Hyenah - Watergate 27 (2020)

Shrouded in mystery and a long-standing affiliate of the Berlin institute Watergate, Afro house champion Hyenah is welcomed to the revered Watergate compilation series. On a mission to unite people through music, the mix is abundant in groove-filled, percussion-heavy sounds that Hyenah is famed for. Following select releases on Freerange, Objektivity, Rise, and a 12" for Watergate Records, Hyenah delivers this transcendent edition of the Watergate mix series. "When creating this mix I wanted to take people on a journey that represents what I do and what I stand for. I am building bridges . . . For me the beauty in music is when different styles and cultures meet and become something new." Watergate 27 commences with "Warm Drum", Hyenah introducing the mix with an epic opener, burning synths signal the intensity of the journey ahead. Lemon & Herb's "iFuh" sees tribal calls and driving hi-hats build the tension. A mystical atmosphere is formed on "Reincarnation" by Pablo Fierro as chants call out. Huge waves of colorful melodic house are featured from Fka Mash, Sascha Braemer, Sabb & Black Circle, and AMEME, offering different shades of light and dark. Not just a mix alone, deep thought is provoked throughout the listen. This is displayed on the vocals during the Kollektiv Turmstrasse remix of Adana Twins' "Jupiter" before being taken into Da Capo's melancholic strings. Hyenah's "Not Enough" carries a powerful message from the unmistakable and authentic Lazarusman, who stresses the importance on the listener of becoming "anti-racist", to be an activist and to look from within to fight racism on a global scale. Transitioning into the second half of the mix, a cinematic soundscape comes from JAMIIE & Niko Schwind. The Floyd Lavine remix of "Think Of Something" sees a rhythmic stamp on Kerri Chandler's original deep house Watergate production. Infectious groove is created by Hyenah & Floyd Lavine and FMX Omar, before more superior dancefloor energy from Super Flu. Closing with emotion and tenderness, the productions of Manoo and Emanuel Satie & Nanghiti will find a place in both hearts and minds. The eclectic Henrik Schwarz brings the curtain down with his remix of Hyenah's "The Message", a rousing finale featuring the vocals of Bajka typifies the sense of unity that is the golden thread running through this mix. Also features FNX Omar.