Track of the Day: Come Into My Room (Take It Back Mix) – Sandy Rivera ft. LT Brown

Come Into My Room (Take It Back Mix) – Sandy Rivera ft. LT Brown

'Come Into My Room' has been on a long fruitful journey through the halls of house music, and Sandy Rivera has guided and nurtured it so that future generations can enjoy it. I was properly re-introduced to this particular version from a Pacha Ibiza Anthems compilation a few weeks ago. At first I wasn't sure what I was listening to as the remix opens with a crispy percussive rhythm that completely drops out before the soulful voice of LT Brown erupts emphatically. It was at this moment in the song that a massive wave of euphoria came over me, and all worry seemingly washed away. A soft collection of warm piano loops and synth pads calmly build under the vocal before the track kicks back into gear with the original drum layers dropping back in perfectly. The driving tempo of this version really spoke to me during the construction of this week's mix, and help mold a special journey of soundscapes to follow. Originally released on Rivera's own Deep Vision imprint, a host of other labels and compilations have paid homage to this house gem perpetuating a longstanding (and very appropriate) reference to Rivera's ulterior moniker the King of Tomorrow and declarations of his status as a legend of vocal house. If there was ever a track that I wanted to be able to play in front of a massive crowd it would be this tune.While I thoroughly enjoy the 'Take It Back Mix' that he and Jose Burgos did, nothing can compare to the original mix. A rare thing to have in one's vinyl collection by the way:The opening bars of this version with its raw snare and big, open Tom combination create a perfect space for the delivery of the track's deep, electric bass line. LT Brown's vocals echo over top of funky keyboard notes that supplement the similar bass chord progression, but most importantly he doesn't dominate the song which is a theme more commonly found in subsequent remixes. More down tempo and indicative of the style of late 90's house, the original had such a profound impact that not only did it command the attention of many reworks, but it also created a trajectory of future house sounds for the next decade and even beyond.Since I'm discussing this legendary producer at length, it seems appropriate to illustrate another timeless piece of house history, 'Finally'.This release has been referred to as Rivera's opus and a massive benchmark, not only in his career, but with respect to the history and progression of house. As the genre moved into a unique transitionary period welcoming new artists and blends of other music reflective of the new century; house still kept its identity. 'Finally' created a special, emotional connection between its core fanbase and a new crop of young listeners without sacrificing Rivera's style to fit popular culture trends. It's no surprise that this track has been re-released and licensed to over 160 compilations to date since its original inception. Rivera has been able to balance his own personal artistic endeavors with tracks that have adapted and evolved with the genre year after year. Songs like ‘Changes’, ‘Freak’ and ‘Whatever’ demonstrate a rare ability for any producer to explore new trends without relinquishing a foothold on a pre-established sound that their fan base has grown to love.The diversity and range of Rivera's sounds can be further demonstrated with his album release 'Blackwiz Farm':The album revealed yet another side to Rivera's productions with a pure instrumental focus. Blackwiz explored deeper, stripped down compositions indicative of the European Techno and Tech House styles of the time. Tunes like 'Aurei 2' and 'Seclusion' are the introductory moments to this new journey that Rivera wanted to take his listeners on. Songs like 'Lost Trail' and 'Redial' took you down a dark techno infused funnel with an array of amazing soundscapes sprinkled in during the tracks' breakdowns before plummeting back into driving beats. The eclectic nature of the album is certainly present in 'Dirty Sax', as it introduced some warmer tones to the fold. It is these types of projects that show how important taking risks with your work are in order to continue to evolve as an artist.Plenty has been said about Rivera's undeniable ability to produce incredible sounds in the studio. What is possibly less apparent today is the uncanny ability that he had as a performer to electrify and move any crowd he was put in front of. Truly a DJ's favorite DJ Rivera built a fantastic reputation for live sets that would traverse a variety of genres and moods. If there is an opportunity for you to see him, I highly recommend it. For now dive into a healthy collection of his mixes and recorded sets below:Listen to this and other #trackoftheday reviews from the latest #weeklymix by yours truly:Enjoy,MR PUZL