion to morph the pensive blueprint into an upbeat peaktime slammer. One of the most iconic basslines of the last decade, DJ Yoav B's "Energize" is a standout on its own but paired with the relentless groove of the high-energy Hardspace remix it unlocks new levels of rave potential. Huxley's "Weapon 3" was maybe one of the darkest tunes ever released on the otherwise house-centric catalogue of UK label Aus, which Len Faki already played back when it was first released. The "Hardspace Mix" merges a feeling explosive force with the original's sultry ambiance, catapulting the track back onto today's dancefloors. Colorful, dubby synth stabs are what keeps the momentum on peak time roller "Funktion" by French producer Tuttle, which in its Hardspace version packs even more heat, as Faki employs his signature claps and tunes up the original's enervating siren sound, squeezing out every last drop of energy. Originally released in the '90, Mike Parker's "Shakuhachi Two" is as techno as it gets. Only now sounding even more powerful and dynamic, as the Harspace Mix keeps all of the original goodness while stacking additional propulsive percussion for a sweaty floor workout. Also featuring Ursula Rucker and Chich.
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2LP
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H 002LP
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On the second installment for Len Faki's newly founded platform Hardspace, the veteran producer goes back to vaults of his collection in order to unearth more hidden gems, turning them into tracks that can not only keep up with modern dancefloor standards, but even bring new life and audience to these personal favorite classics. Phuture's "Your Only Friend" with its iconic lyrics was an absolute anthem back in the day and had a big impact on the young Len Faki. Being able to remix it himself was a very special experience, resulting in an equally strong and emotional "Hardspace Mix." A standout of the early 2000s, "Agent Wood" by UK Gold still stands as a prime example of tribal techno. This remix builds on the original's wild drumming sequence and gripping vocals, but manages to pack even more drive and the necessary extra oomph for today's sound systems. The only more recent outing on Hardspace Volume Two is "Base" by young German producer A-STS. An extremely simple techno tool that had enough room for Hardspace to add many additional elements like more drums, a new breakdown and even a dubby synthline to completely transform the track towards the end. "Drum Crazy" holds up to its name -- a DJAX-UP classic that got remixed into a distinctly more "techno" version with booming low end and more emphasis on the synth lines, while still keeping the crazy onslaught of all things drums going. A certified banger in 1992 already, "Overdub" by Belgium outfit Test stood out with its insane main synth motif, which gets dialed back here into something more simple yet even more powerful with some added layers of groove. Stemming from the same group of early '90s producers, "Her Majesty 909" is a time-honored example of expert use of this seminal drum machine. The Hardspace mix brings the rework up to latest production levels but also keeps the stripped-back charm of the original intact, while making the already reverb-laden track feel even bigger. Hardspace Volume Two is a compilation varied enough to come out in many different sets and settings and at the same time gives us a deeper understanding of the path the DJ and producer Len Faki aka Hardspace is on.
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2LP
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H 001LP
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Len Faki recently put out his mammoth LP Fusion, but his new moniker Hardspace finds him harking back to his signature style of specifically editing tracks for his personal club usage. Working on the album may have helped open him up creatively, but this new project has him investing countless hours and a lot of passion into building the most efficient club tracks imaginable. Long-time fans of Faki know that he's always edited all of his sets tracks to uniquely suit his personal mixing style, making his sets sound as tight and cohesive in a way that stands out from the rest. Decades of experience as a producer and DJ for the dancefloor have gone into these edits, re-arranging and re-mixing sometimes forgotten tracks for a new audience. Incorporating his singular understanding of frequencies and floor dynamics, Hardspace is meant to express this side of his musical personality, while Len Faki will continue to explore a more varied approach to producing. Swapping a lot of weekends away busily touring for much more studio time, the result marks both a technical and also personal achievement for Faki. Improved production skills, tears and emotions all have been poured into Hardspace, which will see a slew of releases in the forthcoming months. The first volume includes a total of six reworks, both previously unreleased tools of colleague Viers or Helena Hauff's modern acid chug, as well as some '90s classics from Perry & Rhodan, Resist 101, and Ectomorph. All of these tunes have been meticulously pieced together to keep the originals' flavor and ideas, but infuse them with the undeniable power and presence that all Faki produtions have come to hold.
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