Derek Piotr - Underlined (2018)

Underlined compiles eight remixes collected across Derek Piotr’s eight-year career, and, though they vary stylistically, are all unified by virtue of having been produced by artists from Richard Chartier’s LINE label. From the glittering ambience of the Steinbrüchel version of "Remain" to the rhythmic forest of France Jobin's rework of “Sunup”, all the way through to Chartier’s own vaporous take on "Deliver" (under his Pinkcourtesyphone project), the extrapolation of styles across this collection speak to the diverse forms found in Piotr’s own work.

Though Piotr often warps the human voice into unrecognizable terrain, at the hands and desks of certain producers, the artist’s voice loses even more of its discernable quality; Stephan Mathieu’s behemoth remix of Drono standout Wash reduces the voice to pure-frequency fog.

Keeping things slightly more intact; AGF’s version of Sound from LINE’s 2016 release Drono sees the main elements of Piotr’s composition run through waxy filters, blurring the edges while maintaining the spine of the original work.

Piotr’s own take on “Value System”, from his solo debut Agora is a sub-bass workout, pairing well with Simon Whetham’s rework of “Bhadrakali”. Presented here for the first time in unedited form, Steve Roden’s Remix of “Encloses” is a standout.