Abstract Orchestra put a hip hop spin on The Haggis Horns’ single
As normality slowly returns to the music industry after a year in limbo due to the pandemic, two titans of the Leeds jazz/soul/hip-hop music scenes join forces for a new digital single on Haggis Records.
UK funk/soul legends The Haggis Horns release their first single in over a year, a new remix version of “Give It Up (Don’t Take Part In The Madness)” from the 2020 album “Stand Up For Love”, their fifth in a career spanning 20 years.
This remix is by Rob Mitchell, the bandleader / arranger / saxophonist of hip-hop big band Abstract Orchestra, who swaps the 1970’s style bluesy soul groove of the album version for a big fat hip-hop beat in the style of his musical hero, the late great J Dilla.
The remix still features the original track’s high points, namely Scotland’s finest “blue-eyed soul” singer John McCallum on lead vocals, the band’s trademark super-tight legendary horn section and the heavy harmonised backing vocals. However, it strips the song back to mainly beats, Fender Rhodes, bass and a wicked head-nodding groove.
It’s a real “keep it in the family” remix as Rob Mitchell is also part of The Haggis Horns horn section and fellow Haggis Horns band members Malcolm Strachan (trumpet), Atholl Ransome (sax/flute) and George Cooper (keys) sometimes play and record with Abstract Orchestra.
A perfect Leeds musical collaboration and a great way for both bands to return after the year-long musical hiatus due to the pandemic. It’s time to let the music play again. The single comes with the vocal mix and also an instrumental version for MCs to throw down bars and scratch DJs to cut up over.
“Give it Up (Abtract Orchestra remix)” out Digitally on June 4th via Haggis
