Jee Day / Like A Child

DFA

“It only takes one listen to Jee Day's "Like A Child" - and its whirling, hypnotic rush - to recognize the know-how that has made studio whiz Dennis "DJ" McNany a go-to source in New York City's dance music scene. Over the last decade, the sound architect has become a musical jack-of-all-trades: Fine tuning releases from outfits such as The Rapture and Turing Machine; working on early output from DFA Records; maintaining his own Run Roc label; remixing artists like Panthers, Ghostape and Digable Planet's Ladybug Mecca; and contributing keyboards and percussion on tour with The Juan Maclean. In light of the already impossibly long list of credits to McNany's name (including the numerous pseudonyms under which he's released his own music) the Jee Day debut 12" is a bit like a first listen to an artist who audiences, ironically, have already heard many times before. As expected, the release is yet further justification of McNany's well-deserved reputation. "Like A Child" takes a solid foundation of indefatigable 909 beats and surrounds them in a wash of mesmerizing, reverb-drenched vocals, provided by collaborator Jee Young Sim. This dazzling single - a tribute to Arthur Russell, analog construction and early Madonna - puts on prominent display McNany's ability to seamlessly mix lush pop and vibrant dance into a rich, textured and intoxicating blend. Follow-up "Snake Bite" is equally attention worthy. McNany rounds up a host of sounds - synthetic strings, snaking bass, and mechanical beats - in a sultry composition that includes Sim's layered singing echoing darkly throughout the track. And the B-Side "Run-Rock Dub" remix of "Like A Child" keeps the beat intact, but adds rubbery bass, spacey synths and McNany's own cavernous vocals to the mix.”—Kali Holloway

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