REVIEWS I-Z
IAN VAN DAHL “REASON”
(CD-SINGLE)
(ROBBINS ENTERTAINMENT / ANTLER
SUBWAY)
The trio that comprises Ian Van
Dahl (yes, you should know by now it’s not one person) has put out several
tunes that have enjoyed mainstream success throughout the US and the world.
Their latest single “Reason” which follows the multi-selling
chart-toppers “Castles In The Sky” and Will I?” does not stray far from
their pattern for success, but is a stellar dance tune.
The beauty of the CD single is the depth of the mixes that have been
included from ranging from various extended mixes to the Lange Mix (the creative
force behind DJ Sakin's smash
'Protect
Your Mind') and the Kraxler & Schwarz Mix.
The Minimalistix Mix is a beautiful journey between the lush sounds of
the track being played on piano keys and then you’re thrust into the anthemic
sound of the original. The
transitions are amazing. Whether
Ian Van Dahl are a guilty pleasure or you have just been blow away by their
sound, “Reason” is a wonderful track that experiences a great metamorphosis
between styles on this single any of which are sure to fit your mix.
You don’t need a reason, just get to the store if you haven’t already
and pick this up.
IN HOUSE WE TRUST 3 – MIXED BY
LUKE FAIR AND DESYN MASIELLO (YOSHITOSHI)
The duo of Luke Fair and Desyn
Masiello are an interesting choice for the third installment of the In House We
Trust series from the DC-based Yoshitoshi label. Previous editions of this series have focused on rising
talents plotting the course of house music and have set the bar pretty high.
Fair and Masiello have met the challenge of their predecessors by
providing two very diverse sets. On
the disc mixed by Fair, the mix starts out with a smooth, deep house vibe and
soon builds into a funky beat. While
on the second disc, Masiello has compiled an eclectic collection of tracks with
their own sultry, tropical vibe. Through
the selection of yet another set of amazing talents, In House We Trust 3
continues to give a glimpse into the future of house music.
JAMEZ “DREAMCHASING” (FUTURE
GROOVE)
Dreamchasing is subtle nod to the
lightly dusted house music contained in the debut disc on Future Groove records
from Dutch producer Jamez. Jamez
has been a key player in many European house hits of the past under a plethora
of pseudonyms, but has made this release all his own. With a style that is much disco as house, Dreamchasing is a
soothing blend of highs in an ambient atmosphere. “Levitate” is a flowing bit of house that only eases into
the track “Energy Of Life” which is my kind of house with the stinging high
hats punctuating the beat and a groovy vocal track.
“Falling In Love” is an amorous audio track carried at a smooth pace
while “Dreamchaser” picks up the beat.
For fans of harder thumping house beats, this release may be a bit slow
for you, but for the rest, you are where you want to be.
There is no mistaking that this disc would help anyone to experience both
the beauty and the beat of house music.
JAY JAY JOHANSON “ANTENNA” (EMAGINE)
While many have jumped on the
electroclash movement in the U.S. over the past year, Swedish singer Jay Jay
Johanson has decided to take a bit wider view with the tracks on his debut U.S.
release entitled “Antenna”. Johanson,
a multi-platinum selling artist in Europe, has put out a collection of tracks
that are both loaded with synth and light on bass beats while backing his very
stylized vocals. This unique
synthpop sound that he creates is exceptionally alluring on tracks such as
“Open Up” and the addictive “On The Radio”, which sets the pace for the
album early on. There are not many
surprises throughout the disc, but the overall transition from one track into
the next is captivating. Another
interesting track is “Automatic Lover”, which was featured in advertisements
for 2(X)IST Underwear earlier this year only helping to build Johanson’s
following among the young and hip. If
you are starting to feel a bit of distortion in the rebirth of new wave, try
tuning into Jay Jay Johanson, you might be surprised at what you find.
LARRY TEE “THE ELECTROCLASH
MIX” (MOONSHINE)
Some say would that putting the
name of your genre on your album would lend to an album not holding up to
expectations, but when you are the face of electroclash, throw it out there!
