Archive for January, 2007

Duracell - Space Harrier + Turrican

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

Another random video for you. It’s all on-topic, honest. Anyway this one got linked to from B2VOS about 3 months back and it’s superb. Should go down well with any retro gamers out there!

Dj Scotch Egg Live @ Wreck Havoc

Wednesday, January 31st, 2007

I stumbled across this video on YouTube a little while back and thought I’d share. If you haven’t seen Scotch Egg perform before you’re in for a treat, the guy’s a nutter. Now THIS is a live PA!

*Review* 2Fresh 004

Monday, January 29th, 2007

*Review* 2 Fresh 004

 

Ok, next up is the latest release from the London based ‘2 Fresh’ records.

This is a nice easy release for me to talk about, cos it only has 2 tracks!!!  And they are as follows:

Enzyme & Malice - The Virus
Mulder - Soundclash

Ok, The Virus.  This starts with a nice bleepy arpeggio, and some wierd squelchy vocals, some gated amens drop into a standard d’n'b beat pattern, and it picks up pace nicely.  We get a bass break, with the aforementioned vocals, and into an oldskooly sounding stab.  Pepper in some classic ‘all junglists’ samples and pick up the pace with some nice clean amen patterns.  The tune comes in with some wobby bass, and chops and changes between this and the oldskooly stab pattern.  The middle breaks sees us treated to a nice ragga piano, that gives it a jungle feel, as quick as that arrives it gone again, into a different, but still quite dirty, bass pattern.  It’s hard to keep up with this track.  It mainly consists of 4 or 5 different riffs that chop and change between each other, every 8 bars or so.  Its a busy track, that sounds deceptively simple, but listening in closely, its got some nice production in there.  Slightly darker than ‘the norm’ this is a good track that sounds oldskool in influence, but up-to-date in sound.  If you gets me.

Mulder is next.  Is this the same Mulder of Urban Takeover fame?  Not sure, but this, as you can guess by the title, is jungle influenced again.  Starting with the off beat ragga stabs, and the traditional ragga bleep, add the vocal (incomprehesible to me, haha),  and slip in a cheeky amen completes the intro.  The next section is a traditional sounding stab, that sounds a lot cleaner that in a lot of tracks.  This runs into a ragga female vocal section that just bounces along nicely, the beat pattern and the background music adding to it.  Next comes along a string section, with a ‘Jonny L - Hurt You So’ bleep pushing it along.  This then goes back into the original stab pattern, then back into the bleep pattern, then back into the female vocal.  Again, this moves in a similar style to the A-side, jungle influenced, heavy on the amens, and fast moving changes in the track.  Again, the production is of a lot higher quality than ‘Back in the day’ and here we see two different, but similar styled tracks.

Overall,  this is a good release.  I like both tunes, and it’s strange, cos I dont find myself drawn to either one over the other.  This release is heavy enough (with the amens) to be Hardcore, but listenable enough to dance to.  Pleasing to the ear, if you get me.  Traditional, but up to date.  Sounds like the 2 Fresh boys have found a formula, and made it work for them.

It’s worth a listen a few times on this one.  I guarantee, musically, you will enjoy this release.  So go check it out, and buy it if you like it!  It’s worth £6 of anyones cashflow.

Even if you are on the dole.  Be a drug dealer, steal, sell the cat, or something for that £6.  It’s money well spent.

Until next time…..
The Mix Analyst

*Review* Mert Wax 004

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

*Review* Mert Wax 004

 

Time for a slice of Piano goodness with Mert Wax 004.  This is already out there, and is available from the official website in black or Mert’s special ‘Purple 12 inch’ (www.mertwax.com)

The tracklisting on this is as follows:

Brainstormer - Piano Fever
Dekoy - Give in to Love
Audio X - Generate
Sparky - Take Control

Brainstormer starts us off with a really chilled out piece of music.  A subtle 4×4 kick begins this tune, along some randomly filtered amens.  Which drops into a warm string section, with little arpeggio’d piano notes sitting in the background.  The main piano then drops in, and its simplicity is its beauty.  The beat kicks back in and off we go.  Close your eyes.  Seriously. Im=m ansufni as ui jfeeus (oops, hard to type with your eyes closed…).  I’m loving this tune.  Its such a laid back roller, and even the middle section is well done in the same vain.  This tune takes me back to sitting in the back of a van, spliff in hand, just chilling, and loving the scene.  Really good track Mr Brain.  Thankyou for making it.

