Perugia-based jazz quintet, Aura Safari, have had 7 tracks from their 2023 LP, Island Dreams, remixed. With 2 cool exceptions, the original fusion flavours have been freshly tailored more toward discerning dance floors. 

For example there are 4 / 4-ed versions from Berlin’s SIRS and the band themselves. Their Dream House Dub of Magic Malbe opens with sirens, which signal for the track to start shaking its stuff. However, while the frugging is forceful, the mood is wistful, the melody manufactured from whistling synths. Some proper piano playing further elevating the piece.  

All the artists involved are members of Hell Yeah Recordings’ ever-extending / evolving musical family. My Friend Dario has been on board for something like a decade now, and his friendship with label founder, Marco Gallerani, goes even further back (the pair of them used to make breakbeat bangers together). Here, MFD strips Riserva Naturale down to a dubbed-out rhythmic ritual. A head-nodding, hypnotic mid tempo combination of bongos, congas and big bass surdo. Eventually introducing a cosmic keyboard solo and phased / filtered guitar strum. 

Secret Soul Society, who signed up only a couple of years ago, transforms Dancing In The Moonlight into busy, bumping Afro-boogie. Looping Zeke Manyika’s chorus, while triggering soundclash sound effects and bouncing bleeps.

Dawn Again – only relatively recently welcomed into the Hell Yeah fold – has everything from Wave Riding echoed, and wah-wah-ed, around a super squelchy bottom-end and a slow, but block-rocking, collaged go-go-not-go-go break. 

Calm, Marco’s “chillout” senpai / master, is responsible for the album’s non-dancefloor moments. His Mellow Mellow Acid Remix of Sur Mon Balconnet is a trademark blend of soft, shuffling beats and trippy TB-303 twists. Swimming in romantic piano ripples, and with muted brass in its distance, the tune switching between being harmonica and then saxophone-led. Calm also cooks up a blissed-out beatless dub, which allows smaller details, such as starlight-like chimes, the chance to shine. 

Aura Safari’s Island Dreams Remixes are out now on Hell Yeah!