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One of today's hottest bands, Groove Riders get such a kick out of playing live that it's rare that they turn down a gig. They've talked about retiring - in fact, they even played two farewell concerts back in August 2008 - but their fans and the promoters took little notice - and the quartet have continued to play, week in, week out, all over the country.

But all these live performances have kept them away from the studio. Fans will remember that it took them a long time to come up with a sophomore album, only releasing "The Lift" on Spicy Disc in late 2007 - a full six years after their debut "Discovery" on Bakery Music.

That's being remedied with the recent release of the remix album "Electric Eel" - but you can't keep the lads in town for long. This month, the disco funk quartet, featuring frontman, songwriter and bassist Nathapol "Kor" Srijomkhwan, vocalist Burin Boonwisut, guitarist Adisak "Kunk" Hathakulkowit and drummer Martchai "Mart" Makrudthong, are heading back out for their "Ballantine's Impression Tour" and will be travelling around the country until January.

"I think remix is an amazing idea," says Nathapol, a long-time fan of electronic music. "Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Maroon 5 all have done remixes of their successful albums so we thought we'd do the same with 'Lift'.

"I can't remember how many copies 'Lift' we sold, but I know all eight singles were regular spins on the radio. It was a musical phenomenon," he adds.

The remix album features all the tracks from "Lift" in their original disco funk and soul style backed with strings gets the remix treatment from 17 of Thailand's leading DJs. The big names include Groovy En Fant, Montonn Jira, DJ Spydamonkee, Captain GR, Noei Suburbian, Tum Monotine, Mai Nolen Volens, Numlabs, Blissonic RMX, Trakool 662, and Tempo Clinic featuring the PC Laboratory. Mixes vary from pop to Cocoboni, with much more in between.

"The main point of remixing is keep everyone dancing," explains Kor. "The songs keep their original melodies so they are instantly recognisable but bring in several new music styles plus synthesiser."

The remix also has a bonus track, "Amplified Love", newly written by Kor at his home studio.

"Most of our songs are related to infatuation, sexiness and lust. I sampled in a very sexy female voice on this new number. I was inspired by Sigmund Freud's saying about how lust pushes men to do a lot of things. I figured that if it's our last song, it should leave an impression on our fans."

During their pub tour, Groove Riders will be back in the city for a party concert at Bangkok Convention Centre, on the 22nd floor of Centara Grand Hotel at CentralWorld on November 21 at 9pm.

"The party will be decorated with colourful lights and sound, as well as visual graphic designs," he reveals. "At first, I worried about how to play live together with the DJs like on the remix album but felt more relaxed when we talked about it and came up with ideas for just making our show totally enjoyable. That's all.

"Fans will get double luck: First, they get to listen to the original on the remix album and then the different versions at the live show."

The dance party will be similar in concept to the one organised by Zomkiat "Mr Z" Ariyachaipanich's at Bitec a few years back, Kor confirms. "But there's an enormous difference in the way we present our music. He presented songs from the CD with a live band. Ours will be not the same as on the remix album. For that, we let the DJs do it themselves. There'll also be as focus on the synchronisation of scene and sound.

"The party will be divided into four parts, with each being accorded a non-stop medley of three or four tracking running for more than seven or eight minutes."

So what happens to Groove Riders when the tour comes to an end?

"We will complete our other show commitments and after that we'll be going out separate ways. Burin is recording his debut solo album, which is scheduled for release in February. I have two side projects on the boil - '70s soul and '80s electronica. Kunk is still working as a producer and Mart is backing other artists.

"But Groove Riders aren't splitting. We're just taking a break," he insists.

BOX

Blended, shaken and stirred

"I'm a fan of Groove Riders. I selected 'Rak Mai Dai' because of its ear-grabbing melody. I mixed it in a kind of tech house-house style with hip-hop and pop. I spent three weeks turning it into a club-like mix." - Mai Nolens Volens

"I remixed the title track and the first single ['Lift'] for club house. I think that it is a style that most of DJs can play it in clubs. It took me seven days." - Montonn Jira

Tickets for the "Impression" concert are Bt1,500 at Thaiticketmajor.

For info about the tour, go to www.BSociety.com.