Page 59 - Zone Magazine Issue 014

Danny Slade [UK] - Dance
MUSIC REVIEWS
Various Artists – Entrepôt Records presents ER 06 [Entrepot Records] - Zone Rating - 9/10
If you want a copy of this release, you better get your skates on as it is rare from its inception as there are only 100 copies being pressed on vinyl and no digital copies whatsoever. What’s more, its only being distributed directly by the label to a handful of stores and to customers who contact the label and ask to buy a copy!
So with that level of rarity, the important question is, is it worth chasing it up that hard and for me the answer is yes. In the Press release they say that the label is “influenced by the house of Chicago & Detroit, Disco, HipHop, Soul & Funk” and that is apparent when you listen to all four tracks. First is Salvatore Vitrano’s ‘Lord Groove’ which is a gospel sampling stomper with a solid 4/4 beat and sci-fi synth stabs, then you have Orlando Voorn’s ‘Love’ which has a double bass and a funk infused groove with quirky soulful vocal samples.
On the B side you get UG Beatz’s ‘Iteratif’ which is a laid back disco monster with a funky bassline and authentic disco samples in a one bar loop and finally Gari Rromalis’s ‘9 Deez’ which starts with a deep kick drum and brings an organ riff and vocal samples then turns into another laid back disco workout.
With so many tunes being readily available to everyone with a digital music account it is ice to see some old school attitude of when its gone its gone so I say get contacting the label in Belgium and order your copy before they are all sold! https://soundcloud.com/entrepotrecords/va-salvatore-vitrano-orlando-voorn-uc-beatz-gari-romalis
Tranzvission - Destello [Afterworld Recordings] - Zone Rating - 9/10
This is the second release on Afterworld Recordings for Columbia based producer Andrés García aka Tranzvission and if its driving uplifting cinematic Trance that you are after you have come to the right place.
It starts with a cymbal crash, a muted kick drum and a rubbery bass sound for the intro and quickly builds with great big synth riffs and and vocal pads into a warm haunting track that has a breakdown that you know will have the crowd reaching for the lasers with an almost maudlin piano line with arpeggiated synths and a massive snare roll to take you to the aural climax as the main riff kicks in again. It has that old school Trance anthem feel with just the right amount of energy to keep them dancing but enough nice floaty bits to make the crowd really get lost in the raw emotion of the song. There Is a second breakdown that isn't as long as the first but still features the piano to good effect and adds to the spine tingling qualities nicely.
Mix wise there is the original and then a radio edit but for the purists it has to be the original mix all the way which is 6 minutes and 30 seconds of well spent time listening to this tune that could really go the distance. https://soundcloud.com/afterworld-recordings/tranzvission-destello-radio-mix
Blind Motive - Square One EP [Strictly Deep] - Zone Rating - 8/10
2016 was a good year for new(ish) label Strictly Deep as it was their first year and saw the release of some rather good, cutting edge House and Techno. This is their first release for 2017 and it sets the bar pretty high as it is a great opener for the new year.
There are three tracks included and a remix each of the first two tracks and first up is the original mix of ‘Square One’ which is a great opener with a breakbeat drum pattern and some dark brooding synth stabs that give it a menacingly danceable feel. Second up is the original of ‘Silent Echo’ which has a clap laden intro and sampled female vocals with a driving backbeat with an ongoing drum roll which gives it pace. Third is ‘Familiar Patterns’ which has more breakbeats and female vocal samples cut up and used more as instrumentation to good effect and is quite electro in feel which works for me.
Fourth up is the Ali O’Sullivan Remix of ‘Square One’ which adds male vocal samples, ravesque sounds and a good and funky bassline which turn it into a real dance floor destroyer and last but not least is the Chris Hannah remix of ‘Silent Echo’ which takes it in a techno direction with crisp drums, tight percussion and bleeps a plenty that really give the track energy.
My favourite track is the Ali O’Sullivan Remix of ‘Square One’ but all are good and quite diverse so there hopefully is something for everyone one here.
https://soundcloud.com/strictlydeepmusic
Kommodo - Grip [Scandalo Music] - Zone Rating - 8/10
This Brazilian release features four mixes of two tracks and covers three genres of music so it is not only of a discernibly high quality, its also multi purpose and appeals to a wide range of tastes.
Firstly you get the original version of ‘No More Dust,’ a Progressive House track which is a mid tempo chugger with electro bass, tight percussion and is built round a central synth riff with added eerie sounds to add tension, then there is the Caio Carvalho remix of ‘Grip,’ a Techno track which is faster and very minimal with strung out percussion, a clacking sound, electric guitar samples and various ambient noises which all work very well together.
Then you get a Deep Tech House style mix of each track and for me this is where the magic happens. First is the original mix of ‘Grip; which starts with a bass synth line with sci-fi synths and percussive hits which lead onto the addition of congas, bleeps and a one note synth line and finally you have Hotte remix of ‘No More Dust’ which has bass synth riffs and spaced out deep whistling sounds along with echoed breathing and some synth noodling which works a treat.
It is all very understated and slightly futuristic and although isn't going to set the dance floor on fire, it isn't meant for that. These tracks are perfect for chilling to and have an aural presence that is second to none. I don't have a favourite as all four are high quality examples of less is more but the last two work the best for me.
https://soundcloud.com/scandalomusic
Melissa Nikita & VTONE - Tramonto [BASE Music] - Zone Rating - 8/10
The first release of 2017 for BASE is a large one. Hailing from New York, Melissa Nikita & VTONE land in the UK to deliver their debut track which features an original and a super cool remix by Nino Bellemo.
The ‘Original Mix’ starts with a kick drum and a closed hi hat and slowly builds with the inclusion of a one note synth line to add the tension then the introduction of a distorted bass sound, percussion and subtle risers that take it to a break where another stabbed synth line is added to fatten out the sound for when the vocals come in. The vocal is male spoken but I can’t make out what it says but it doesn't matter as the effect is to keep the track developing into a tight satisfying groove.
The ‘Nino Bellemo Remix’ starts with a breakbeat and one note synth line but takes an altogether different path as the bassline is big and funky and with added snare pattern and the same vocal but cut up give it a lot more energy and along with a load of other nifty production tricks it is transformed into an almost Tech House track but due to its percussion and instrumentation I would classify it as definitely House.
Both tracks deserve merit for their sheer playability and I’m sure a lot of DJs will jump on this one pretty quickly but for me there has to be a favourite and that would be the remix as it has a bigger sound and has so much going on. https://www.beatport.com/artist/melissa-nikita/359421
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 59