BLANKA BARBARA & JINADU - FORGOTTEN PHARAOH - ICONYC

Forgotten Pharaoh finds Blanka and Jinadu at their creative best with a driving, hypnotic production that's nicely dialed in on the dance floor. Punchy beats and a full, driving groove anchor the piece, as vibrant tones and spacey effects adorn the framework. Once the main break hits with Jinadu’s outstanding vocal work, the stellar charm of the composition quickly saturates your pleasure centers, before melting down to a resounding reservoir as the beats drop for a storming finale. Outstanding work from Blanka & Jinadu.

The first remix of “Forgotten Pharaoh” comes courtesy of none other than Aaron Suiss, who returns to the label with a deep melodic remix here. The US artist reshapes the original elements into something deeper and more melodic spacious sounding. The wonk factor on the low end is quite high and monumentally groovy as well, nicely playing off the rolling rhythmic qualities as dulcet hooks and gentle harmonics drift in and out of the framework. The main break shifts the narrative into more emotive territory but the dance floor sensibility remains, with muted beats and percussive clusters building towards a tasteful drop. Superb rework from Aaron.

The third and final interpretation of “Forgotten Pharaoh” comes from label debutant Jas/t. The French producer follows up on excellent releases on ERRORR, Addicted & Zatar Music with a brilliant interpretation here. Deep, compelling, and acutely mysterious, its deep melodic qualities and richly textured groove make for a lovely first act. As atmospheres evolve, distinctive stabs and vocal edits steal the air, before a one-minute break takes you further into a haze of psychedelic audio, perfectly setting up a groovy finale. A brilliant remix from Jas/t that's likely destined for the sets of the big boy brigade. Highly recommended.

Rating: 8.8/10