Q-Burns S-Playlist

Burns

Here are some of the most recent examples of my sonic redistricting and ear-borne tomfoolery inflicted on a variety of highly suspicious artists and labels. The wild part is, I might also be able to do this to you. If you're interested in a Q-Burns Abstract Message remix then feel free to email me with your indecent proposal: qburns@q-burnsabstractmessage.com

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Q-Burns Abstract Message Remixes: 2010 - 2013

A somewhat dreamy remix I produced for San Francisco duo Cubik & Origami, of a cool track called "Bought & Sold." I've always liked Origami's vocals so I was well up for this remix project.

I basically just used the vocal hook, repeated, and a couple of synth pads from the original. I wanted a bayou-like flow to define the track, to give an aural impression of calmly reaching some destination. The mid-section is a bit I'm particularly happy with ... it's quite the patient build. I've had some DJs tell me this part can be a bit frustrating but, trust me: try it on a loud system with a dancefloor inhabiting the deeper zone and the track is quite effective. 

This is out now: https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/213118/Bought%20%26%20Sold

Once again, as a reminder, I’m always up for remixing if your label or song is in need of something like the above. Feel free to contact me here: qburns@q-burnsabstractmessage.com

Cubik & Origami - Bought & Sold (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)

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This is a remix out just now via <A HREF="https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/216601/missing_you">Beatport</a>, a little re-twisting of a gorgeous track by my good friend <A HREF="http://www.myspace.com/robotkarate">Brett Johnson</A>. Maybe the ante gets up'ed when working with good friends as this turned out to be one of my personal favorite remixes I've ever done. I'm crazy about it.

The press release for this describes it best: 
"Imprisoned studio warlock Q-Burns Abstract Message was on hand to complement "Missing You" with a suspiciously spacious remix. Drawing inspiration from a pile of broken King Tubby records, Q-BAM's version rattles within a moisture-soaked cell block, building into an analog epiphany further enhanced through a steaming, dusty spring reverb box. Totally slinky for the dancefloor, it aims to beguile the rarely hypnotized."

Aha! 

As stated above this is out right now on <A HREF="https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/216601/missing_you">Beatport</a> and will be available everywhere else on March 2. It's been released by the exquisite deep house label <A HREF="http://www.EIGHT-TRACKS.com">EIGHT-TRACKS</A>. You should also check out Brett's original on the release (as well as other remixes by <A HREF="http://www.allandbyallo.com/">Alland Byallo</A> and Brett himself) ... you can do so by clicking <A HREF="http://soundcloud.com/eight-tracks/sets/missing-you">HERE</A>.

Once again, as a reminder, I’m always up for remixing if your label or song is in need of something like the above. Feel free to contact me by clicking <A HREF="http://www.q-burnsabstractmessage.com/qb/contact-q-burns/">HERE</A>.

Brett Johnson - Missing You (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) - EIGHT-TRACKS 8TR008

True story: Q-Burns Abstract Message once DJ'ed underneath a weighty chainsaw covered in disco ball mirror squares, rotating roundly with silver beams flying off its blade. Imagine such a devious device honed for dance-floor devastation, its rumble tuned to bass-bin frequencies as its saw cuts through beats and melody. But we're talking about a chainsaw wielded by beardy types, waving its mirror ball excess over sunrise-stroked beach sand. We blissfully believe this could be the sound of the "Balearic Chainsaw."

The original "Balearic Chainsaw" is an extended, beefier version of what was previously found on the "Chainsaw" single, released spring 2011 on EIGHT-TRACKS. The piano-fueled, flamenco guitar-kissed version was hidden as the last song in the single. To our surprise, friends and foes alike asked for a longer version to send resonating over the waterfront. The requests have been answered, and this new version features an added groove coda that should send your neighbors dancing into the moon beams. 

A party like this needs a proper come-down, and for our back-to-mine moment we've enlisted the reputable chops of Gazeebo, mainstay of Denver's Community Recordings. Working out an Italo/nu-disco throb, Gazeebo's slinky rendition hits all the tingle buttons, giving us a slow motion refuge that still packs a low-end punch. It's fitting and superb power-down for this "Balearic Chainsaw."