Dekoy blatantly rips the ‘Give a little love’ sample from Nookie, but I’ll tell you what, this is an awesome tune.  The programmed beats are bouncey enough and the strings and vocals work really well, then it drops into the single note piano riff, add the chords, the bass, some space aged fx, some booms and we are ready for it to take off….  And it does.  Dirt style.  Distorted synths and a d’n'b beat pattern rolls this along right until the whole mood changes when the vocal drops back in with a nice high synthy bleep, bringing the piano back in.  A really uplifting track, well produced, and it’s no wonder this is getting hammered on internet stations, and events worldwide.  Top notch.

Now I’ve finished blowing smoke up Dekoy’s arse, lets move on to Audio X, and Generate.  This one is a bit more oldskool styled, and I will get shot for this, but with the orchestra stabs, the synth bass, and the vocal, it sounds very 80’s.  Thats not a slur, in fact, it’s quite the opposite.  I love this tune.  Kinda Stock Aitken and Waterman meets hardcore meets Miami Sound Machine.  The filtered acid line works really well and the Orchestra stabbage is brilliant, the piano runs along nicely, but the real pleasure is in the string pattern.  This tune is different, refreshing and good to listen to.  I’m guessing though, that if you are reading this and you were born in the mid 80’s, you wont really appreciate what I just wrote.  But then again, I’m just an old bastard….

Ok, Sparky is last on the EP with ‘Take Control’.  The start reminds me of ‘Panic’, then we get a vocoded ‘Are you ready’ sample, and the beat kicks in.  Sounds like the sparkster has opted for programmed beats instead of samples.  The drop sees a synth bass come in, and build nicely to the main riff, when the beat drops back in, the bass gets lower, and the track sounds nice and full.  I found myself nodding along to this one, and then in comes the piano.  A quality riff which rolls perfectly over the beat.  Not too sure about the acidy style synth, but thats just me, I suppose.  It does add feeling to the track and picks it up a notch.  Then we drop back into the bass break, and this sees the stab pattern return and the track runs like this to the end.  Another solid track from the Sparky, as we have come to expect.

Overall, Mertwax 004 is big.  4 solid tracks on there, sadly lacking in a bit of filth, but for all you piano lovers, this delivers.  And then delivers again.  The bonus is that it is indeed 12 inches, and it’s purple or black.  This record will help you pull too.  Here’s the formula….

Mert004 has Pianos….
Girls dance to pianos….
Blokes dance cos girls dance…..
Bloke pulls…..

Therefore…. Blokes need Mert004. So buy it.

End of.

Until next time….
The Mix Analyst

*Review* Gurnin Beats 001

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

We return for another review.

I have just come into the possession of Gurnin Beats 001, and the tracklisting lines up like this…..

DJ Bennie D - Ruffneck Champion
DJ Nee - Be Mine
Eddie Voyager - Hardcore is the Future
Slam 2 the Max - Eddie Voyager Remix

Righty Dokey, lets tell all you lovely people whats going on with this release.  Bennie D hits us first off with a proper oldskool fuelled tune.  It seems to use a lot of the same sounds that The Prodigy used in the groundbreaking ‘Charly’ back in 1991.  Nothing wrong with that really, as this has been very well done indeed.  A solid tune, however nothing really new here, and would fit very well in an oldskool set.  Starting out with the Charly stab, this builds using the whiney hoover-esque sounds, and drops into a ragga vocal “I just love how the champion sound keep playin”, pepper in some solid bass, and this is quite a shuffler.  This tune, however lacks a bit of ’something’ for me.  Whether it’s just because the vocal is quite deep and slow, I dont know.  But like I say, a solid tune, and should grace many an oldskool jungle set.

