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The year is drawing to a close and I have some real good tracks to end it with! Some really strong Purple Eye tunes this month.
Reviews from 04/12/00
D Project - Squared[Tremolo 027]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: Nice and simple Trance track from the Tremolo label.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review The Tremolo label has been very odd in terms of its output recently and this has to be the best release thats come from them. A very good build-up occurs in the A side with a cool drum beat, a good bass and reverbed "Key trigger" lead before the track breaks down to the reverbed lead and carries on adding more synths to it. Rob Fabrie did the B-Side mix and it isn't as good as the A side in my opinion. It features the "Key Trigger" lead pitched up a few notes with some more mad synths and weird snare patterns with a not so good drumloop. But one thing that I like about this mix is I have some samples from it! A nice two tracker though that should do quite well in sales.
Release Date: TBA
Tony Walker - Fields Of Joy [Tsunami 025]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 14
Additional Comments: Trance track which has recieved a lot of good feedback recently.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Andre van de Bosch (De Bos) returns with another production. Why he's chosen "Tony Walker" as his name is beyond me but still it doesn't matter. The A Side has had a lot of positive feedback and is similar to something Veracocha would produce. Very well produced(nice and tight bass and drums) and definatley a good riff. However the track does go on a little too long and is a bit overhyped in my opinion, it also lacks a string breakdown which would have been ideal at one or two places in the track. The B Side is very similar to what De Bos has produced before (as De Bos and Sound Check). A very simple Juno 106 style drops down for a short, more accessible instrument for the riff and a string breakdown being added too which works really well. This carries on for the rest of the track, however the A side is my favourite mix of the track. It'd get 9 or 10 out of 10 if only it had a string breakdown and was not so long.
Release Date: TBA
Smiter - Both Places [Tsunami Special Blend 003]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: Yes - 6
Additional Comments: Rob "Generator" Smit returns with this effective trancer.
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review The new release on the very successful Tsunami Special Blend label comes from Robert Smit. Famed for his productions as "The Generator" and his collaboration with Ferry Corsten as "Starparty" he does the damage on a new track. The Original mix starts with a simple underlay synth melody on top of a bassline and drum track this track then moves on adding strings and a simple but very catchy and well thought up melody. The remix by John Johnson is more progressive and sounds completely different until the strings (altered by a few notes) come in keeping that Microwave bass sound fluent throught the whole track with some harder progressive drums. Definately one to look out for.
Release Date: 04/12/00
Chew-Fu Phat - Get It On [Bomboza 002]
Favourite Track: A
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Groovy House track
Overall Rating: 6/7
Full Review Purple Eye's newest label Bomboza is producing some really funky house tracks at the moment. I have started to like house music a bit more now. This track starts with a disco beat and some singing is dropped in with a funky guitar riff and the vocal is combined with a saxaphone to make the riff up. DJ Roog's Hardsoul remix is more uplifting and most probably the sort of thing Pete Tong would play. Similar to the Original but more funkier. The Erick E mix is very weird as it is nothing like the original at all apart from a synth that follows the change in notes of the vocal. A good package that will no doubt do well with house music fans.
Release Date: 04/12/00
Reviews from 16/12/00
Medicen Men - Electric Voodoo [Remixes] (Carnal 003)
What Do You Think: (Slammin / Good / Bad / Ugly): Good
DJ and/or Company Name: Loukas P-H
Full Review Medicen Men are back! After the wicked 2 track I recieved a few months ago with the nice and dark "Electric Voodoo" comes the remixes provided by two big names at the moment, E-Craig(who has appeared on lots of dutch labels and good:as in the uk) starts his mix with a cool drumloop which is added to by a Yomanda like bassline. Then it all drops down for a swirly synth pad and some chants of "Black Magic" and "Pray to the God of Electric Voodoo" with a siren to build everything up. After that you can guess it goes mad, on the 2nd breakdown the drums are flanged which will no doubt get you dancing(in my case it did!) Then it all carries on to the end with a nice build-out that djs will find easy to mix with. Ronald Van Gelderen returns for the B Side mix, starting with a kick drum thats been given lots of helium with some nice drums and a good bassline and it drops to some very quiet "are you listening" vocals with him recreating the riff and carries on in that way. The riff is an octave higher then goes back to normal and back an octave higher, this works well on the track and altogether this is a very good remix package of the Electric Voodoo Track.
Release Date: TBA
Reviews from 18/12/00
Soulman - Commin' Up Strong(Rotate 011)
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 7
Additional Comments: Uplfiting Hard House by Producer Steve Morley! Definately Only For The Headstrong!
Overall Rating: 9
Full Review Uplfiting Hard House tune that follows up to last months Deja Vu - Face Down release. Steve Morley at the controls on this track. The A side has A Klubbheads style bass with some sirens and some excellent hardcore stabs... this track is really full on! The "Dance Till You Drop Mix" of this release has it all I tell you! A catchy rap reminding me of the one used on Phatt B - And Da Drum Machine a nice 303 line, a very pounding beat, the same siren as on the a side and "Go" and "Whoo!" vocals to give you the better get daning feeling! Just make sure you keep the pitch on this mix up as it sounds even better and more up for it! Watch Your Speakers Melt Pretty Quickly - Ouch!
