<p><span><span>- Melbourne label <strong>Music In Exile</strong> has recently released a new EP in their REMIXED series. On the 12” we see <strong>Ausecuma Beats</strong> reworked by <strong>River Yarra</strong>. Ausecuma Beats are a nine-piece group led by djembe player <strong>Boubacar Gaye</strong>, with its members originating from Australia, Cuba, Mali, and the Senegambian region of West Africa. Similarly based in Melbourne is River Yarra, who has released a slew of great dance records in recent memory.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Keleh (River Yarra's Situationist Rework)</em> is superb downtempo dance remix, bringing out Ausecuma Beats' rhythmic structures while maintaining his own production style. Initially it has a dubby feel, with its minimalist drums, electronics, and deep, pulsing bassline. It develops throughout however, the groove matched with an array of acoustic percussion and electronic hits. Around the two minute mark the vocals come through, backed with some light synth. Boubacar Gaye is quoted as saying, “When he drops the instrument and brings forward the voice only, that's beautiful.” I totally agree – it’s a sublime moment. I also love the dirty lead synth that comes in later in the track, really sets up the last minute of the track with a killer guitar part finishing the groove.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>This is paired with two originals by River Yarra. <em>Flirting Shadow</em> maintains the level of rhythmic complexity, with the song containing a cohesive percussive soundscape with many elements and lots of panning. It has an almost electro feel thanks to the bouncy bassline and X-Files-lead, reinforced by the minor chords. During a breakdown it goes into acid mode, the bass gliding and squelching, which works well against the evocative chords. <em>Gnome Broth</em> is a personal favourite. It goes so hard, settling into a heavy groove round the two-minute mark. The two note bass line allows the drums to really take the fore.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Music In Exile have created a great meeting-of-the-minds with the Keleh remix. Ausecuma Beats' formidable musicianship is highlighted by Yarra, to great effect. I also admire the diversity within the tracks themselves, with longer arrangements and shifting instrumentation unfolding kaleidoscopically. For all that they're both pretty idiosyncratic artists, Ausecuma and Yarra seem custom made to go together and they do! <em>River Yarra x Ausecuma Beats </em>brings all of their unusual strengths, loses nothing and adds a little bit more.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Hillfolk.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3282341527/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="http://ausecumabeats.bandcamp.com/album/keleh-river-yarras-situationist… (River Yarra's Situationist Rework) by Ausecuma Beats</a></iframe>