You know it’s a good friday when Discobelle put out a record like this. Past-Truancy contributors and Silverback bosses Voltron‘s “Freshmen EP” just dropped, and it’s a bit special. Two originals, five remixes, it’s a cliché to say there’s something for everyone but ain’t that the truth. “Don’t Stop” and “Be For Real” are from the 90s-piano school of catchy exciting bangers, straight up hands in the air stuff. “Don’t Stop” kicks off with an air of Crystal Waters, a smatttering of Hudson Mohawke, some UK funky-type drums and a whole load of energy. It’s taking me back to 07, when Surkin and Bobmo were putting a 90s piano house vibe all over the electro hype that they were putting out back then. This time Voltron are doing it with the free-flowing, nebulous genre that is whatever you want to call it, from post-dubstep to future garage or anything in between. “Be For Real” goes down a deeper path, it’s got a slightly darker vibe, but maintains the full-throttle energy, 90s keys and vocal samples of “Don’t Stop”. And that’s just for openers.

Voltron – Don’t Stop (128 kbps) by Voltron

Voltron – Be For Real (128 kbps) by Voltron

XXXY kills it on his remix, so good in fact that his is the only remix of “Don’t Stop”. Taking the original’s chord structure and modifying it ever so slightly, he focuses on the bass and turns it into a growling monster of a track. But it’s a smiling monster that just wants to make you groove and shake it.

Voltron – dont stop (xxxy remix) by xxxy

NGUZUNGUZU take a pinch of key elements out of “Be For Real”, add in a whole load of throbbing percussion and hyperactive high-hats, while The Phantom moves it into some in-your-face, break-your-neck bass territory, punctuating it throughout with a frenetic “POP”. For me though the standout remix is from Jack Dixon, who moves the track into tropical territory, pulsating bass rhythms, morphing the vocal into indecipherable territory while bathing it in warm synths and driving percussion. Silverback co-founders Ultravid close out the package in similar fashion, with a more chilled take on the track.

Voltron – Be For Real (Jack Dixon Remix) (Sample) – Forthcoming Discobelle by jackdixon

If all this wasn’t enough, the Belgian trio have put together a mix to complement this package. Selflessly refusing to go big on their own tracks, they include tracks from future heroes Panteros666 and Mr Tweeks as well as big names like Joy O. Not forgetting, of course, IFTW‘s “Surgeon”, which debuted on our very own Truancy compilation. See it all comes around. Check it on Mixcloud.

And in case you forgot, go buy “Freshmen” here.