Louk's Reviews - October 2001
Louk
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Databass - Go
Breathless
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Go (Original Mix)
Go (Peak Time Mix) |
Full Review: After the very good "Lose Your Mind" by "Sensei", This track on Louis Mears' Breathless Label has been delivered by Databass (aka Julian Napolitano and Darren Pearce). The Original Mix is a more trancier track with its running bassline, fx and drum and synth arrangement. The track has an unexpected chord change in the breakdown which works quite well and then builds up into an energetic monster when the track kicks in. The "Peak Time" mix is a more deeper track with complex drum programming, a funky bassline, sweeping synths and much more. A breakbeat part with a repeated "Go" vocal comes in and this mix despite being deeper got me dancing. Brilliant track and as I said the last time I reviewed one of their tracks Breathless are looking like a name to watch out for.
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Minimalistix - Close Cover
Earth
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Close Cover (A Side Mix)
Close Cover (B Side Mix) |
Full Review: The Production team of Brian Koner and DJ/Vocalist Poison IV return with their "Minimalistix" guise for this two tracker. The A side mix of this is pretty much "Struggle For Pleasure (Part Two)" and didn't exactly do a lot for me. It has all the same elements for example the bass and the same instrumentation for melodies and underlays. Already quite a few of the big name DJs (for example Judge Jules) are championing this mix. The B side mix is much better in my opinion, a much happier arrangement. A nice bassline and funky drums come in with a saw wave bassline and other elements off the original.
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DJ Gert vs Marcel Woods - Once
No Name Trance
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Once (A1 Mix)
Once (A2 Mix) |
Full Review: Release number 20 for No Name Trance is by DJ Gert vs Marcel Woods. We all should by now have had "Give Me Some More" by DJ Gert drummed into our heads as it seemed every radio DJ was caning it all over the UK. This new effort in my opinion isn't as good. The A1 mix starts with some conga drums and a tough kick and this builds into a bassline. Synth Stabs come in with a frenzied snare roll to build the track up. The track then becomes very cheesy with some half-speed drums, slow choir synths and pads. This builds up into an even cheesier riff but although cheesy it is still a good track. Even though I have little information I'd definitely say that the A2 Mix is by DJ Garry vs FTW as it is very similar to their mix of "Mr Vinx - Living On My Own". Strong kick + drum programming comes in with a high pitched buzzy sound. This drops down into the choir off the original until a different lead comes in. That's basically all there is but this mix is more my sort of thing. Check it out.
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VDP Project - Somebody Scream
Earcrash
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Somebody Scream (A Side Mix)
Somebody Scream (B Side Mix) |
Full Review: Ear Damage Alert. Like The E-Pact track Roadrunner sent me a preview of this a few months ago which I supported. Now it is back with a New mix which is even better. The A Side mix which is the new one, starts with a strong kick drum and bassline and adds lots more melodic parts to the B side mix. This mix is brilliant and needs to be turned up nice and loud for full appreciation, It Worked for me! The B side starts all funky and melodic with a nice underlay and then in the breakdown The track goes all really hard and twisted with a "Let's have it nice and loud!" approach. Demand a copy from your nearest record shop now!
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E-Pact - The Mystery Of Sound
Earcrash
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The Mystery Of Sound (A1 Mix)
The Mystery Of Sound (B1 Mix) The Mystery Of Sound (B2 Mix) |
Full Review: Those nice folk at roadrunner sent me a sneaky preview of this track a while back with a version of VDP Project on the flip and I went nuts to it. Now it is back with new mixes. The A side basically takes all the elements of "Cosmic Gate - Fire Wire" and rearranges them into something much much better. The riff on this track is ace and with the vocals makes for intense listening. The B1 is very simple in arrangement but hard as ever with tough kick drums, a warped bassline, some twisted vocals and a mauro picotto like synth line. This is infact like his production completely and I can imagine this track appearing on a label like BXR soon. The B2 is a really nice full on techno track. Starting with a twisted bassline and simple drum programming, it isn't long before the drums become really complex and sound all the more better. Synth stabs and Mechanical FX are played around with and this is just plain loopy. This track could easily be a Kay D Smith or Andreas Kraemer Production. The A Side does it for me though... Still as good as when I first heard it.