Ok, DJ Nee is next.  Be mine is the name, and this is a bit more up tempo.  Its got some proper dirty amens in there, and slap the Mystery Man break over it, and you got a pretty tuff break going on.  Again, heavy on the sine bass, this is reminiscent of the early jungle days 92/93 stylee.  The beat tears along and drops into a weird synth pattern, kind of spooky, but not spooky, if you get me. Add in some yeaaaahhhs, and few strange noises, and you arrive like an intercity at the piano section.  This is where you’ll find the ‘You know you’re gonna be mine’ sample.  I would describe the piano section as a proper oldskool piano, uncomplicated, simple, but effective.  This is a track that has a lot of similarities with Bennie D’s in the sense that it has that ‘jungle’ feel to it. A Good slice of hardcore.

Next is the Eddie Voyager, and his ‘hardcore is the future’ track.  Now, this is a blinder.  It starts with some proper fucked up synth sound, and steals the ‘Dubplate Style, C’mon’ sample.  Along with the vocoded main vocal, this track drops heavy with some hard edged amens and lots of ‘wooo’s’.  The beat skips along in a funk-step (another subgenre, I’m geting good at these) fashion.  And the main drop sees a futuristic synth pattern that is atmospheric, and is pushed along by the introduction of filtered beats and pitch-bent bass.  There’s a lot of work gone into this track, and its a powerful , energetic, oldskool workout that should please the majority of listeners. This is pretty close to ‘Sci-fi’ hardcore….. (2 subgenres in one paragraph!  Get in!)  And for me, the tune of the EP.

Last for my Aural pleasure (!) is Slam 2 the Max (Eddie Voyager Remix).  Another one of those cunning remixes on a first release…. creates demand for the original, I’ve heard.  Anyway, this one uses the classic Slammin Vinyl ‘Bad Boy’ sample, and runs a little slower than the rest of the EP (or at least the last Eddie V track, anyway).  This is a very simple track.  Very little edits, uncomplex stab patterns, but staying true to the oldskool vibe.  Not a lot else to say about this one.  It runs along without getting boring, and whilst it’s not pulling up trees, it does a job.  And that job is to finish off the EP with a good tune.

Overall, this is different to the other EP’s I get, as this one has its feet firmly in Oldskool territory.  But not frantic oldskool.  This is what I would describe as ‘listening’ oldskool.  What I mean is, grab a copy of this, whack it in a mix, roll up a doobie, and let the tunes take you back to where it all began.  A real ‘Smokers’ EP.  And everyone needs to chill from time to time.

Miss this at your own risk.

Until next time…..
The Mix Analyst

Sharkfin 004 (SF 004)

Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

Orders are now being taken for this release at http://www.sharkfinrecords.com/

Tracklisting as follows:

*Review* BuzzBee Recordings 4.2

Friday, January 19th, 2007

In a seemingly non-stop stream, I have been receiving stuff left right and centre, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all labels, artists and producers for trusting me with their projects, and allowing me to be honest about their music.

I’ve been asked by the BuzzBee lot to tell you all that this release will be out soon, and you can find out more over at http://www.buzzbee-recordings.co.uk so pay them a visit.

