Not inventing the wheel here, but who doesn’t love ‘The Night Train’? A staple of mid 90’s clubbing, Ilario Alicante now reworks the track for 2025.
Spanish house dons David Penn and Crusy breathed fresh life into Kadoc’s 1995 anthem “The Night Train” earlier this year, giving the iconic vocal hook a polished, floor-friendly update that swiftly climbed the Beatport charts. Now, Ilario Alicante steps in with a full-throttle remix that swaps euphoria for tension, offering DJs a darker, drum-driven take aimed squarely at peak-time floors.
Alicante’s rework strips back the gloss and zeroes in on the groove, laying down a relentless, rolling percussive framework that is pure function from the off. The original’s vocal call, a defining feature since the 90s, is retained but now floats over a deeper, more focused arrangement. This is no-nonsense club gear: tight drum programming, a sub-heavy organ bassline, and hypnotic rhythmic patterns combine to create a track that hits hard without overplaying its hand.
What’s clever here is the restraint. Rather than relying on big drops or festival theatrics, Alicante lets the energy build organically, riding that sweet intersection of tech house mechanics and the stripped-back pulse of late-night minimalism. There’s a sense of movement throughout, driven by fluid transitions and subtle FX, which makes this one a proper DJ tool that keeps the momentum locked.
The remix also lands at a significant time for Alicante as he doubles down on his artistic evolution with the launch of L/NK, a new event series blurring the lines between performer and crowd, alongside the continued rise of his Sound D’Elite label. With a stacked summer including appearances at Music On, ANTS, Elrow, and Carl Cox Invites, this remix is yet another reminder that Alicante’s command of the dancefloor remains razor sharp.
Whether you’re deep in a dark room at 4 AM or pushing the tempo under open skies, this remix brings raw club utilitywith just the right touch of nostalgia.
Stream/download ‘The Night Train’ remix now here.