Balearic Chainsaw (Gazeebo's Reprise)

Robbie's great remix of "He's A Skull" from 1998, vinyl-only. See here: http://is.gd/j5M96v
This mix always reminded me of a lysergic pirate's sea shanty. 
Kudos to Brewster Bringham for supplying the rip.


He's A Skull (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)

The bulging eyeball of, one can maybe assume, <A HREF="http://www.myspace.com/scotthardkiss">Scott Hardkiss</A> portends some serious "Beat Freak" action. It's a freewheeling cut on Scott's <A HREF="http://godwithin.com/site/?p=49">Technicolor Dreamer</A> album enthusiastically giving shout-outs to folks of all shades, no matter how neon, because, when it comes down to it, we all dig freakin' to beats (yes.).

Scott hit me up to remix "Beat Freak" and I happily obliged. There was an original version of my remix that I toiled on for 4 or 5 lonely days. Long story short, I decreed it "not freaky enough" and in a calm tantrum erased all evidence and started over from scratch. 24 hours later I had the remix you hear above.

I liked the implications within the synthesized vocal and visualized it as a bullhorn announcement. A sort of world music bounce is applied for a global "everybody's in the club" feel. The beats and bass line are kept overly simple, serving as anchors for everything around them. The keyboard solo and emulated fretless bass were last minute ideas and make up my favorite section of this. Celebration time. I'm into it.

Upon completion I immediately had an idea for an alternate version of this. Thus we have the dub which you can listen to here: http://soundcloud.com/q-burns-abstract-message/scott-hardkiss-beat-freak-q-burns-abstract-message-dub

I've been playing both of these out in my sets and they seem to work really well for the floor. I rarely have tracks of my own that I enjoy playing out (I know ... it's a producer/DJ thing. It's very silly.) so this is fun. I hope you dig it as well.

There are other cool remixes of "Beat Freak" by Paul Woolford, Fort Knox Five, and Scott Hardkiss himself. You can grab it now from <A HREF="https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/248234/Beat%20Freak%20EP">Beatport</A>, <A HREF="http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=show&fc=tpage&cr=titles&cv=56472">Traxsource</A>, <A HREF="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/beat-freak-feat-the-prophetz/id367778766?i=367778770&uo=6">iTunes</A>, and many other digital shops.

Scott Hardkiss - Beat Freak (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) (God Within Recordings)

**Track streams at 128 kbps**

Here's a remix for San Francisco DJ dude <a href="http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/jpsoul">JP Soul</a> and the newly re-launched <a href="http://www.roamrecordings.com/home/">Roam Recordings</a>. 

Remix notes: Many of the elements from the original have gone a bit topsy-turvy here; reversed, effected, distorted, stomped upon with boat shoes. One listener detected a sample from a science fiction movie but it was the wrong movie and the wrong sample. That said, there's something from some PBS advertisement that's been recorded out of the TV speaker by accident while the mic was hot. Don't even try … you'll never guess. I'm also playing a synthesizer I'm holding in a single bare palm at one point, so that's a bit of an accomplishment. Yes, there's a cowbell. Thanks for noticing.

This Backsliding EP has three cool original tracks by JP Soul in addition to my remix. You should check it out. It's available right now from <A HREF="http://www.beatport.com/release/backsliding/919852" target="_blank">Beatport</A>, <A HREF="http://www.junodownload.com/products/backsliding/1976074-02/" target="_blank">Juno Download</A>, and <A HREF="https://www.stompy.com/Ep/371708" target="_blank">Stompy</A>. It's also going to be out on 12" vinyl very soon, which is amusing as I already artificially added some vinyl pops.

JP Soul - Backsliding (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) (Roam Recordings)

Here's a remix recently completed for my friends at San Francisco's Three Sixty Tunes, of the mucho-talented Mexican band Sr Mandril and their track "So Simple." I decided to hark back to the mid-90's or so, putting together a version that sort of sounds like the dubby breakbeat tunes I used to play in my sets at that time. The full single also features great remixes from Chris Coco and Darkhorse ... it's all quality in a Balearic fashion, and you should pick it up. It's available from <A HREF="http://www.junodownload.com/products/sr-mandril-remixed-vol-2/2025110-02/" target="_blank">Juno Download</A>, <A HREF="http://www.beatport.com/release/sr-mandril-remixed-vol-2/954558" target="_blank">Beatport</A>, and probably any other digital shops you can think of.

