Endangered Species Remixed is an album full of fun remixes by a variety of dj's and producers, many of which are active in the NYC and DC music scenes. As you can probably guess, the tracks are taken from Nickodemus' first album, Endangered Species. A native New Yorker of Sicilian descent, he grew up on a steady diet of Motown, hip hop, and Latin music, and these contribute to his lively club sound. The mixes featured here are packed full of flavor and variety.

1. Endangered Species (Raeo Remix)
2. Mi Swing es Tropical (Zeb Remix)
3. Peace Pipe (DJ Enredo Remix)
4. Cleopatra in New York (Karuan '07 Remix)
5. Funky In The Middle (Haaksman & Haaksman Remix)
6. Give The Drummer Some (Fort Knox Five Remix)
7. Gibraltar (Sabo & Zeb Remix)
8. Crazy Stranger (Thievery Corporation Remix)
9. Mystery of Life (Zeb Remix)
10. The Spirits Within (Boozoo Bajou Remix)
11. The Global Village (Tarantala Bite Remix)

The Raeo remix of the title track is a slow, trippy ditty with some Spanish guitar rhythms. It layers in some sweet female vocals that add to the dreamy vibe. A couple minutes in they start chopping up the vocals and make it really trip-hoppy. Very catchy.

The Zeb remix of "Mi Swing Es Tropical," which features Quantic, has a wonderfully sunny Caribbean island feel. Jazzy horns, Spanish vocals, and a peppy beat make this a definite summer jam.

DJ Enredo remixes "Peace Pipe" into tropical electronica. Bright vocals and a slow house beat spin through saxophone and reggae percussion.

I really like the the Karuan remix of "Cleopatra In New York." It has this 70s funk meets Indian electronica sound. There's the psychedelic guitar vibrating in the background, and the happy house beats. And as if that wasn't good enough, the are some wonderful Middle Eastern vocalizations drifting around. Certainly one of my favorites on this album.

We dive deeply into reggae with "Funky In The Middle," remixed by Haaksman & Haaksman. It has a punchy little bass rhythm and a set of beats that are mostly high hats. It's the lively horns that make this track.

"Give The Drummer Some" showcases the classic funk sounds of it's remixers, Fort Knox Five. Rolling in beats and horns, with some subtle funk guitar, the fast paced lyrics build a rhythm of their own. Of the beats they say, "that's where the whole vibe come from," and they aren't kidding.

"Gibraltar" gets a Latin house treatment in the hands of Sabo & Zeb. Sparse on the vocals, it favors the beats and bass lines. It breaks out a Spanish guitar melody to add a layer of relaxation to an otherwise uptempo romp.

You can feel Thievery Corporation's touch in the remix of "Crazy Stranger." An instrumental number with almost frenetic beats, it blends Middle Eastern horns with Latin percussion.

Zeb gives us another gem, remixing "Mystery of Life" down to saucy electronica. The keyboards are on the lower end of the spectrum without being melancholic, but layered over that are some poppy melodies. I think it conjures memories of old Delerium.

There's a really Southern blues-y toned remix of "The Spirits Within" by Boozoo Bajou. Hip hop lyrics and beats get some low, twanging bass rhythms. Signature Boozoo Bajou, really, layering radio samples over their swampy sounds.

A lot of really fun material on this album. Definitely some things that will make your summer afternoons much more enjoyable. Get it now, because Nickodemus has a new album coming out soon.

~ Ethan Georgi

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