Louk's Reviews - December 2001

Louk

Base 1 - My Way
DP
Release date: 17th December 2001

Rating: 10

My Way (Weakest Link Mix)
My Way (Sascha Van Holt Club Mix)
My Way (Rico Bass Club Mix)

Full Review: The last release for the excellent DP this year comes from two German DJs known as Rico Bass and Sascha Van Holt. There are three mixes on offer in this record with one from Rico, one from Sascha and one from "The Weakest Link". I know you're thinking that you doubt Anne Robinson would be capable of putting together a remix at all or if it did it would feature just her voice but thankfully this isn't the case. As "Weakest Link" is an alias of Lars Tindy (one half of the Bushwankaz release back in September along with Rob Fabrie). His mix is a very tough number with speedy cut up raps from the other two mixes over some excellent drums and a sub bassline which really damages speakers when turned up. Catcy Stabs and FX come in to take the track to the breakdown where an "Untidy Trax" like bleepy riff comes in giving the track a rushy feel and sounding wicked. "Sascha Van Holt's Club Mix" takes a less frantic approach but adds a wicked saw wave synth underlay over a more speaker friendly bass and punchy rhythm. All the other elements from the "Weakest Link" mix are here along with an FX Sweep which was used on TV show "Club @ Vision" if you have the feeling you've heard it before like I have. While the "Rico Bass' Club Mix" is quite an uptempo number which changes the key of the track and sounds more like a trance track in places. The Raps, FX and Synth Riff are there in full glory and a dark low string breaks the track down along with random beeps. Each mix on this track is worthy of a high score but the Sascha Van Holt mix stands out as being the best. What a track to end the year with!

Jhey Palmer featuring MC Image - Hello
Bagatrix
Release date: unknown

Rating: 5

Hello (David Howard Original Mix)
Hello (Tosh + McLean's House Mix)
Hello (Julius Waldeck Full Length Mix)

Full Review: This record is something a little bit different from the records I usually review. The record comes from UK based Bagatrix recordings and it is their second release. Jhey Palmer and David Howard have teamed up with MC Image to produce a cover version of Lionel Ritchie's "Hello" track. Already this release has received widespread support from DJ Luck + MC Neat, Micky Simms, EZ + The Dreem Team. There are three mixes on offer on this track, with the "David Howard Original Mix" is out and out garage, with some funky drum programming and stabs. Some nice strings then follow and the track then leads into a Pizzicato string riff and sub bassline in which MC Image raps. The track then goes back into the chorus and at this point the track didn't have much of an effect on me. The "Tosh + McLean's House mix" is much better than the other two mixes in my opinion. The style is changed to house and a shuffled drumloop leads into a nice funky piano riff with excellent bassline. The vocals are introduced and they really work on this mix. Nothing else happens on this mix but I can certainly see house DJs playing it without a doubt. The "Julius Waldeck Full Length Mix" being a blatantly commercial two-step track, with vocals and raps also included. This track has a typical two step rhythm and an arrangement where the track is happy at the start then goes evil in the middle with a dark bassline. In all honesty this track didn't do anything for me at all. All in all theres three tracks to choose from, if you like garage then you are most likely going to be in luck with this record but if you like something a little bit different then go with the "Tosh + McLean's House Mix".

Polartraxx - Inspiration
Illuminate
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

Inspiration (Club Mix)
Inspiration (Extended Trance Mix)
On Minute

Full Review: What is it with producers adding "Traxx" to the end of artist names these days? Every track that also does this has a tendancy to be really evil as is the case with this one. This isn't a bad thing at all if done well....and that is definitely the case with this track. The "Club Mix" of "Inspiration" pounds away at the speaker with a tough ear damaging kick and sub bass. A manic 303 underlay and an excellent buzzy synth riff that sounds like a pneumatic drill making a large cavity through your ear follows with some really eerie strings. Then pretty unexpectedly a heartbeat comes in which gives the track a really evil turn especially when combined with one of the darkest chord changes I've heard on a track. This leads the track into total chaos and sounds absolutely wicked!!! The "Extended Trance Mix" is absolutely nothing like the original instead it goes for a seriously less intense approach. This starts really basic up until the breakdown where a really awful toybox part comes in. This puts me off, but thankfully that isn't for long as a very happy riff comes in that makes you induce a smile.. "On Minute" is a harder number with 303s, simple but effective drum programming, some very odd synth underlays and samples from the Moon Landing. This is pretty much all that happens until strings come in during the breakdown and lead into another excellent synth riff comes in. All in all this 3 track EP is definitely worth the purchase, if only for the A side itself as that really does the damage. Check out the B sides if you dont like it so hard.

