Sonder, known by most as the electro house artist Ashton Fox, is starting to venture into the deep house realm. His first release, "Chrysalis" featuring Krissy Twigge, is immensely powerful and possesses a bass-rooted foundation that fits the genre perfectly. Alongside the original are two remixes, one by Dutch Young Hand and another from UK's Moph Man. The Young Hand remix is tight and rinsed with hi hats for a more progressive deep house feel, but Moph Man's rendition hits a different mindset entirely.
Sonder's original is rooted with a house vibe, progressing nicely with additions of interesting samples every few measures. Each build and breakdown has its own flavor with marginal overlap, and the use of nylon guitar keeps the intro from droning. The main attraction in the original, aside from Twigge's pleasantly ghostly vocals, is the range of rounded toms chugging along with the undulating bass line. While the sound isn't new to deep house, it is important to point out which tracks use it properly and Sonder's got it down pat.
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For those that think the original is a bit too commercial at this point in the deep house game, it is complimented by Moph Man's strictly mellow Far East influenced remix. The heavy flowing bass line and house drum pattern remain essentially unchanged from the original, but that's where the similarities end. Twigge's vocals are repurposed to enhance the chill vaporosity originally intended, and the ebb and flow of the nylon guitar is brought more to the foreground giving it a stronger presence. The addition of arpeggiated claves and a synthesizer twinkle also serve to bolster the mellow mood. Though the original and Moph Man's edits play at the same speed, it is obvious that they pander to two completely different moods and dispositions. Both have their merits and fit perfectly within their respective styles.
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Be on the lookout for the radio edit, available soon!
