Glasgow Underground have embarked upon a noble project, to bring the world one of the most sought after yet least accessible tracks from the late great house legend Romanthony.
They are to release a 4 track EP of “What $ Love” including the original club cut previously only ever released on US label Vinylmania and so rare it could fetch up to £100, as well as 3 remixes from Christian Nielsen, Supernova and Those Beats.
For those of you unfamiliar with this classic but almost unheard of track, we’ll start with his original club mix. Beginning with a hard hitting kick drum and building up some fleeting vocal samples, then coming in with the iconic sharp organ riff that oozes originality in a genre so saturated with such riffs it is a feat of its very own. The vocals guide the track through its breaks and builds, raising the bar from simply a dance floor ignition source to a song that you’ll leave the club singing. Soulful yet simplistic and catchy as you like, layered to bring every inch of emotion out of the samples. Each element of the song, from the distorted synth that skims the top ends of the song to its core beat, is immaculately produced and executed.
With an original where every layer of the song is so playful and rich in material, it would appear to be the ideal song to remix, and in a fitting homage to the iconic producer, it has been.
Christian Nielsen’s rendition starts with a bouncy 4 on the floor groove which is subsequently accentuated by a funky deep bassline. Neilson incorporates the catchy vocal section of the original wonderfully, adding a whole new feeling to the iconic track, cutting up the vocals to punctuate the intoxicating energetic beat whilst maintaining the soulful energy of the original sample.
Supernova’s remix is a personal favourite on the EP, with a thumping kick drum and booming low end bassline underpinning the bright arps that set the stage for the “free love” vocal motif. Occasionally a distorted bass womp will poke its head out of the audio aether, couple this with the flowing arp hook and the heavy yet paced bassline and the track takes on a more mellow slightly darker tone, a wonderful take on the original and a well thought out addition to the EP.
Those Beats’ remix uses the catchy offbeat organ riff with a slightly bassier twist, but uses this to guide the string section, euphoric piano riff and saturated vocal atmosphere which provides the main body of the track. A more melancholic imagining of the sleek and simplistic original, still every bit as good.
All the tracks have their own distinct style and sound, often with remix EP’s there are some overlaps or some that perhaps add nothing to the mix, however each one’s production values and auteurism is outstanding, setting each one apart from the other and making listening to the same song 4 times over a joy.
Glasgow Underground and the contributing artists have succeeded in unleashing this withdrawn classic to its rightful and long overdue mass audience, and each reimagining of the track keeps every element which make it the outstanding song it is whilst offering unique and creative elements of their own. A fantastic record that is essential for any DJ of the genre, and every bedroom raver with a modicom of taste, not to mention a shining testament to the legend that is Romanthony.
Buy Romanthony - What $ Love (Christian Nielsen Remix) here.
Ben Stevens
Follow Ben on Twitter @bennysteves91