Westwood Bros - Special Tactics Volume 1
Construct Rhythm
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

Special Tactics Volume 1 (A1 Mix)
Special Tactics Volume 1 (B1 Mix)
Special Tactics Volume 1 (B2 Mix)

Full Review: Ouch!!! Where the fuck have my ears gone? Ah... they are still here but this one nearly blew them to bits! This release by the "Westwood Bros" (Kay D Smith and Alex K Katz) proves even more that these two need a health and safety placed on any of their productions available. The A Side of this EP is pure unadulterated noise from the word go. All elements of their production are noticeable with the solid overdriven kicks, excellent off-the-scale riffs, grinding percussion loops, twisted stabs and some spoken german. This is definitely one of the hardest techno tracks I've heard in a while without a doubt! On The "B1" there is more of a percussion based arrangement rather than the chaos of the A side. Excellent twisted conga loops and layers of FX over spoken vocals and one beast of a kick is the order here. Some melody is included with a really effected saw wave playing a repeated loop which combines with the track really well. My favourite of the three is the "B2" however as this one knocks you way out of your depth. Starting with some very spooky synth chords, a booming kick and razor sharp Hi hats, this soon leads into chaos with the strings never dropping at all. There is some spoken German which works with the track really well. What's said is also printed on the centre of the record and talks about "sending a creature to guard over you and guide you so long as you obey it's voice". Calling this track evil isn't doing it justice. All three tracks in this EP will damage your ears nicely and are worthy of full marks. Check it out as soon as it is released and you will not be disappointed.

Junk Project - Composure Remixes
Drizzly
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

Composure (Solar Stone Mix)
Beats Bring Silence
Composure (Original Mix)
Composure (John 00 Flemming Mix)
Composure (Moogwai Mix)
Temporal

Full Review: The latest release from the excellent Drizzly label comes from Junk Project. This is actually infact a re-release of three older Junk Project tracks but with new mixes of Composure. The "Solar Stone Mix" of "Composure" takes the more epic approach with funky percussion and twisted FX sweeps occuring with a simple bassline and nice synth underlay. This sounds promising up until the breakdown, as the breakdown is pretty weak and doesn't really do much for me at all. The riff on this track also doesn't really stand out either in my opinion. "Beats Bring Silence" is definitely one of my favourite releases to come from Drizzly ever. First surfacing in 1999 on the Universal Prime Breaks label, finding a copy of this track was very rare but thankfully the people at Drizzly have re-released it. This track has it all in my opinion, Starting with the usual kick, bass and lots mechanical FX, the track builds up with a happy synth underlay. The track carries on with a Hi Pitched synth riff and female vocals repeating the title, which really sound excellent. The track breaks down and some excellent smile inducing strings come in with the vocals in full. The riff that follows just adds to how good this is and what follows is a further 6 mins of uplifting trance which made me try to breakdance to it the first time and certainly did it again this time round. The Original Mix of "Composure" is pretty simple in my opinion but this is definitely the best mix of it. This mix goes for the ambient approach and leaves out a kick drum. All it consists of is strings and a synth riff over some random and the odd drum sample here and there. All in all however, It is a very nice chill out track. The "John 00 Flemming Mix" of "Composure" is very energetic with some excellent keyboard work and drum programming combined with lots of synth sweeps. An underlay takes the track to the breakdown where the riff fully comes in over some awesome synth pads. The track kicks in and carries on until some gated synths add to this mix. This is defintely quite a good remix in my opinion. While the "Moogwai Mix" goes very deep with a repeated bassline and minimalistic approach throughout with only the Synth Underlay part from the original remaining. Nothing much happens in this mix at all and it doesn't really have much of an impact on me. "Temporal" is another dark chill out track with some dark strings and spooky synths over FX and a repeated click. Due to its length of 4 minutes there is very little in this track at all still it does a good job at sounding very dark. All in all this 6 tracker is a mixture of the upmost quality to sounding very weak and thankfully there is a wide variety to choose from.

