The Gentle People - Journey (Apex Twin Care Mix)

Started listening to this one again after I went down a wormhole with it a bit ago - be warned, it’s infectious. Probably not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Apex Twin, but as is standard, it’s a masterclass none the less.

Whilst the track is a remix of a track by the group signed to his Rephlex label, I would assume here that he directly makes use of the same sample, which is the intro from Henry Mancini’s ‘Blue Mantilla’. Like a lot of great music, the skill and beauty is in the simplicity (not that anyone could replicate it). The sample contains the backbone of the entire track; bass, strings & keys. There is another latin rhythm section layered in from another track on the same album ‘Cow Bells & Coffee Beans’. As the parts meander care-freely in and out of range, the magic for me is in the lead synth line, which when combined with the sample generates one of those otherworldly harmonies that it seems only he is capable of..

The vocal taken from the original track repeats “We’re taking you on a journey, This trip is an endless story”. As cliche as referring to music as a journey is, it’s hard to argue with them on this one. It genuinely does feel like you could loop it up and drift along for eternity.. I’m on my 4th straight listen as we speak.