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DJ Garry - Dream Universe
Trance Communications
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Dream Universe (Red Square Mix)
Dream Universe (Blue Square Mix) |
Full Review: We should all remember "Dream Universe" by "CM", that was a big track on Hooj Tunes a few years ago. Well, now it has been remade by Belgian producers DJ Garry and FTW. Originally surfacing on "33/45" records in Holland, Tim Stark's Trance Communications label has licensed it to the UK. The "Blue Square" mix of this is a nice progressive number with complex drum programming, a funky bassline and of course those brilliant strings and synth underlay off the original. While the "Red Square" mix is a harder interpretation of the original mix with most of the same elements. This mix has had severe rotation by Judge Jules and other DJs recently and is definitely worth buying as soon as it hits the shops. It has now been licensed to Xtravaganza though so you'll have to wait until the Xtravaganza release date.
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Colin McNeil - Ritual Volume 4
Ritual
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Vondoo
Frontiers Over and Over |
Full Review: The man can't go wrong can he!!! Eh?! After the mighty "Cloudscience 2" (also reviewed this month), Redemption's main In House Producer Colin delivers another three tracker for their Ritual label which really set to impress. "Voodoo" is a tight and funky little number based around a deep percussive drumbeat with added conga programming and sound fx. Combined with this is a vocal of "F*cking Voodoo Magic Man" which is cut up and played around with. "Frontiers" consists mainly of floaty chords, a twisted bassline and oddbod techno drums. A short and simple arrangement which works OK but is lacking something in my opinion. "Over and Over" is a blinding slice of minimal techno featuring Colin's vocoded vocals. Not letting the vocal drop throughout the whole track, there is a groove created around basically a two chord tune and some tech-house drum programming. This EP Went straight to number one in my chart and with reason too... It's class. Hunt down a copy in shops or if you can't wait till then order a promo from the Redemption website (http://www.redemption.co.uk)
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Colin McNeil - Cloudscience 2
Incendiary
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Cloudscience 2
Cloudscience 3 Cloudscience 2 (Radio Edit) |
Full Review: This is going to be the last release on Birmingham Based Redemption's Incendiary Label and in all fairness what a way to end. Not one duff release in the whole series. This release is a follow on to Part One of "Cloudscience" which was released on redemption late last year. That track has now been licensed to Refreshed Recordings in Germany with a remix from hard trance man of the moment Scot Project. "Cloudscience 2" kicks off with some strong drum arrangements and moves into a swirly bassline that continues throughout most of the track. 80's style synth stabs are added throughout and the bassline is played around with some more but thats about it. Good track all the same though. "Cloudscience 3" is apparently inspired by the theme tune to Heidi (who if you, like me, have no idea who Heidi is then she is apparently an austrian mountain girl.) This track has a one note bassline to start with along with some driving rhythm programming. This leads into another bassline with a simple synth riff that has managed to lodge a place in my memory for a good while. You think the track stops there but a third bassline comes in knocking you out of your depth. Although that seems to be all there is both of these two tracks are both very strong releases which are sure to be severely played out by all the majors. Nice one Redemption.
