Loukas' Music Reviews
April 2001
April sees a kick ass track from London based label Wellwicked as well as a doublepack on DP and some kick ass tunage from Purple Eye in Holland.
Reviews from 23/04/01
Voodoo Dildo - Have I Told You (Dirt Trax 002)
Playing It Here: N/A
Reviewing It Here: Louk's Reviews (April 2000) and other sites.
Your Comment: Excellent Produced Funky Progressive House from the well respected London Label.
Out Of 10: 9
Full Review: Things have been going very very well for the London based WellWicked label. What with them having a CD on the front cover of wax magazine and being championed by top DJs such as John 00 Flemming, Christopher Lawrence and Sasha. After months of perserverance I finally was accepted for their exclusive Promo List and you can imagine my delight when this track from their offshoot Dirt Trax landed on my doorstep. I can only describe this two tracker from the oddly named Voodoo dildo as Progressive house with an uplfiting bouncier dutch edge to it. "Have I Told You" kicks off into some simple drum programming and a bouncy bassline which leads into some short stabs, fx and an accompanying synth line scattered about a more complex drum pattern. A pitch bent synth lead comes in which leads the track into the breakdown where a lush vocal comes in provided by Gaylia. This dies down to Just the vocal and an excellent string pattern which kicks into the main track and it all builds up again and in all honesty I found it pretty hard not to dance to. "Superwoosh" also starts with a similar formula to "Have I Told You" with simple drums and a funky bassline. A simple guitar line is introduced which is combined with a strong supersaw synthline and this leads into the breadkwon where strings are added to give the track a dreamy feeling. As soon as the beat kicks in this track is another one that gets you moving but i feel it is lacking something. All in all a very good two tracker with which I can say Have I Told You will be in my chart for a long time.
Release Date: 14/05/01
Reviews from 26/04/01
Luxor - Hypnotica [DP 024]
Region: Devon
Best Mix: B Side [Pete Wardman's Rayner Team Medic Mix]
What Are Your Reactions To This Track (Gagging/Desperate/Possibly/Not Tonight): Gagging
Will You Be Playing It At All: Occasional Spins
Which Charts Will You Return To: Wax Magazine
Any Comments On This Track: DP are on form with part one of this excellent double pack. One to watch.
Personal Rating: 9
Audience Rating: 9
Full Review: London based DP have had a very good history the past two years and for their first double pack they have licensed a track which lives up to its name very very well. The "Beam 'Em Up" Mix starts with a simple bassline, a hoover, an eerie synth line and "Hypnotica" vocals. A strong kick comes into action and this introduces a really nice stabby synth underlay reminding me of some older house tracks this leads into the breakdown where a piano comes in which i'm not really keen on but It is ignored when the synth lead comes in and it really does the damage when the drums kick in. The "Club Mix" is quite lackluster with little more than a simple drum beat, some loops and bass line. The riff is different though so it gets marks for originality but I'm not that keen on it. Flipping over to the weirdly titled but very interesting "Pete Wardman's Rayner Team Medic Mix", this mix starts with a nice pounding kick drum and cool drum loops and it immediately makes use of the "Hypnotica" vocal. This track also makes use of the "Roll the drums" sample from an old hardcore tune. A very funky bassline and 303 is introduced before the stabby synth underlay from the "Beam 'em up" mix is used. Some extra synth lines are added and this mix is already pretty hard to resist dancing to. When the breakdown occurs and the riff kicks in I think it's fair to say that this is the hard house version of "Zombie Nation" minus the cheese and theres no Commodore 64 in sight. When the buildup leads into the main track you get the feeling you are in the presence of a massive track thats destined to do well. Definitely one to watch, that Pete Wardman mix will hopefully be huge.
Release Date: 07/05/01
Luxor - Hypnotica (Remixes) [DP 024X]
Region: Devon
Best Mix: A Side (JB Remix)
What Are Your Reactions To This Track (Gagging/Desperate/Possibly/Not Tonight): Possibly
Will You Be Playing It At All: Occasional Spins
Which Charts Will You Return To: Wax Magazine
Any Comments On This Track: Part 2 of the excellent double pack from German Trance Act Luxor
Personal Rating: 8
Audience Rating: 8
Full Review: DP deliver part 2 of the excellent Hypnotic double pack and with most double packs there is one record which is really good and the other is fit for the bin. Thankfully this isn't the case. As soon as i put the needle on to the J.B remix a very good drum loop kicks off which leads into a really pounding bass drum and lots of fills which make the track very danceable and interesting. A simple one note bassline with some hoovers and clips of the riff are scattered around the track and then that nice stabby synth leads into the breakdown where only the hoovers and clips of the riff are left. The "Hypnotica" vocal leads into the breakdown and the excellent riff comes in which definitely will do the damage in a hard house or hard trance set depending on style. After the build-up, like most of the mixes the track is very very funky and it certainly made me nod along to it. The "Little Jon" remix has a very promising start with nice hard funky drums that are similar to that of the Vinyl Inside label in Holland. The bassline comes in and like the "Club Mix" it isn't that interesting. Taking this into account I'd say both packs are worth the money for the Pete Wardman &emp; J.B remixes alone and this track is sure to do damage very shortly so keep an eye out - you have been warned!