Release Date: TBA
Top Dogz - Gotta Get This Feeling (Combined Forces 042)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 18
Additional Comments: Funky House produced by Generation X and DJ Roog.... Filters at the ready on these tracks.
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review This is a 4 tracker thats recieved a lot of hype from the acetate copies, immediatley into the A side is the Mike Vandenberg remix. This is well twisted and that appeals to me in a very big way! Nice funky disco house music with nice uplifting twists and groovy rhythms[one particular loop from this track was used on Spiller - Groovejet for all you trainspotters!]. The Original Mix is more laid back and when I played it I thought I was stuck in a timewarp as it does sound like it is from the 70's! The C-Side is the Hardsoul remix of "Natural High". This reminds me of something french label Roule would put out nice and groovy yet filtered and keeping the disco feeling too. The Original of Natural High on side D is very groovy also, especially when the track filters up - it reminds me of a track called "Step into the rhythm" by "Clippers" and that track is wicked too. Altogether theres a variety of tracks which house djs would have difficulty choosing as they are all good.
Release Date: TBA
Michael De Hay Vs Literon - Herogen (Area Code 070 Records 007)
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes-13
Additional Comments: Area Code 070 follow up to the excellent "Lets Beuk" by Dulux Connection with this groovy "Progressive Tech-House Hybrid"
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Area Code 070 are back. Their 7th release shows they are consistent with their darker releases. Michael De Hay And Literon have had releases before on Plink Plonk and EC if you are interested in their work, though I've never heard of them I'm sure they will become bigger in due course. "Hirogen" kicks off with a simple rhythm and a bassline, then open hi hats are added with some techy synth loops and some rides. This carries on with the synth loop being filtered then the beat becomes more complex and a really cool flanged synth comes in.. talk about a weird track! B Side "Purple Flare" has a simple Kick and Clap rhythm with a 2 note bassline and the same flanged synth patch comes in and plays a really odd melody leading in to a more complex drum pattern. A Nice melody comes in which teases in some strings and the whole track carries on with the drums progressing until the build-out. A really good 2 tracker which is definately a cross between a "Tuff Party Track" and a "Smooth Groove". Nice!
Release Date: TBA
Mike Vandenberg - Flux Capacitor (Sadie Records 006)
Favourite Track: B1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 11
Additional Comments: Excellent 2 Tracker from the Sadie Label.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review The Producer behind "Generation X" Returns, this record was a real pain to get sorted because of the sticker on the record covering up the hole where the record is to be put on the decks. Also I'm put off by the title as all things electronic remind me of my bad test result in electronics. "Flux Capacitor" is A nice progressive track which has a strong kick drum and a nice waldorf microwave like bassline with some gated strings that carry on throughout the track and other pads, very nice and clean production. "Gemini" kicks off with the "Gouryella" drumloop thats making an appearence on quite a few tracks. The beat dies down into a synth pad that kicks in the beat and the kick drum and bassline, then the rest of the drums are added. The track breaks down again and the synth pad plays some more notes and its a very funky track. Excellent 2 Tracker from Mike / Generation X.
Release Date: TBA
Billy More - Up & Down (Combined Forces 043)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Simple 3 Tracker that Caters For Most Tastes In Terms Of Club Music... Check it out
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Combined Forces Are on their 43rd release now in 18 months. This release has help from Pulsedriver, SM-Trax and Denis The Menace for remixes. The Pulsedriver mix starts off with some cool programmed drums and an interesting kick and bassline. Then some guitar/synth patch provides a nice underlay and it cuts into the riff with the "Get Up And Down" vocals. This mix doesn't grab me as much as Pulsedriver's other stuff has done.. The SM-Trax mix is an example of cheese which I avoided after the 2nd listen. Denis The Menaces mix is a funky house thats got commercial viability and has some groovy elements. Altogether an interesting 3 tracker that caters for Most tastes. Just missing a chart position.
Release Date: TBA
Reviews from 27/12/00
Tukan - Light A Rainbow(Drizzly 2007/59)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 9
Additional Comments: Top Trance Track with an excellent Green Court Remix.
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review German label Drizzly are on form with a brilliant release. For those of you that do not know of them, they are the label that release 12" records with about 10" of the record being taken up with the logo and info about the track. The Very Highly Recommended "Green Court" production team deliver the main A side remix and I can see why they are popular. The Vocals on this track are calm and happy and the riff kicks in midway through them. The riff is very warm and melodic and a few percent faster on a record deck sounds very much like a release by "Veracocha". The B Side has the more simplistic original mix which is more commercial too. The other B side mix is by DJ Worris, he is known for his productions on the Planet Traxx label. This release is much more harder and takes the track in a different direction in terms of its production and its synth lines. Overall a good release from the Drizzly Label.