Throughout the years, Larry Tee has had an impact in many phases of dance
music’s history ranging from his legendary parties held in NYC to being
credited with discovering the fashion runway’s very own dance diva, Rupaul.
Emerging early on last year, 2002 was clearly the year for this genre to
make its presence known. With
Moonshine’s release of The Electroclash Mix, America’s top label continues
to show their innate ability to maintain a position at the forefront of the club
culture. The launch party for The
Electroclash Mix held poolside under the hot and humid Florida skies at a very
retro hotel during the recent Winter Music Conference in Miami, Florida, was one
of the best put together hangouts of the entire week.
Several artists performed live while Larry Tee spun hits straight from
the album from within a hotel room. Whatever
your opinion of this breakout new genre, The Electroclash Mix is a perfect
demonstration of the sound from the man who actually trademarked the term.
VARIOUS “THE LAST MINUTE”
(PALM)
What have you done this week?
In the film The Last Minute, fictional media darling Billy Byrne tries to
figure what he did wrong, let’s recap not recap what the directors did wrong,
instead let’s review the tracks that guided Billy’s trip.
In a film that explores the meteoric rise and stunning fall of media
darling without explaining much of the characters backgrounds, you should be
able to rely on a series of tracks filled with varied emotion to help enhance
the film itself. The problem here
is that the film is in need of a bit more than just a great soundtrack.
Luck for the makers, that was the part that works.
While favorites like Leftfield, EL-P, and Supreme Beings of Leisure do
their best to help you forget the oft confusing storyline that apparently drops
out after the first thirty minutes to become an odd-version of Dickens novel,
its these tracks that may remind you of a better time in a better place.
So save yourself the trouble of catching the film and settle for a decent
collection of tracks that are more deserving of your time.
To explain it best you only have to read the album cover “Don’t waste
time, or it will waste you.”
LOUIE DEVITO “NYC UNDERGROUND
PARTY: VOLUME 5”
(DEEVEE MUSIC/MUSICRAMA)
It has been said (and it’s true)
the NYC Underground Party series have always contained volumes of radio-friendly
successes. With the latest edition,
the first of the series to contain so many tracks that it spreads across two
discs of dance radio tunes and club favorites, NYC DJ Louie DeVito continues in
the successful exploration of what makes radios across the land explode with
beats and energy. DeVito has
included several top tracks including several of today’s top mainstream
talents, such as Iio, Puretone, Amber, and Lasgo, mixed with rising talents,
such as Reina, TRB, and Aubrey. While
disc one is weak in spots, they are spaced out enough that the disc doesn’t
ever really drop off. Some of the
tracks included may work independently in a club, but don’t work as well in
the midst of this mix from DeVito. “The
Crowd Song” from Rhythm Gangsta was an interesting choice in the middle that
seemed promising, but didn’t seem to deliver.
The second disc has many radio favorites, including Lasgo’s
“Alone”, Marc et Claude’s “Tremble”, 4 Strings’ “Take Me Away
(Into The Night)”, “Addicted To Bass” from Puretone, and “Anyway (Men
Are From Mars)” from teen-favorite Amber.
If you are tired of trying to find these online to download, pick up this
release.
LOUIS OSBOURNE “MOTION:AUDIO
VERSION ONE”
(BLUE CHIP RECORDS)
From his first exposure to dance
culture, Louis Osbourne was destined to find his way behind the decks.
Once Osbourne found his way in to a rave, he was enthralled with
everything the culture had to offer. With
the release of Motion:Audio Version One, Osbourne is set to inspire others to
explore this world. The amazing mix
is kicked off by the uber-funky “Mon Cong (Los Angeles)” from Alexis Forge
and launches into what is a very groovy set for his debut effort.
Osbourne has put together a wide variety of sounds in his mix from the
electro-funkfest of “Freaque On” by D. Ramirez featuring Kahill to the deep,
harmonic house of “Standing Strong” by Christopher Loman featuring Sam
“The Man” Burns. The disc is
capped off by “Sunshine” from Tomaz vs Filterheadz, a personal favorite for
Osbourne, which he frequently used to close his sets.
