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This is Berlin-based producer Stefan Betke's (aka Pole) third release on his own ~scape label. Originally a string of four limited colored vinyl 12" releases, the Steingarten Remixes now assembles all tracks in the series on CD. Remixing Pole is a bit of a challenge. Carefully assembled, piece-by-piece, his seamless, highly-acclaimed Steingarten exhibits no gaps, no ornaments, no superfluous flourishes. And a closer look at the tracks' underlying structures confirms: any additions would only distract from their delicate balance. Steingarten's eclectic assembly of equally eclectic remixers were well aware of this tricky challenge -- and none have opted for unnecessary embellishments. With plenty of respect for Pole's pared-down appeal, they nevertheless imbue the new versions with their very own signature sound. While Betke's minimal approach sets the overall mood, subtle nuances add different flavors to the mix. Rarely has a remix project been this coherent. An assembly of reworkings by friends and colleagues, the resulting tracks achieve the rare feat of reinterpreting Pole's music without ever drowning out their singular clarity. While Dimbiman, for example, starts his version of "Achterbahn" with a bout of gently bouncing beats that evolve into a springy house groove, Mike Huckaby takes a more angular approach, yet both remain true to Steingarten's bare essentials. From Deadbeat's sharp, dancehall-inspired beats to Shackleton's sizzling dub grooves and Gudrun Gut's subdued vocal samples "a recited A-Z of girl's names," the resulting works refuse to twist Pole's music out of shape, but highlight, cherish and reflect their essence. Here, Betke's distinctive sound finds itself clothed in a wide array of contemporary electronic guises, from deep house to dubstep. And, best of all, despite their sometimes dizzying level of abstraction, all tracks are extremely danceable. Other remixes by Peverelist, The Mole, Ghislain Poirier, Frivolous and Melchior Productions.
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