Buzzbee is the brainchild of Soundboy Taz, and ex-10% mentalist Garry Bynon, and release 4.2 sees the following tracks:

DJ Running Man - SkaCore
DJ Mono - TikTak
TwinSpin - TNX ID&T
Scar Wars - Scar Wars Vol 1

Shall we?  Rude not to….. Ok, DJ Running Man.  Ska Core. This is a really solid track, but it doesn’t seem to take elements from Ska Groups, its more reggae in my opinion. Anyway, whats in a name eh? I was really intrigued to hear what Running Man had done here.  So, this is what he did…. This is a proper oldskool runner which kind of reminds me of Reinforced Records 92/93.  It starts with a nice ragga riff, and drops into a clever little dub section, helped along by the ‘Its the new style’ beasties vocal, this uses classic stabs, a cut up ‘Stakker’ breakbeat and good use of hoovers to push the track along.  About half way through, the main riff reverses, and a stabby hoover section joins the party.  Then back into the original riff to finish the track.  Overall, not a bad track.  More Reggae than ska, but as the man himself says, Reggae-Core sounds rubbish.

Ok, next is DJ Mono - Tik Tak, Right off, I’m loving the heavily EQ’d Hip Hop beats, and the apache drums.  Again, oldskool samples are used, but these ones are a bit more obscure, ‘Big up yourelf and bring down the theme tune, respect is due.’.  This tune seems to run a little slower than the rest of the EP, and my general rule of thumb is that if its slower, it needs to have more in it, and be pretty heavyweight.  I think if you had to choose the 4 heaviest breakbeats in the world, and whack them in a track, then Mono has managed it.  The synth work is haunting, and the choir type vocal adds to the effect of creating something that is dark, heavy and grimey.  The end of the track sees some random breaks being cut up, and kept me interested until the end.  Good track this. This is Hardcore.

Twinspin comes up next with probably my favourite track on the EP.  This is again, heavily jungle-techno influenced, once again using ragga vocals, and heavily reverbed pitched down amens (have I told you about my amen fixation?), this track is tough, and is very similar to some Bogwoppa business.  The synth work is simple, and the music is choc-full of samples.  It doesnt stay still, and chops and changes about, and utilises everything from distorted synth sounds, to train whistles, to ragga vocals, lots of ‘uhhh’s’, amens, apaches, scratches, here we go’s and lots lots more.  This is an excellent track, and makes the EP for me.  It should do for you too.

Finally, Scar Wars.  This track picks up the pace to give this EP a great range of solid tracks at varying speeds.  (Dont you just love the hardcore stuff?  No rules!)  This is reminiscent of classic early 93 style, Roling amens and a 4×4 kicks, this track uses a busy baseline, and the ever awesome Inner City - Good Life stab.  A little vocal that says ‘3am’ I think, cant quite make it out.  It chugs along and introduces a single note ‘dirt-stab’ that makes the track feel a little dark.  But i found myself pulling ‘hardcore faces’ at that section.  (A hardcore face is like your orgasm face, just without the inconvenience of being dribbled on, or getting moaned at cos you’ve ‘made a mess’).  This track has a load of energy, and it tops off the EP nicely.

Overall, I feel that the Buzzbee boys have got it right with the mix of music on here, and they all definitely have that ‘darker’ edge.  Personally, I’m loving the BB side a little more than the B side (BuzzBee records only do ‘B’-Sides, hahaha, that, is a right touch.)  But the EP should appeal to Oldskool Heads and people liking their hardcore a little darker.  This EP is a classic example of an ‘unsung classic’.  It has all the elements of what you would expect, and you’d think this EP was just something you’d play, but I guarantee you’d play it again. And again.  And Again.

And again.

Anyway, support the scene, buy the records.  Dont be a free-loader like me.

Until next time
The Mix Analyst

*Review* Pitch Control Records 001

Friday, January 19th, 2007

*Review* Pitch Control Records 001

 

Bonjour,

There seems to be no shortage of new labels appearing these days, and that, to me, is quality news.  Behind Pitch Control, I believe, is the ever popular DJ’s Trix & Snypa.

They seem to be serious about their music, which again is great news, and I’ve leeched their ‘Mission Statement’ from their site (http://www.myspace.com/pitchcontrolrecords)

“This is not just another label launch and one off record release. This is the focus point of a coalition of products from the [PC] name which will encompass, record releases, rave events, merchandise, radio and much much more over the coming months.”

