DJ Mujava‘s "Township Funk" has been spreading across the globe quicker than Avian Bird Flu, infecting the decks of globalistas like Modeselektor, Crookers, and The Rapture (under the guise of DJ Kicks). Warp Records couldn’t have made a better pick – it’s not Plaid or Clark, but it sure is fire. Economic meltdown be damned, I’m adding this to Culture System’s collection.

To make that purchase even more worthwhile, Warp added a new B-Side to the non-UK version which has DJ Nonsense taking the song into darker realms.

Nonsense’s grimier, glitchier interpretation of the percussion and secondary melody adds another dimension of creativity to the original dance floor shaker. The weakest part of this mix, however, is his attempts at making the Mujava’s knob twiddling main melody his own. With a song so wildly popular right now, it is totally understandable to want to leave only bare signifiers of the original song. In fact, that’s a characteristic of many good remixes.

But the main melody was the orignal’s most powerful – and recognizable – part, and any artist taking this song on as a remix would do well to at least allow it to run through in full at least once or twice. Indeed, Nonesense’s take on it is worthwhile, and this is not an argument about excluding it. Not including the high point of the original in the remix at all? That was a mistake. The remix is also a bit loopy and repetitive after a five minute running time (in headphone listening, at least.)

In the end, the moody sound design and tough rhythm that Nonsense brings to the table definitely adds value to the single. It just doesn’t stand on its own.