Motion:Audio Version One is an album that cleverly traverses the range of
sound from uptempo electro-funk to the synthesized beats at the heart of the
deep house vibe. For a debut
effort, Louis Osbourne has stepped out of the shadow of his family’s musical
lineage and staked his own claim in a new electronic world.
MAURO PICOTTO “THE OTHERS” (RADIKAL)
Truly one of the current kings of
uptempo tunes filled with pounding beats is Italian-born DJ/producer Mauro
Picotto. With the amazing The
Others, which sold an incredible 15, 000 units alone during in its first month,
Picotto, puts a definite stamp on his place in the techno realm.
This album is loaded with several tracks that should not be missed;
however, there are a few that standout, such as “Pulsar (Picotto Verdi
Mix)”, “Back To Cali”, and “Bangkok”.
To further please the ears of dance fans and DJs alike, the vinyl album
for The Others will follow the release of “Back To Cali” as a single and
will include bonus tracks “Global Musik” and “Were Back”.
As a result of banging production throughout the disc built for massive
crowds ready to dance until their sweat-covered bodies can’t take it anymore,
The Others is a release that is truly meant for everyone.
MINISTRY OF SOUND: AMERICAN ANTHEMS
(ULTRA)
NYC favorites DJ Skribble and David
Waxman have combined to create their highly stylized and very energized vision
of what is exciting US dance music fans with the release of Ministry Of Sound:
American Anthems, a collection of tracks blazing dancefloors from coast to
coast. For the first disc, DJ
Skribble has once again put together a solid collection of hits with his flair
for the hard and heavy, including Dutch feat. Crystal Waters (“My Time (Scumfrog
Remix)”), Roger Sanchez Present Transatlantic Soul (“Release Yo’self
(Robbie Rivera Remix)”), Mantra feat. Lydia Rhodes (“Away (Peter rauhofer
remix)”), and 4 Strings (“Let It Rain (Original Vocal Mix”).
Although the first disc is slamming, the strength of this release is the
mix from Ultra A&R man David Waxman, who has compiled a banging set loaded
with thump and energy throughout, including The Streets, (“Weak Become Heroes
Royskopp’s Memory Lane Mix)”), Scumfrog (“Music Revolution (S-Man’s
Music Not War Mix)”), Orielle (“All I Know (House Of Wax Remix)”), and
Amuka feat Sheila Brody (“Appreciate Me (NYC Roxy Mix)”).
With backgrounds beyond reproach, Skribble and David Waxman both have
given a great look at what makes clubbing a memorable experience in the states.
PURE DANCE VOL. 1 (NETTWERK
AMERICA)
With a roster loaded with some of
the best dance music talent available, Pure Dance Volume 1 from Nettwerk America
is sure to be the flagship release of a series to watch.
This inaugural edition has put together several top hits that includes
several of the best remixes from 2002, including the Grammy-winning mix of
Dido’s “Thank You”, by DC-based duo Deep Dish.
The Bedrock Mix of Underworld’s “Cowgirl” shows why they are
considered to be one of the top labels in the world.
A particular favorite is Moby’s “We Are All Made OF Stars (DJ
Tiesto’s Full Vocal Remix)” which is an uptempo electro version of the
original from the self-titled “little idiot.
DJ Tiesto’s presence is also felt with the inclusion of his
highly-craved track “643 (Love’s On Fire) (Oliver Klein Vocal Mix)” which
features a standout vocal performance from Suzanne Palmer and takes the
underground hybrid of Kosheen’s “Hide U” and Tiesto’s own “Flight
643” to a whole new destination. The
ever-intellectual prowess of Photek is displayed throughout the downtempo
masterpiece Zero 7 “Destiny (Photek Mix)” while the smooth rhymes of Swollen
Members’ “Deep End (Utah Saints Mix)” takes d-n-b beats and forges a funky
gem. Other points of interest
include Iio’s chart-topping smash “Rapture” and the haunting sonic beauty
of former Delerium member Conjure One’s “Sleep”.
These tracks are perfect for any mood…when typical daily pressures may
start to get to you, this is what you put on….if you want to get amped for a
night out, this is what you play.
