BnB Review: The Units - Connections

Written by Youri Jozee

Obscure -

Legendary synthpunk outfit The Units, one of America's first synthesizer bands, get the remix treatment from the likes of I-Robots, Klein & MBO, Alexander Robotnick and many more likeminded artists from the contemporary electro/disco/Italo and ambient scene...

It's been out for just over a week, but a project such as this one really can't be spotlighted enough. First things first. Who are The Units, you might ask? The band was among the very first wave of producers who made music that soon became known as synthpunk, with their performances being true multimedia happenings built around consumerism and conformity themes. That's as punk as it gets. This package serves up 24 of the outfit's original recordings made between 1977 and 1984 (early singles and demos), remixed by over 40 DJs and producers from the contemporary cosmic disco, Italo, synthpop, experimental ambient and electro scene. In other words, past and present come together, taking synthpunk to 21st century heights.

BIRD RIVER (SINNER DC Rework) by THE UNITS - CONNECTIONS

The CDs themselves are designed in the look and feel of good old vinyl, which is a great extra by itself. The musical content is something special too, as we get to hear everything from psyched-out ambient to moody, slo-paced EBM, electro, cosmic disco fuzz and experimental synthpop compositions that may raise an eyebrow or two when played in the clubs. Loads of diversity indeed. And trust us if we say this release will blow you out of your socks in terms of quality! If you're a fan of electro, disco and synthpop obscurities, you can stop reading this review this very instant and get your copy right away. Seriously, it's just one of those releases you can add to your cart without a single listen. Highlights aplenty: Sinner DC's super dark doom-pop version of Bird River is awesome, the static cyberdisco Nick Chacona rework of Cowboy kicks like a mule and the Enzio Ponzio In Love remix of Go is one that will have Italo fans going fucking ape. And that's just the first disc. Disc 2? The L'Est rework of I Night, the blazing Alexander Robotnick rework of Moving Bodies, the 80s pop-styled DJ Andryu & Cloned In Vatican Cosmic remix of Passions Of Patterns and Portable Morla ft. Dubin Hood rework of Straight Lines. Holy shit. Disc 3? Another 11 hq reshapes. I think you get the picture by now, so let's heads straight for the final verdict.

COWBOY (NICK CHACONA Rework) by THE UNITS - CONNECTIONS

Our verdict:
Connections is one of the most original and adventurous ventures into remix realms you're going to hear this year. The vast majority of its content is superb, stamped with a love and passion for all things obscure, dark, experimental and spacey. No need to play it cool. As said before, if you're a electro/disco/synthpop/punk/Italo/ambient-junkie like me, then this should be on your top of 2011 essential buys.

Rating: 9.3/10
Label: Opilec Music
Release date: out now.

Tracklist:
Disc 1
1. Bird River (Sinner Dc Rework)
2. Bug Boy (The Sneekers Remix)
3. Cannibals (Musiccargo's Die Afrikanische Botschaft Remix)
4. Contemporary Emotions (Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi Acoustic Rework)
5. Cowboy (Nick Chacona Rework)
6. Cowboy (Vaghe Stelle Rework)
7. East West (Losoul Remix)
8. Go (Enzo Ponzio In Love Remix)
9. High Pressure Days (King & Hound Re-Edit)
10. High Pressure Days (Nemesi Remix)
11. High Pressure Days (Sare Havlicek Remix)
12. I-5 (Eclipse Soul Remix)
13. I Night (Dominatrix Rework)
Disc 2
1. I Night (L'est Rework)
2. Life Is Good Now (Juditta Rework)
3. Life Is Good Now (Tuscania Re-Edit)
4. More Alike (Sare Havlicek You Spin Me Back Rework)
5. Moving Bodies (Alexander Robotnick Rework)
6. One Man (Chris Carrier Rework)
7. One Man (Premier Rang Rework)
8. Passions Of Patterns (Dj Andryu & Cloned In Vatican Cosmic Remix)
9. Red (Q-Burns Abstract Message Remix)
10. Red (The Love Supreme Version Remix)
11. Run (Stefny Winter Rework)
12. Straight Lines (Portable Morla Ft. Dubin Hood Rework)
Disc 3
1. That Funky Thang (Billy Bogus Rework)
2. The Mission Is Bitchin' (Mushrooms Project Remix)
3. The Right Man (Daniele Baldelli & Marco Dionigi Cosmic Remix)
4. The Units (In Flagranti Trocadero Transfer Mix)
5. Tight Fit (Klein & Mbo Remix)
6. Warm Moving Bodies (I-Robots Remix)
7. Warm Moving Bodies (Juditta Rework)
8. Warm Moving Bodies (Mannekin Pis Remix)
9. Warm Moving Bodies (Paine' Remix)
10. We Need A Doctor's Son (Danny Ocean Rework)
11. Zombo (I-Robots Rework)