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5 Months ! And Getting Stronger! A welcome return to Combined Forces who start the month off with two very good tracks.
Reviews from 04/11/00
Andrew Maas - Cum Rah[Unik Kyr 001]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 6
Additional Comments: Nice Timo Maas Styled Tracks which kick off the Unik KYR label.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review Andrew Maas kicks off new Unik Kyr imprint. The A side starts with a simple drum pattern then hi hats and an AWEX style bassline which fades in. Then some warm strings are added with some gated pads which timo maas fans would really like. The beat gets a bit more complex and all in all the track is very danceable which will probably be in my chart till the end of the year at least. B Side "Handle With Care" starts very similar to a techno track with a monotonous bassline with some computer game styled fx. Strings fade in alongside more drums and then the strings are filtered while the other elements are faded in. This two tracker is a very good start to the KYR label. Watch out for other releases!
Release Date: 13/11/00
Solid Sessions - Fatal Morgana[Combined Forces 036]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 18
Additional Comments: Solid Sessions are back again with a deeper and weirder track.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review No doubt if you listen to Pete Tong or Paul Van Dyk's sets you'll have heard of "Janeiro." The producers behind it are back again with a completely different style of a track. "Fatal Morgana" begins with a breakbeat, that filters down and occasional synths come in and some rides. All this drops down again later and the weird riff comes in with the synth line. The breakbeats come in again and the track adds more rides. Then finally the breakbeat filters down and some different pads come in which are completely unexpected. This is the sort of thing that'd please clubbers that are more interested in the deeper side of things. Keep a look out for it.
Release Date: TBA
Reviews from 07/11/00
Vincent De Moor - Additional Works Volume 2[Combined Forces 039]
Favourite Track: D
Future Chart Position: Yes - 4
Additional Comments: The Man Returns In A Weird Form
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review A mixed bunch of tracks here from the "man with the master plan". Vincent de moor is back on form with a 4 tracker that is completely different from other releases that I have heard him do. "Proceed" kicks the EP off with a very dark attack with some analogue pads and it even goes breakbeaty during one of the breakdowns while "Artic Duction" is definately more the VDM sound I know of with some excellent rhythm programming and keeping a minimalistic but still maintains my interest. "Skindeep" appeals to me the same way that the Andrew Maas track I reviewed did, with a funky driving groove and some very interesting strings. Last track "Biophysica" is completely weird, containing a shuffled bouncy rhythm and some weird experimental noises, this track has a guitar style breakdown. The way the track is arranged reminds me of music from an amiga game I used to own called "Fire & Ice" and although its hard to judge it is my favourite track of the four due to its weirdness. For those who think I've lost the plot or completely or for those who are interested then check this EP out. It comes with my recommendation.
Release Date: 04/12/00
Various Artists - The Ultimate DJ Serie[Combined Forces 038]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 14
Additional Comments: Very Surpising pack from UK and German artists.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review This 4 Tracker is "something pretty unusual." Damn Right. UK artists Lange And Aurora on Combined Forces ?!? Suprising but brilliant all the same. If you are from the UK you will most probably know "Ordinary World" by Aurora and "Follow Me" by Lange (both on the Positiva label). They are 2 very high quality vocal trance productions with Aurora's track being an excellent copy of Duran Duran's song from 1993 and Lange's being nice and melodic. The other tracks on this ep are by DJ Alligator and Cosmic Gate. DJ alligator's track is pretty much standard with some amusing vocals which set it apart from other tracks in its style. Cosmic Gate's tune is unsuprisingly a copy of Somewhere over the rainbow. Pretty much chartbound cheese with some seriously dodgy singing but in a harder Drizzly style way. Interesting and varied pacakge from the Combined Forces team.
Release Date: 20/11/00
Vincent De Moor - Fly Away Remixes[Combined Forces 035]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: Fly Away is back Again with an excellent choice of remixers.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review De Moor is back again this month. Combined Forces have chosen some of the strongest of their own artists to remix him giving Noisefloor, Don Diablo, Generation X and Havana the honours. Havana take the track into more layers, using lots of synth underlays and other sounds not included in the original. Noisefloor leave out the melody and turn it into a tech trance tune while Generation X's mix is the same one as on Additional Works Volume 1 and I still feel the same about it being dull. Don Diablo completely turns the track into something much harder and more trancier too. It doesnt feel like a remix to me though as not many elements from the original are there. However it can still do damage I bet. If you loved the original I have no doubt you'll like this. If you didnt then still give these remixes a chance.
Release Date: 30/11/00
Peter G & The Clubjock - Klubbstrings [DJ Records 002]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 20
Additional Comments: A melodic trance track with Hard House influences.
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review This track is a club house and trance crossover track. Tidy Trax / Perfect Phase-like beeps combined with chopped up vocals carry the track into the breakdown with a very melodic and trancey lead. The Club mix is very similar in style to the original mix but is much more in the hard house style maintaining the beeps and the lead this track will please those who like it trancey and also those who like it harder. Keep up the good work.