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From the press release:

Sr Mandril was born in 2000 when Germ&aacute;n Gonz&aacute;lez and Rams&eacute;s Ram&iacute;rez decided to merge their musical ideas. The resulting sound was electronic undertones mixed with organic instruments creating a sonic image of colors, sounds and influences that go from indie-dance to acid jazz and ambient all with that Latin feel. Sr. Mandril spend a lot of time on the road playing live at various festivals and venues around South America. This release from Three Sixty Tunes, the new dance floor division of veteran San Francisco leftfield imprint Three Sixty Records, showcases a diverse set of remixes of tracks from this exciting Latin American electronic act. Florida&rsquo;s imprisoned wizard Q-Burns Abstract Message takes the reigns of &ldquo;So Simple&rdquo; for a rhythm-heavy remix that harks back to the breaky tunes from the 90&rsquo;s he used to spin in the back room at the renowned Phat N&rsquo; Jazzy club night. It&rsquo;s dance floor funk with a classic sound, complimenting Sr Mandril&rsquo;s original with class and flair.

Sr Mandril - So Simple (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) (Three Sixty Tunes)

Hawke swoops down from the perch of his recent album +++ to release another solid remix package on Eighth Dimension. Two tracks from that album are represented: the feel-good electronica anthem "Everything Is Happening At The Same Time" and the slinky, reggae-infused "Inside Job." An all-star cast of Q-Burns Abstract Message, Tal M. Klein, Atnarko, and Gavin Hardkiss himself provide the steady stream of top notch remixes.

"Everything is Happening At The Same Time" has gained oodles of notoriety after its use as the soundtrack to the Coachella time-lapse video featured on popular mutant culture blog Boing Boing (click <a href="http://boingboing.net/2009/09/30/bb-video-coachella-t.html">HERE</a> to see it). Q-Burns Abstract Message flicks the memory switch with his remix of the track, attempting to capture the feel of an early 90's indie-dance remix fused with contemporary antics. It's a nice dose of "heavy Balearica" as Q-BAM rides his MIDI-equipped surfboard into the sunset. Atnarko, coming off recent successes for Lazy Days and Onethirty, deeply dubs out the song, covering it in a seductively hypnotic sheen. After-hours DJs take note. Finally, Gavin Hardkiss, proprietor of the Hawke alias, crafts his own take stripping "Everything" down to rhythm and melody while adding more than a few new delightful bits and splashes.

 "Inside Job" is also revisited, with Aniligital Music's Tal M. Klein transforming the original's trepidation skank into a lush and cosmic undersea excursion. Endlessly chiming guitars and haunting vocal snippets invite the listener like a siren's song leading to a cozy and warm envelope of sound. We wager it may be the most beautiful thing you hear this week … or ever ...
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Available now from <A HREF="https://www.beatport.com/en-US/html/content/release/detail/300270/Everything%20Is%20Happening%20At%20The%20Same%20Time">Beatport</A>

Hawke - Everything Is Happening At The Same Time (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)

More watery remix action, this time inflicted upon Colorado's Gazeebo for their NC-17 rated Adults Only series. Big bouncy bass guitar leading the way as head-bobbing beat-smith and a slinky disposition meet underneath a flashing red neon light. You're never too old to get carded at the door.

Gazeebo - Gushing Climax (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix) (Community Recordings)

Here's a bleepy remix commissioned by the Apollo label for their fine act Peluca. This one's a bit of a speaker rattler, with that growling, filtered bass and all, and the only secret I'll give up is that the programmed drum track was inspired by Babe Ruth's "The Mexican." Oops … I've said too much!

Taken from the album Modo (The Remixes) by Peluca, available on the Apollo label. Get it from <A HREF="http://www.beatport.com/track/modo-q-burns-abstract-message-remix/4028130" target="_blank">Beatport</A>, and <A HREF="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/modo-the-remixes/id589634620" target="_blank">iTunes</A>, and loads of other fine digital shops.

I'm becoming a bit of a remixing fiend once again, so if you might be interested in a remix for your project or label then let's talk. Hit me up on qburns@q-burnsabstractmessage.com with the subject line: Secret UFO Base Found Inside My Mini-Fridge

Peluca  - "Modo (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)" (Apollo)

I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine.

………………….. qburns@q-burnsabstractmessage.com