Release Date: 14/05/01
Reviews from 27/04/01
The Act - Carpe P.M / Something About You [Polar State 010]
Favourite Track: B
Future Chart Position: Yes - 1
Additional Comments: Blindingly Good Tracks From The Dutch Purple Eye Label - Not One To Avoid
Overall Rating: 10
Full Review: Top producer Luc Publon aka "The Act" delivers this release on the excellent Polar State label and this is the finest thing that Polar have ever released. Frank L J's L.B remix of "Carpe P.M" starts with simple pitch bent synths that are very scary but they are over a good drum pattern which leads up until the breakdown where the supersaw used on "Something About You" does a similar style melody but more happier. Some very nice happy strings are added which make the tune work very well and it is hard to resist nodding along to. It's fair to say that Iif you like your nice bouncy tracks with a hint of cheese (I sure know I do!) then give this a spin. Flip over to "Something About You" [which was a favourite of mine a few years ago] and this tune should come with a health and safety warning... I thought nothing was going to top Flutlicht - Icarus on German Label Drizzly but this tune is just as good. Originating on Start Stop records at the end of 1999 the clever Purple Eye team have decided to license it and get top producer Robert Smit (who's last release on Tsunami Special Blend did the damage and some more!!) to do a remix. Starting off with a nice strong reverbed kick drum and wicked hi hats and a punchy clap this tune is introduced into quite a twisted bassline and an evil synth underlay but that isnt a bad thing as when the rest of the drums come in this tune sounds very promising. Extra synths are added up until the excellent supersaw riff from the is teased in. The Breakdown has the supersaw riff and the other higher melody off the original on top of the kick drum and fx and when the whole tune kicks in I can safely say that if you dont own it you'll want a copy. How can such a good track be put on the B Side is beyond me. This track made me bounce around my room to whilist spinning around in circles to try and hear its stereo fx... it's that good. I know I say this at least once a month but this will be going in my chart of the year for sure. A full on quality track with a quality remix thats even better than the original. Both tracks should be doing serious damage on dancefloors very shortly and should NOT be avoided.
Release Date: T.B.A
Stargate Vs The Generator - The Arrival [Polar State 011]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 12
Additional Comments: Hard stabby trance from top producers Robert Smit &emp; Rob Fabrie.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review: The Polar State label from Holland is one label I can rely on for every release being top quality. They've bought us such classics as The Generator - Where Are You Now and Unawatuna - Something Like This (the latter being a HUGE favourite of mine last year). After the last Polar State release by The Act track Robert Smit (The Generator/Smiter) has teamed up with producer Rob Fabrie (also known as Gizeh) to produce this two tracker. "The Arrival" Starts off with some basic drum programming and a strong kick comes in with A weird bass loop and some ride cymbals. A vocal goin "The Arrival" comes in with a weird synth stab. This carries onto the breakdown where some synth stabs come in with the bass loop and this builds up to a very hard and bouncy trance track. Some higher synth stabs and a Hi string line carries on to the 2nd breakdown where the "The arrival" vocal comes into place and this happens over a breakbeat. Which cuts out to just the melody and the string and the track slows down and speeds up and gets very intense with some very odd synths. Calling this tune twisted is an understatement but thats not a bad thing in this case. It is a very hypnotic track that should please fans of the Polar State label. "The Drive" kicks off with a Mauro Picotto style bass &emp; drum programming which if i didnt know better I'd say it was a Picotto production. A synth line that sounds like it's from T.V series "The Twilight Zone" carries on to the breakdown where a nice bassline comes in with some very odd pads. This caries on to the full breakdown where a riff and some strings kick in and then the weird Twilight Zone like riff fades in to kick the track off again. This two tracker is very weird but It does actually appeal to me as it still has its trancy melodic edge to it. Look out for it as it should be out very soon.
Release Date: T.B.A
Chew Fu Phat - Music Makes Me [Bomboza 003]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Funky House Track From Purple Eye Offshoot Bomboza
Overall Rating: 6
Full Review: Purple Eye's Funky House offshoot Bomboza deliver the follow up to December's "Get It On" also by Chew Fu Phat. "Music Makes Me" starts off with some simple drum programming and a Brass loop with leads into a funky bassline and twisted vocals of "Music makes me lose control" that are flanged and chorused so they sound nice and warped. The track builds up and the filters come into action on top of all the brass loops the bassline and the drums. Some Whoops are added and this track definitely sounds like a production out of the 70's. Expect all the usual funky disco house suspects like Erick Morillo &emp; Neil Roberts to get on to it pretty soon. The "Fu Phat mix" has filtered loop on top of some well programmed drums. This carries on until the breakdown where the whole track gets filtered, phased &emp; flanged sounding so twisted it even filters to just the bassline. Unfortunately both tracks aren't really my thing and I much prefer the last release "Get It On"... But it's still A funky two tracker that should definitely appeal to house fans.
Release Date: T.B.A