Rainbow Warrior - A Trip To Space
Club Quake
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

A Trip To Space (Club Mix)
A Trip To Space (Space Mix)

Full Review: This is release number four for the excellent Club Quake label. Produced by "Rainbow Warrior" also known as Tillman Brauns, this two tracker is definitely set to impress. The "Club Mix" has sonar beeps and a grinding bassline along with A vocal repeating the title and a very catchy synth underlay. A frantic snare roll leads the track to the breakdown where an excellent riff comes in that I managed whistling to at several points after hearing - thats how catchy it is! Ok, fair enough thats about all there is in the arrangement but still I really like this mix. I can't really tell a difference in The "Space Mix" compared to the "Club mix" apart from it is a little bit longer and has a different bassline. Apart from that there are no noticeable differences and both mixes sound absolutely awesome. Check this out when released.

Kay D Smith - Heatflash
Construct Rhythm
Release date: unknown

Rating: 8

Fever
Standart
Flash

Full Review: Kay D Smith is a producer who's work I've been following for the past year and I've always commented on how he should be locked up in a mental asylum due to how weird his tracks are. Saying that though... I can't get enough of them, so that leaves you wondering what kind of mental state I must be in... hahah seriously though this three tracker is a bit bizzare to say the least. "Fever" pretty much destroys all the nerve endings in your head after first listen. Looped vocals are played around with over the most obscure drum sounds around. The track even stops to let the vocals loop on their own to lead into a short build up after which kicks the track back into chaos. "Standart" is a funky number with a shuffled percussion loop being the backbone of the track. Additional percussion elements are included which are phased to sound really twisted and all this is over a pretty solid kick drum. Simple yet fiendishly effective. "Flash" starts with some 303 stabs over a simple rhythm. I'll be honest and say that nothing else happens until some really nasty distorted synth riff comes in that makes the track sound just that bit abnormal. Especially when the drum programming becomes seriously complex at this point. All in all we have three very good yet very twisted techno tracks, a very good effort from Mr Smith.

Wavetraxx - Freedom
Planet Traxx
Release date: unknown

Rating: 6

Freedom
In Rithem (Club Mix)
In Rithem (SYS Mix)

Full Review: In all honesty I didn't think that much of the last release on the Planet Traxx label and I dont really think much of this. However these three tracks are not too bad just they do not rate when compared to "Dave Joy - First Impression" and "DJ Worris - Spiegelbild" in my opinion. "Freedom" starts quite promising with tough drums and nice synth underlay. Some cool supersaw strings come in and the track sounds promising in the breakdown until a weak Piano comes in that ruins the track in my opinion. This also leads to a riff which sounds OK but isn't wonderful. The "Club Mix" of "In Rithem" is a more laidback track compared to "Freedom". 303 stabs and sharp synths feature but it is still quite a slow track. Some nice strings come in and an OK Piano comes in to a reasonable riff and a vocal of "The Rhythm sets you free". Again this isn't wonderful but is a reasonable try. The one track that does restore a bit of faith in my opinion is the SYS mix of "In Rithem". After the excellent "Overdrive" they deliver a hard remix of this track. Starting quite calm this track carries on until a detuned synth riff comes in that is a bit on the evil side. This leads into an ideal 303 and a breakbeat which kicks the track off seriously with a superstrong kick and overdriven 303 which is awesome and is full of energy. Nice!

Montini Traxx - The Sound Of Innocence Goes On
Mostiko
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

The Sound Of Innocence (A1 Mix)
The Sound Of Innocence (B1 Mix)
The Sound Of Innocence (B2 Mix)

Full Review: Another release from Belgian's biggest export since Stella Artois. The original of this track was a huge favourite of mine back in July and these new mixes are just as good! Produced by Brian Koner aka Minimalistix, the "Sound Of Innocence" is a very nice slice of uplifting trance. The A side mix takes a more laidback approach from the original and adds a really good piano melody and some very cool vocals over a pretty simple arrangement. The drum programming and bassline work a treat with some excellent synth parts added as well. The B1 Mix starts with some hard drum programming and a warped bassline comes in which leads to 303s getting added and the bassline pitching down completely to breakdown and let the strings of the track kick in. As well as this a pitch bent synth underlay and full vocal line comes in. The track when built up is nice and trancey with a hard edge to it. The B2 mix is an instrumental of the A side mix. All in all every single mix on this EP is worth a Play and I have been supporting this mix ever since I received it in my chart. Check it out!

