“Jack” by Breach is one of those 2012 house records that everybody in a certain age bracket has a sweaty basement memory attached to, that paranoid synth stab burned into the collective brain. So Calle Lebraun going head to head with it on Defected is a bold flex, and the good news is the new version respects the original’s nerve instead of softening it. The bones are still there, that twitchy, claustrophobic groove that made “Jack” feel less like a party and more like a chase. Lebraun tightens the drums for a modern floor and lets the tension sit longer before releasing it, which is exactly the right instinct. House has been so comfortable and sun-dappled lately that I forgot it could feel a little dangerous. This one remembers. It’s not trying to make you smile, it’s trying to make you move whether you want to or not. I played it loud and immediately wanted to be somewhere with no windows and a bad attitude. Defected has had a strong year and this is one of the meaner things they’ve put out, which is a compliment. House needs more menace and less brunch.
Calle Lebraun vs Breach is no stranger to this blog. Last time: Calle Lebraun - Visions (Extended Mix)