Groovin’ Records revisits a 1996 Italian house gem, pairing Cricco Castelli’s piano-driven original with two fresh EG remixes full of sunshine and groove.
Italy’s Groovin’ Records continues its welcome exploration of house music’s past, this time turning its attention to Cricco Castelli’s 1996 release, “Life Is Changing”. Originally arriving during a particularly fertile period for European house music, the record brings together the disco-sampling sensibilities of the era with a wonderfully expressive electric piano that gives the production much of its personality.
The original mix is a fine reminder of what made so much mid-90s house music appealing. Built around a buoyant disco groove and samples from The Crusaders, it has a loose, musical quality, with those expansive electric piano passages adding warmth and character to the arrangement. There’s an unmistakable Italian house flavour running through it, balancing dancefloor energy with a more soulful, jazz-influenced approach.
Alongside the original, the reissue features two EG remixes that take the record in a slightly different direction, introducing a smoother, more contemporary disco-house feel while retaining its most recognisable musical elements.
For us, though, it’s the EG Instrumental Remix that really stands out.
There’s a lovely summery quality to this version, with a bouncing house rhythm that feels immediately accessible without becoming overly commercial. The groove is bright and infectious, but crucially, that killer piano loop remains at the heart of the record.
Stripping away the vocal snippets gives the instrumental room to breathe, allowing the rhythmic arrangement and piano to carry the track. It’s the sort of uncomplicated, feel-good house music that works equally well on a sun-drenched terrace or an uplifting early-evening dancefloor.
The accompanying EG vocal remix follows a similar musical direction, retaining the vocal elements for a slightly more song-led interpretation. Both offer a fresh perspective on Castelli’s original without losing sight of what made the record appealing in the first place.
It’s the instrumental, however, that we’d be reaching for.
There’s a timeless quality to a good piano-driven house record, particularly when the groove is this infectious. Groovin’ Records has once again found something worthwhile in the archives, and the EG remixes give “Life Is Changing” a welcome opportunity to reach a new audience.
A lovely piece of uplifting house music, with the EG Instrumental Remix firmly our pick of the package.
Release date: 6 November 2026, pre order here.
Label: Groovin’ Records
Catalogue: GR 12144
Format: 12-inch vinyl
Genre: House / Disco House / Jazzy House