Tracklisting is as follows:

Stu & Nee - The Feeling Inside
Nervious & Anxious - Let the Music Play
DJ Sike - 1 for the Raverz
Drift - Heaven

Let, me grab a coffee, and I’ll be back to tell you all what I think of this new release, starting with the Stu & Nee track……

*gone 5 minutes*

Right, Stu and Nee.  This pair are like ‘the’ artists to have on your label these days.  I’ve lost count how many releases they’ve been on.  Personally, I’d have thought they would have hit ‘Burnout’ by now, but they keep on putting out quality tune after quality tune.  It wouldn’t suprise me if they increased their fee!  Ok.  This is Stu and Nee doing what comes naturally it seems, cos this tune has it all.  Emotional vocal, gorgeous piano line, Stu N Nee string patterns, and excellent production.  This is an uplifting little number, that makes you feel good.  This is what I’d consider calling a ‘Summer Tune’.  You know, whack it on, sun blazing down, chipping down the M1.  Quality.  I really should stop reviewing Stu and Nee tracks, cos it seems like I’m in love with them.  Which I’m not.  At all.  Not even a little bit.  Honest.  Erm… anyway. A blinding tune.  Nuff said.

Nervious & Anxious start their latest track with a proper Rave stab, I can see the big fish, little fish dancers now.  The thing I like about N&A is that they write up to date oldskool, with quirky samples.  This one is different in the way that I can hear the 89-91 style influence.  The acid house era.  The piano sounds influenced by Rich in Paradise - FPI project, and the little bleeps over the bass stabs are just perfect.  This is a proper retro track, not too heavy on the breakbeats, subtle 4×4 drum patterns and great production.  It really does remind me of old Rising High Records, Interface style tunage.  I really liked this one, and to be honest, I didn’t think I would.  But after a couple of listens, dare I say it?  Better than the Stu n Nee track?  Fuck it, I can say what I want!

Ok, tough act to follow, but DJ Sike gives us a nice amen workout with his ‘1 for the Ravers’ track.  Try and follow the Amens in this tune, up and down like a whores gusset.  Sike treats us to some quality Ragga-breaks (another subgenre, hohoho), this is a catchy little tune, and if it doesnt get people bouncing around on the dancefloor, I dont know what will.  The tune is kinda smiley in a darker way, and there hasn’t been a Sike tune I’ve heard that isn’t wonderfully produced.  The only thing I dont like about it is the annoying ‘oi’ sample from Mike Skinner (the Streets), but I hate his voice more than the sample.  Sorry Sikester, can I have a version without the ‘Oi’ in it?  VIP stylee?  hahaha.  Just joking.

Ok, I have the pleasure in reviewing a track by Drift next.  I gotta be careful here, cos up until now, I’d considered him a close friend…..  We’ll see after this review. .  Again, my sense of humour is probably funnier to me, I’ll get me coat……

Heaven.  Great name for a tune.  And the drifter should be proud of this tune.  Its a great feelgood tune, and probably the perfect one to end the EP on.  I envisage this being the ‘last tune’ for a lot of DJ’s sets, cos it just has that ’something’.  It’s oldskool influenced, and it starts off with some chopped beats, building up to a lovely piano line.  I also just spotted a ‘drift’ sample in there, cheekyboy!  The vocal ‘Its a beautiful beautiful scene… etc’ is perfect for this track.  It rolls along in a ‘lazy’ way.  When I say that, I mean it’s not frantic or filled with ‘hardcore’. I wish the floaty synth in the background was a bit louder though, as on a big system, I think it might get lost, but Drift has done a great job on creating a tune that I can close my eyes and go somewhere exotic to.  Kinda ‘Drift’ away…. (haha, I’m so funny).

