When Mella Dee steps up to remix duties, you know things are about to get a little rough around the edges – in the best possible way. Taking on Huw Shipps’ “Back & Forth” from The Sleepwalking Waltz EP on Drifted Records, the UK heavyweight delivers a playful yet uncompromising rework that trades polished sophistication for raw, warehouse-ready energy.
Built around a rugged, driving bassline and crisp, stripped-back percussion, the remix thrives on its no-nonsense approach. A deep, dark synth motif occasionally creeps into the mix, adding a hypnotic, slightly twisted atmosphere without ever stealing the spotlight. Instead, Mella Dee lets the bass do the heavy lifting, keeping things rolling with an infectious groove and just the right amount of roughness.
There’s something wonderfully old-school about the whole affair: gritty, techy, a little mischievous, and designed for those moments when the dancefloor needs nothing more than a proper groove. Another reminder of why Mella Dee remains such a distinctive force in UK club music.
Words by Holger Breuer
