Set up in 2003 by globe-trotting DJ, famed record collector & promoter at the world famous Jazz Café in London, Adrian Gibson, the idea behind the label was to release quality music of any style, without being restricted to genre or pandering to musical vogue. From day one the emphasis has been on quality and broadness rather than perpetuating musical pigeonholes and bandwagon jumping. This has won fans as far afield and diverse as Kenny Dope, Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay, Ashley Beedle, Mr Scruff, Francois Kevorkian, Danny Krivit, Jazzanova, DJ Spinna, Annie Mac, Quantic, Fort Knox, Andy Smith, Spiritual South, DJ Yoda, Mad Mats, Boca 45 and Dr Rubberfunk to name a few!
With little under 50 releases in the first 2 years (that's a staggering 2 releases per month!) it was always going to be difficult to choose which tracks to include on a retrospective or 'best of''. And besides, we have always strived to add value to our releases, so a re-treading of past glories seemed a little lazy. Instead, we dug deep into the vaults and blew the dust off a few 'lost' remixes that due to one reason or another had not seen the light of day. To complement these hidden treasures we also asked a number of our in-house artists to get busy with some older tracks and also cherry picked a few of our favourite reworks from the catalogue.
So'imagine if you will Beyonce re-interpreted by a modern funk outfit - but given an overhaul by a Swedish bootleg fanatic, driving Afro-beat all the way from Montreal - but given an interstellar broken beat twist, deep Danish jazz given a pumping dancefloor rehaul, silky Seattle soul given a London style re-rub and an obscure 80's disco gem being mangled into a spaced-out dub. It all in here!! Once again though, rather than heading straight for the 'big name' remixers and following the flock, we have chosen to work with producers who we feel are pushing a new and exciting sound.
But we couldn't just leave our back catalogue sitting there could we? As an added feature to the compilation we asked label manager and DJ of (ill) repute, Jon Sheppard (aka DJ Shepdog) to put a selection of his favorites through the blender for a bonus mixed CD of classics past, present and future. We hope you enjoy!'
Over the past couple of years Adrian Gibson?s Freestyle Records have put out an enormous amount of music, including genres ranging from hip-hop to afro and pure party break beats. Inevitably there have been more than a few remixes along the way, but this compilation doesn?t just churn out the ones that made it onto wax; the ones that got away, or that have been gathering dust, feature heavily here too. Highlights that made it into the shops include funk outfit Speedometer?s version of Beyonce?s ?Work It Out?, remixed by Swedish cut?n?paste king Beatfanatic; Richy Pitch?s take on Reggie Watt?s soulful cut ?Movin? On?; and an all Canadian affair as cutting edge producer Moonstarr re-works Afrodizz?s monstrous ?No Time?. In just those three selections you?ve got more styles than on most compilations! And as an added bonus, Freestyles own deck wizard DJ Shepdog provides the filling for a bonus mix CD of the highest order. A bargain. - Dom Servini Straight No Chaser
Regular iDJ readers will know we have something of a soft spot for Freestyle Records. Over the past year, Adrian Gibson's label has put out some
fantastic music, ranging from sizzling hot modern funk and slinky contemporary soul to house, hip hop and broken beat. 'Freestyle Remixed' is the label's second compilation (following the superb 'Stay On The Groove') and showcases the best remixes of classic Freestyle tracks, both previously released and yet-to-be-heard. A couple of so-so Latin flavoured mixes apart, it's largely excellent, with highlights aplenty. Beatfanatic's dancefloor rework of 'Work It Out' is superb, while Richy Pitch's two mixes ? of Juliette Leon & Myron and Reggie Watts respectively ? are 80s soul gems. Elsewhere, look out for rinsin' broken beat rubs from Flow Dynamics and Diesler, and a sweet, Soul 2 Soul-ish rub of Junk Funk from Sleeve. 4 (out of 5) - Matt Anniss IDJ
Feel the noize people, Freestyle are in the house and it?s going to go off. And other sentences loaded with such excitement. But no, seriously, this is exciting stuff as Adrian Gibson?s Freestyle label do a little showboating courtesy of remixes from Beatfantic, Sleeve, No Comply, Diesler, Flow
Dynamics, Moonstarr, Richy Pitch, White Mike, Future Fusion, Lost Idol and the like. Okay so this is obscure artist land but Freestyle?s "fuck the genre if it rocks we love it" is contagious giving the disco, breakbeat, dub, soul, Afro and jazz mash-up true sense. Almost. Enjoyable just because it is. - Kate Wildblood DJ Magazine
Adrian ?Jazz Caf?? Gibson?s pet label has been churning out the finest jazzular and funkuloid platters at a prodigious rate in the label?s short but illustrious history. The promoter, who draws on the undisputed talent that passes through the Camden venue?s doors, here passes the original goods on to a host of up-and-coming remixers to work their magic. Richy Pitch, Beatfanatic, Diesler and others go to work on the likes of Speedometer, Reggie Watts and Kokolo delivering everything from latin shuffles to broken beats to neo soul. Bonus CD sees the mighty Shepdog mixing it all up into a potent DJ broth. The future of funk. - Rory Kinsella Blowback
Celebrating their 2nd Birthday in Freestyle, the London-based imprint is showcasing their choicest previously unreleased cuts alongside some exclusive remixes from the label?s in-house artists. Taking in everything from hip hop to house and funk to afrobeat, each track has in common a fresh forward-thinking sound that is testament to the label?s diverse fan base. Also included is a bonus mix CD past, present and future Freestyle classics, mixed lovingly by label manager Jon Sheppard. A versatile and quality selection! - Sarah Chapman Buzz magazine
Two years on from their humble beginnings, Freestyle Records are celebrating their continued success with a compilation showcasing previously unreleased tracks and in-house remixes from the label. The cuts span hip-hop to house and deep funk to percussive afrobeat, testament to the label?s diverse roster and ethos. Also included as part of this 2CD bundle is a bonus mix CD of past, present and future Freestyle classics, mixed by label manager and sought-after DJ in his own right, Jon Sheppard. Quality all round. - Sarah Chapman Notion Magazine
Freestyle Remixed? is sheer style that fuses pre-bar trendiness with up close & personal dancefloor intimacy as tempos slip-n-slide up and down. Though Freestyle could be viewed exclusively as a funk revival imprint, that aggression is removed in favour of slinky, vocal broken beat and polished soul re-rubs via the jazzy Latin Quarter and ever-present pitter-pattering percussion. - Matt Oliver One Week To Live
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