Carl Cox Reworks Renegade Soundwave Classic “The Phantom”

September 27, 2026

Carl Cox has reworked Renegade Soundwave's “The Phantom”, giving the influential UK rave track a new interpretation as part of the RSW Rewired project.

“The Phantom (Carl Cox Rewire)” was released digitally on September 24 through Jack Said What, with a vinyl edition scheduled for mid-October.

A 1989 Rave Classic Reworked

Originally released in 1989, “The Phantom” emerged during the transition from acid house towards the harder, breakbeat-driven sounds that would become associated with UK hardcore and rave.

Carl Cox has long cited the track as one of his favourite records.

He first heard the original at a rave in Biggin Hill, where it was played by DJ Frankie Valentine. The track subsequently became a regular part of Cox's sets.

Cox Keeps the Breakbeat Foundation

For his new version, Cox retains elements of the original's breakbeat foundation while introducing a faster rhythm and a heavier bassline.

The rework also features new vocals from Barry Ashworth of Dub Pistols.

The result is a new production built around the structure and character of the original while giving it a different pace and contemporary club sound.

The Track Has Already Been Played in Ibiza

Cox had been testing the rework on dancefloors throughout the summer before its official release.

The track was played during his 2026 residency at UNVRS Ibiza as well as at festivals, giving audiences an opportunity to hear the new version before it became commercially available.

Cox has said he intends to keep the rework in his sets, describing it as a record that has remained important to him since he first heard the original.

Part of RSW Rewired

The release forms part of RSW Rewired, a project revisiting music from the Renegade Soundwave catalogue through new interpretations by different artists.

The project is not simply a conventional remix album. Artists have been working with newly recorded stems created specifically for the series, allowing them to reshape the original compositions while retaining their underlying identity.

Other artists involved in the project include former Prodigy member Leeroy Thornhill, Don Letts and Gaudi, who have each contributed new versions of Renegade Soundwave material.

The Prodigy Connection

“The Phantom” has a documented connection with The Prodigy's early catalogue.

The Prodigy sampled the Renegade Soundwave track on “Everybody in the Place”, released in 1991.

The connection adds another link between the 1980s and early-1990s UK rave scene and the later hardcore and electronic music that developed from it.

Vinyl Release Coming in October

The digital release currently includes two versions: “The Phantom (Carl Cox Rewire)” and “The Phantom (Carl Cox Rewire Extended)”.

A vinyl edition is scheduled for release in mid-October through Jack Said What.

For Cox, the release brings a long-standing favourite back into the contemporary club environment while remaining connected to the original Renegade Soundwave recording that first caught his attention more than three decades ago.

POSTED BY IBIZA ONE STOP

Get your Ibiza tickets from trusted official seller

Click here to find tickets for the hottest clubs, boat parties, activities, and more.

Luxury Looks for Your Ibiza Escape. Shop brand-new, authentic designer fashion from Europe’s best boutiques, with savings of up to 60% off retail at italist.

Shop Ibiza Essentials on Amazon

Browse Ibiza Merch & Prints on Etsy