Release Date: Unknown
Kay D Smith - Plattform E.P (Form Recordings 011)
Favourite Track: B2
Future Chart Position: Yes - 18
Additional Comments: Excellent Harder Techno Release From The Drizzly Sublabel
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Kay D Smith is a producer that has recieved a lot of good feedback from techno DJs up and down the country. These 4 tracks are very dark and very hard techno, which appeals to me as its something different from the usual trance/house i'm sent. Pounding Kick Drums and distortion are evident on all 4 of these tracks. "Formvollendet" (meaning "Perfect") is very hard and has a repetitive distorted synth line and some distorted vocal clips. "Mysterious Minds" is like "Formvollendet" but has an Azzido Da Bass style "Vwamph" noise as the lead on top of hard drum patterns. The "Gloomy Remix" of "Mysterious Minds" keeps the same drum pattern as the original mix but with some darker synths that add some darker effects to the original version. "Ermahnung" is a simple kick drum and bassline track with some drums and a pan flute sample that's been used in like 3,000 amiga .mod files. The breakdown has some nice choir sample that do damage in the track. These are very dark tracks that will no doubt lock you into a groove while terrorising you.
Release Date: Unknown
Alex K Katz - Dark Decade(Construct Rhythm 023)
Favourite Track: B2
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Hard And Gritty Techno Tracks From The Highly Recommended Construct Rhythm Label
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Along with Kay D Smith, Alex K Katz is another techno producer thats received a lot of positive feedback from DJs up and down the country. He has a mechanical style to his techno tracks. This is Evident in "Dark Decade" where he uses something that sounds like a spring board detuned by about 3 octaves. This is played around with on top of some gritty drum programming. "Subdue" is even more grittier with some Fx swishes, clanging metal pipe samples and distorted elements throughout. This will no doubt please the more twisted of you who are into the more harder techno sound. "Continue" reminds me of German Tracking Group Rohformat, the arrangement is very similar but Alex K Katz still gives this track his gritty sound. Another Excellent Techno release this month from the Drizzly Company.
Release Date: Unknown
Phuture Punk - Der Klang(Planet Traxx 2014)
Favourite Track: B2
Future Chart Position: Yes - 16
Additional Comments: Hard Trance track from the combination of producers "Junk Project" and "Aquaplex"
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Andreas Kramer and Reysan Khan (Aka Junk Project and Aquaplex) collaborate on this crossover between trance and acid. Mauro Picotto Style production with some hard leads over a Darker trance track. This then emerges into some 303 lines with heavy playing around with the cutoff. "Gedanken" carries on in the same style as "Der Klang" but with a more trancier lead and some simple synth melodies. "Colours Are Feelings" gets the 303 out again with some spoken vocals this time and is no doubt much more my sort of thing with some trancier synth lines and no doubt a less harder feeling to it than the other two tracks. Altogether a good release from the Planet Traxx Label, following up to another favourite of mine "Knochenbrecher" - "Nasenbluten".
Release Date: Unknown
DJ Errik - Minimal Obsession (Logport 2003)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: Yes - 13
Additional Comments: Trancey 2 tracker From The Club Target Label "Logport"
Overall Rating: 8
Full Review Two Club Based tracks are on this new release for Logport. The A side "Freakz" is a nice 9 minute dark and deep track with a monotonous bassline and synth overlays that will get you nodding your head in no time to this constant beat. B-Side "3001" also has a nice monotonous groove over some 303's being altered and some steady drum patterns, this two tracker will appeal to all those who like their synths on and dont mind anything being deep and that'll lock you into a groove for a good 7 minutes or so. Nice and deep trance.
Release Date: Unknown
Kay D Smith - Face Smasher(Jerk 2006-29)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Scary Techno Tracks From Kay D Smith
Overall Rating: 7/8
Full Review Kay D Smith returns on another record today! Dark basslines and pounding drums are in "Face Smasher", Featuring a disturbed vocal going "I'll smash your face like a face into your hands". Flanges are in use a lot during this track with snares and simple 2 note synth sounds being heavily flanged! "Procession" is much more harder and monotinous with some weird sounds, reverbed and dark. That's all there is really as the main sounds are just played around with. "Regentanz" Is very dark with some warped Vocal samples that are looped over some very dark drum programming, around 70% into the track the distortion and pitch shift are used in full effect. Kay D Smith's tracks will no doubt scare anyone within a 1 mile radius if turned up loud enough....And this is no exception! So lets keep the volume up and not disappoint anyone up to a mile nearby!
Release Date: Unknown
Odyssey Of Light - The Breath (Axwax 2010)
Favourite Track: A1
Future Chart Position: No
Additional Comments: Hard Trance From The Axwax Label
Overall Rating: 7
Full Review Andreas Kramer & Reysan Khan are also back on another track today. This is also very similar to their release on Planet Traxx I recieved today, 303's are at the ready with some nice female spoken vocals and the same synth patch and could that be a Jv-1080 Pizzicato line I hear. It definately sounds like it. B-Side "Confusion" is very similar to "The Breath" with 303s and vocals and isn't very interesting but will probably go down well with those of you who rate the A side highly.
Release Date: Unknown
MY CHART - 18/12/00
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