Orion Too - You And Me Remixes
Roadrunner WL
Release date: unknown

Rating: 5

You And Me (A Side Mix)
You And Me (B Side Mix)
You And Me (Acapella)

Full Review: Another release from the very busy Roadrunner Arcade company in Belgium. The A Side mix is complete cheese which made me smile as I can see this unfortunately becoming very very popular. The track starts with a very cool drum arrangement then adds a cheesy bassline and some spoken vocals. This leads into some Synth Arpeggios and an awfully cheesy underlay. When the track breaks down, the "Rank 1/Tiesto" synth patch comes in along with some vocals which sound really badly vocoded. From there the mix is extremely predictable and I can safely say I am certainly not going to play this side again. However flipping over to the B1 isn't as bad as this mix is a very nice slice of techno with off the wall percussion and synth programming. The vocal is still there though unfortunately and doesn' really fit into this mix at all but it is still a good effort. During the breakdown we are treated to some cut up breakbeats which sound very nice with the track as well. What's good is there is even an acapella thrown in for good measure too. All In All, in my opinion, this side has the good mix and The A Side hasn't. So it's up to you whether you agree or not.

Thomazz - Mozarecta
FTW
Release date: unknown

Rating: 1

Mozarecta (Mix2 Crazy Anthem Mix)
Mozarecta (Mix1 Absolute Ga Ga Mix)

Full Review: I know this is pretty harsh, but this has to be possibly the worst record I've reviewed ever... and even more worrying, how it took 3 people to produce it when the quality is like that of a four year old playing on a casio toy keyboard is beyond me. Now usually the stuff on FTW is ok but this particular release really shows cause for concern. Produced by Tom Das, FTW and Marco Pelgrims, "Mozarecta" is a track thats so twisted it's pretty hard to place a genre on it. The "Mix2 Crazy Anthem Mix" starts with a very annoying loop and has over the top drums that are all over the place. Then a really shockingly bad synth riff comes in and the track just goes horribly gash from then on. While the "Mix1 Absolutely Ga Ga Mix" is unfortunately even worse with a metal fx loop souding like somoene just throwing things against a radiator over some real bad drums and that awful riff off the original. These are two shocking tracks which i'd only buy if it was the last record in a shop and even then i'd re-consider.

Minimalistix - A Forest Remixes
Sphear
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

A Forest (Filterheadz Mix)
A Forest (Frank T Wallace Mix 1)
A Forest (Boss@ Nova Mix)
A Forest (Frank T Wallace Mix 2)

Full Review: Belgian's Sphear Export return with the long awaited remixes of The Minimalistx track "A Forest" (which was reviewed by me back in July). The Filterheadz remix of "Into The Trees" is an extremely bliss track, very nice and mellow with excellent rhythm programming and bassline. Some warm strings come in along with excerpts of the vocals and that's all there is for this mix but it sounds awesome. There are two mixes by Frank T wallace on offer, the only difference being one has vocals and one hasn't. His mixes are much more uptempo and harder with really tough and funky percussion along with a tough bassline. He adds some excellent strings and the vocals along with the synth melody but the one thing I absolutely hate in the mix he has done is the awful gated synth part after the tune builds up, it just doesn't sound right at all and spoils the mix. Flip over to the Boss@ Nova mix and this is the mix that blew me away. This mix is really dark and deep with a synth sounding like the one used on "We Come one" by Faithless playing a really nice underlay over some percussion loops and FX sweeps. The breakdown on this is really nice with the riff coming in over some excellent strings. When the tune kicks in it immediately made me turn the volume right up and go loopy...can't ask for more can you! Check these mixes out when released as the Filterheadz and Boss@ Nova ones are well worthy of a spin!