Overall, this debut EP is going to be tough to follow.  Oldskool enough to be retro, nuskool enough to sound fresh.  This has a really good mix of tunes on here, but for me, the Nervous and Anxious tune is a journey back into my drug-fuelled raving days that hold special memories.

Well done Pitch Control.  There are some things in life that should be regarded as ‘must-haves’ and for any old person that was there from the start, the EP delivers without a doubt.  If you weren’t there, then the Stu & Nee, Sike and Drift tracks should ‘arouse’ you enough to make this an essential piece of vinyl.

Until next time……
The Mix Analyst

Review: Anarchic Streak Recordings 002

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

Hello,

I was kipping in bed earlier today (having stayed up until 4am watching shite TV) when I was awoken at about 8:30am by a knock on the door.  It was a postman.  He had a package for me.  And I love getting packages.

Anyway, he handed me a jiffy bag, and off he went.  It was worth getting up for, cos inside was a nice new shiny CD of Anarchic Streaks (www.anarchic-streak-recordings) second release.

Right, I believe the guys behind this new label are Dunstable based DJ’s Force and 666.  But dont get confused by DJ Force, theres no 4×4 kick-snare-kick-snare rubbish on here…..

Tracks are as follows:

1) Darkus - Is Loco
2) Dossa - Breakstation (Relicked)
3) Kubyk - Murder
4) Teknotik - Burnin’ (Infernos Aftershock Remix)

Lets get straight into it.  Darkus has been releasing tunage for time now, and has always been impressive.  This is no different.  Darkus sticks with the classic oldskool sounding stabs and beats, but adds that Darkus ‘touch’ to them.  Keeping it simple, but picking up the speed of this release (compared to other stuff I receive), he utilises the Cypress Hill ‘Dont you know I’m Loco’ sample very well.  Add in some gunshots and more classic stab sounds and patterns, this is a solid track that will please the oldskool heads amongst us.

Right, Dossa’s Breakstation has been doing the rounds for a while, so it deserves a ‘relick’ I trust you’ll agree.  This has a real 1992 feel to it, and kinda reminds me of early Manix stuff.  This tune is, in my opinion, the cream of the tunes out there pushing the ‘true’ oldskool sound.  Again, nothing fancy about this tune. And it has all the elements of a great classic oldskool tune.  If you didn’t know this was new, you’d think it was old.  If you get me.  The piano is classic, the ‘whoooaaawa’ vocal is classic, the sounds are classic. All in all, guess what, classic.

I always wanted to do a tune myself called ‘Murder’, but it looks like Kubyk beat me to it.  I have no idea who Kubyk is (anyone help?), but the guy can write music.  This one starts with a proper funky beat, and in kicks in the pitched down amens. (I fuckin love pitched down, shuffling amens).  This track obviously has reggae influences, and the crossover is done well utilising a very simple stab pattern using a classic hoover.  Layer the reggae vocal over the top and it steams along. Those amens just fuckin give the track that hard edge.  Anyway, enough about my Amen fixation, cos it rolls along nicely into a nice smiley piano line.  Unfortunately, the piano seems to get a little lost in the harshness of those amens and the bell sound seems to clash a little, but dont let that put you off, cos overall this is a blinder.  And after a few more plays, I can see me battering this track. 

Teknotik comes up next with a little tune caled ‘Burnin’.  Looks like this is an inferno remix (look at me, I can read a label!), so lets give it a spin.   Unfortunately, I’ve not heard the original of this, but this is a totally different vibe from the other tracks on this release.  Dont listen to this in headphones cos this has some mental panning effects.  Again, using the trusty amen, this tune starts all mellow, then turns into a headnodder.  The ‘got me burnin up’ sample, although very ‘popular’, is not overused here at all.  And actually adds to the track, whereas I normally hear ‘popular’ samples and they are used in the same way every time.  I think the reason is that this track uses a different vocal as the main vocal.  I like this track a lot.  It kinda reminds me of my 1993/4 raving days.  Kinda similar to old Pooch releases and a slightly darker Vibes and Wishdokta feel.

