Emotional Response completes its 10th anniversary by welcoming Benedikt Frey to the label with a special release, a fantastic dub-psychedelic cover of Joy Division, delivered in multiple versions, including a wonderful dub-meets-prog reinterpretation from Lucas Croon.

An established producer for over a decade, with a releases for a myriad of respected labels like ESP Institute, Crème Organisation, Hivern Discs, Live At Robert Johnson and Serious Trouble, plus Frey’s own excellent R.I.O Records that is quickly becoming label to watch, it’s pleasure he joins Emotional Response with a fresh, but respectful remake.

Alongside PiL Ltd, Joy Division were the ultimate post punk band, the music, design and untimely passing of lead signer Ian Curtis, creating a mystique around the band that survives today. Opening their second, and final, album Unknown Pleasure, the song is a big part of their history. Frey’s version – with secret vocalist Carla Koller – offer a wide-screen retake, the dub bass and modulated snare wrap around lyrics, while haunting guitar adds to an unease.

Starting with a classic, but perfect Vocal Mix, there is an accompanying Instrumental that together highlight a propulsion and incessant groove, allowing the space between to herald the production’s beauty.

This is backed with a live remake by Lucas Croon. A label fan since his appearances in Stabil Elite, BAR and The Kloom, this Dusseldorf fraternity member continues Emotional Response’s long-standing association with the city. With celebrated releases on Aiwo Recs and Themes From Great Cities, his fireside remix begins as some dub-psyche odyssey before morphing in to a steppas-delight rock out that will capture the open ears and minds.

To close, Frey returns with his own Dub. Possibly the EP’s stand-out, this half step remix sucks the listener to the spaces between, as vocals dissipate and collapse within, bass bins distorting to distraction, the pull of a true and worthy dub symphony.

BANDCAMP

Benedikt Frey - She's Lost Control (ft. Carla Koller)

+ @riolabel @initinit

Benedikt Frey is many. Or just one? He is a composer. An arranger. A DJ. A Liveact. A ghost producer. A fan. He also plays in bands like INIT, or Dolphins or KEYS +++ produced the last two albums for Chris Imler. Downbeat in experimental dub zones. The goat for Edits and remixes. When house was his nation, he used to listen to pen names like Suedmilch or Venedikt Reyf. He still likes the music formed under their umbrella, but today his tomorrow is not echoed in yesterday. His sound signature moved on. Into the open. He founded labels like R.i.O. or Serious Trouble. 

He lives in Berlin. Physically. In mind Benedikt Frey is at many places. Traveling far thru his home studio that is a flat a studio a flat an instrument a record collection a flat a studio. Everywhere gear, vinyl, tapes, instruments, rooms for spontaneous sonic notions, these moments, when a sudden strike of stimulation falls. He is inspired a lot. For music to dance. Music for films. Music for live shows. Music for dancing glows. Techno, house, downbeat, ambient, jungle, electronics outside the norms. Those transportive ones. Jamming with others. Jamming with his mind. In Berlin Wedding, North of the town, where the lights dimmed low, neighbors share the flow, and a small river runs slow.  As a DJ he plays here, there, everywhere. Big clubs, small shacks, festivals, gatherings. From fast to 90 BPM - as he feels. 

For himself. For the crowd. In the spur. He still remembers his club kid days. Going to dance with friends. Down there in Offenbach. Doing the Robert Johnson. Collective emotions for a better tomorrow. These he still seeks. In his music. His shows. His collaborations. You can book him for a party. For enlightenment. For ecstasy or introspective perspectives. Dancing slow, whilst pirouetting a high-pitched show. 

Since more than a decade. His own music is out there, too. Bringing his spirits in sound. On his own labels. On international imprints like ESP Institute, Hivern Discs, Craigie Knowes, or Emotional Response. Solo works. Driving ones. Slow drills. Teased during his DJ dates around the planet. 

The music plays day and night. Inspiration comes. From a simple kick drum. A movie sequence. A bird on the sill. A picture, totally still. Can’t kick that feeling when it hits. Benedikt Frey. In dreams. In streams. In music. Emotions. Situations. At night. In those flashy lights, when it bites.

24.5. b2b with NVST, Kauz Zürich
10.05. Säälchen, Berlin
26.04. Zentralwäscherei, Zürich
25.04. b2b Philipp Otterbach, Arkaoda, Berlin
04.04. Sameheads, Berlin
13.03. Säule, Berlin
22.02. Kegelbahn, Luzern
21.02. Fribourg, CH

---- BYE24

17.12. Kiosk Radio,  Bxl
15.12. Curly Teeth b2b w. NVST, Bxl
30.11. Panorama Bar, Berlin
16.11. La Culottee, Paris
19.10. LAF, Pforzhyme
05.10. Sameheads, Berlin
28.09. Buka, Milan
21.09. Chemiefabrik, Zürich
14.09. Ausland, Berlin
16.08. Salon Des Amateurs, Düsseldorf
21.07. Am Bach Festival, Lucerne
05.07. Kappa Futur Festival, Turin
14.06. Masters, Zagreb
18.05. Outracena, Lisbon
27.04. Arkaoda, Berlin
24.02. Macadam, Nantes
26.01. Sameheads, Berlin

Benedikt Frey - She's Lost Control (ft. Carla Koller)

benedikt frey