Vinno Ricci - Hands Up On In The Air
Mostiko
Release date: unknown

Rating: 6

Hands Up On In The Air (A1 Mix)
Hands Up On In The Air (B1 Mix)
Hands Up On In The Air (B2 Mix)

Full Review: Vinno Ricci returns with this three tracker on Roadrunner Arcade offshoot "Mostiko". The A1 Mix isn't really my cup of tea at all as all it consists of is a pretty bad synth underlay and a pretty dull drum arrangement over a heavy bassline. There is also a really dodgy vocal talking about "Love, Peace and Ecstasy" and this leads into another really bad synth line. All in al this track doesn't do much for me at all. The B1 however Is more like it as it has a much better synth arrangement and a not so heavy bassline. It also leads into a really good synth riff but the vocal is still there. However when the track kicks in it does actually sound quite nice. The B2 is a really twisted track with a hard kick drum and offbeat bassline. There is an off the wall synth line and really odd vocals from some Chanting Monks. Playing this mix makes you realise you are way out of your depth when listeing but the synth riff that follows is really nice! All in all a reasonable 3 tracker but not the best to come from this label.

E-Ject - The Pressure
Earcrash
Release date: unknown

Rating: 8

The Pressure (A1 Mix)
The Pressure (B1 Mix)
The Pressure (B2 Mix)

Full Review: Earcrash return! After the mighty "VDP Project - Somebody Scream" and "E-Pact - The Mystery Of Sound" they return with this mighty cut by "E-Ject". There are three mixes of "The Pressure" on offer with the "A1" Mix is a pretty thumping and twisted little techno number thats off the scale with a funky groove over vocoded speech of "Feel The Pressure Drop, Let The Music Stop" and some really twisted yet very nice FX Sweeps and manic synth stabs. the "B1 Mix" goes for overkill with a much harder and severely more weird mix emphasising more on a much harder kick drum and over the top FX sweeps that are so hard to resist dancing to. The breakdown is very Azzido Da Bass in style but better. This is awesome. While the "B2 Mix" is simply an edited version of the A1 mix. All in all three very nice tracks that I reckon will do serious damage pretty shortly so check them out!!

Dead Poets Society - Death
DPS
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

Death (A1 Mix)
Death (A2 Mix)
Death (B1 Mix)
Death (B2 Mix)

Full Review: This is an odd one! Coming from DPS records (formed by Belgium's DJ Gert) However it is very impressive and for a first release I can't wait for more! The A1 track is a hard track in the style of "One Night In NYC" by The Horrorist with a toybox melody, evil vocals and a twisted arrangement. The vocals on this track are all about death so that should pretty much give away that this track isn't going to be the most friendliest. It sounds excellent though and really dark. The A2 is just the acapella of the vocals but here's the twisted bit. they are reversed! If you flip over to the other side, the B1 is the A1 track but reversed and that sounds even scarier than the A1 itself while on the B2 we have the acapella normally. A real mixture that just crosses the line between sane and insane!! Excellent.... more please!

Giuseppe - Song For America
Mostiko
Release date: unknown

Rating: 7

Song For America (A Side Mix)
Song For America (B Side Mix)

Full Review: This two tracker from the mysterious Giuseppe is definitely set to impress from the first beat. The A side mix kicks off pretty hard with a warped bassline and tough drum programming but then builds up to a frenzied synth underlay. The track drops to some awesome strings and an excellent riff that really does the damage when the track kicks off again. This carries on to the second breakdown where the track drops in speed and some "Gypsy" style singing comes in with a breakbeat before kicking off again. Excellent. The B Side Mix plays more on the harder part of the A side mix with some excellent tough drums and really twisted underlays. The track breaks down the same way as on the A side but with a more cluttered riff instrument. Apart from this it's more or less the same and sounds OK. Nice one Roadrunner.

Soho - Flyin' Madness
B2
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

Flyin' Madness (Club Mix)
Flyin' Madness (Flyin' Padmix)

Full Review: Byte International's B2 label has had some excellent releases over the past year with "Hidden Truth" by "Verax" ending up in my top 20 chart of this year. This release by Soho (also known as producer Jaco Van Rijswijk) comes with two mixes that are sheer quality. The Club Mix is a very uptempo number with a really funky beat that should get the listener dancing to in no time. An Excellent bassline and a twisted synth underlay thats pitched out of control are also added as the track leads into the breakdown. During the breakdown the underlay is played around with and slowly brings the track back in, when this does happen total chaos occurs and the track sounds very nice indeed. The Flyin Padmix is a bit more laidback but still has a pretty tough beat and a really nice bassline. Some nice and happy synth stabs follow into excellent synth pads that really made me smile to when listening, they also had a bit of a "Scorchio" feel to them. The synth underlay off the club mix makes an appearence but in a completely different way due to the new chord progressions. This leads the track to the breakdown where the underlay carries on kicking the track off again but with a much happier feel this time. Nothing else is added really but this is one hell of a good mix with a really uplifting feel to it. Check both of these mixes out when released as this track will be one to watch.

