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You may recall the original of Catrat’s ‘Freedom’ was one of the many great tracks on Best Seven Selections Vol. 2

After Jay Haze’s Love & Beyond excertions, I find it hard to believe he’s found time to use his “quirky, yet grooving dancefloor” skills on these two remixes; the vocal and the dub. The vocal version features Yah Meek and adds a good 50% extra synth bounce and echo onto the original for a full 9 minutes. Where Haze really excells on this is the dub version where the synths run free in a hectic kaoss type way. Put it together with the vocal on the rewind and it’s perfect; turn it up!

Kabuki & Mainframe remake ‘Freedom’ for a dubby house set on the b-side. Kabuki is best known to Best Seven fans for the ‘After The Fire’ and his influences range from Steve Reid to Asian Cinema to Drum & Bass (his last single featured Jenna G on Liquid V). The thing is, this version of ‘Freedom’ is just as good as the Haze versions for your percussive house people; Roland Appel on speed.

It’s time we had some more activity on Seven Best as the last releases were Eva Be’s and The Black Seeds EPs six months ago. And don’t forget sister label Sonar Kollektiv have released a Eva Be remix of Markus Enochson’s ‘Take Me Away’ (Hectic recommends the ‘Extended’ mix) and there’s news of a ablum by Frost & Wagner with all their remixes!

Don’t known who/what Catrat is/are (sounds like that Banksey stencils thing in Liverpool) so don’t be put off by the name. Not quite as seminal as Re:Jazz’s ‘Torch Of Freedom’, but if you’re into euro-reggae of the Daniel Best kind, it’s essential.

Reviewed: Catrat — Freedom (Jay Haze & Kabuki Remixes) (Seven Best) Cat. No. SB7025 Release date: 01.04.08
A1. Freedom (Jay Haze Vocal Remix) (9:07)
B1. Freedom (Kabuki & Mainframe Remix) (6:13)
B2. Freedom (Jay Haze Dub Remix) (6:38)

Links:
www.bestseven.de
www.tuningspork.com
www.theblackseeds.com
25th June 2008 Electric Ballroom, Camden, London
www.myspace.com/theblackseeds
www.iamkabuki.net
www.myspace.com/iamkabuki
www.mainframe.vox.com