DJ/producer duo Leo Holiday and Ryan Seamist, together known as Canyons, threw their lot in with the Modular crew and signed to the record label last week, joining ranks with the Presets, Cutters and Tame Impala (also originally from Perth, who Canyons have released a split 12" with). And besides this, they already had their own record label, Hole in the Sky, to release whatever kind of shit they want to, as well as a 12" being released via DFA called 'Fire Eyes' due out on the 21st of July. Impressive.
Canyons is an intriguing project - though I actually pretty much ignored them when they first cropped up last year - having remixed Ladyhawke's 'Dusk til Dawn'. As the title of their take suggested ('Canyons Garage Disco Remix'), with distorted guitar - solos included, muzzy bass, and oddly enough some disco handclaps thrown into the mix next to a 70s rock vibe, it's more of a raw and messy affair than the original.
Besides Ladyhawke, they've remixed tracks from others on the Aussie scene, including a couple of Tame Impala tracks, Lost Valentinos' 'Bismarck' and the (international) remix village bicycle that has been Empire of the Sun's 'We Are the People' (cop 'em all below).
Canyons stuff isn't necessarily intended to be dancefloor shaking, and frankly, they're not - though they are definitely groove-worthy. Canyons strip away a sample or song to its bones before re-fitting it with completely different flesh; comprised of their dirty, lazily cruising, twisted, garage-infused-hippie disco. I suspect that this may or may not have something to do with coming from Perth. They're like a cup of weird herbal tea - not automatically the kinda brew I'd go back to drink time and time again, but most definitely an interesting variation to my regular cuppa. I'll be watching to see where these kids go.