Threesome - Please Forgive Me
Club Mad
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

Please Forgive Me (Original Mix)
Please Forgive Me (Eazymix)

Full Review: Club Mad are a label who's output I've never really noticed before but rest assured I will certainly be looking out for them if every track is like this one. Produced by the mysterious Threesome, this two tracker has two really bouncy and uplifting mixes that are set to impress from the word go. The Original Mix is starts with a funky cut up drumloop and nice opposing bassline. Some really nice percussion and FX come taking the track to the breakdown, where some vocals come in and a really Nice and simple synth underlay that builds the track back in again. The tune briefly carries on like this, until an additional riff breaks the track down as the full riff comes in. The full riff sounds awesome and then the tune kicks off again after building up. At this point I've ended up dancing around my room whilst listening to this mix as it is brilliant. The Eazy Mix is a particularly uptempo hardhouse number with a particulary funky offbeat bassline, a simple percussion loop and mindmelting FX. Some excellent Synth stabs and underlays take the track up to the breakdown where the vocal off the original comes in and a really nice and buzzy DJ Jean style lead kicks in which builds the track back up. When the track kicks in it does have a particularly dance inducing feel to it. Both tracks here are really excellent and I will definitely be looking out for more by this team of producers. Nice one "Threesome".

Michael Sanctorum - Midnight In New York
Byte Progressive
Release date: unknown

Rating: 5

Midnight In New York (Our Destination Mix)
Midnight In New York (DJ HS Mix)
Midnight In New York (Laurent Top Mix)

Full Review: The Byte Progressive label are a label who I haven't really noticed before and this release has left me with some mixed feelings. The "Our Destination Mix" of "Midnight in New York" is pretty weak in my opinion as it has a flat kick for the majority of the track as well as a frantic drum pattern with a snare roll throughout which really annoys me. An OK organ riff comes in and carries on but even that is annoying after a while. This mix is OK though. The "DJ HS" mix of "Midnight In New York" is identical to the "Our Destination Mix" except it adds a nice 303 and funky bassline to the arrangement. Some excellent strings come in too but the fact that the snare roll and Organ riff are still present makes the track a little too tedious which is a shame as it showed promise. The "Laurent Top Mix" of "Midnight In Chicago" starts with a really strong kick and simple drum arrangement. This mix doesn't actually use many of the samples at all apart from the 303, strings and organ riff which is good in a sense but is very basic. All things considered if you really like hard and monotonous music then these 3 mixes might well be the purchase for you.

Spokesman - Acid Creak
Byte Progressive
Release date: unknown

Rating: 4

Acid Creak (DJ Ion Aka Danny Casseau Mix)
Acid Creak (2001 Re-Work)
Acid Creak (DJ HS Mix)
Full Review: Producer Luc Devriese returns again this month, this time using his "Spokesman" alias instead of "Michael Sanctorum" for some more hard and twisted tracks. The "DJ Ion AKA Danny Casseau Mix" starts with a really odd loop and a subby kick. A very twisted and very bad synth underlay comes in with odd 303 bleeps and the track carries on like this to the breakdown where a really off the scale riff comes in which does not do much for me at all. The 2001 Re-Work starts a bit more promising with a hard kick, some excellent drum programming, a nice bassline and the 303 bleeps off the original. Then a horrible organ riff comes in too which sounds weak and spoils the track for me. This is another one that had potential but lost it. While the DJ HS Mix is like a slow gabber track in all honesty with a hardcore kick drum and the 303 off the original. After listening for about a minute I skipped through and nothing at all interested me in this mix at all. Shockingly bad. This release is not the best one to come from byte this month by a long way in my opinion.

