Welcome to "Skanky Remixed"- a collection of funk, deep house and chill downtempo re-imaginations of the dubby reggae "Skanky" cut from Danny Massure's last release "Put It On Me". Although this release feels like it's built from programmed synth, the original tightness is actually recorded. Thus, this is an extraordinarily sharp EP containing a lot of life.

1. Skanky
2. Pick It Up
3. Skanky (Ben Dean Remix)
4. Skanky (Anthony Mansfield & Sneak-E Pete Remix)
5. Skanky (Zamali Crystal Bells Remix)
6. Skanky (Myxlplix Skank House Remix)
7. Skanky (Pulpfusion Remix)
8. Skanky (Kinski's Raw Funk ReSkank)
9. Skanky (DJ Stefunk's Downbeat Remix)

Let's begin with the original "Skanky", a sweet skank beat with ska instrumentation. This original composition is incredibly tight and features smooth horn lines courtesy of Tracy Ferrara on sax and Matt Reid on trumpet. The sharp stabs of the trumpet juxtaposed with the silky sax lines create a moving piece of music. The driving bass line and multiple melodies echoing out into silence are delicious proof of reggae dub heavily influencing this mid-tempo artist.

"Pick it up" starts up as a straight-forward hip-hop beat, then breaks into a nice mellow reggae skank rhythm with a smooth walking bass. Overall, it feels like a "Brownout" style mesh of hip-hop break-beat and funky reggae break-beat. Latin horns add a third culture vibe to it, while a smooth keyboard line gives it a throwback vibe. This track will chameleon into a big variety of DJ sets, and there's lots of space in the melody for scratches, mixes, rewinds, etc.

"Skanky (Ben Dean Remix)" = very tasty. This track picks up the pace from the original and kick-flips the beat. Features include extended dub echoes, lazers and a nice breakdown that gives way to one incredibly smooth sax solo. Starting off with just an upbeat ska/reggae beat, this track filters down to some nice, trippy, jazzy ska. I like the first half better than the last half, its got that "you should have mixed-in already" vibe.

Featuring a smooth echo driven beat, the "Skanky (Anthony Mansfield & Sneak-E Pete Remix)" houses it up disco dub style. This track really hits as an energetic house beat while the fun ratchet-y distortion feeds into advancing echo horns. This re-imagination of "Skanky" is a good extension of the Thievery Corporation sound into driven yet smooth house beats. Abstract horn pans and wanes in the last half of the track add a taste of something new to me. Overall, this is a really well made track, not just a remix.

In a word "classy" is how I would describe "Skanky (Zamali Crystal Bells Remix)". This remix takes us to the late night lounge side of "Skanky". Tons of bells make the composition shimmer. The mirror ball is reflecting a little Fleetwood Mac synth, and some skating rink disco-funk rhythm. A hand clap, keyboard and bass breakdown give this track the head-nod award. Panning and expanding keyboard finishes the ‘79 throwback sound. Aw shit. Finishing touches include breathy electronic flute.

On "Skanky (Myxlplix Skank House Remix)" reggae, skank and house meet and shake hands. Then they go get some nice mixed drinks. A little later you see them approach the dance floor, one by one and the dance-off begins. We've got speed and bass, but no time for a really big break. I would just crank this crawler bass line up and cut the shit out of these key stabs and incidental horn flows. Great smoothness. I bet this would flow nicely with a good variety of jazz and reggae influenced house tracks. Random reggae chatter is all dubbed up and plays well in here. Got a Ticklah vibe.

Vocoder and effect-pedal guitar rock take us to freaky acid Breaksville on "Skanky (Pulpfusion Remix)". I do enjoy the new rhythm guitar sound placed in here. It's got a "Death in Vegas" play in Tijuana sound. Rock breaks are all over the place right now, and I think this would fit into one of those Afro-Latin Acid Rock sets. I'm into this right now, and this is one of my favorite tracks on the EP.

Here's how the groove monster "Skanky (Kinski's Raw Funk ReSkank)" overtakes you. First, drums pound you from all sides. Scratches excite the little hairs on the back of your neck. Dialogue samples command you to the dance floor where the vibe is mellow but builds into something more. Horns try to smooth out the angry beat, but it defies all, rolling and tumbling through knife fights with the drummer. Tight, angry funk explodes up through your legs as you're compelled to move and shake your rump. This is what a song titled "Skanky" means to me, even if it bears little resemblance to reggae.

The mellow "Skanky (DJ Stefunk's Downbeat Remix)" has a really good 1993 hip-hop jazz sample vibe. The upright bass is so calming and peaceful with that flowing trumpet part cascading all around. This is a complete jazz track to begin with, then it gets torn apart from the inside. I blame the rhythm guitar from Jamaica for the homicide, but the upright bass is a cold-blooded accomplice to this great jam.

Overall, this EP is a good fusion and re-fusion of Danny's main topics of reggae, downtempo, break beat and jazz. The final product is a little too tight for my tastes, but it's incredibly professional and some of you will be taking this one upstairs for coffee. Danny Massure also plays live with a band, I recommend that show as well.

~ Bill Elder

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