#mohear

The Italo-inspired electro-disco-rock combo Mohear are known to craft a catchy song that captures retro styles and updates them for a new sound that's relevant today. “Gadgets” is their new single for Austria’s Electunes label, and is taken from the band's recently release album Baby. It's driven by characterfully cool vocals from Miss Sophie lamenting how attached we have become as digital captives living in a world overrun by electronic devices. Echoing pads, synths, and a bass line travel straight to funky-town with crescendoing electric organs and guitars taking control of the breakdown. The remixes for “Gadgets” are many and varied, with something here for most DJs of wide-reaching tastes. With previous releases on Compost, Russian producer Sportloto turns in the first version, starting off with an arpeggiated synth straight out of the Chicago house’s most raw days, before introducing an organ bass riff and later spiraling into acid trippy-ness. The percussion is perfect with plenty of shuffling hats, drum flares, stacked claps, and a xylophone castanet combo that mimics the sequencing of the main synth. The Garage Remix from Mohear member DJ Enne follows with a fidgety bass sound, soulful keys, and plenty of percussive groove. The Irregular Disco Workers, made up of Italian producers Gregorio Assandri and Andrea Frittella, use plenty of guitar foreplay to warm things up before escalating into an all-enveloping rave bass line with a definite Chi warehouse feel. They also incorporate subtle acid sparks for the extra touch of heat to their remix. Viennese trio Struboskop tease out the vocals more than the other remixes, even pitching them down for some interesting interplay. They provide a more low slung and cosmic atmosphere with most of the instruments combining for a rhythmically layered track. As if the bongos on the Nu Gadget Remix don’t give it right away, Dansoul is a Brazilian house producer, but with sleazy nu-disco temperament as evidenced by the ’80s synths and very structured kick snare exchange. In a refreshing change of tempo, Berliner Sebastian Zangar, aka Databoy78, goes ‘dub’ with deep, echoing pad and stabs. Even with its many short, staccato notes, Zangar’s effects create a wondrous atmosphere.

DJ Rocca (Ajello / Supersonic Lovers) - “Great original track and superb remix collection … every remix is great. Full support!” Space Ranger (Lovemonk / Grande Buffo) - “The Sportloto Acid Gadgets Mix is very cool. Reminds me a little bit of ‘Baby Wants To Ride.’” Saulty (Downtown Party Network) - “The Sportloto remix is sick! I like the Irregular Disco Workers as well.” Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “The Dansoul Nu Gadget Remix is a pretty fun track. I like the original, too.” Tensnake - “Great pack!” Johnwaynes (cecille/ Compost) - “The Databoy78 remix is the one for me.” Sean Johnston (Hardway Bros / A Love From Outer Space) - “Once again, Electunes, great stuff!” Andreas Kinzl (Aromabar / INFRACom!) - “A very useful bundle of remixes.” Markus Schneider (The Robot Scientists / Emerald and Doreen) - “Love the driving bass lines … a very good package!” Stereo 77 (Plimsoll Records) - “The Irregular Disco Workers and Struboskop versions will work very well in my sets.” Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “The Sportloto Acid Gadgets Mix is epic, but I also really like the Databoy78 mix.” Christos Kedras (Kapa Music / Beat Philosophy Radio Show) - “The Dansoul remix does it for me … glitchy nu-disco vibe with nice bounce on the groove.” DJ Sabo (Sol*Selectas / Mo’Glo’ Radio Show) - “That Databoy78 is so deep!” Jamie Topham (CDPool) - “An eclectic batch of mixes on offer for this. Enne’s Garage Remix is my personal fave. I also like the acidic sound of the Irregular Disco Workers and Dansoul’s funky nu-disco rub.” Velanche (Velanche’s Playtime Radio Show) - “Plenty of good remixes here … I dig it.” Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “The Irregular Disco Workers always deliver. Great remix.” Andrew Duke (Andrew Duke In The Mix Radio Show) - “The first three remixes (Sportloto, Enne, and Irregular Disco Workers) are superb. It’s going to be a challenge deciding which version to play out first.”

Dipping deeper into the inspiring pool of Italo-disco, electric disco pop-rock combo Mohear is happy to reveal their latest sonic endeavor, the moody but tasty “Weird” on the Electunes label. Led by the icy vocals of Miss Sophie, “Weird” slinks and shimmies as if sneaking through a dark alley, its steady drum beat and synthesized arpeggiations cautiously leading the way. The song itself is appealingly retro, as if time traveling from the post-punk ’80s, but filtered though recent cosmic excursions. In fact, Mohear mastermind DJ Enne has played alongside the Italian cosmic pioneers Baldelli and Beppe Loda back in 1983 and one can certainly hear some of these influences in this production. Italian producer Brioski supplies a pair of remixes, with the first riding on a synthetic pulse accented by handy percussion flourishes. Brioski’s Bonus Mix shakes a bit more, with an added techno influence flavoring its mid-tempo groove. The digital release of “Weird” also features the original ‘pop’ version and a remix from the rising Robot Needs Oil, who adds blasts of wah-wah guitar and horn stabs among the synths and string glides, recalling a vintage Trevor Horn dance production. As a bonus, Manchester’s Kid Machine has remixed Mohear’s previous single “Go Away,” displaying a pop-Italo influence mixed with some dark ‘EBM’ elements that fit right in with “Weird.” Kid Machine’s remix will be exclusive to the vinyl release which is hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies. Prime time stuff here from Electunes and Mohear, suitable for retronauts and futuristas alike.

Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe) - “The Brioski Bonus Mix is wonderful … I can’t wait to play it!” Nick Warren - “A fabulous mix from Robot Needs Oil.” Pete Herbert - “Oh, yes … I’m loving this. The Robot Needs Oil and Brioski mixes for me.” Justin Robertson - “Some great stuff on here!” Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “I like the Robot Needs Oil remix, and the original is pretty nice, too.” DJ Rocca (Ajello) - “Great stuff from Mohear as always!” Q-Burns Abstract Message - “The Robot Needs Oil Remix is a brilliant pop moment … this one’s stuck in my head. The Brioski mixes are fly, as well. Nice one.” Dr. Dunks (Still Going) - “Awesome!” Alexander Robotnick - “The Brioski Bonus Mix for me.” Hardway Bros - “This is 100% disco dynamite!” Minus 8 (Compost, Stereo Deluxe) - “Nice ’80s Italo-disco style tunes! All mixes are good in my opinion. Cool!” Ben Mono - “Loving the Brioski Bonus Mix!” Makossa & Megablast - “Solid stuff!” mikeBurns (Disco Devil, Phönix Project) - “I’m really tripping out on that Brioski Bonus Mix … love it!” Da Wiseguy (RTE Pulse, Ireland) - “Wikkid nu-disco-esque goodness!” Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) - “Both the Brioski and Kid Machine remixes are amazing, but I’m loving everything here.” Simon Lister (People Get Real) - “Cold wave, cool wave … like!” DJ Nova (Rodon FM, Greece) - “The Kid Machine remix makes me feel like I’m back in Via Mecenate and dancing to Roberto Zanetti’s stuff in the year 1983.” Black Alley (In Control Radio Show) - “The Brioski remix is where new wave meets nu-disco in an irresistible way.”

From Vienna, Austria comes the eclectic dance music label Electunes and the exciting debut release of live music combo Mohear. The band consists of instrumentalists, DJs, and the lovely vocals of Miss Sophie as well as DJ Enne, who one may recognize from his remix work for the likes of the Compost, Nang, and Permanent Vacation labels. Mohear formed in 2005 and cut their teeth on assorted live gigs and songwriting sessions before approaching Electunes with the disco-fied wonder that is “Go Away.” It’s a faithful electro-disco throwback with its live drums, Italo-synth bass line, funked out guitars, and pining female vocals, embellished with modern day cosmic elements and effect splashes. “Go Away” moves the feet and sticks in the head. A few worthy remixers tackle the track, led by the Spanish disco sensation that is Ilya Santana. Ilya’s been hard at work, remixing the likes of the Phenomenal Handclap Band, Lindstrom, and The Human League, and has just signed on to Eskimo Records for future productions. The tempo gets lowered a tad on Ilya’s version to increase the slink factor, while a prominent bass bump pushes spacey synth treatments gliding over the vocal line. Undeniably cool. DJ Rocca is another producer on the ascent through his collaborative projects Ajello, Crimea X, and his Erodiscotique releases with Dimitri From Paris. The Italian wunderkind gives his usual 110% on a piano-led, classic-sounding Erodiscomix revision that builds and builds towards a dance floor revelation. Bouncy and uplifting, Rocca’s version should appeal to die-hard house music maniacs of all stripes. Last but not least comes the MGX Remix from the Munich-based Migumatix (Pastamusik, Freaktown). This version layers synth upon synth for a densely concocted remix that sounds fresh while still drawing upon a retro Italo vibe. Migumatix certainly comes correct, closing out a brilliant and tasty quartet of tunes from Mohear and the Electunes label.

Sleazy McQueen - “Digging the DJ Rocca mix!” Scott Hardkiss - “ I love the MGX mix … it’s got intense wild synth-driven energy mixed with groovy house vibes. The Ilya Santana Remix is happening, too!” Ulysses (Neurotic Drum Band) - “DJ Rocca’s Erodiscomix is my favorite. It’s a bathhouse piano party.” 6th Borough Project - “DJ Rocca’s mix is cool.” Q-Burns Abstract Message - “Nice bits here, most definitely. Rocca gets top marks for his starry roller rink soundtrack of a mix, and Ilya Santana comes in a close second with his 80’s Italo wonder. Swell!” Severino (Horse Meat Disco) - “Bravo, DJ Rocca! Always in top form.” Irregular Disco Workers - “Ilya Santana’s space addiction is always the right direction for dance floor. I also love the 90s house style of DJ Rocca!” Flash Atkins (Paper Recordings) - “ Love it! Peak time disco action!” Stereo 77 - “The MGX remix is the definitive heavy hitter of the collection. Truly a fantastic version.” Marius Våreid (Full Pupp) - “DJ Rocca’s Erodiscomix is fantastic! Amazing mix, love that one … and, oh that piano!” Lipstick Disco (music blog) - “Love the chuggy Italo vibe of the Ilya Santana Remix … superb!” Deadbeat Disco Radio Show - “The original sounds like it came straight from the vaults! The remixers are really well chosen, too.”