Rae & Christian/Various

Nocturnal Activity

BY Noel DixPublished May 1, 2002

Remixes are intriguing in the sense that it's always interesting how another artist perceives the original recording and how they rework it, usually leaving it as a completely new song. Such is the case with Nocturnal Activity, which is Rae & Christian's Sleepwalking release unleashed on various producers and tinkered heavily to create a grouping of entirely new tracks of various tempos and vibes. Handing out their tracks to fellow DJs and mates, Rae & Christian were rewarded with a warm collection of funk, house, hip-hop and Latin vibes, all inspired by their original writings. The compilation really hits a high when the amazing Nextmen and Groove Armada take turns retooling two Pharcyde cuts with amazing results - the Nextmen serving up a chunky bass line and snappy snare, while Groove Armada equals them, but on a different tip with their slinky, hypnotic rhythms laced with whistling. Another gem amongst these mixes is Dual Control taking "Salvation" and turning it into a spellbinding and downright beautiful number capped off with Siron's lush vocals. With the key ingredient being a variety of angles and genres tied together with a common thread, Nocturnal Activity is a listen as rewarding as Sleepwalking itself, if not better.
(Grand Central)

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