SCHILLER “VOYAGE” (CD/DVD) (RADIKAL)
Few live bands or ensembles can
truly create an innovative sound that translates well to the dancefloor.
Enter Schiller. With their recent release, “Voyage”, Schiller has taken
up the gauntlet to show that beautifully-constructed beats set in a lush
atmosphere can become generate an intense sound.
The accompanying DVD contains visuals that play along with the release as
well as numerous videos that are artistically beyond standard dance video fare.
The band is truly establishing their place as a collective that inspires
beautiful imagery in both the audio and video realms.
The music, while ambient in nature, serves as a calming soundscape, with
a soothing “new age” appeal. The
vocals only enhance the experience and quality of each track.
Generally, this release would easily fall in the so-called “chill”
category for the most part, but there are several wonderful tracks that
shouldn’t get lost in the blur. Of
note is the track “Schiller”, included as the backdrop for the DVD menu
page, this is a meditative beauty. Each
note is applied with the touch of an artist striking paint to a broad canvas of
people, places, and feelings while developing a glorious sonic image. So light candles, burn incense, slip the DVD into your
player, and let the sights and sounds of Schiller carry you off on a soothing,
spiritual Voyage.
SEB FONTAINE “PERFECTO
PRESENTS…SEB FONTAINE” (PERFECTO/THRIVE)
Seb Fontaine, rising star and one
of the men responsible for programming the sound of Saturday night for millions
of listeners across the UK and millions more online, has released a stellar new
album for the Perfecto imprint. From
his early days spinning hip-hop and reggae to the house sets he brings out
today, Seb Fontaine has risen through the ranks by playing what the crowds want
to hear and with his latest effort Perfecto Presents…Seb Fontaine, he is sure
to establish his place at the table. While
the mix this time around is a bit different than his previous release for
Perfecto, Seb has taken things a bit deeper and come up with an amazing
collection of tracks that reflect where he is at musically.
The mix from the former “super-sub” at BBC Radio 1 is a combination
of Hi-NRG, tech-house, and breaks. Tracks
such as “India” (under his Shagrat alias) and Andrea B’s “Crazy Hardcore
Bitch” kickoff the mix on disc one while Seb closes out the disc with Matrix
vs. Goldtrix’s “It’s Love (Trippin)” complete with a personalized intro.
The second disc keeps the levels topped out as Fontaine moves into a
deeper, island vibe with standout tracks from Jeffed (“Into The Light”),
Digistar (“Rock”), and Cinch (“Collapse”).
With the Perfecto Presents release, Seb Fontaine continues to bring the
best, unknown talent to the forefront while compiling a mix we’ll definitely
be listening to for months to come.
SIGNAL “THE MESSAGE IS
CLEAR…” (VINYLHOR)
Set yourself to receive the
retro-electro-synth message from Signal. “The
Message Is Clear…” is full of pop-friendly trance and electronica, which
means loads of high-hats and synth lines for your ears.
There are some highlights, including “A Memory Of You”, “Trancemission”,
and “LFO Child”, an electro drum-n-bass jam with a blazing vocal assault.
It seems recently that people are returning to tracks that have a retro
quality and revolve around a time where vocals were the force that guided the
direction of a track. With “The
Message Is Clear…”, Signal have grasped the idea of synth and should now
concentrate of continuing to broaden their sound more in the direction of tracks
like the beautiful ambience of the drum-n-bass wonder, “Believe”.
Signal’s use of intermixed vocals and beats is refreshing, yet many of
the tracks still feel recycled. The
saving grace of the disc comes at the end with the bonus track, cleverly titled
“Bonus Track”. For a fun look
back at why we loved electronic-synth lines in the 80s, tune in to Signal.
SUZY SOLAR “THE PERFECT TRANCE
2.0” (NEURODISC)
With the proliferation of the
trance sound across the globe and regional tastes being different from day to
day, the title of Suzy Solar’s latest release may be biting off a little more
than it can chew. The Perfect
Trance 2.0 is an example of the style of pop trance music that the mainstream
commonly refers to as “techno” or “electronic music”.
