Page 58 - Zone Magazine Issue 014

MUSIC REVIEWS
Danny Slade [UK] - Dance
Third Son & Darlyn Vlys - Follow The Machines [Upon You Records] - Zone top tune - 10/10
If you like your House Music dark and underground, this release is a must as it contains some four tracks that are positively demonically dark yet eminently danceable to which is a rare mixture these days.
‘Orson’ is the first track and it starts with a muted kick and a grumbling bass which set the tone perfectly for what is to follow which is a stripped back minimal deep cut with claps, cowbells, wobbling synths and loads of sci-fi sounds that together make up a monstrously good tune. ‘Augustin’ is the second cut which kicks off with a rubbery bassline and grows with more sci-fi weirdness and odd rhythmic sounds into another speaker destroying slab of darkness with odd synth stabs, a solid 4/4 drum pattern and warbling eerie sounds.
‘Zimmer’ is the third track and again we are treated to a cacophony of oddness that grows more and more intense as the track builds with the same crazy instrumentation along with a flowing organ riff which adds perfectly to the bizzarity of the track. Its like nothing else that I’ve heard for many a moon and sounds truly individual as the whole package does and it is all very impressive. The last track is a remix of ‘Orson’ by Eins Tiefer which again sounds distinctly different to what else is being released by other labels and again sounds sinister and unhinged to good effect with pronounced percussion, synth stabs and a breakdown with much oddness in play.
If you want a release that sounds like no other, this is one to look out for. I don’t have a favorite track as all are so good and I have no hesitation in making this the Zone Top tune!
http://www.uponyou-records.com
The Mekanism - Breath [Play It Say It] - Zone Recommended tune - 10/10
This double vinyl release on Seth Troxler’s Play It Say It label certainly delivers the goods with 8 tracks on this mini LP all produced by Parisian DJ/ Producer and Rinse FM star Damien Roussel, aka The Mekanism who also releases tracks on a whole host of other labels like Berlin’s Exploited, London’s Needwant and Leeds’ 2020 Vision.
The opening track ‘Breath’ is an excellent starter with crazy percussion, violin stabs and a funky rubbery bass that is in a jacking style with wild samples, echoed effects, acid stabs and a male vocal. There's bags of energy to really tear a dancefloor up and it is an excellent start and sets the pace nicely for what is to come, which are another seven technoid tracks with a strong emphasis on fun and frivolity.
I won’t list all of them as it would take long but my other three favourite tracks are the following: ‘Get It’ which is another funky number with acidic sounds, a killer bassline, congas and vocal stabs, ‘Follow Me’ which is more stripped back with synth and vocal stabs, another funky bassline and sci-fi noises that give it a futurist feel and finally the last track, the aptly named ‘Time To Party’ which has retro electro sounds, loads or percussion and a samples from Maceo Parker’s ‘Cross The Tracks’ and Lyn Collins ‘Think’ which give it a real authentic old school house feel.
It really is worth checking out and for that reason I have made it my recommended tune.
https://www.deejay.de/The_Mekanism_Breath_PLAY014_Vinyl__262053
Supernova, City Lights EP [Elrow Music] - Zone Rating - 10/10
This three track EP was produced by the Italian duo Supernova aka Emiliano Nencioni and Giacomo Godi and it is laden with some seriously funky tech house grooves that are definately floor filling in nature.
First is ‘Rock The Disco’ which starts with the bassline and a percussion loop then grows with vocal samples saying “Rock The Disco” then gets funky with the adding of cow bells, snare rolls and and a cornucopia of other little sounds that add to its rhythmic nature and make it a real rump shaker.
Second is ‘What What’ which is more Techy in nature with dubby percussion, a lovely breakbeat and futuristic vocal samples that have lots of effects on them so you can't tell what they are saying but it doesn't matter as by the time the siren kicks in, you should hopefully grooving along nicely.
Last and definitely not least is the real party starter of the three ‘Get Hot’ which starts with a simple kick and snare and then brings in other percussive elements along with a stabbing synth line until the simple but highly effective vocal sample kicks in, that just repeats “freaks...them freaks” over and over again. It is one of those tunes that has to be heard good and loud to get the real feel and is definitely my favourite of a good bunch on this EP. And the good thing is that there is no filler here...its all killer!
https://soundcloud.com/supernova
The Sixth Sense - Calendula EP [6x6 Records] - Zone Rating - 9/10
This is a release of two halves as for the first track, you get an old school trance tune and the second a full on Tech Trance monster, The one thing that they do have in common is they are both Superb.
The opener ‘Calendula’ is a 138 BPM uplifting trance with its foot firmly planted in its roots of retro trance with a banging kick drum led intro, acidic sounds and a riff that really tells a story as it meanders through the track as the main hook until it hits the breakdown where its arms in the air time as the lush sounds wash over you and make you forget all your woes and really loose it to the music.
The second track ‘Arpeggione’ is also at 138BPM but that's where the story ends as this track is Techy right from the get go with a kickdrum and burbling acid which then goes on to form the one of the main riffs for the track but is joined by an arpeggio riff which again runs through to the breakdown which as another arms in the air monster bit in=s underpinned by the acid. When it kicks back in, all hell breaks loose and And the tune main riff drives you ever onto the outro.
Both of these are going getting a hammering of yours truly over the coming months and with this being only the label's third release, I am expecting to hear more great tunes of them in the future.
https://soundcloud.com/6x6records
58 ZONE-MAGAZINE.COM