Heavyweight Gringos (Part 2)
Zero dB
Released: 16 Sep 2022
Label: Tru Thoughts
“Heavyweight Gringos (Part 2)” is the second remix project based upon zero dB’s seminal debut album ‘Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines’ (BBB). Originally released in 2006 via Ninja Tune and zero dB’s own imprint Fluid Ounce, both BBB (declared by Trevor Jackson as “Ninja Tune’s best release ever”) and the 18-track remix package “Heavyweight Gringos (Bongos, Bleeps & Basslines Remixed)” has now been re-released by Tru Thoughts.
“Heavyweight Gringos (Part 2)” continues where its predecessor left off – collating unreleased edits from the BBB era, standout reinterpretations from other zero dB’s essential releases, plus newly commissioned remixes by Tru Thoughts A&R Rob Luis of cutting edge producers – into a new and cohesive project.
The unreleased gems call on the production skills of Kruder & Dorfmeister co-founder Peter Kruder for a deep dub remix of “Te Quiero”; an instrumental edit by nu-jazz pioneers United Future Organization’s (aka UFO) Raphael Sebbag of “Sunshine Lazy feat. Phoebe Killdeer”; Fluid Ounce signee Kid Swing’s reassemble of “Anything’s Possible feat. Voice Monet” and the creation of another essential DJ tool by Special Guest of the title track “Bongos, Bleeps, Basslines”.
Lifted from zero dB’s ‘One Offs, Remixes & B-Sides’ comp, Bugz in the Attic posse affiliate Seiji bruks-up a percussive attack on “Conga Madness” featuring vocalist Phoebe Killdeer, while Japanese musician Daisuke Tanabe places his stamp on a classic zero dB track “Anything’s Possible” featuring US rapper Voice Monet, released for the first time earlier this year.
LP opener “A Pomba Girou” featuring Heidi Vogel (lead singer of The Cinematic Orchestra/member of Cirque du Soleil), gets two new and overdue remixes adding fresh energy for the dancefloor. Scottish producer Austin Ato presents a Latin-house reworking, while Mancunian DJ Szajna (pronounced ‘shy-na’) adds his half-time bruk-refix to the original. Both remixes have seen rejuvenated support for the zero dB project from tastemakers such as Jamz Supernova, The Blessed Madonna (BBC 6Music), Murder He Wrote (WWFM), Bandcamp (Best of Electronic), Laurent Garnier, Dom Servini (Soho Radio) and many more; connecting the original album (BBB) – a record that has secured its spot in proto-jazz history – with old fans and new alike.
