Something for the Weekend II

Another selection of quick reviews for various tracks

Atlantic Ocean - Waterfall 2009 (Bazzheadz Remix) - Score /10
Avoid this at ALL costs. I am not even going to give this a score of zero, as that would be too kind. The remix is terribly produced with the most obvious out of time loops I have ever heard on official release. If you want to know how to ruin a perfectly good song then contact these guys to do a remix !!!

Butcher Boy & Scuba Steve - Hooked On You (Original Mix) - Score 7/10
This release caught my attention straight away and features the classic "hoover" sound made infamous in the mid-90's. This is a fast paced rough ride to the past and although the sound is slightly outdated now I am sure lots of people will be dancing to this track over the next few weeks.

Top Track

Sunchasers - The Real Thing (Danny Corten Remix) - Score 10/10
This is a great song and a worthy remix. This is going to be one of the biggest tunes of the year in the house scene and this remix has classic ibiza styled pianos and the big vocal deliver what of the best classic house tracks I have heard in a long time. Tune in and chill out to this one :) Very close to topping my Top 10 !!!

Enjoy

Vadim Soloviev feat. Marcie Stay With Me

Vadim Soloviev is a promising producer and DJ from Russia and I was intrigued to see what was on offer in this release, not just because he is making a name for himself but also because he is from new generation of producers who will eventually shape the future of dance/trance music in the next few years.

Original Mix - Score 7/10
The original mix starts with a nice groove and slowly builds into the swing of things, with the gentle bass used to carry the track into the first vocal section. The vocals on this track are well sung although the underlying track doesn't really gel with the singers voice. That is the big let down with Stay With Me, the main chorus section is nice and really moves along nicely while never trying to be aggressive, the arrangement flows well separating the different sections in a subtle way, but that first vocal verse section just feels a little disjointed.

Genix Summer Stripped Remix - Score 8/10
This remix has a more tech feel to it, the main feature from the start of the track is the sliced up vocal which is thrown around the mix to good use and delivers a much nicer overall atmosphere than the original mix. The two basslines work against each other to form the groove which is tied together with some very tight drum programming. The breakdown is well thought out and while it is airy and large it makes no attempt to be epic, and when the track kicks back in you will be glad of that! The drop back to the 'peak' of the track is somewhat disappointing, upon careful listening the underlying bassline and drums are very similar to that of Eric Prydz - Proper Education and with a core sound so similar to that perhaps the remix should of been produced a little more carefully.

Mike Foyle Remix - Score 9/10
This is the gem of the pack. A nice upbeat trance track with a simple pounding drumline and bass although the clever editing of the loops helps create some nice movement as the track twists and turns. The production is really well done and the breakdown is intriguing with the vocal turned into some kind of alien language and choppy sounds coming and going, then it all drops to a nice melodic breakdown and the vocal appears in it's original form and the music fits the singing much better than the original. The breakdown is only a short reprieve as the track kicks out to a nice tech sound and complex groove and continues to build steadily. If you are using this in a mix then makes sure you have something special to follow this track with!

Dub Mix - Score 8/10
The dub mix is almost identical to the original in terms of composition and much to my pleasure dropped the entire first vocal section. This has far more impact than you first imagine as now with the absence of the vocal Stay With Me is allowed to breathe and actually comes through as a pleasant trance track. The main synth controlling the groove plays a bigger part of the song in this mix along with the very subtle use of almost unrecognisable vocal elements to carry the whole mix through to the end. Much more satisfying that the original

Overall this is a good release and the different mixes give some nice perspectives on Stay With Me, I still feel a little disappointed that better use wasn't made of the good vocals on offer from Marcie. Mike Foyle's remix might yet make it into my top ten as well, nice solid track :)

Ear Problems Continued

After a brief visit to my local doctor it turns out I have a retracted eardrum that is the cause of my hearing disruption !!! I have been prescribed simple decongestants that should hopefully remedy the problem without any permanent adverse effects.

