Gabe – Time To Relax EP
A veteran in the electronic music realm, Gabriel Serraqueiro, better known by his moniker Gabe is chasing further success with his latest release ‘Time To Relax EP’. Released via Audiophile Deep, this six-track project offers two unique original tracks, ‘Kickstarter’ and ‘Time To Relax’ together with four remixes of the lead single ‘Time To Relax’ by international talents, namely: Left/Right, Hotspot & Komaroff, Aaron Jackson, and Dashdot. Gabe’s career is filled with immense highlights and feats – enjoying the support of top DJs such as: Richie Hawtin, Mark Farina, Amine Edge & Dance, Shiba San, Kellerkind, Saccao, Meat Katie, Animal Trainer and Demarkus Lewis amongst many other leading spinners touching every corner of the planet. It’s not just the DJs feeling the Gabe heat wave though as he has also gained the support of international press, including: Mixmag, Wavo.me, and EDM.com, whilst also placing amongst the ‘Top 100’ on DJ Mag’s artist rankings in a previous incarnation. Aside from being a skilled and highly regarded producer, the Brazilian is also renowned for his show stopping live DJ performances, touring and headlining festivals and clubs in Brazil, Australia, Germany, and Japan.
‘Time To Relax EP’ kick-starts with a Deep/Techno hybrid by the name of ‘Kickstarter’. Starting with prominent House and Techno drum and percussion phrases, the single introduces a cavernous sub bass that adds another level of depth to the analogue drum sections. An array of lush electronic effects are introduced to add colour to the bass-infused melody, adding also another rhythmic dimension to the highly characteristic production. Gabe morphs the track by introducing a dreamy, reverb-soaked melody, which transcends into an overpowering phasing effect, leading the single into its signature main section once more, which is carried on till the very end.
Next up, is the original mix of ‘Time To Relax’. The sensual, reverb-filled vocals accompanied by a filtered drum rhythm offer a unique introduction to the track. A typical Gabe sub-frequency bass melody is then supplemented together with a hardened beat and groove, giving the production a Tech House touch. Once again Gabe devises a wide palette of unique and ritualistic effects that add spice to the weighty production. A heavy filtering on the drums and a stripping-back on the melody gives space for the vocals to shine once again in a milder tract, whilst later ascending once more to the main section – manufactured for the dance floor.
Following, is a series of unique remixes of ‘Time To Relax’. Dallas based Chris Lund, aka Left/Right is the first to offer his version of this production, giving a completely different feel to the production which moves closer to the Breaks domain whilst lashings of Bass, Garage and more traditional House are combined for a truly unique rework. Starting in a similar manner to Gabe’s original, Left/Right’s production quickly delivers a very distant take. Whilst providing additional processing on the vocals, the American DJ and Producer offers a darker side to the single, with thunderous drums beat, rhythmic vocals and an FX-permeated melody. Although Left/Right keeps true to the bass elements in Gabe’s rendition, the way he utilises it is totally versatile and results in a prime example of how to approach the delicate art of remixing.
On the other hand, Israeli duo Hotspot & Komaroff render a Techno-styled, dreamy remix of ‘Time To Relax’. Using the vocals on a more rhythmical level, the Tel-Aviv based duo base their remix on the distinctive, thumping drum pattern which is the driving force behind the whole remix, stripping away the beat giving added importance to the dreamy elements in their production. Aaron Jackson also contributes to this EP with yet another different take on the original. Whilst his remix doses down on the deep elements, Aaron Jackson delivers another level of melodic complexity with a distorted, robotic-synth melody. You cannot help but remember the two smartly planned prominent drops found within this remix. Whilst the first drop is completely focused on a lead synth melody, the second drop is harsher, tech-inspired section with added deep, sub by layers offering a truly left field feature to this remix and reserving an important place on this impressive EP.
Lastly, Gabe ends his EP with a remix from fellow Sao Paulo natives Dashdot. Making much less use of the vocals, this production is deep and techy adapted variation of the original. Featuring tight drum rhythms and instrumentation – this remix makes use of sub by melodies to drive its point, similar to the original, although it does take the bass elements to a whole other level of depth, especially in the moments of tension when drops detonate into action. A very well crafted production, Dashdot’s remix offers a notable ending to this varied, but consistently relevant and quality EP.
Audiophile Deep is the label behind this project. The Audiophile Live subsidiary is adding Gabe’s vast experience to their exciting roster composed of: Pex L, Kattch, Ocean Flower, Krumm, Getsix, Icehunt, Mizer & Goetz, Digital Toys, Tatu Toukola, and James Landino. A collective of international DJs and producers touching on multiple genres, ‘Time To Relax EP’ is surely another feather in Gabe’s cap, who is never short to impress and seek further accomplishments despite his lengthy spell at the top of the food chain.
