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Culturally inspired Turkish artist Menachem 26’s unique sonic palate is rife with shards of ottoman influence and endless intrinsic rhythms. Renowned for releases on Harabe, Metanoia, trndmsk, and many more, he brings his striking ‘Kumkapi Blues’ back around The Gardens Of Babylon two years after its original release for a spirited readaptation, including remixes from Valeron, Anatolian Sessions, and DJ Bey.
The release begins with the original ‘Kumkapi Blues’ mix, sliding into a sea of downtempo looseness and swaying sonics. Its core of undeniably cultured instrumental elements flows like a calming tide as rippling melodies glide across a bed of live hand percussion and enchanting strings, supplemented with sweeping FX and modulating scales to bring a hypnotically charming record from start to finish.
Valeron’s remix brings a firmer edge to the original. Leaning softly into the blurred space between melodic techno and deep house, its endless array of ottoman-inspired factors meet a subtly driving bed of drums and intensifying energy before bleeding into the freefalling breakdown and onto another gripping combination of roughened beats and charming musicality.
Anatolian Sessions follows up with another dancefloor-focused rendition, taking a stripped-back approach that continues to build progressively across the mix. Its original persona ebbs and flows throughout the track, ducking and diving through peaks of climactic builds and disappearing back into the midst of an undeniably groove-laden construction of winding FX, masterful modulation, and driving club energy.
DJ Bey flips the switch with an alluring remix, taking things back onto the realm of organic house with downtempo energy and primal beat structures. Building around the track’s mesmerizing flute lead, its undeniably hedonistic aura pulls you in and hangs on tight from beginning to end.
Menachem 26 seals the release with a surprisingly leftfield spin, seeing the alternative mix float between Minimal and Breaks with an attractively shuddering beat structure and winding synth stairs. Retaining all of the original’s unique personality, this latest take on the track gives it a revamped gusto and grittier edge.
Release date: October 7th, 2022.