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More Lovely promos this month. Combined forces sure know what they are putting out as they take up about 50% of my top 20. Indisc's promos are very good as well, I was also sent 3 delights from Nebula [Cheers for that Tim.] So here they are all reviewed.
Tunes this month are from Combined Forces [www.combinedforces.com] Nebula [www.nebula.uk.com] and Indisc [www.indisc.com]
Reviews from 04/07/00
Alpha Breed - X-Pectation [Deal 034]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 4
Additional Comments: I'd have to say that is the best thing I've heard Ralph do In a long long time!! Absolutely Kickin Energy Trance Tune.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review Another tune from one producer who can't go wrong in my book. Ralph Barendse I've been watching since his tracker days in dutch hardcore group Explizit. The comments on the reaction sheet are spot on when they say it was worth the wait. Typical Alpha Breed bassline + beginning but this track goes one step further with the Supersaw riff and a lovely vocal and very lush JP8000 strings. You think that's it for the riff then another lovely supersaw melody kicks in. He certainly has gone a long way in the last 2 years. B-Side "Floating" is very similar to X-Pectation, If it had a decent vocal I'd think it was a lot better. Apart from that It was definatley a delight to recieve.
Release Date: 28/08/00
I-mpact Feat. Larenzo Nash - Smoke In The Sky[Radar 021]
Favourite Track: B
Future Chart Position: Yes - 12
Additional Comments: Effective + Banging Hard House that's definately "Only for the Headstrong!"
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review The follow up to one of my favourite promos from last month. Not as good as "Stronger than Steel" but still very hard and similar. This tune features the vocalist from Dominator by Human Resource (Bet that takes you back). The reaction sheet comes with a very useful warning of "Only For the Headstrong." The original mix has a tidy trax style bassline and like "Stronger than steel" has a vocal which you can't work out whats being said. The Zanthrax' 2 tons of steel mix is more harder and sounds like it was recorded in an empty warehouse - reverb and delay all over the place. Both mixes are very good but i`m going to have to stick with the original as It's more my thing.
Release Date: 28/08/00
The Fabulous Three - The Music Moves You Around[Radar 022]
Favourite Track: B
Future Chart Position: Yes - 14
Additional Comments: Uplifting Trance Tune that will get everyone at "Dragonball" asking for more!
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Fabulous Three are an act i`ll keep an eye on... this tune is very nice. I`m immediatley drawn to the Sunstar mix as their Baleric Desire tune is still a favourite of mine. Their mix keeps the riff but adds strings and other parts from the original but is more complete. However the original still has a very strong potential and is more for people who like their trance harder. However I'd Stick with the Sunstar mix.
Release Date: 28/08/00
Click Here:
to hear a clip of "The Music Moves You Around(Sign Of The Dragon Mix)"
Reviews From 05/08/00
The indisc releases came without a reaction form so i`ll base them on the Combined Forces one.
Boombox - To Stay Awake[Indisc 31-12]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 6
Additional Comments: Lovely mixes from everyone, definatley catchy and innovative trance.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review This is Indisc's first 12" release as they usually stick to CD singles. Immediately this release starts with a killer remix by top producers "The Shrink" with their more harder dutch trance and distorted lead which will please anyone listening and ge tthem dancing. The next remix comes from my favourite producers of the moment, Jacob & Mendez. They stick to the pattern that i`m used to hearing keeping everything nice and melodic and more accessable, making full use of the "To stay awake and play" Sample. The riff in this would work anywhere from Gatecrasher to on your radio. Simply Blinding. The original mix is for hardhouse fans, much more simplistic but would work well on a dancefloor.
Release Date: Check Www.indisc.com for info
Bede - You Got Me Twisted[Indisc 21-12]
Favourite Track: AA1
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Nice garage, but not the sort of thing i'd play.
Overall Rating: 5
Full Review This is a very commercial track which varies in styles. The "2 Step 4 U" mix is just that. Nice and soft Garage which is very different to my record collection. The "Pure Garage Mix" Is more the sort of thing Pete Tong would play on his radio 1 show, a 4/4 garage mix which is a change. My favourite mix is the "Laconic's Straightened Out Mix" which is more for a house/trance crowd with 303 lines that sound like they were done in rebirth and some cool synths.
Release Date: Check www.indisc.com for info
Eskimo - Call Me Poison[Indisc 26]
Favourite Track: 4
Future Chart Position: Yes - 16
Additional Comments: Lovely mixes from everyone, definatley catchy and innovative trance.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review This is a CD Promo for a change. Call Me Poison has 6 mixes which vary over a wide range of styles. First up is the Radio edit and Eskimo Club Mix. They are very similar and have samples in that took me back to when I started making music in 1993 ... They Also both have a very nice riff but it still feels very commercial. The Dok Ponticelli Mix is more harder, similar to German Label Drizzly's stuff. My Favourite Mix is up next, the "Nellos Red Bull mix." Very Similar to some of my songs it makes the riff more accessable. Suprisingly Jacob & Mendez's mix is very hard tech trance, the riff is very much all over the place and the vocal is detuned but still it reminds me of something nukleuz would release. Finally, The "BeeZed Poizone Remix" is Full of distorted 303's and begins with the vocal coming in filtered and all in all a very good package.
