Opportunity
Knocks
By
Paavo &
Hugo Monster
This is the recent release on AE Productions, and it brings
you some exclusive versions of the track Opportunity Knocks, from the upcoming LP
release of the same name.
This one is a collaboration between Californian emcees Paavo
& Hugo Monster, with production from J & Mo (aka DJ J-Man (Cut Beetlez)
and DJ Mo’ Money. This one comes in a dope 7” at 33.3rpm package and features four
exclusive mixes from J & Mo, Jazz Spastiks, The Process (aka Ollie Teeba
& Jonny Cuba), and Charlie Tate.
So, sit back and join me as I take you through each one of
these remixes.
It all kicks off on Side A with DJ Mo Money’s In-House
Remix. This one features production from J & Mo and cuts from DJ J-Man.
This one has a wicked jazz hop vibe with an infectious beat that is alongside a
dope mix of horns and piano that immediately gets you moving to sound. The
message from Paavo & Hugo Monster is simple, when opportunity knocks, you
have to seize the moment and make the most of it, because if you let that
moment go, you might not get another. That moment might seem small, or it might
appear to be huge and overwhelming but, don’t think about it, even for a
moment, grab it and go with it and show everyone exactly what you are made of.
They do this with the use of slick wordplay and the kind of flows that get you
hooked and bouncing’.
Next up is the Jazz Spastiks Remix and this one, in
true Jazz Spastiks style, takes the track to another level. They give this one
a more chilled edge by softening the vocals slightly and using xylophone and
horns, alongside a sweet head nod beat to give you type of sound that makes you
just want to kick back and chill to this one, but still with enough energy to
keep you moving.
Time to flip the wax to Side B and first up here is the World
Expo Remix from The Process, otherwise known as Ollie Teeba and Jonny Cuba
(Soundsci). As you can probably guess, the guys give this one a pure slice of
Hip Hop with wicked beat, organ notes, cuts and more. Mix all that together and
you get a sound that amps up the adrenaline levels and has you jumping around
before you know it.
Last up is the Jazzual Suspects Remix which comes
from Charlie Tate aka The Jazzual Suspects (Colossus, Monkey Business, The Big
Cheese All Stars, etc). Here, horns and piano vibes merge with some sweet drums
to give you a deep Jazz sound that puts you in mind of sitting in dark, smoky
club, just drinking in the sounds as you casually nod a long…
Here we have four different versions of one track, each one
gives the words from Paavo and Hugo Monster, a different platform or stage if
you will. Each mix does not take away or change the message of seizing the
moment but, what does happen is that each remix just subtlety changes how that
message is delivered. You have the jazz infused, punchy delivery with DJ Mo
Money’s In-House Remix, then the more laid-back sound of the Jazz
Spastiks Remix. The Process, once again, give us a more hard hitting
delivery with the World Expo Remix, before we get chilled out once more
with the Jazzual Suspects Remix. Each side of this 45 starts us off on a
high before bringing us back down again, rather that just have one side with
two hard hitting vibes and one with the more chilled ones. It makes for a more
varied listening experience that keeps you on your toes.
With the long player coming in the not too distant future,
this single gives us solid feel of what to expect, especially if you know of
the previous work from J & Mo and/or Paavo and Hugo Monster. This is a
cracking release from AE Productions and is, as always, the full package with
full colour cover with a collage from Zoë Douglas-Cain and design and layout
from Darrell Krum, just to finish things off.
If you don’t have this one or have not heard it yet, then
you need to get on this one pronto. It’s definitely not one to sleep on.
Huge thanks to Mr Fantastic and DJ J-Man for letting me
bring this one to you and keep watch for the album, coming soon…
I’ll see ya next time.
Steve.
LINKS
Grab your copy of the Single Here:
https://www.ae-productions.co.uk/product-page/paavo-hugo-monster-opportunity-knocks-7-ep-1
https://aeproductions.bandcamp.com/album/opportunity-knocks
Social Media Links:
https://www.instagram.com/paavomusic/
https://www.facebook.com/therealhugomonster
https://www.instagram.com/hugomonstah/
https://www.instagram.com/jandmo/