Release Date: 13/11/00
Don Diablo - The Sound Of Fear [Refuse 003]
Favourite Track: B
Future Chart Position: Yes - 16
Additional Comments: Don Diablo knocks you out third time in a row.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Don Diablo's back again. His brand of Madness is still evident in his third track. "The Sound of fear" is a track that has some hardcore samples and a sample all early Prodigy fans will recognise. It all goes mad from there with a simple, effective drum beat and a Mauro Picotto inspired bassline. B Side "Greetings from Mars" is similar in arrangement as "The Sound of fear." but as you can guess has some Alien answering messages and midway through the track uses a Distorted 909 Bassdrum. The reaction form comes with another warning of "Not to Put the Volume over the edge" as this will blow a hole in your speaker!
Release Date: 16/10/00
Eclipse - Dance 2 Da House [DJ Records 001]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 18
Additional Comments: Cool hard house track to kick off a new label
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Dance 2 Da House kicks off the New DJ Records label Owned by Peter G. This track is a hard house track with some influences from Black Legend and a "Dance To The House" sample fans of UK act the Brainbashers will no doubt recognise. The "Klubbversion" is for the more minimal hard house fans, while the "Synthversion" includes some Club Caviar style synths and is just that bit better. I'm sure all you who are into your hard house will like this and will be goin "Woop! Woop!" in time with this tune in no time at all. Stick with the "Synthversion mix" and you can't really go wrong.
Release Date: 27/11/00
P.I.K - Speaker Freak[Combined Forces 037]
Favourite Track: B2
Future Chart Position: Yes - 5
Additional Comments: The BMW track makes a return with a new mix.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review At Last! The first promo I was sent from Combined Forces was this fine tune and it took me ages to find out what it was called. Sent out originally in May on a white label with a BMW logo on the centre of the record, this track confused everyone to what it was called and who made it. P.I.K are Pronti, DJ Isaac and Kalmani. These 3 are no strangers to music making and definatley deliver the goods with this 3 tracker. "Speaker Freak" is a very powerful track with some nice hard house rhythms and a Yomanda styled bassline. With scratches, spinbacks and vocals all over the place this new track is destined for big things. "Speaker F******" is the track thats received a lot of Hype being played by DJs such as Scott Mac, Paul Matthews, Tom Harding and Judge Jules. Very similar to "Speaker Freak" but it plays around with the riff more and adds a breakbeat element partway through the track. The best track on this 3 tracker is "Wooferfunk". This track is very much like what is being produced on the Vinyl Inside label with a simple riff but a good funky bassline and groove with "Come on everybody get down get loose" vocals too. Overall this is Definately one to watch and it deserves really big things!
Release Date: 27/11/00
Rene Ablaze & Sam-Pling Presents "Sunstar" - November Rain[Combined Forces 041]
Favourite Track: B
Future Chart Position: Yes - 12
Additional Comments: Sunstar Recreate November Rain for 2000!
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Top producers Rene Ablaze & DJ Sam-pling are back again with their Sunstar outfit. This is apparently a Cover version of November Rain by Guns & Roses. This track has a very strong build up then the string pattern filters in. A nice piano melody and a very strong lead kicks in and it all carries on from there. Definately worth checking out.
Release Date: T.B.A
Deja-Vu - Face Down[Rotate 010]
Favourite Track: B2
Future Chart Position: Yes - 7
Additional Comments: Don Diablo knocks you out third time in a row.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review As soon as I recieved this I headed straight for the "Future State" mix. All those who know of Future State Should agree with me that "Now Is The Time" is one of the best tracks ever to come from Combined Forces! They provide a very interesting take on the Riff using something that sounds like a Juno 106 and the majority of the tune is covered in reverb but thats not a bad thing in this case. The Original Mix starts quite good then turns into one hell of a cheesy sounding track with a vocal that doesnt feel right in this mix. As soon as the riff comes in I am prone to taking the needle off before smashing the record into pieces, not because of the riff but because of the cheesy instrument used for it. Agghhhh Cheese. The mix by "Mike Heart" is much better, it turns the track into a funky house track playing around with disco loops and stabs while messing around with the vocal. The future state mix is Definately the best of the bunch and is the mix that gets this such a high chart placing.
Release Date: 20/11/00
Vincent De Moor - Fly Away (The Final Remixes) [Combined Forces 040]
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: The Final set of remixes of this track with a very nice B Side
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Vincent De Moor's Fly Away track is now set to explode everywhere and has recieved such positive feedback all around. The Original mix I'm sure you all know of, if not where have you been! The "Extended Radio Edit" adds vocals to the track which work really well. The Noisefloor remix is also on this pack. Noisefloor successfully leave out the melody and turn it into a tech trance tune. "Can You Hear Me" is an excellent trance track. It's very dreamy and is similar to fly away but appeals to me more because of its synth lines and dreamy piano. An excellent package all in all and "Can you hear me" will be in my chart for some time!
Release Date: 20/11/00
MY CHART - 25/11/00