Club Beat #67 OUT NOW: Mihalis Safras – Stranger EP

This week’s hottest release has got to be Mihalis Safras’  ‘Stranger EP’, out on Toolroom Records. The EP includes a remix from Brazil’s finest, Wehbba, and is available exclusively on beatport.

Mihalis Safras has been working tirelessly over the last decade in the Greek electronic music scene, establishing himself as one of the country’s most celebrated DJs. Ever since his early productions with Mark Broom, his elongated, aching yet versatile and percussive tech-house tracks have made their way onto celebrated labels including Skint, Great Stuff, Saved and his own Material Series. His remixes for well known artists like Dubfire and Gregor Tresher have seen him combine driving techno with moving melodies. Many of his productions have been used on the official compilations for Loveparade, Pacha, DJM and Space Ibiza. His massive release, La Samba Di Chico, was even licensed for an Apple iPhone campaign. Both in the studio and in the DJ booth, Mihalis’ continued success has made him one of the leading underground techno talents in the dance music scene.

Following on from his successful outings on Toolroom’s Underground Ibiza 2012 compilation and Toolroom Knights Ibiza 2012 Mixed By Mark Knight, Mihalis Safras makes his full debut with his Stranger EP. Fast becoming renowned for his slick groove programming, Mihalis delivers a dark, percussive workout interspersed with techy rhythms and a haunting vocal hook. The processing and layering of vocals combine with just the right amount of reverb on each track to make this a hypnotic tune; one that you can listen to again and again, each time a different sound or loop grabbing your attention.

ORIGINAL VIDEO:

On the remix, Wehbba turns out a brooding, bass heavy beast that will terrorise the afterhours dancefloors. The beefed up bass and the percussion keep the tune rolling

and, when joined by the vocals, imbue the it with a hint of urgency. The tweaks and changes Wehbba has made make for an interesting comparison with the original.

WEHBBA REMIX VIDEO:

Mihalis Safras’ Stranger EP is at the top of our must-have list; the original mix captivating us with its somber yet enticing vocals and Wehbba’s remix giving us a boost with its bumped up bass. You can find out more about this release and Mihalis’ other productions in our upcoming interview with him, online on Planet Notion soon…

Mihalis Safras’ ‘Stranger EP’ is available exclusively from beatport. Follow Mihalis Safras , Wehbba and Toolroom Records on twitter.

- Ann Bartholomew