Original

Samim Remix

Lee Curtiss Remix

Artist: Italoboyz
Title: Viktor Casanova
Cat-N°: MSHIP 001
Barcode (UPC code A): 1 8425400015 0
Format: 12“ Single
Pre Sales: 10.06.2007
Releasedate: 17.07.2007

Mothership transmission #1

Ricardo Villalobos says it best: “Viktor Casanova is a record with a huge surprises effect. I play it since I got it from the guys 3 month ago and every time I get the same reactions…It has been a while, since I had a track which caused that much attention on the dance floor. It happens not that often, that every single time I play a track, lots of people ask me what it is. People even ask, if itís me who puts the opera singer sample over the record…Viktor Casanova is the best example, that the only really important thing about a good track is the idea behind it, nothing more and nothing less.”

Add two very sexy minimal-tech remixes by Samim and Lee Curtiss and you have a truly amazing record.

mothership is the new project from Claude VonStroke. The concept for the label is to create a deeper more experimental techno based sound than the tech-funk sound of his other label, dirtybird. A large percentage of the proceeds from mothership will go to a school in downtown Detroit that teaches and enables children to learn how to make music (yes, even electronic music!) We are very excited to be able to give something back to the community that helped shape and define our music.

MSHIP001 in the media

Bigshot Mag (USA): “Formed as another outlet for Dirty Bird’s Claude Von Stroke’s concept work, this new imprint is focused on creating a more experimental and deeper approach to minimal tech-funk. Taking some chiseled drum work and igniting it with some heavy rolling bass, this emaciated arrangement adds some edited opera vocals for a unique off kilter edge. A more dubby approach lives on the rear, taking the original opera sound and elaborating on the groove”

Electric Indigo: female:pressu “super gelungene platte. fällt auf herzlichen dank dafür!”

Giles Smith: “VIKTOR CASANOVA EP - Italoboyz (Mothership) 4* Quite a buzz about this track by the london based Italoboyz on Claude Von Stroke’s new label. The original mix is a quirky track with big rolling subby bass, lots of micro percussion and a sample from an female opera singer. Geting props from the likes of Villalobos and Loco Dice its bound to be big. The reliable Samim turns out a deep, bubbling remix that makes clever use of the vocal and contains his usual close attention to detail and heavy swing. Lee Curtiss takes things to a darker more mysterious place. Intricate drum patterns and a killer bassline round off a strong package. ”

Jesse Rose: “at first i was thinking oh no barclay why you doing this minimal stuff but the track is badd ass and samim comes good as always. x”

Mike Shannon (Cynosure): “ Lee Curtis does a cool take on the opera vocals… bravo”

Philip Sherburne: “funny, i’m not that crazy about the A-side (though i can see why ricardo is!). samim’s mix is nice — actually very much like another track of his — but i think that opera sample might bug the hell out of me, call me a philistine if you must. lee curtis’ mix, however, is wicked: dark, freaky, tweaky, and STILL sexy. can’t wait to see what that guy does next. the B2 here is a definite winner. ”

Resident Advisor Net: “the Italoboyz haven’t been the most prolific of artists, but they’ve always had a keen eye for quality control. Their tracks stand out due to their strong dub feel and because they manage to twist heads by resorting to small rhythmic devices placed within the minimal aesthetic. This is often based on a sinister repetition of off-kilter sounds, but ‘Viktor Casanova’ takes it to another level entirely. I have to say that I was initially a bit prejudiced about this record, having heard a lot about it before actually hearing it. Favourable comments from Ricardo Villalobos didn’t fill me full of hope either, having come to regard him, after his gypsy orchestra release of last year, as having taken up permanent residence in a deluxe k-hole. Ricardo and the Italoboyz, please accept my unreserved apologies. The truth is that this is a simple idea brilliantly executed. The Lee Curtiss’ mix stands out because it doesn’t make use of the by now hyped opera vocal (who, and what has been sampled please?). It keeps the solid foundation that runs through all the mixes though, and gallops along at an even pace, making use of a nice off-key bass which is interrupted by random climbing synth stabs that have a distinctly industrial tone. Samim, whose stock is rising with each successive release, turns in a remix that strips down the original to its bare bones and emphasises all that is interesting about glitchiness. But it’s the original that stands out, with its quite ridiculous intro of drowsy, drunken sampled vocals. It’s worth pointing out that apart from the opera sample, the original makes use of a collage of minor vocals and voices which combine to create an effect of general queasiness while the bass kick keeps things nicely undulating. A very strong first release from Mothership. The only problem they, and the Italoboyz, have now is how they’re going to follow it up. Words / Paul Corey”