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September begins with some ace tracks from Drizzly and London's Trance Communications Label.
Reviews from 04/09/01
Alex Bartlett - Amnesia [Drizzy 2014-67]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 1
Additional Comments: Excellent Follow up to the Tukan Remixes with a full on mix from Flutlicht vs SHOKK.
Overall Rating: 10
Full Review Italy's Alex Bartlett is the newest artist to be featured on the excellent Drizzly label and Drizzly have their recent superstars to do mixes. "Marc Dawn's Green Court Mix" is nice and melodic with excellent synth underlays with good use of the vocals but the production later on in the track is a little too commercial for my liking. Bewarned when flipping over to the "Flutlicht vs SHOKK Mix" as this will be very to resist whistling to and even harder not to dance to. Definately took me by suprise with its running bassline and mind-melting underlays that do so much damage. When the vocals come in its pretty obvious a really good riff is going to come in if you take a look at both Flutlicht and SHOKK's previous work. When the riff comes in fully it has a harder style to it but it certainly does the damage and is set to become one of my favourite tracks to come from this year. The "Original Mix" is pretty weak compared to others on offer and is very commercial so I would recommend sticking with the "Flutlicht vs SHOKK Mix". Hopefully this track will be licensed to a UK label shortly and get the recognition it so rightly deserves.
Release Date: TBA
Kay D Smith - Conjunction[Construct Rhythm 027]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 10
Additional Comments: 3 More Tracks of Ear Melting Techno from Kay D Smith
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review Construct Rhythm are a label who's past output has been something you can rely on as being consistent and something that can put speakers under severe pressure. Kay D Smith's recent efforts have been something which show that this producer is a little insane and that you are way out of your depth when listening. "Conjunction" is made up entirely of loops and drums with the hard distorted Hi Hats and pounding ride cymbals. "Synapsensterben" is even more twisted with distorted vocals similar to those on Schwarze Puppen - "Schwarze Puppen" on Overdose. As well as this there is an off key synth loop which hypnotises you giving you an urge to dance. "Tongefluster" is a typical Kay D Smith production with an added twist of a loop that sounds like it is from a tech house track. Hard and funky seems to be the order of the day with this track but its the wonder of "Synapsensterben" which is the one to go for on this 3 Tracker.
Release Date: TBA
Dave Joy - First Impression[Planet Traxx 018]
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 4
Additional Comments: Planet Traxx return with this stomper from Dave Joy.
Overall Rating: 10
Full Review Not managing to ever disappoint, the Planet Traxx label return with this their 18th release. Hard and Melodic trance is the way this 3 tracker is set and getting SHOKK to do the A Side mix was a very wise move for Drizzly. Their mix starts with a hard kick drum and opposing bass and builds up with synth underlays and complex drums. Also theres a 303 which adds to the intensity of this track before a really energetic and Melodic riff comes in which like SHOKK's other remix is certainly one which I favour. I won't say anymore just check it out. "DJ Loudness vs Dave Joy's Mix" is a bit weaker in terms of arrangement and also feels empty but the ideas are there. The "Original Skyline Mix" is quite energetic and a mellower version of the track which would favour fans of those who aren't into harder tracks. Definately check out the "SHOKK Mix" of this track as they seem to be doing no wrong at the moment.
Release Date: TBA
Transistor - Fuselace[Jerk 2010-33]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 13
Additional Comments: Noise Based Techno from the Jerk Label.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review The last Jerk Record made me scratch my head thinking what was going on as it played outwards in but thankfully this has returned to normal now. This 3 Tracker is nice and noise orientated with every track being mainly percussion based. "Fuse Lace" uses congas and metallic industrial FX to create a funky off the wall track. Especially with those Hi Hats. "Flow Rate" is more of the same but with sweeps, more tribal drum programming and a ride cymbal pattern which works very well. Random is a melodic little number which has a problem in that it is very short and minimalistic. Overall a reasonably good 3 tracker and "Flow Rate" is worth a listen.
Release Date: TBA
Reviews from 05/09/01
Medea feat. Justine - Universal [Trance Communications 015]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 5
Additional Comments: This is the first I've heard of Medea and I reckon you should watch out for them! Ace.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review This London based label has certainly had a good run recently, with their last track, "The Way I Like It" by "SL" leaving me very impressed. This track by Medea certainly of the same standard but this is a more energetic track with Justine's vocals that really help make the track stand out. The "Full Vocal" mix starts with a pounding kick and bassline combined with some FX and wooshes. A 303 helps the track build up especially as some of the vocals come in with the synth underlay and the vocals really do work a treat. This breaks down to a full on riff which lead into some pads with the chorus of the vocals. The track then goes back into the second verse then back into the chorus again. If you do not like the vocals however there is an "Instrumental Mix" on the other side. This is definately going to get full chartage from me over the next few months.
Release Date: TBA
Reviews from 06/09/01
Salmon Ravager - Dazed Dreamer [50:50 001]
Was This Track Suitable For The Types of Set You Play: If I Did Play Then Yes.