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T-Empo - Fouk
Breathless
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Fouk (Original Mix)
Fouk (T-Empo's Fouked Up Mix) Fouk (Maurice + Nobles Fouked Up Union Mix) |
Full Review: With a track title that sounds like a bad spelling of my name, Breathless return this month with this 3 tracker produced by T-empo. You may recognise the name T- empo from before as they have had a few hits already in the mid ninetees. "Maurice + Nobles' Fouked Up Union Mix" is an ace progressive number with funky basslines, lots of spaced out FX, complex drum programming and an extremely twisted female vocal talking about the origin of the word "Fouk". The main point in this mix is an overly long breakdown which sounds absolutely blinding when turned up nice and loud on stereo speakers. The Original Mix is a more uptempo number with shuffled synth underlays and funky drums but still retaining the vocal and bassline off the Maurice mix and putting it to good use. While "T- Empo's Fouked Up Mix" didn't really do a lot for me at all. Though having some very good ideas felt really empty and plain. Check it out when released as the Maurice + Nobles Fouked Up Union mix is well worth a play.
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S.Y.S - Overdrive
Axwax
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Overdrive (Club Mix)
The Colour Of Trance Overdrive (Hard Trance Mix) |
Full Review: The Axwax label has released some really cracking tracks in the past 12 months, for example "The Breath" by "Odyssey Of Noises". This release I already heard on the Drizzly site before receiving my copy and I was taken aback as soon as I heard it. The A side is a real dark hard trance track with A pounding kick drum, simple drum programming, 303 stabs and twisted fx sweeps. This combined with one of the darkest riffs I've heard in ages makes for total chaos. Then some dark strings come in and a rising synth sweep and the track is extreme. "The Colour Of Trance" is a simple mellow number which reminds me very much of "C-Sharp" by "The Quest" in terms of its arrangement, if you check it out you will see what I mean. The "Hard Trance" mix of "Overdrive" actually adds a riff but apart from that the arrangement is very simple with mainly just a kick and 303 loops. Stick the A side as its full on mentalness!
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Reysan Khan - Shi Du Khan
Universal Prime Breaks Limited
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Shi Du Khan (Mark Shimmon Mix)
Shi Du Khan (Legend B Mix) Shi Du Khan (Voodi Mix) Shi Du Khan (Junk Project Mix) |
Full Review: This is a track that's already had a lot of hype surrounding it. Having succesfully been licensed to JOOF recordings in the UK then getting hammered by JOOF boss John 00 Flemming. The Mark Shimmon mix is progressive starting with a simple drum pattern and bassline which is then combined with odd african vocals. A riff comes in reminding me of "I Always Loved You" by "AJ Gibson" and thats all that really happens in this mix. The "Legend B" mix is a hard trance number similar to releases on the harthouse label. A warped bassline, tough funky drums and a piano line are the main elements of this track combined with the African vocal for the first half. Then some very nice gated chords come in which work well. The "VOODI Mix" is a nice hard trance number. Starting off with the African vocals on their own before going into a solid kick drum and hard bassline. Vocals of "Shi Du Khan" are echoed as the drums progress. A conga loop comes in just before the main riff. In this mix the riff reminds me of "Meet Her At The Love Parade" by "Da Hool" and this mix is really good. However, the favourite for me is the "Junk Project Mix". Starting with a monster of a bassline, chopped up and effected vocals of "Shi Du Khan" and his hard drum programming this is definitely a track only for the headstrong. A synth underlay comes in next which does the damage and this helps the track lead to the breakdown where a dark riff comes. This is a seriously good record which will receive very severe charting from me.
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DJ Air - Alone With Me
Axwax
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Alone With Me (Tukan Mix)
Alone With Me (Flutlicht Mix) Alone With Me (Original Mix) |
Full Review: Another release on axwax this month. This time it is licensed from Italy's Multiforce label and the producers behind September's cracking "Amnesia" by "Alex Bartlett". The "Tukan Mix" of this track is a simple trance number with an energetic bassline, sonar beeps, strong drum programming and overly catchy vocals. A string breakdown comes in before a riff, which wasn't as good as expected. The "Flutlicht Mix" is excellent and is immediately recognisable as soon as playing with its hard drum programming and warped bassline. This leads into a pan flute like instrument which builds up to the breakdown. Some mellow strings come in before a really full on riff. When the tune kicks in this is a monster of a track. The Original mix however is fairly lackluster and didn't really have anything in it that interested me at all. Also it is very cheesy. So stick with the Flutlicht mix as it is ace and shows that Flutlicht are very consistant with their sound.
