German electronic music figurehead and label boss Sven Väth is re-releasing seminal track Electrical Salsa with a 4-track remix EP. Featuring the well-loved original mix, a remix from Roman Flügel and a remix from Henrik Schwarz with a dub and a radio edit, the EP will be released on Cocoon on the 21st July 2016.

The track was first released back in 1986, when Sven was a 21-year old member of Frankfurt project OFF, alongside Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti. ‘Electrica Salsa (Baba Baba)’ changed the face of electronic music in European pop culture, achieving top three success in France, Austria and Germany at a time when dance music was still regarded as an underground movement from Detroit and Chicago. 30 years later, Sven has enlisted 2 fellow veterans of the German electronic music scene, Henrik Schwarz and Roman Flügel to rework his acclaimed track.

“Roman Flügel is a friend and esteemed colleague of mine and he created a really smart version of the track. I’m sure that many people will be surprised by his remix. Henrik Schwarz, on the other hand, actually invited a brass group to the studio and recorded them with strings and latin bass which makes a great modern version,’ is how Väth describes the 2016 studio productions.

A dancefloor classic in its own right, Sven’s original track is armed with prominent synth melodies, a pulsing bassline and Sven’s spoken male vocal track.

Henrik Schwarz adds his diverse musical capabilities into his rendition of ‘Electrica Salsa’ (Henrik Schwarz Remix). Known for his eclectic musical approach to composition and sound design, he adds layered synths, a buzzing bassline and catchy hi-hats to Sven’s original male vocal. Henrik’s remix of ‘Electric Salsa’ takes the track into the 21st Century with airy synths and a groovy bassline.

Rounding off the remix EP is ‘Electrica Salsa’ (Roman Flügel Remix). With his music touching on various genres such as techno, ambient and house, Roman Flügel is a musical chameleon. Displaying his renowned talent, Roman has reworked the original almost completely. With a bubbling bassline and off-beat synth notes acting as the foundation of the remix, Roman has warped and pitched down Sven’s vocal to create a dark atmosphere. The track later builds into a near-hypnotic and infectious groove, which serves as an excellent modern addition to Sven’s original mix.

As Sven remembers, ‘I was most happy about the great success we had with ‘Electrica Salsa’ in Ibiza and Italy, where we actually made number one’ Ibiza was the greatest source of inspiration. We flew down there every year in the eighties, the Island really had a strong influence on us with its eclectic sounds at the times. The Balearic Sound was a mix of Italo Disco, Wave, Funk and African Percussion. We wanted to become part of it ‘ and I still am today! Thirty years on that fire is still glowing and that’s the reason why we released new mixes: they are a gift to my fans that have been accompanying me for such a long time.’

Väth concludes: ‘I can only add that I am extremely happy to have been part of this project. It’s a classic, after all!’

Tracklist

• Electrica Salsa – Henrik Schwarz Dub Version
• Electrica Salsa – Henrik Schwarz Remix
• Electrica Salsa – Roman Flügel Remix
• Electrica Salsa – Henrik Schwarz Radio Edit
• Electrica Salsa – Original