Release Date: Check Www.indisc.com for info
Reviews From 16/08/00
These records also didnt have a reaction form so i`ll base them on the combined forces one.
Blank & Jones - The Nightfly [Nebula 010]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: A massive original mix with remixes that don't quite match the standard of the original.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Blank & Jones have had a strong set of releases with After Love [also on nebula] being my favourite. As with that track, the original mix is far better than any of the remixes. This storming energy trance tune is sure to please any one who's interested in this style. With a riff that's similar to Parker & Clind - Teleportation, it also has some flanged signum style strings. The production on this track is excellent even though it uses that JP8000 supersaw lead that I've used so so so many times now. Out of the remixes, Rapid Eye's mix is very typical to what Steve produces under his thrillseekers nick. This mix is more laid back than the original and takes too long to get going. The DJ Jean mix is nice and simple and makes a wicked hard house track while the Pants and Corset mix is very hard, It has a really good underlay riff but still falls short of the potential of the original mix. Still a nice package and the original mix is definately one to watch.
Release Date: Check Www.nebula.uk.com for info
Click Here:to hear a clip of "The Nightfly"
Allure - No More Tears [Nebula 011]
Favourite Track:
Future Chart Position: Yes - 11
Additional Comments:
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review DJ Tiesto's newest track is a simple melodic trance tune. It does however remind me of Watergate - Heart of Asia. Remixes come from Aquilia and Abnea. The original mix tries to be very emotional and this puts me off it. If you are a strong Tiesto fan then this is probably right up your street. The Aquilia mix is more progressive than the original but the mix that does it for me is the Abnea mix. Who Abnea are I have no idea about but their mix definately did it for me as their mix is much more energetic and has a wicked 303 bassline then going into the strings off the original for the breakdown, the riff comes in and its chopped around with a bit which is a nice change, the one fault is that the ending is very quick so it'll be a right git of a tune to mix with. Apart from that it's a good package.
Release Date: Check Www.nebula.uk.com for info
Click Here:to hear a clip of "No More Tears"
Penn-9 Project - Backburner [Nebula Promo]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 5
Additional Comments: A kicking 2 tracker.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review It's nice when you are given records like this. This tune has it all, Sounding a cross between Agnelli & Nelson and Jacob & Mendez [Two acts who's music I like very strongly.] This tune has a nice beat, arpeggios a good buildup, analogue Juno 60 like stabs and a brilliant pitch bend rise and it just goes mad from there. The B-Side Raytheon sounds more like something Der Dritte Raum'd knock out. Sounding similar to the a-side but more synth parts, there's no real build up but with a tune that sounds like this there doesn't need to be one. Zap's are also included in this tune which gives it some extra effect. A thoroughly good 2 tracker is this one.
Release Date: Check Www.nebula.uk.com for info
Click Here:to hear a clip of "Backburner"
Reviews From 22/08/00
Yahel - Devotion [Cyber Vs Combined Forces]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 15
Additional Comments: Nice Rank 1 Sounding tune which I like a lot - I'd actually like to know more about this
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review No You are not going mad, I have reviewed this track before. However, Today I was sent the official release of this track on Cyber Records. This is a Trance tune that sounds very similar to Rank 1. It has been remixed by Armin Van Buuren and is a combination of Cyber records and Combined Forces. Some nice strings and an nice piano riff. I know this track is going to be big because so many people have asked to buy my copy. Well we'll find out in a few months won't we.
Release Date: Unknown [Check Www.Cyberrecords.nl for more info]
Click Here:to hear a clip of "Devotion (Armin Mix)"
Revolt - No More White Lines [Part Of The Deal 013]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: Nice Progressive Pounder. Odd title though.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review This track is produced by 'Arno Asmus.' No i`ve never heard of him either but I will look out for his tracks in the future as this 2 Tracker is very Dark and deep progressive house. A tribute to the U.K Progressive sound according to the reaction form. Nice dark mechanical sasha style drum programming with a groovy bassline. The B-Side "Till Dusk" starts with a nice choir string and has similar drum programming and swirly pads as on the A-Side. This track wouldn't sound out of place on a Sander Kleinenberg E.P as it is very similar to his productions. The B Side is less darker and more melodic so that's the one i`d personally go for. So if you like progressive house go out and buy this track now.
Release Date: September 18th
Click Here:to hear a clip of "No More White Lines"
MY CHART - 22/08/00