TOTW: Kölsch_Gray

The first time I heard Kölsch it was on his fantastic double single “Speicher 93,” which I have already brought to your attention on a previous track of the week. Gray was one of the tracks on that record.

However, it’s far more aggressive a version than the one you will hear on his album “1989,” which I’ve decided to highlight as my track of the week.

The instrumental elements are found on both versions of Gray, but the aggressive leading brass sound, found in the single version, mixed beneath a collection of woodwinds, gives the track an airier vibe. This continues throughout other production decisions, including a slightly less compressed kick drum and stripped down piano in the breakdown, with fewer chords and larger reverb tales.

The two versions show how much a track can change with a few production decisions; both great in their own right but each with its own atmosphere and direction. Listen to both below:

Youtube:

1989 Version Of Grey
Speicher 93 Version Of Grey

TOTW Playlist:

TOTW: Kölsch_Kir

On this Mini EP entitled SPEICHER 93, Kolsch produces two cutting edge German House Tracks. Out ot the two KIR is my favourite.

The traditional driving kickdrum may start the track but instantly adds something new with the sudden pitch change, turning the Kick into both the melody as well as the driving force iconic of the Genre.

This slight twist on the tradition continues throughout the track and works incredibly well as the synth line swells and morphs between aggressive and wispy. Then we get hit the 2:50 mark and a traditional breakdown is replaced with an awkwardly jaunty staccato variation of the synth melody before we come back to the main arrangement backed up by an incredible driving deep bass part that elevates the track to a new level.

It’s the mix of the traditional and the fresh from a producer clearly experienced in techniques iconic of the genre which escalate this track above a lot of modern house music and make it to my track of the week:

 
Spotify:

TOTW Playlist: