Public Servant Lifestyle

Happy Violentine by Miss Kittin

As winter begins to give way to the joys of spring, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and romance whispers on the wind. Yes for Miss Kittin love is in the air, albeit barbed with the thorns of heartbreak and deceit. Once again showing that there’s a thin line between love and hate, Caroline Herve is wishing all discerning music lover a Happy Violentine with her new release.

Happy Violentine is the third single to be taken off her acclaimed I Com album and takes a subtler path to the punk, riot grrrl chic of Professional Distortion and dancefloor jack of last year’s Requiem For A Hit. With superb mixes from some of the top names around this selection is designed to represent the myriad of styles that exist on Miss Kittin’s international dancefloor. Ranging from the Italian shimmer of Marco Passarani and UK grit of Mark Bell to the German sophistication of Michael Mayer and Glove and finally to the downright intergalactic dub of Mad Professor, Happy Violentine is a sumptuous platter of innovation that tantalises with its talent and musical invention.

‘80s Inspired Tip

Marco Passarani breezes in on an ‘80s inspired tip full of airy aural entertainment with an eye for the future. Great 80s funk is assembled in the background, hints of Prince and Talking Heads and Studio 54 hop with the Kittin’s customary sweet vocal delivery. Dancefloors exist for this kind of track, superbly crafted and with a silver tipped energy that just knows. This is retroactive club music for the nu-powa-generation.

Glove take Kittin’s blueprint and with experienced musicality bring a splash of heavy water filled springtime to the track. The vocal is pushed right to the front opening up the real qualities of Kittin’s vox. This is accompanied by a lush electronic orchestra of tender strings, bells and bleeps. Inspired imagination refuses to conform to formulas and a club track evolves into a wonderfully emotive ambient piece. A musical object that journeys through shades of emotional clarity and expands to fill the mind, body and soul.

Mark Bell (aka LFO) brings a more industrial feel to the table, with crisp reverb on the drums and vocal creating a continuity between all sounds. A contemplating melodic build-up draws you in deeper and deeper when finally a mutated analogue bassline gnarls its way around the track seducing it into sinister waters. A low intense electronic journey of edgy fairytale narrative that is not to be trusted. Heavy stuff.

Kraftwerkian Blips

Cutting edge German design is applied by Kompakt’s Michael Mayer. A low slug of a bassline bubbles in a cauldron spitting Kraftwerkian blips and Kittin’s bittersweet vocals. The vocal holds the track and pushes it on until the mechanics step up a gear with ominous grace. Ever growing and evolving this momentum filled groove judders with rounded corners and fluid subtlety. A deliberate juggernaut of classic German beauty.

In the Mad Professor’s Smiling Orange dub, light helium filled keys bounce from all corners of the room in a queasy yet oddly peaceful composition. Lost and found is a constant theme as the ear is pacified by irregularity. Such is the Professor’s mastery that it is possible to surrender yourself to this state of delusion and confusion and come out the other side rather well informed. A fantastic example of dubmissions that go beyond the realms of the imagination. Priceless sub-science.

Last, but by no means least, and limited to the second 12” only, Mark Bell again turns in a top notch remix performance on Miss Kittin’s previous single Requiem For A Hit. A monster cut aimed squarely at the dancefloor.

The full track listings for each of the formats of this great new single shape up like this:

CD

1. Happy Violentine – San Valentino Radio Mix, (Remix Edit By Marco Passarani)
2. Happy Violentine – Glove Radio Edit (Edited By Tobias Neumann & Thies Mynther)
3. Happy Violentine – LFO Mix (Remix By Mark Bell)
4. Happy Violentine – Michael Mayer Mix (Remix By Michael Mayer)
5. Happy Violentine – Smiling Orange Dub Mix (Remix By Mad Professor)
6. Happy Violentine – San Valentino Mix (Remix By Marco Passarani)

12" No.1

1. Happy Violentine – San Valentino Mix (Remix By Marco Passarani)
2. Happy Violentine – Smiling Orange Dub Mix (Remix By Mad Professor)
3. Happy Violentine – Michael Mayer Mix (Remix By Michael Mayer)

12" No.2

1. Happy Violentine – LFO Mix (Remix By Mark Bell)
2. Requiem For A Hit – LFO Mix (Remix by Mark Bell)

Happy Violentine is out now as a CD, vinyl 12” limited edition version 12”, on NOVAMUTE.

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