Again, I am astounded by the quality of all the releases I have received recently, and although I probably wouldnt play all tracks off this EP, I’d certainly play 2 or 3 of them.  And if this is the standard that the guys down in Dunstable are setting themselves, well, its gonna be tough to follow this.

Overall, a top release, with all tracks appealing to their individual markets.  This should do well.

There IS just something about pitched down amens though…….

Until next time,
The Mix Analyst

Review: Sharkfin 004

Tuesday, January 16th, 2007

Well,

It seems the life of a reviewer is a busy one!  I have been sent the latest release from Simon Holmes and his fledgling Sharkfin Records (www.sharkfinrecords.com).  The tracklisting for this one is as follows: (in no particular order)

Simon Holmes - Lose Control
Simon Holmes - Drift
D-Con - Lupine
DJ Twista - Storyteller

Lets start with Lose Control.  Now, from what I’ve heard of Simon’s productions, they are a little different from a lot of the other Hardcore Breaks releases out there.  What I mean by that is that Simon tends to concentrate on the more atmospheric styles, and I must say, this is no exception.  Driven by an amen drum, the synth work is excellent, and the track builds throughout, right until the pianoline kicks in.  A real ‘close your eyes and drift away’ tune.  This tune has no real ‘breakdown’ so to speak, bucking the trend of a lot of releases these days, but it works like a dream.  An absolute killer tune.  Check it out.

I’d move on to track 2, but I’m just giving ‘Lose Control’ another quick run through….. ;)

Right, Drift is up next.  Nope, not the Leicester Based Breakpirates guru, but Simons next offering.  This starts with a lovely floaty synth, and a soft trance line.  The beat picks up pace with a nice cleanly chopped amen.  Simple but effective. Again, with the emphasis on building the track, this then drops to an orb-esque breakdown.  However, thats where the similarities end.  Cos in comes a dirty distorted synth.  Layered in with the synths, it really works well.  Add a really subtle piano, and a classic trance stab pattern, and you have another beautiful piece of music.  I do have to say though, that I find this not as good as ‘Lose Control’, as it doesnt have as much energy.  Saying that though, its a great tune.  Music for Moods and all that.

Ok, D-Con is up next, and I could sum this up in one word.  Dirt.  This tune has been ripping up floors and getting hammered on the pirate stations.  It samples ‘Underworld Evolution’ and thats all the vocal that is in there.  D-Con has created some unique sounds and although I prefer the faster stuff (this runs at about 140bpm I believe), it is so heavy that you look around the room, with a screwface, thinking ‘Fuck me, thats hardcore’.  This is in total contrast to the other releases on the EP, and I’ll tell you something….  This is a gem.  Well done Mr Holmes for signing this one.  If you haven’t heard this tune, shame on you.

Right, last up is the DJ Twista.  I’ll be honest and tell you all that I’ve not heard a lot of twistas stuff before.  It starts with what I can only describe as an 80’s style synth (kinda reminds me of ‘Yazoo’, but I’m showing my age now.  And I dont mean the milkshake!) and in kicks a punchy as hell electro style beat.  Layer a classic Oldskool beat over that, add a cheeky 303 quiet in the mix, and your up to the drop.  The vocal sounds like it came from a computer game, you know, like a dramatic american voice from a japanese ‘Operation Wolf’ type game.  The piano works well over the top of a reese style bass, and the track flows along nicely.  It sounds full and has plenty going on to keep you interested.  This is a solid track, and again is very well produced.  I like it.

To summarise, there is something for everyone on here.  Traditional stuff from the Twista, Progressive stuff from Simon Holmes and a good old slice of filth from the D-Con.  Although you may not like all 4 tracks, due to their contrasting styles, it still deserves to be in your box, purely for versatility reasons.

Well done Sharkfin.  Roll on 005…….

Till next time,
The Mix Analyst