Andromeda - Sounds Of Melody
B2
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

Sounds Of Melody (Original Mix)
Sounds Of Melody (Overture Mix)

Full Review: The second release on B2 this month comes from Andromeda. The producers behind Andromeda (John Van Dongen and Mario Pfeiffer) are no newcomers to the scene as they also record under various aliases such as "Sunflowerz" and "Ewok". The "Original Mix" starts with a tough and funky drumloop and builds up to a key triggered bassline. Some excellent synth underlays and FX lead the track to the breakdown where some very nice pads come in which lead the track into a monster of a riff sounding like "Capella - You Got To Let The Music" in terms of chord progression. This builds the track up and when it kicks in it sounds absolutely awesome. The "Overture Mix" is a more harder version of the Original with a really funky shuffled bassline and excellent arpeggiated underlays. Some really nice one-shot underlays come in and this leads to a slightly changed riff accompanied with the pads off the original. Sounding very funky and happy when the track comes back in after the breakdown this is another seriously good track. I think both mixes from this track are simply excellent, so this is another one that should be checked out immediately when released. I can safely say that both mixes on this one got me trying to breakdance to them in no time at all, so expect heavy support in my chart over the next month.

Marl Taylor - Matic Mayhem
Collision
Release date: unknown

Rating: 8

Matic Mayhem
Making Waves

Full Review: Another release from the excellent Collision this month comes from "Marl Taylor" who in all honesty sounds like a "Country and western" Singer rather than a trance producer. "Matic Mayhem" starts a bit like "Muzik" by "Trisco" in my opinion and is themed in such a way with a driving bassline, 303 swirls and a tough chuggy drum pattern. Some synth stabs kick in every four bars and leads to the breakdown, where a really weak and awful electric guitar part comes in which ruins the track in my opinion as it is so unnecessary. The more pumping "Making Waves" is the one for me, with an "up for it" feel from the word go this tough trance track has some excellent bass and drum programming with a really cool synth underlay to follow. A very happy riff comes in and the track is well worth a spin. I can personally see this track being the favoured one by trance DJs who buy this record.

U-Go Boss - One Way
Collision Promo
Release date: unknown

Rating: 5

One Way (Delerious Remix)

Full Review: This is a record I have mixed feelings about, I haven't heard the original mix yet so I can't fully judge. However the remix on offer here from Delirious (aka Ronald Van Der Beuken of Mystery Fame), sounds exactly like every other track that has been produced by him and various other producers who all use the same lead instrument and those "JP8000 supersaw" strings. These are blatantly being used far too much now. This track starts with a cool bassline and leads into some really nice synth stabs. When the track breaks down however it is here when it all becomes far too predictable. Well that's my view on it anyway and I don't dislike this track it's just not exactly the most original record on offer at the moment that's come from the Collision label.

Vank vs Adaro - Aquaplanning
Collision
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

Aquaplanning (Spunk Mix)
Aquaplanning (Original Mix)

Full Review: This is the 7th release for Private Recordings "Collision" offshoot and it comes from Vank Vs Adaro who, judging by the standards of this track are definitely a name to watch. The oddly titled "Spunk Mix" of "Aquaplanning" is an excellent slice of trance that kicks in with a really deep percussive arrangement and excellent synth underlays on top of a funky bassline. As the track progresses, we are treated to a monster "2 Tone" synth riff that really does sounds excellent in this track. The original on the flip is even better as it has a more progressive feel to it. The track adds some excellent percussion loops and rides over a rolling bassline. Lots of sweeps and really twisted synth underlays are added which work really well when the riff kicks in a bit later. That's all there is but don't be fooled by the simplicity as this is awesome. This is definitely one of the better progressive records I've heard recently and rest assured that I will be charting this mix in my chart for a long time.

