Nathan Melja - Out Of House (Nathan Melja Glaciers Mix)

Single

28 Feb

Nathan Melja describes his sound as "colourful and trippy" while making it abundantly clear through his releases. From Mister Saturday Night to his own PARODIA, each label that puts out a Melja receives something special from the Parisian producer. After the club hit Synesthesia (2020) on the Kalahari Oyster Cult, Melja's sound to a broader audience skyrocketed, allowing him space to focus on the more surreal elements of his production. So, we have the first of three remixes from the With Dan! (2023) album Nathan Melja's Glaciers Mix of Out Of House. Originally a beautiful shoegaze and indie rock-inspired track with a dark and foreboding undercurrent.

The original begins with easy, breezy guitar tones that give the track a carefree light-heartedness. Melja imbues the record with autumnal joy. It evokes a feeling of the leaves changing wild as a crisp chill reminiscent of that first school term in American movies. This mood swiftly shifts as the distortion gets cranked in the background. It takes a little while for the bassline's darker edge to develop a mind of its own. Combined with scratching strings, it slowly starts to cultivate an ominous feeling.

Melja does away with the duality of the original in the Glaciers Mix, favouring a more dance-focused arrangement. Some Lofi-filtered percussion alludes to something different brewing. Once the glockenspiel melodies enter the fray, escorted by some right clubby kickdrums, this mix goes down an adjacent path. The distorted bass is still remembered as it changes shape into a low roller, losing some darkness but gaining more danceable characteristics and an in-your-face attitude. While the Glaciers Mix omits some of the emotion of the original, it adds this new, brighter character to the track as Melja uses controlled chaos to evoke the feeling of the last day of school. Summer break is coming and feels much more like a time to enjoy.

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