At this point in his career, Fritz Kalkbrenner needs no introduction, but just in case anyone has been living on Mars or under a rock for the last few decades…. Fritz was born in 1981 in East Berlin, where he spent his youth and discovered the Berlin techno scene following in the footsteps of his brother Paul. His first appearance in the credits of a record dates back to 2002, when another illustrious childhood friend, Sascha Funke, asked him to contribute his voice to his track Funkt, which was followed the following year by Forms & Shapes. But the first time his name appeared on the cover of a release came in 2004 with DJ Zky and the track Stormy Weather.

But the definitive turning point in his career came when he provided the vocal track to a real anthem called Sky & Sand, which his brother Paul included in the soundtrack of the film Berlin Calling.

In 2010 he releases his first album, the tremendous Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, which includes the track Facing The Sun, which is also released as a single with remixes by his friend Sascha and his brother Paul. Eleven years later, Fritz brings us this track again, with a completely different treatment and a new interpretation of one of the best tracks from that album achieved through two great remixes.

 

Fritz Kalkbrenner is the most soulful performer in electronic music today, and his personal stamp also adds an important organic soundscape that makes his creations unmistakable. On Facing The Sun, the first remix is by Stir Von Talent label boss Oliver Koletzki, another tremendous specialist in layering everything he touches with organic and analogue sounds (as we heard, for example, on his latest album, Made Of Wood, reviewed in July here in 1051 Magazine). With a soulful, delicate and warm treatment, Koletzki’s remix makes us sail at 112 BPM in an ocean of round bass and dusty pianos. A delightful remix, which brings out aromas even hidden in the original version.

The second sonic artefact is by Samuel Kindermann, better known as Einmusik, and is the flipside of Koletzki’s remix. Einmusik’s remix raises the tempo to 123 BPM, targeting the centre of the dancefloor at clubs and festivals, with bouncy arpeggios and elegant strings.

Sometimes these revisitations of older tracks don’t add much, and in many cases you might think the original is much better. In this case, it can be said that second parts were good. Release date, October 15th, available here for pre order now.

 

 

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