Artist: Tarrentella Feat Saffron
Title: Columbia
Label: Whoop Records
By: Simon Jones | 10 November 2003
Tracklist:

• A: Main Mix
• B: Redanka Dub

Tarrentella Feat Saffron "Columbia"

The duo of Chris Bourne and Andy Holt have been staples of the progressive music scene for many years, with countless remixes as Tarrentella: Redanka alongside several other solo and collaborative project. The Tarrentella project has always been their main focus, continuing on from the days when the late Scott Latham helped build the foundations of the project, and the duo have built on those with many great singles. 'Columbia' is the seventh such single, and sees them team up with Republic's front woman Saffron. The results are surprisingly better than one could imagine.

Tarrentella's 'Original Mix' kicks off with their trademark beats and tribal edged grooves, with some stunning melodic synth lines rising through to the surface early on. Quirky vocal snippets are teased, leading into the main section of the track where Saffron's vocals are gradually faded in over some scrumptious bubbling beats. Pulsating effects ripple across the bassline, leading to a angst edged vocal solo by Saffron during the breaks. Looped percussion builds the momentum back up, cascading into a quirky electronic outro that wraps things up rather nicely.

Andy Holt flies solo on the flip, turning in a blazing 'Redanka Dub' of the track. Leading in with a smooth hypnotic groove, filtered guitar hooks rise up as a big electronic bassline rises up and over in a big wave of sound. Bobbling electronic riffs and analogue effects weave in and out of the groove as Saffron's vocals are kept to a vocoded minimum, shifting along before a melodic guitar led finale brings the mix to a close.

As usual Tarrentella deliver a finely produced single that works well on the dancefloor, but the added presence of Saffron showcases a rather different side to Tarrentella. Seven singles on, and perhaps it's time for an album? This track certainly hints at that desire to explore further.