Kill A Sound: Return to the Underground
Fuzzy Jones, one of reggae’s most recognizable voices, recently went from underground renown to the spotlight attention of pop music when, as explained in Large Up’s interview with Super Beagle, Kanye West sampled Jones, the master of reggae introductions, in his new song, “Mercy.”
In an interesting return to the underground, New York-based artist RL Grime and Frite Nite label boss, Salva, have reworked West’s single. The remix is much less focused on rap verses, although they make brief appearances and the two producers have given “Mercy” a more lively tempo, greater focus on the Fuzzy Jones loop, bouncier kick drums, and a rollercoaster ride of a formula-tested, dancefloor burner song structure replete with anticipated build-ups, filter-swept noise, ravey synth melodies, and bass drops. The Giorgio Moroder “Scarface”-style bridge present midway through the original version of “Mercy,” which then gives way to a four : four rhythm, is entirely eschewed by Grime and Salva for a more restrained, bare bones half-step, one drop, hip hop, rap style rhythm.
In essence, what the RL Grime and Salva remix achieves is a menacing, fiery, tribute to an homage. Listen below.
Down to Sound 