Duke Dumont The Giver Remixes EP
Duke Dumont‘s “The Giver” was hard to escape towards the end of summer, as the […]
Duke Dumont‘s “The Giver” was hard to escape towards the end of summer, as the track’s juicy bassline and irresistible vocal were virtually guaranteed to sweep across the floor at some point in the night. So what does one do with a runaway club hit? Often times, the standard protocol is to gather up a handful of remixes and hope someone either finds a way to reinvent the magic or completely twist it into new territory. Enlisting Tiga, Lando Kal, Gingy & Bordello, and Locked Groove, Turbo does its best to do just that on The Giver Remixes EP.
The four reworks offered here can be divided into two categories: the first being the type of remix that attempts to reinforce the original track—fortifying it with new basslines or slightly tweaked melodies—and the second being the kind that looks to invent something entirely new from the song’s original parts. Of these two categories, Turbo label head Tiga and Belgian producer Locked Groove each turn in the former, keeping the vocal lines and basic chord structure of “The Giver” largely intact. Tiga’s production, which kicks off the release, takes Dumont’s heater into slightly more subdued and atmospheric territory, gradually building on a laid-back beat (at least by Tiga’s standards) with ever-increasing piles of synth melodies and pads. Locked Groove’s effort, however, actually attempts to inject the already upbeat song with a bit more energy; in theory, it’s a dubious proposition, but Locked Groove works it to perfection by constructing a thicker low end while infusing the track’s various elements with a dense sonic weight. His offering finds that remixing sweet spot by striking a balance between maintaining the original song’s familiarity and breathing new life into it.
The EP’s other two remixes take “The Giver” into uncharted territory. Berlin-based Lando Kal bends and shifts the song to fit his patented space-age soundscapes, removing any traces of smoothness from Dumont’s tune as he pieces together a massive, shuffling outing. Gingy & Bordello take the track in a similarly driving direction, leading with a punchy kick and hat as a new pattern is formed out of the original’s vocal sample. The eight-plus-minute rework takes its time, but keeps the listener in its grasp for the entire run.
Remix EPs don’t have a stellar track record, yet none of the outings here feel frivolous. In the case of Locked Groove’s take, there’s even a track capable of pleasing dancefloors just as effectively as the original. That said, with the caliber of producers involved, it’s hard to imagine how this release could have done anything but further the run of Dumont’s noteworthy track.