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March kickin off with another release from the Anjuna Beats label and System F's new track on Tsunami!
Reviews from 06/03/01
Anjuna Beats - Volume 1 (Remixes)[Anjuna Beats 003]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 13 (Already Been Charted Since 29/01/01)
Additional Comments: The London Team Deliver A Strong Set Of Remixes
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review The production outfit behind my favourite track from last year (Free State - Different Ways) return with some remixes of the debut Anjuna Beats release to coincide with the labels new image. The label have seeked help from top acts "Above & Beyond" and "Free State Vs Dirt Devils", also providing a deeper mix themselves. The "Above & Beyond Mix" is very melodic version keeping elements from the original and recreating others to good effect. The production on this track is nice and tight and works well which explains why so many high profile acts such as Adamski and Madonna seeked their remixing talents and if you hear this mix the string breakdown will make you want to turn the volume up nice and loud. Well, it did for me anyway. Favourites of mine, "Free State & Dirt Devils" mix kicks off with nice and tight drum programming and a familiar drumloop that works well every time I hear it. The synth underlay in this track is teased throughout and the breakdown is in the style of Mauro Picotto with a nice punchy snare line and warm strings. It all goes mad from there and I can see this mix becoming very popular. The Sort Of Thing DJs like Matt Vinyl or Alex Ball would play. The "Anjuna Deep Mix" is exactly that a nice laidback deeper mix of Volume 1 that chops around with the riff throughout the whole track with some calm laid back drum programming and excellent Fx and that Vocal Slide that's been put to very good effect on this mix. Not wishing to let anyone down they have very kindly put the Original Mix on here too! Which definately does the damage and has had Radio play from Pete Tong and other top DJs. An Excellent three tracker from a label who I've been following for a very long time.. Check these mixes out and you will not be disappointed.
Release Date: 12/03/01
Reviews from 10/03/01
System F feat Marc Almond - Soul On Soul[Tsunami 026]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 19
Additional Comments: Ferry Corsten Returns with a follow up to Cry
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review The names "Ferry Corsten" and "Tsunami" any DJ worth their weight should know. Tsunami have provided many excellent tracks over the last two years with "System F - Out Of The Blue" being my favourite (and my number #1 tune of 1998). I think you can imagine my delight of finding a new System F tune in the post today. It's an unlikely collaboration between Ferry Corsten and Marc Almond (the lead singer of "Soft Cell"). The "Original Extended Mix" makes off to a very promising start with a nice strong kick drum and bassline and some extra drums scattered around. Some very nice strings and extra synth underlays come in. Then unfortunately the vocals come in, which to me need more processing and effects added. The only time the vocals might work are in the Chorus. A nice guitar line appaers in the second breakdown and the riff is introduced in full after this. There are two faults with this track in general, the first being that there should definately be an instrumental mix as the vocals spoil the track, the second being that the track suddenly stops so it will be hard to mix with. Apart from this it's a good try and an improvement on "Cry" from last year. The "Elektrochemie LK mix" starts off with the vocals from the track and a soft kick drum and shakers. A Punchy clap is introduced along with a weird bassline. The vocals are on this track and I prefer them on this mix than the original. This leads into the strings which are nice and warm. Then this returns back into a twisted techno-styled track with odd drum programming and that odd bassline which carries on until the end where the track drops till just the strings and the vocal. Altogether an odd two tracker but a good try. I think the vocals were a waste of money and the track would be much better without.
Release Date: T.B.A
Reviews from 16/03/01
Fiasco - Live In Bilbao[Sunrise 011]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 18
Additional Comments: Effective 3 Tracker From Dutch Label Sunrise.
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Out of Holland's Spinnin Records this 3 tracker has mixes from two very popular producers at the moment as well as the original. DJ Gert (who is now having massive sucess with his "Give You Some More" track) starts his mix with a conga/tribal drumloop and nice hi hats. He introduces a dark twisted vocal and synth underlay which dies out into a very twisted reverse riff which then is reversed back to normal with a strong kick drum. The riff on this track is similar to something Signum or Ferry Salee would come up with and is very uplifting. E-Craig's mix kicks off with a strong kick drum, a mechanical drumloop, a warm hi hat and some ride cymbals. An odd synth underlay comes in that builds up into the breakdown where crowd samples fade in with the synth underlay being chopped around to make the riff of this track. The Original mix has a complex drum pattern and the synth underlay used in the E-Craig mix. It also contains a high square wave synth and is quite simplistic. A reasonable attempt and I'm sure it will appeal to fans of the Sunrise label lots. Stick with the DJ Gert mix on this three tracker.
Release Date: T.B.A
Shade On Grey - Moving On (Are You Strong Enough)[Liquid 017]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 11
Additional Comments: An excellent A side which will definately do Damage.
Overall Rating: 8/9
Full Review Release Number 17 on the successful Liquid label comes from "Shade On Grey" who I know nothing about except the DJ Astrid mix of this track is brilliant. Starting with a simple synth underlay and bassline amidst some well thought out and bouncy drums you get the impression that this track has a very good riff coming in. A Korg-M1 style piano comes in and this leads to the breakdown where the riff fades in with an "Are You Strong Enough" vocal then the track goes mad from there and it's another track thats hard to resist nodding your head to. The Deep mix is much more darker with a strong introduction then the at the breakdown a really cheesy pitch bent synth comes in and that carries on throughout most the track which ends up spoiling it. If you hear this record buy it for the Astrid mixe and avoid the Deep Mix at all costs.