It may not seem like a deep-reaching mix, but there is a good selection
of hard dance/trance tracks. The
problem is that the tracks are too similar and don’t seem to flow well when
played one after the other. For the
pop-trance world that US dance radio has become, The Perfect Trance 2.0 should
feed the mass consumption for the standard weekend mix show.
THE CRYSTAL METHOD “COMMUNITY
SERVICE” (ULTRA)
In 2002, several DJs decided to
take the plunge and put out artists albums, so why shouldn’t one of the
best-known production duos, who have built a reputation for adrenaline-packed
live shows and are the force behind several of the most recognized dance tracks
of the past few years put out as DJ mix compilation? In the past, The Crystal Method, aka Scott Kirkland and Ken
Jordan, have generated tracks that have become so addictive that they have
slowly become that craving of not only the dancefloor, but mainstream America
and pop culture in general. For
their Community Service release, Scott and Ken have compiled a track listing
that covers not only several remix highlights from their own work, but tracks
from numerous artists that clearly display the impact that The Crystal Method
has had on dance music. Standout
tracks on the disc include remixes for rockers P.O.D. (“Boom (The Crystal
Method Remix)”) and Garbage (“Paranoid (The Crystal Method Remix)”). The disc also includes remixes of TCM’s own tracks by some
of the top producers today including Hybrid (“The Name Of The Game (Hybrid’s
LA Blackout Remix)”) and Koma + Bones (“You Know It’s Hard (Koma+Bones
Remix”). Many production duos
aspire to find success as artists in their own right, while many do succeed,
only a few provide the sort of electrified mix that TCM have provided here.
When it comes to The Crystal Method, it doesn’t matter…behind the
decks or behind the keyboards…I’ll take the red pill!
TIESTO “NYANA” (NETTWERK
AMERICA/BLACK HOLE)
If you don’t know Tiesto by now,
then you must have been hiding under a very large rock.
Tiesto has been sparking dancefloors worldwide for the past few months on
the heels of his amazing new release Nyana, including the recent Sony Duel Play
Tour with Nettwerk labelmate Noel Sanger. For
Nyana, Tiesto has taken a new approach to the two disc release and compiled one
disc that showcases his amazing ability to play before thousands of festival
fans and a second disc that harnesses the intimate power of a club.
The outdoor disc is pumping with Tom Mangan’s “Chutney (Size 9
Reinterpretation)” and the pulsing title track which is an original
masterpiece showing a polished progression for Tiesto as he continues to elevate
his production skills. Tiesto has
included several tracks with stellar vocal talents, including Sinead O’Connor,
Jan Johnston, and Tina Arena. The
expansive sound harnessed in the outdoor disc is only compounded by the intimacy
of the indoor disc. The heart of
the indoor disc is the inclusion of tracks from Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden
projects Andain (“Beautiful Things”) and Motorcycle (“As The Rush Comes
(Exclusive Demo Mix)”). With
Nyana, Tiesto gives an insight to his ever-expanding world as he incorporates a
sampling of both sides of this well-rounded DJ who can rock the crowd whether
its fifty of five thousand.
TIMO MAAS “MUSIC FOR THE MAASES
2” (HOPE/KINETIC) 4 STARS
In what is truly a remix retrospective, Timo Maas, arguably one of the top German DJ/producers in the world today, will be dropping Music For The Maases 2. If you missed the first edition of this series which was selected as Album Of The Year by both Ministry and Mixmag magazine, and you didn’t get a chance to get down with his debut artist album Loud in 2003, fear not my friends, Maas has more for ya! For Music in The Maases 2, Maas has compiled a cross-section of tracks that show how he creates an innovative reworking of a variety of styles into his own funky electric vibe. Included among the various remixes is an exclusive track from Maas himself entitled “Unite”, which is an eclectic mix of pulses and slow kick drums. Whether he is molding a tune to fit around the strong vocals of Garbage’s Shirley Manson (“Breaking Up The Girl”), giving a very uptempo track from BT a new groove (“Never Gonna Back Down”), or showcasing new diva talents like Kelis (“Young Fresh and New”), Maas brings a new excitement to the dancefloor with each new remix. Music For The Maases 2 is a great collection of work from a DJ who continues to prove that he is also a truly gifted producer.