Brigitte Barbu’s Muzak pour ascenseurs en panne (Muzak for broken lifts) marked a bold new addition to the Circus Company repertoire. In a gilded haze of resonant tones conjured by traditional and non-traditional methods, Barbu created an inviting sound world brimming with life and doffing its cap to 1970s signal processing. Out of such sonic research and development comes a wealth of material for other artists to sink their teeth into, and so we proudly present an accompanying remix EP that takes Barbu’s distinctive stamp into new territory.
Roman Flügel makes a welcome first appearance Circus Company with two versions of “Dae-Boj DeMoya” that showcase this constantly versatile lynchpin of European techno. First up is his “Kraut Remix”, which unsurprisingly channels the grainy beauty of Neu! and early Kraftwerk, before his “Synth Remix” dials back the drums and diverts our attention towards an expansive arrangement of melodious flourishes from classic synthesisers.
John Tejada and Reggie Watts reunite as Wajatta following their triumphant LP Don’t Let Get You Down on Brainfeeder to deliver a particularly inventive, soul-stirring vocal techno version of “Couvre chef en peau de taupe”. Watts soars over the signature warmth of Tejada’s production, while Barbu’s mysterious tones linger in every fold of the mix.
Matthew Herbert offers up a “Butter Dub” version of the interlude series “Trou Vert” that pits his signature stark sampling methods against Barbu’s material and creates a fruitful dialogue of crooked 4/4 mechanics with all the playful curiosity of the original and a strong dose of Herbert’s inimitable musical personality.
In addition to the four tracks on the 12”, the digital release also features Flügel drawing inspiration from Reich, Riley et al as he populates “Dae-Boj DeMoya” with looping synth phases moving in subtly non-standard patterns for a third “Minimal Remix”. Herbert lays bare one aspect of his approach to “Trou Vert” with the raw, mechanical chatter of his “Hackapella”, and Wajatta offer up the instrumental version of their remix of “Couvre chef en peau de taupe”.
released July 17, 2020
A1 - Brigitte Barbu - Dae-Boj DeMoya (Roman Flügel ‘kraut' remix)
A2 - Brigitte Barbu - Dae-Boj DeMoya (Roman Flügel 'synth’ remix)
B1 - Brigitte Barbu - Couvre chef en peau de taupe (Wajatta remix)
B2 - Brigitte Barbu - Trou vert (Matthew Herbert’s Butter Dub)
Written, produced, mixed, transmigrated, played and sequenced by Julien Auger
Remix and additional production by Roman Flügel on A1 and A2, by John Tejada and Reggie Watts on B1, by Matthew ‘panel van’ Herbert on B2 - recorded at Human Jerky
Mastered by Josh Bonati at Bonati Mastering, Los Angeles
Artwork design by République Studio
Visual by Meat Dept
℗ & © Circus Company 2020
CCS113 - all rights reserved
www.circuscompany.fr