How Would You Rate This Tune: Not Bad
Would You Be Interested In Recieving More Tunes From Us: Yes
Do You Have Any Other Comments: This is a hard house track which is nice and bouncy.
Full Review This is the first track on new label "50:50". First impressions left me with a suprised look on my face as this two tracker takes no prisoners and comes straight at you with no warning at all. The A Side mix starts with a kick and filters coming into use on a 303 line and drumloops. FX are in order with synth sweeps and this track builds up into the breakdown, in which hints of the riff are filtered around with until it fully kicks in. The track then builds up and goes back into a really frenzied hard house track. The track carries on to second breakdown which is more of the same but the third breakdown adds some strings to give the track a darker edge and a snare roll. On the B Side, the mix on offer here isn't that different to the A side but there arent so many breakdowns and it seems to be editied. All In all this record is worth a listen especially if you are into the hard sort of sound and I wonder what future releases will be like.
Release Date: 06/07/01
Misty & Murky - Dance Like Yer Dad [Rebel Vinyl 020]
A Side - Your Reaction: 2
AA Side - Your Reaction: 3
Will You Be Playing It Out: N/A
Charting It: Yes
Comments: Bouncy trance track with a more darker harder and minimalistic mix on the flip.
Full Review Dodgy Artist Name, seriously dodgy title but thankfully a not so dodgy track comes from the consistent Rebel Vinyl label. This is their 20th release now and I'm even more interested in this track because it is produced by Clive Mead (Charlie Mike) and Adele Howlett. The Original Mix is a trance track with some hard house influences. It starts with some drums and stabs until the bassline comes in with a On Beat/Off Beat style synth underlay which builds the track up to what you would expect to be a breakdown but this isn't so. Instead more hoovers come in with a weird FX noise which lead the track to a breakdown and the track builds back up and kicks in again. The "C:\ Drive mix" on the flip at the start reminds me a bit like "The Drill" by "Dirt Devils" but it isn't. Instead the track is a more mellower and calmer mix than the A side with weird synth underlays that give the track an eerie feeling. A good release all the same though.
Release Date: 12/10/01
Charlie Mike vs The X-Static Boys - E-Rattic/Play It Again Man [Full Blast 001]
X Side: On Fire
Y Side: Doing It
Are You Playing It Out: N/A
Charting It: Yes - Number 8
Comments: Sure Fire hard house track from Charlie Mike + Friends on the new Rebel Vinyl offshoot.
Full Review This two tracker is the kick off track on London based Rebel Vinyl's sublabel "Full Blast". Produced by Clive Mead (also known as Charlie Mike) and The X-Static boys, these two tracks are bouncy enough to work a treat in any hard house club. "E-Rattic" starts with some hi hats which leads into a hard kick, a dark bassline and synth underlay. Sound FX are added along with the famous "Amiga Stab" sound used on a certain track by "Cortina" which is proving very popular at the moment. The track builds up with usage of a 303, hoovers and rave style stabs which lead onto the breakdown where the 303 riff is flanged and the Amiga Stab comes in with the other parts as the track builds up, when it kicks you are in the presence of a full on hard house track. "Play It Again Man" on the flip follows the same formula but goes for the darker side of things with an MC at the ready telling us to "Play The Record Again" and some swearing but that isnt a problem as this is a track which is also very good like the other side. Check it out and future material on this label will be just as good.
Release Date: TBA
Tacye - There's A Shadow [Rebel Xtreme 002]
A1 Track - Your Reaction: 4
A2 Track - Your Reaction: 3
AA Side - Your Reaction: 1
Will You Be Playing It Out: N/A
Charting It: Yes
Comments: The other mixes aren't that good but the C:\ Drive one is ace.
Full Review Release number two for Rebel Xtreme. This track is the result of a remix competition in the now defunct "The Mix" magazine. The vocalist, Tayce has already released two succesfull tracks "In My Dreams" and "Oxygen" and featured on compilations so it's obvious she is no newcomer. The winning mix of the competion, "Sl@ve's Nightmare Mix" is a very hectic hard house track with a chopped up vocal and hoovers which build the track up to the breakdown where the vocal comes in with some frantic out of place sirens and evil laughs. This is seriously twisted and not for my liking at all, it goes very weird and full on after this which is it's only good side. The "MSK Club Mix" isn't much of an improvement but it is an OK attempt in the form of its arrangement and riff which both are similar to tracks from the Fog Area label. Also more of the vocal is used which takes the track on a more commercial theme. Flip over to the "C:\ Drive mix" (by Charlie Mike) as this is much more like it with its bouncy arrangement a bit like his release "The Bump" with its funky bassline and drums. The synth and 303 underlays also add effect to the track. Also the vocals are put to good use on this mix and it is definately the stand out mix on this 3 tracker. Check It Out When Released.
Release Date: 12/10/01