In 2018, Dleeb and ahZ released a track called Holan on Kos.Mos Music Russia, and it was a huge success. They decided to complete the story about Holan with a full remixed album with of their friends' remixes.
WHO THE HELL IS HOLAN?
Holan is the name of a well known dog from Czech prose about the un-ordinary lives of people in Protectorate Bohemia and Moravia during the WW2. The original story is called "The Death of the Beautiful Deer", and is a part of the book "How I Came to Know Fish" by Ota Pavel. The book is based on true stories from author's childhood and was written during his psychiatrical hospitalization during the 1970's. All the Czech kids know this story since their childhood, as it is a part of grammar school curriculum. And no wonder, this really is a beautiful story full of love, friendship, the breathtaking beauty of nature near Berounka river, people, fish and wild animals, Czech poetics and sense of humour during the tough times of the WW2.
In the 1980's, Karel Kachyňa shot a movie based on this story, with unique music by Luboš Fišer. This movie, its soundtrack and the whole story, were at the beginning of what later became the original "Holan" tune by Dleeb and ahZ, released as a limited 30pcs series vinyl.
Now, in 2021, this story is in need of a good ending, one just as good as if it was written by Ota Pavel himself. Enter "Holan Remixed" – a full tribute to Ota Pavel's and Luboš Fišer's work and its typical poetics, compiled from six remixers. UK based pioneer of atmospheric drum'n'bass Lucida represents the west side, while Sintez, a skilled producer from Izhevsk, Russia, hails from the east side. The rest are four guys from the Czech republic – Rabbit, Title, Martin Kuška and Kubatko.
This remix compilation, affirming the friendship across both sides of the former Iron curtain, is released by a bunch of music lovers in association with the independend label XION (
xionlabel.bandcamp.com), right in the heart of Europe, the city of Prague. Big thanks to everyone lending us a helping hand in making this record happen and spreading this beautiful music (and story) throughout the world.
For a complete understanding of the whole background, with every vinyl order you will receive a printed copy of Ota Pavel's "The Death of the Beautiful Deer" in both Czech and English translations.
The vinyl release contains:
- 6 remixes, precisely mastered by Lukáš Turza at
snapmastering.com, pressed on yellow 12” vinyl
- full-color printed gatefold sleeve with original photos by Martin Kuška, taken in the nature around Berounka river (the place where the whole story happened)
- original story "The Death of the Beautiful Deer" written by Ota Pavel, in English and Czech translations
- 2 digital bonus remixes
- the original track from 2018
This is a truly unique project, be a part of it!
released February 5, 2022
Original written and produced by Michael Klánský and Ahonz Novák, released on Kos.Mos Music (2018)
Remix and additional production:
Graham Alexander Fisken (Running In Křivoklátský Lesy Remix)
Vojta Havlata (Bread and Onion Mix, Title Dreamy Remix)
Pepé Král (Blown Childhood Remix, Second Chance Mix),
Martin Kuška (Misty Berounka Dub)
Jakub Holovský (Leo Popper's Dance Mix)
Mastering by Lukáš Turza at
snapmastering.com
Photos by Martin Kuška
Art direction by iob xion and ahZ
Cover design by Jan Mikula
