Page 60 - Zone Magazine Issue 015

Estiva - Repeater/ Space Dust [Colorize] [Progressive House] - Zone Top Tune - 10/10
This Two track Progressive House release comes to you fully kitted out with extended and radio mixes of each track and already has won the seal of approval from the likes of Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz who are both already playing it.
First up is ‘Repeater’ Which starts with deep pads and then brings an old school sounding bassline with soaring synths, claps and vocoded sounds that give it a real spaced out ethereal feel which takes you to a mammoth breakdown that is a real spine tingler and out again with a soaring sound that just builds and builds the tension. It is a real old school vs. new school tune which works a treat. ‘Space Dust’ starts with a deadened kick and a galloping bassline that leads you to the first movement which has stereo panned drums, a sci fi synth riff, eerie pads and atmospherics that give it great presence and takes you to a mini breakdown with just the bassline and synths soaring above you. Then the second movement kicks in and again transports you to another world of blissed out aural ecstasy with a plethora of sounds that work so well together. This is Estiva’s debut on Colourize and what a way to start out with two sculptures in sound that show off the Dutchman's skill and maturity in production to a tee. I do not have a favorite as both are just so good and I have no hesitation in making this the tune of the month.
https://soundcloud.com/colorize-enhanced/sets/estiva-repeater-space-dust
Holt Blackheath - Kick Back EP [Desert Hearts][TechHouse] - Zone Recommended Tune - 10/10
The latest from Desert Hearts Records comes from UK producer Holt Blackheath who has been putting out tracks on the likes CUFF and MadTech Records and this his latest EP is a funky tech house groover with two tracks and a remix of the title track by Kreature. First up is ‘Kick Back’ which starts with a distorted kick drum and a percussion loop and then brings in an equally distorted funky bassline and a female vocal sample. The distortion is then taken off the bassline and eerie pads are added plus ride cymbals and the vocal leads the charge straight onto the dance floor as this is where this track really comes to life. It is simple but highly effective and for me works the best out of the three. Next up is ‘Switch’ which again follows the funky cut up mantra to good effect with a male vocal sample and blaring synth stabs over another ultra funky bassline and percussive backbeat. Lastly you get the Kreature interpretation of ‘Kick Back’ which ups the BPMs to 128 and comes at you with a tight kick and snare then brings in a different bassline and back beat and the same vocal sample with added sci fi synths.
It is titled the ‘Kick Back EP’ but it is kicked back in title only as all three cuts are dancefloor destroyers and should win a lot of fans from DJs to clubbers alike as it is an affable little beauty and for that reason I am making it my Zone recommended tune!
https://soundcloud.com/desert-hearts-records
MUSIC REVIEWS
Danny Slade [UK] - Dance
Jason Bagley - Drips & Drops [Krafted Digital] [House] - Zone Rating - 8/10
The never ending love affair between dance music and the acidic sounds first generated by the Roland TB-303 is one that is explored here with two mixes of which the first is all about the acid and the second has traces of it in its DNA. The first track ‘Drips’ starts with an acidic burbling and develops with a 4/4 beat that is peppered with vocal chants and a cowbell and continues to wind its way throughout different sweeps of the ever alluring sound of Acid House, the aforementioned TB-303.
It is a sound that has come to symbolise house music and has crossed over into many genres but for this track, things are kept pretty purest and minimal and it works a treat. The second track ‘Drops’ has a fuller sound with a higher pitched acid line in the intro and is not so minimal. It has a driving bassline, risers and a melody played on a synth and there is also a breakdown and a change of direction for the second part of the track that is slightly unhinged and very effective, with the acid used again sparsely for a short while. Both are good but for me ‘Drips’ is the winner as although it is more minimal it is based around a developing acid line and when turned up good and loud, it really soars above the rest and like the Pied Piper himself, it leads you on a very merry dance.
https://www.facebook.com/EJUnderground
T. Romanello & S. Shy - Dark Knights EP [Swicthing Records][TechHouse] - Zone Rating - 8/10
This release is aimed at tougher dancefloors with its two cuts of dark edged tech heavy beats. They are both fast, brash and unapologetic in their design and I admire their approach as there is no beating around the bush going on with these two solid groovers. The opener is titled ‘Rendez-Vous and starts with a chunky percussive intro then develops with deep synth stabs and a female vocal repeating “do it” into a tech beast with abrasive synths, open hi hats and a tribal feel that locks you into its groove. There are a number of mini breakdowns but no real builds as this one is all about the no nonsense groove. Next up is ‘You Should Be Dancing’ which has a tribal percussive intro with a rolling drum loop, chants and and old school house feel. There are detuned vocal chants and sci fi sounds and the pace is relentless and to reiterate, make no mistake, this was designed with one thing in mind and that was rocking a dance floor and I have to say that success has been achieved. These two tracks aren't the subtle in any way which is not a bad thing as lets face it it is dance music we are talking about and that is exactly what you get here, a release with two dancefloor ready, dark grooving thumpers. There are no cutesy soulful diva-esque vocals or musical trickery to create tension, They are destined for a hot sweaty groovathon and both tracks are able to go the distance.
https://redchannelmusic.com
Tuff London - The Block EP [Get Twisted] [Tech-House] - Zone Rating - 9/10
After a sizzling 2016 which saw their two tracks ‘Sending Love’ and ‘Front Line’ being supported by the likes of Mark Knight and Carl Cox, ‘The Block EP’ is Tough London’s first release of 2017 and features two proper party starters, ‘Attack The Block’ and ‘Lucky For Some’. ‘Attack The Block’ starts with a looped crowd sound sample and builds with tight percussion and other crazy vocal samples to a breakdown of sorts then continues with a deep bassline and lots of healthy darkness to a sample saying “block party.” There are loads of rhythmic samples in play and the whole track is extremly floor friendly. ‘Lucky For Some’s’ start is less intense as it builds with percussion and a swirling riser to a distorted funky bassline which is interspersed with vocal samples. There are snare rolls and a filthy groove with what sounds like an array of mad samples that are thrown into the mix in an organised yet chaotic way and work a treat. Both are main set weapons and for me ‘Lucky For Some’ is the best as although there is so much going on, it never loses its composure. For me it is destined to rock crowds for months to come as you can just tell it will send a dance floor crazy.
http://www.facebook.com/tufflondonmusic
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