By UG Light

Keys N Krates Live Re-Mixing 101 is both an album and a statement. (click here to listen & download!)

Every inch of it exudes a vibe of triumph and “we-have-arrived” excitement. KNK extends the moment when an artist or DJ is building up to a break, hyping the crowd, and generating the thrill of musical crescendo, and extends it over an entire disc. They also produce a contagious feeling of community; you may well feel like you’re at a party even if you’re listening to it in your bedroom.

This dynamic is an egalitarian effort by all three musicians involved. The core of the KNK ethic is the sample, that ubiquitous modern cultural artifact, that sparks both groove and recognition in the listener. But these are samples transported and transfigured; washed in melodies and pumped by rhythms alien to them. DJ Junior Flo provides these cultural flashpoints, and the drummer Adam Tune and keyboard player Matisse surround that cultural core with an irresistible architecture of party music.

One of the most shocking qualities of the album is how interested they manage to keep the listener, and how effectively they keep the party going. One would assume that track after track of deconstructed hits, while an engaging gimmick at first, would wear thin. But the members of KNK are capable of such versatility, and can so effectively build and release tension, that getting bored is almost impossible.

Their paintbox is nearly infinite, and this helps. The album begins with almost Prince-like keys and rhythms, with breaks that effectively hype you up even when you’re sitting down– a testament to Adam Tune’s rhythmic versatility. As this song segment segues seamlessly into the next, we’re greeted by the immediately recognizable Q-tip.

This first sample begins a long listener love affair with the familiar faces that populate KNK’s musical landscape. There are more obscure textures involved, but the best moments in the mix involve instances of recognition that feel almost like epiphanies. When Lauren Hill’s voice busts through the cresting wave of music with the call “123…the group is called Refugees”, it’s actually physically difficult to keep still. And the all we need are the intro chords of “Next Episode”– no lyrics necessary– to completely lose our sh*t.

This kind of sonic alchemy is no easy feat. Keys N Krates manage to balance innovation, experimentation and unexpected twists with recognizable and culturally explosive sampling touch points. The result, a live remixing experiment and a landmark of modern remix culture, is one of the most surprising and engaging recordings of 2009.

For a taste of the Keys N Krates Experience and to download “Live Re-Mixing 101″ just

Featuring and endorsed by:
Joey Ruben//Taste
Nick Catchdubs//Fools Gold
Nick Hooks//Cubic Zirconia
Rhettmatic//Beat Junkies
DJ Reflex//Power 106
DJ Eleven//The Rub
Terry Urban//Shade 45 – Press Play
Joshua Glazer//Urb Magazine
Elosi Ikharo//Vapors Magazine

Click here to download “Live Re-Mixing 101.”