Release Date: T.B.A
Vinyl Freakz - That's Right[Sunrise 013]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 4
Additional Comments: Kickin House Track with Amiga 500 Style Samples
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review Dutch Label Spinnin have sent another delight onto my doorstep this month and This two tracker is one thats really popular with me at the moment. The A Side starts with what sounds like a rip off of Safri Duo's "Played Alive" then a very nice lead stab comes (taken from Inner City - "Big Fun") in which reminds me of my Amiga 500 days. This drops down to the breakdown where crowds fade in, the Inner City Stab is filtered around with and a hard to forget vocal of "Yeah Y'all Thats Right" comes into action. The track goes mental from there with hoover stabs being dropped in. Another Synth riff comes in which works really well with the Inner City Stabs and to top it all off the track goes into Lock N Load/Hypetraxx style shuffleness with the vocal being played around with. The "Dub Mix" is based along a simple groove with the Inner City Stab being altered to make a new riff with some strong filtering in the breakdown. Some crossfading with another synth is also used. Not very much in this mix but it still deserves a listen. Play the A side and you will be onto a winner.
Release Date: T.B.A
Project Medusa - Something Is Wrong Part 1[Liquid 016]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Two tracker that proves Something Is Wrong
Overall Rating: 5
Full Review Another Liquid promo on my doorstep this time which has been Produced by the Beat Freax. The A side contains a powerful and trancey intro and has a nice melodic synth underlay and warm strings. A Rank 1 Style Synth fades in and unfortunately there is a Zombie Nation/Ratty style synth line which gives the impression that Something is Very Wrong indeed. Luckily this doesn't occur much in the track and you can mix out before it occurs again. The Deep Dub kicks off with some tribal drums. Then some twisted synths occur in the breakdown with a few different distorted kick drums and a buzzy synth line. This carries on into the track until around 75% through when an even dodgier synth than on the A side is dropped in which ruins the track.
Release Date: T.B.A
The Mystery - The Mystery[RR 000]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 7
Additional Comments: Excellent 2 Tracker from the Mystery Label.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review This is an independent Dutch Label which has something to do with Spinnin Records. The A side is a very uplifting trance track in the style of Rank 1 or DJ Gert and definately does the damage. A really strong introduction with some nice floaty synths and a strong bassline and synth underlay. This builds up to the breakdown where the Rank 1/DJ Gert style riff Filters in. This builds back up to the full track and this A side is Definatley One To Watch. The Guitar Mix is exactly the same as the Original but suprisingly with Spanish Guitars added. For further Info E-Mail: Mystery@Msgbox.com or Ring 00 31 35 640 0000
Release Date: T.B.A
Reviews from 17/03/01
Sasha F Vs Evil Dynamix - Mentall [DP 023]
Region: Devon
Best Mix: A Side (Original Mix)
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: Hard House Release Thats Only For The Headstrong - You Have Been Warned!
Personal Rating: 7
Audience Rating: 7
Full Review This track from London's Hard House & Trance label DP comes from Two Producers From Finland who have records coming up on Tidy Trax & Nukleuz. Sasha F and Evil Dynamix's original mix kicks off with some raps, gated hoovers and Screams over a 150 BPM drum beat. The bassline kicks in and it builds up to the break where Cowbells and dark synths introduce the raps in full. Then it goes mad from there into a very "hard as you like" track. Banga Matt's "RR Fierece's Remedy Mix" kicks off with a hard drum beat and stabs which lead into the bass and some squelchy hoovers and stabs. This drops down into the breakdown with a really loud and punchy hoover and the rap and the track becomes even more loonier than the a side. Twisted.
Release Date: 26/03/01
Reviews from 26/03/01
Cohesive - Sun Scatter[Unsigned CDR]
Favourite Track/Mix: Original Mix
Future Chart Position: Yes - 1
Additional Comments: Excellent Trance Production From Local Producer Alex Ball
Overall Rating: 10
Full Review I'm always delighted to recieve a track of this quality, particularly when it was produced by anyone local. Cohesive aka up and coming 19 Year Old German Trance DJ Alex Ball out of Plymouth (with some cubase tips from myself) delivers this two tracker which comes with a VERY high recommendation from me. Rumoured to have just been produced using a PC and a copy of cubase these two tracks are definately an example for anyone with a PC to follow. The original mix of Sun Scatter is simplistic but this works very well with a really strong kick drum and strong programming amongst a killer bassline and a very punchy clap. All this is at a nice 148 Bpm. Some nice warm strings occur in the breakdown and this builds up into the riff which has a half on half off style to it before a snare roll which introduces the full riff that kicks the spot like some of the better productions on Drizzly, Purple Eye & Combined Forces that I've been going on about. After this when the riff is combined with the rest of the track my reaction was nothing short of amazed and this track made me feel like getting my amplifier onto the roof of my house and turning it up full for everyone within reach to hear! Although its only March This mix Alone is definately a strong contender for tune of the year and I'm sure Alex will get it licensed to a label who is picking up on the harder melodic sound which is being played at the moment. Alex adopts his "Soundfixation" guise and has a go at remixing his original. He has altered the instrument of the lead and creates a more harder mix in "the style of Dumonde" which he has succesfully done with flanged strings and a hard drum pattern which drops to the new version of the riff. This is really intense!! Both mixes will work very well for those who are into hard trance or those who want something a little lighter and more melodic. Keep an eye out for this two tracker and any productions by Cohesive.
Release Date: T.B.A