Ones, The - Flawless

While The Ones themselves admit to have used a sample of "Weekend" by Class Action for the very first version of 'Flawless', some pointed out the Phunk Investigation remixes sounded like an old song of Gary's Gang called 'Keep On Dancin' (1978). Hear for yourself: the 'Italo Disco Mix' of 'Flawless' (not included on this single edition) clearly seems to have been the primary inspiration behind all the remixes released afterwards. Another 'cosmic' sound seems to have been sampled from "Wordy Rappinghood" by Tom Tom Club, but nothing is credited officially.
All the tracks on this single are quite similar: The vocal edit and mix have a rap part included, while the Club mixes omits these vocals. The Dub is different, but monotonous and very repetitive. The vocal and club mixes are a sure value.
'Flawless' went on to be very popular: it even 'inspired' George Michael to add more lyrics to it and to re-release it as 'Flawless (Go The City)' not so long after with more remixes.

Not since Ru Paul's 'Supermodel' have I heard a track that seems so specifically made to rock a fashion-model runway. Besides that, 'Flawless' takes a lot of it's cues from French house and electro providing an intricately funky (and heavily filtered) house cut with plenty of icy vocoders. It sounds like they've got the compression going on everything which gives the track a sort of "bounce" back and forth between the bass frequencies of the kick and the higher synth/vocoder lines. I think this track would be all over the dance-floors if it weren't for the lame vocals.

This will become a monster club hit for The Ones in it's many remixed and versions. Not too long after that, George Michael will also do his own 'Flawless' (Go To The City) version. It is interesting to note that any of these 'Flawless' tunes all contain a very sensual snippet of Leroy Burgess & James Calloway original composition 'Weekend' made back then for both Chris Wiltshire's based formation Class Action and Phreek.

These tracks have a house sounds that is a cross between a model runway jingle and dark house. I think the vocal is kind of tacky but the beats are intricate enough to provide a interesting twist to a progressive-tech house mix.