Christopher Rau has been producing electronic music since 2000 and has certainly learnt the trade. He runs label Dérive along with Bjorn and Maximilian that operates from Hamburg. Rau has been producing house & techno tracks for the last four to five years. His music creates a relaxed atmosphere, fusing elements of blues with recognizable calm electronic techniques. The remix he produced for Freund der Familie's "Symbian" stays true to his renowned soft aesthetic. It is much more of a progression, exploring ethereal synthesis and soft keys in comparison to some of his more dancefloor orientated works. While the subtlety may not be for everyone, Rau pulls it of without error. Through beautifully clean percussion and off beat bass stabs, the tune appeals to both the home listener and club goer. Towards the end of the track the complex yet simplistic beat is broken and the melodic elements that have been growing in the background begin to bloom. As the piano chords un-filter and pads sweep the spectrum, a clean, gentle stab sound is introduced and superb sonic effects reign the higher frequencies. Before you know it the progression  returns to its reserved state and the beat is reintroduced. Overall the remix is a powerful piece of electronic music that (for me) does justice to the original, managing to retain key elements without replication. I have attached a link to Christopher Rau's resident adviser page and a youtube link to "Symbian (Chrisopher Rau Remix)". As always, I recommend listening to this tune and let it paint a landscape for your imagination.
