Page 53 - Zone Magazine Issue 007

Danny Slade [UK] - Dance
MUSIC REVIEWS
House
Techno
Trance
Manggon - Mandragora [High Contrast Recordings] - Zone Rating - 10/10
An impressive release from a young Latvian producer who was formerly known as REZarin and is now using the pen name Manggon to produce uplifting trance tunes. This record has hit written all over it as the production is spot on and the track really is as euphoric as it gets. It all starts with a kick drum and a muted snare and immediately starts to build with vocal pads and a rolling drum pattern, then straight into a distorted rise and basically then onwards and swiftly upwards. He may be young but what he lacks in age he certainly makes up for, in the production values of a well and truly seasoned pro. There is a piano breakdown and an uplifting synth riff that is guaranteed to get those hands in the air and cause a dance floor eruption. There is only one track on this release but one really is all you need and I can see a bright future for him if all his productions are of this quality. If you like your trance uplifting and moving this release really needs checking out. In fact I can't wait to play it at my next show as I know that it will be one of those tunes that really makes a night out special.
http://www.soundcloud.com/beyourselfmusic
Myon & Shane 54 feat. Amy Pearson - Hurricane [Ride Recordings] - Zone Rating -
10/10
This one came as a bit of a shock to me as the original version started life as a big trance tune that was first released last year. But label owners Myon & Shane 54 must have decided to give it a house make over at some point and I’ll be honest, the result is a stunning emotive full vocal house track that is really a bit of a spine tingler. It starts with a swung drum pattern which builds into a funky bassline and guitar riff which leads into a lush breakdown where the full vocal kicks in and basically turns into a warm euphoric house track that would set any summer terrace or indeed club dance floor alive, which fits perfectly with the vocal that uses the word ‘alive’ over and over again in the song. Its as far away from a trance track that you could get and that really is no bad thing as it really is an excellent house track that works on many levels and sounds nothing like what it began its life as. All I can say is I hope that Myon & Shane 54 continue to make house tracks of this quality as they have crafted a thing of beauty with this release.
http://www.riderecordings.com
Mervius - Escalate [Push2play Music] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Big Room is a genre that has been done to death of late so when I started to listen to this I was expecting all of the usual cliche elements that you have come to expect, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually cheesy vocal free, and had no battle of the crazy sounds that you seem to hear these days from your standard big room release. In fact the reason that this track works so well is that it is quite simple in its approach and it avoids that competitive feel that has sort of spoiled the style of late. In fact has a lot in common with a trance tune apart from its drum pattern and the fact that it has a sample saying “Get ready for the bass to drop.” But even after the vocal line, instead of the usual cacophony of bass synth sounds fighting to sound crazier than the last, it keeps the riff simple and concise yet still manages to have enough energy to push the track forward with verve and gusto. The trance elements really save it from sounding like all of the rest and its simplicity is refreshing on the ear. In fact I am really looking forward to playing this out and seeing how it works, and I’m sure that the result will be a good one! https://soundcloud.com/plattenjunkie/mervius-escalate
Nico Luss & MAS - Whack Ass [Yoo'nék Records] - Zone Rating - 9/10
A fine tech house release that is built around a messed around vocal sample that says “whack ass mother fucker” but is morphed to make it a little strange and more interesting. The track itself is a builder which starts with a simple swung percussion loop with congas, then the kick drum joins the melee and then comes the vocal sample and a funky bassline. The track stays simple with a frenetic feel and adds a repeated one word female vocal sample, a one note string line, rises and the main vocal sample that is cut up and used again in the breakdown. Its beauty (and I really can’t stress enough how often that this is the case) is its simplicity, and ‘the less is more’ approach and the way it locks you in the groove and propels you along while mesmerized by its funky dubby bass heavy feel is enough. There is only the one track on the release but again one is all you need as it is a competently and confidently produced piece of dance music that I am proud to say is going to have a hammering from me over the Christmas and New Years period and for a great many months then after!
http://www.yoonekreckords.com
Various Artists - The Remixes Vol. 1 Jeudi Records - Zone Rating - 8/10
As the title suggests, release features remixes of tracks that have been out already on Jeudi Records and there are are four of them by three different artists. First up is Doctor Dru with ‘Proper Lane’, which has been remixed by Maxxi Soundsystem and is a house chugger with a minimal male sang vocal, a twangy bass sound and an organic synth line with underpins it all. Second up is Cheap Picasso with ‘Don't Play Around’ which has been remixed by MANIK and is more tribal and features a swung drum pattern and a breakdown with a male vocal that has been seriously processed to make it feel more edgy and the track has techy elements. Numbers three and four are both by Bambook both feature vocals by Name One, and are the Camea Remix of ‘Tow The Line’ which Is a laid back houser with spoken male vocals and rises a plenty and finally ‘Träume’ which is another deep cut with a dubby feel and minimal elements throughout. If taken as single tracks all are well produced and emotive so together as a four track release, this release is something pretty special. If you like laid back grooves with housey and techy elements that are crisp sounding and well produced, this is a release that is well worth seeking out.
https://www.facebook.com/jeudirecords
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