Adymus A Place Not Far

A Place Not Far shows some great promise for this young label - Fraction Zero. Three mixes on offer and each bring something different to the table

Original Mix - Score 9/10
The original mix is a superbly produced trance masterpiece with a lovely 303 style intro builds up until the melody drops in and the song takes flight, the swaying bassline, twinkly synths and sumptuous lead all come together nicely leaving an uplifting refreshing feel to this mix. The intelligent breakdown is short and sweet and when it all kicks off again you are left in no doubt that A Place Not Far is an outrageously good song. If Adymus can keep producing this level of work then it will become a name you will see a lot. This has got to claim a slot in my Top Ten.

Rob B Remix - Score 7/10
A nice song to drop into a mix. The simple intro builds into a nice steady groove then a phat bassline fills in the empty space. The addition of the twinkling synths from the original add the uplifting floating feeling. Make no mistake though this is a tough tech influenced remix. A Place Not Far has been chewed up and spat out to great effect, something which can be heard best during the lovely breakdown. Unfortunately this remix lacks the magic of the original and really doesn't make the most of all the different elements.

Maarten Hercules Remix - Score 9/10
The first drop in this remix is magical. You can change the entire direction of a mix with a track like this and as if to hammer the point home the swift interlude is greeted by the main body of the song immediately and for this few moments you struggle to keep up with the swirling sounds - in a good way. Almost as quick as you can find your bearings Maarten takes you on a detour through another quite special passage, again the production and creativeness on show is first class. In my opinion this remix only serves to prove how good the original writing was by Adymus.

Overall this is a great record for anyone who is into big moments and the very pinnacle of uplifting trance records for a new era.

Ear problems !

When I woke up this morning I was greeted to a rather unpleasant sound, a dull ringing in my left ear, and after doing a little research on google it is pretty safe to assume that I have some kind of ear infection. I reckon it is the middle ear as there is no real discomfort (yet !) just a disruption to by hearing. I will have to make a trip to the doctors at some stage this week to get it checked out properly.

On the down-side I still have the lengthy task of reinstalling all my software back onto my computer again, something that will take a few days. The most important program to get up and running is of course my beloved Traktor by Native Instruments - the one and only digital DJ application.

Angel Makris Phase One

Original Mix - Score 7/10
Phase One is a more progressive style blended with a touch of the Balearic. The slow steady beat lifts the track into an almost entirely ambient affair and sucks ou in with a beautiful melody, partly ripped off from Braveheart / DJ Sakin - Protect Your Mind. However Angel Makris settled for just the first 3 notes of the melody and has used them quite well to create sometime quite unusual although it would sound great at the beach I am sure :)

John Ilipoulos Remix - Score 4/10
From the lush sounds of the original the Remix couldn't be any further removed. The short percussive sounds and low kick all point to a techno masterpiece. Filled with glitches, blips and weird FX that track grinds along well. Not quite to my taste as the lack of any real melody or "hook" make it hard to grab onto anything and the groove doesn't progress much either.

Overall this release was a little disspointing, after hearing the uplifting qualities on offer in the original I am sure more could of been done with the remix to make a great tune, instead I am left feeling a little flat.

2 Producers Insigma

This is a fine record with 2 nice mixes on show.

Original Mix - Score 8/10
A nice solid introduction makes this a very easy track to drop into any mix and the simple approach to the arrangement opens up lots of possibilities. As for the Song itself it is all based around a sweet melody and all the different elements melt into the background seamlessly. The breakdown has a dissonant quality to it which only serves to emphasize the uplifting main synth line when it arrives.

Alphalifter Remix - Score 8/10
This remix is somewhat deeper than the original and reminds me of some classic German trance labels. Again simplicity is key to the entire track and the sparse mix is filled with several tricks and twists to keep interest. My biggest concern with this track is that the middle section just doesn't build into the climax fast enough and overall the track should probably be a little shorter, which would of delivered more impact in the context of a dynamic mix. As it stands this remix will still make it's way into more than a few record boxes, and could well be a special weapon for some.

Overall a nice package with 2 quite different mixes meaning it feels more like a double A side record. Trance music at it's purest!