Illyus & Barrientos supply a killer remix
Those who were DJing in the early 90s will remember when the Champion Records name was synonymous with quality house music, with some of the biggest tunes of the day appearing on the label. Well, now they're back, so let's see if they're still delivering the goods!
Their latest release comes from Rinse FM’s Sam Supplier and is titled Night And Day. It comes with a plethora of mixes but the one that grabbed my attention was the Illyus & Barrientos Mix, which comes in both original and radio edit forms. The former is an uplifting affair that opens with a galloping percussive intro topped by the female vocal chorus. It then brings in the full vocal, which is light and dreamy and is backed by Philly disco strings, a solid bassline and jazzy piano chords, giving the track poolside appeal. It's a real summer tune that reminds me of earlier Champion tracks from their heyday in the days of handbag house. The Radio Edit is pretty self-explanatory and the production on both is bold and full-on.
This track proves that Champion are indeed back with a bang, and I for one can't wait to hear more of their releases... just like back in the day, when I was lucky enough to be on their mailing list and opening their mailers was always a treasured experience!
Words: Danny Slade
Release date: 22 September
Tags: Sam Supplier, Illyus & Barrientos, Champion Records