Dennis Alfarez Presents A-Tension - Japenga's Ride
Collision
Release date: unknown

Rating: 10

Japenga's Ride (Merl Taylor Mix)
Japenga's Ride (Original Mix)

Full Review: Collision have really been working hard this month what with 5 releases in one month to review. This release by "Dennis Alfarez" is the pick of the pack and is a mind-numbingly good uplifting trance number with two excellent mixes. The "Merl Taylor Mix" is very uplifting from the word go with an excellent bass loop, synth underlays and vocal excerpts over some percussion loops. Some sonar beeps are added as the track breaks down where a Chinese Mandolin instrument copies the synth underlay. This dies down so a much happier riff comes in which really does the damage for me. When the track kicks in it is definitely excellent from there on. The Original Mix on the flip is more or less the same as the Merl Taylor mix except a different, more deeper synth underlay comes in and the new happy riff is replaced with some orchestra stabs. Both mixes are worthy of a spin and this release clearly shows "Dennis Alfarez" is a producer worth watching! Excellent - Expect full support from me!

Boombox - Plan Of The Devil
Royal Club
Release date: unknown

Rating: 7

Plan Of The Devil (Espuma Mix)
Plan Of The Devil (Hard Vocal Mix)
Plan Of The Devil (Raw Mix)

Full Review: You may remember (if anyone reads my reviews that is!) that I revewed this track back in May of this year, now it is back and on Private Recording's Royal Club label. Now it's back with new mixes. The "Espuma Mix" is a funky number that starts off very promising, with a repeated beep, opposing bassline and 303 stabs over a funky tough rhythm. This leads into a nice and happy synth underlay, then then a riff from the original mix comes in which sounds so out of key and ruins the track completely in my opinion. Awful. However, there is hope as the "Hard Vocal Mix" is a more darker and groovier number. Consisting of the buzzy riff off the original with some dark 303 stabs and a dark bassline over some shuffled drums, this is intense but funky listening from the word go and That is much more like it! The "Raw Mix" is much more harder and simplistic with a booming kick drum and sharper 303s over an excellent synth underlay. Not much happens that is different from the other two mixes however but this is the mix to check out in my opinion as this'll get you dancing in no time at all! Check this 3 tracker out as soon as it is released.

Rene Ablaze Presents Troxa - Autumn
Collision
Release date: unknown

Rating: 8

Autumn (Trance In Paradise Mix)
Autumn (Peter Novaz Mix)
Autumn (Deep Remote Mix)

Full Review: I've been watching this guy for a while now and every time I hear one of his productions they are set to impress. Over the past 18 months since I started reviewing, he has cropped up quite a lot of times under aliases such as "Sunstar" and "Virgo", also with remixes for "Comanova". Now he is back with the newest alias "Troxa". The "Trance In Paradise" mix is a nice thumper of a number with the usual bassline and drum programming but also we are treated to some excellent strings and very odd synth underlays which work well with the track. As this mix breaks down a supercharged riff comes in that puts a smile on your face as the track builds up and kicks in again. The "Peter Novaz Mix" isn't so good in my opinion. The main fault being that It is very slow compared to the pace of the other two mixes and doesn't really do much for me at all. However it does have a more progressive feel to it and those of you who like it slower and more laid back, would probably prefer this mix. The "Deep Remote" mix is out and out progressive but with a really uplifting feel to it. With a very twisted drum arrangement and groovy bassline amongst some excellent choirs and FX, this sounds awesome. When the Strings come in during the breakdown you immediately get the feeling that the progressive crowds would love this one. Worth a purchase simply for the A1 and B2 mixes so check it out!

Markos - Temptation
Tremolo
Release date: unknown

Rating: 9

Temptation (Original Mix)
Temptation (DJ Astrid Mix)
Temptation (Instrumental)

Full Review: For their final release this year, Dutch label Tremolo enlist the production talents of Marcel Van Os. I must admit i've never heard of him before so it'll be interesting to see if he has any future releases and if they sound like this. There are three mixes on offer here with the "Original Mix" being a very uptempo track with punchy drums and a bass that swallows everything up. Some excellent synth underlays and a "Temptation" vocals are added along with a riff that sounds like a cross between "On The Move" by Barthezz and "U Got It" by Tom X + DJ Jo...Although a little cheesy its still Niiiiice! On The flip we are provided with a DJ Astrid mix which is definitely aimed at the more deeper proggy DJs. Starting a bit like a production by Quiiver, this mix has some pounding drums and excellent bassline on top of a really cool string part and Synth/FX sweeps. That's all there is but this mix really stands out in my opinion. Finally we are left with the Instrumental mix for those who think the vocal is too annoying for their liking. All in all an excellent release to end off the year.

Louk