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The Brattice - Eisenbrecher
Universal Prime Breaks
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Eisenbrecher
Systemshock Ohne Gnade |
Full Review: Release number 47 for the successful hard trance and techno imprint Universal Prime breaks comes from The Brattice. These are three tracks of speaker shaking techno. "Eisenbrecher" is based around a strong percussion and FX loop and hard hitting ride cymbals. The track is very repetative but still works very well in my opinion. "Systemshock" is a more laid back number considering what "Eisenbrecher" is like but this still has some really twisted FX loops and mad synth programming. Also some spoken vocals come in which are extremely strange. "Ohne Gnade" is based around a repeated bassline and chugging percussion, apart from some industrial FX here and there and spoken vocals, this track didn't do much for me. Not the Best UPB but still a good try all the same.
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Novator - Fusion
Planet Traxx
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Fusion
Brainfuture Lovestorm |
Full Review: The Planet Traxx label has in the past released some very excellent tracks, their latest release "Dave Joy - First Impression" has so far been extremely successful where I come from in the UK and no doubt throughout the rest of it but their latest effort by "Novator", I am not so keen on. "Fusion" starts off with some pads and a repeated "Beep". Simple drums come in along with a bassline and this track starts to sound really promising, especially when the underlay comes in. The track carries onto the breakdown where some supersaw strings come in and when the track kicks in it sounds quite good. "Brainfuture" has a very bland arrangement up until the breakdown but when the breakdown kicks in some really nice strings lead into the main riff which then goes really out of tune and sounds really off. "Lovestorm" is a bit too commercial for my liking, starting off quite good with a strong synth underlay this leads the track up to the breakdown where a really dodgy piano part comes in. I stop the record then and decide that this definitely isn't the best Planet Traxx release i've heard ... although "Fusion" is quite cool. So I recommend you check that track out.
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Schall + Rauch - Elektroschocker 1.0
Jerk
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Lichtleiter
Elektroschocker Fuckinbasskiller |
Full Review: Release number 34 for the succesful Jerk Records label comes from Schall + Rauch (also known as Kay D Smith and Alex K Katz). "Lichtleiter" is the techno sound I know and love. With the two's trademark soaring Hi Hats and Cymbal programming over a monster kick and twisted fx loop, this track is full on speaker damage. A two note synth riff comes in which adds more chaos to this track. "Elektroschocker" is based around a reversed synth loop and pounding kick drum. Manic Hi Hats are added along with vocals of "Electro" and more ride cymbals and a weird synth riff like that off "Lichtleiter". The track drops completely in the breakdown for the fx to be played with and the track is very manic when it builds up. "Fuckinbasskiller" is an oddly titled distorted techno track based around a grinding bass loop which is filtered with and manic drum programming. Little else catches my attention on this track unfortunately so definitely stick with the A side and B1 as both are Ace!!!
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Kay D Smith - Amnesias
Composure
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Flamta-Sedden [Niemals Vergessen]
Aretusa Amnesias |
Full Review: This is release number two for UK label Composure records. Kay D Smith has made some really evil tracks recently and this EP is no exception at all. From the moment go, "Flamta-Seddan (Niemals Vergessen)" starts with a distorted kick drum, pounding snare and hi hat programming. Nothing much happens apart from when some really odd african chants come in which sound really twisted on a hard techno record. "Aretusa" is a really odd groove with the same kick and hi hats on Smith's other productions but with an out of time fx loop which really sounds odd when turned up. The only problem is this track is too short at only four and a half minutes. "Amnesia" is a really evil track with harsh synth stabs and fx loops over the most weirdest percussion arrangement this man can do! These 3 tracks are seriously worth a listen if you like it loud and chaotic.
Louk