Track of the Day: Floorplan - Never Grow Old (S-File Edit)
Closing out the week with a really dope edit that popped into my feed this morning, but was actually released a few weeks back by S-File. It's an edit of Floorplan's (aka Robert Hood) house jam 'Never Grow Old' that he released as part of 11 track Album called Paradise.
Floorplan - Never Grow Old (S-File Edit)
The track opens up with a relentless four on the floor beat that drives you into a submissive head nodding rhythm. Panning piano loops delay and roll across your brain as and array of woodblock, rim shots, and other rapid fire percussive layers. A heavily muffled bass pad double times to the kick rhythm adding a nice tail end roll to each downbeat and the energy is supplemented by a simple but effective phased clap. The vocal from the original track is used sparsely but provides enough diversity in the arrangement to make the track feel like it's actually progressing. A common issue with early stage techno production and more novice producers is movement within an arrangement; meaning a track needs to travel and take listener with it. Techno at its core has a very rigid formula to its beat and therefore relies on other elements to provide transition and character but striking the balance of minimalism for those purists is a difficult feat. S-File is one of a handful of producers who can execute even the rudimentary constructs of an Edit into something solidified and complete and his take on 'Never Grow Old' truly does was it says on the tin (trust me I had single track repeat set to this song while writing this entire review).For edification the original vocals come from an Aretha Franklin song by the same name:The edit is possibly inspired by a "re-plant" that Floorplan put out last year to coincide with 20 years of legendary Detroit label M-Plant.I highly recommend you also delve into the full length album Paradise that Floorplan put out that featured 'Never Gets Old'.S-File is the founder of German techno label GND Records that, along with a newly formed radio show, has curated songs form the likes of Turbo Turbo, Craig Williams, Owen Sands, Cochise as well as originals from the founder. Since its inception in 2011 it has acted independently and represents not only an outlet for S-File's personal creativity but as a representation of his skills at purveying really solid techno.