Page 60 - Zone Magazine Issue 020

dance / danny slade
Albums - Dance
Albums - Dance
Neverdogs ft Tmar - I Believe That [Roush] [House]
London based duo Marco De Gregorio and Tommy Paone, aka Neverdogs drop their first EP of 2018 with two tracks and a remix from label boss Hector Couto. First up is the title track ‘I Believe That’ which starts with a shuffling percussion loop which is quickly joined by a funky bassline, congas and synth stabs and eventually the full vocal kicks in by Tmar which is in the form of a spoken rap which fits the songs ethos perfectly. There are mad synth stabs in the breaks in vocal and this track has got Ibiza terrace anthem written all over it. Next up is the original mix of ‘Vintage’ which kicks off with an electro bassline and electro sounding retro drums (hence the name Vintage) and is a percussive track with acidic stabs, old school snares and electro claps and the whole track has a metallic sound to it. Hector Couto’s remix is titled the ‘Hector Couto Dubnation Remix’ and it loses the old school feel with a giant kick, finger clicks and a funky bassline as the intro and vocal chops and much dubbyness throughout. The only real clue that it is a remix of the previous track are that the vocal chops are used in both. Apart from that it could be a new track altogether. This is one seriously sophisticated release and picking a favourite track isn’t going to happen. It is however my Tune Of The Month and comes to you highly recommended.
https://www.facebook.com/neverdogsofficial/
TOP TUNE //
Damon Hess - Drop The Beat & Get Up EP [Reklas Records] [House]
Damon Hess is of to a great start to 2018 after the massive success of his recent On The Block EP and with the quality of this EP being so
high, things can only get better. It contains four underground house jams of which the first is the title track ‘Drop The Beat & Get Up’ which starts with a percussive loop that is joined by a kick, snare roll and riser that introduces the bassline which is funky and the main vocal sample. The drums are swung and there are fast claps and random sounds firing off and a female vocal that acts as a backing vocal to the main sample. The second track ‘Get Hype’ is a roller with another percussive intro that takes you to an electro bleepy bassline which morphs into another bass sound and keeps swapping where appropriate. There are male rapped vocal samples and the track is packed with juicy house goodness. Third up is ‘House In All Of Us’ which comes at you again with a percussive intro which builds with intricacy and takes you to the main synth riff and bassline. Its more dubby than the first track with stereo panned vocal chants and risers to increase the tension. Finally you get ‘Opitunity’ which is by Damon and Craig Crompton which is the most laid back of the tracks with a male vocal sample, snare rolls and a spaced out breakdown. All four are aimed squarely at the dancefloor and I can see this getting as much attention and support as its predecessor with the title track being my favourite. https://www.juno.co.uk/products/lady-starlight-which-one-of-us-is/667561-01/
DJ Mosquito - Darkness (ConnecteD Remix) [Error 303] [Hard Trance]
After a break in their release schedule of over a year, Error 303 are back with their 18th release and its a good one. ConnecteD has gone through the Error 303 back catalogue and picked DJ mosquito’s release from 2016 and has poured his magic remix potion on it and has come up with a fine and banging new version for us Hard Trance fans. It starts with a whooshing sound then goes into what sounds like a filtered drum pattern which is joined by a kick drum and takes you into a seriously spaced out breakdown with many tripped out effects. It then comes out led by the kick and keeps the eerie sounds going with a side chained bassline joining the fray and lots of rhythmic hits and what sounds like distorted lead guitar samples but I may be wrong there, but it doesn't matter as what is important here is the sound of this tune which is big, bold and a real party starter. There is another break down which loses the percussion for a bit and is added to by lush vocal pads and a massive riser that takes you back into the main track which is tough and emotive and should really get the Hard Trance massive up on their feet and stomping. So if you like it dark, hard and dirty and let's face it, you would be mad not to, This tune should appeal to the ravers out there and the DJs that like to play quality hard music to the aforementioned ravers so this track is a win win situation! https://www.facebook.com/ANEWERAOFHARDTRANCE/?ref=br_rs
Andrey Burtaev - Next Dub EP [Elusive Records] [Deep House]
Something different here as this release is only available on a limited run of 300 vinyl pressings and is made up of four sumptuous dreamy deep house cuts. First up is ‘Move On Dub’ Which starts with a lush pad sound and a stereo panned conga loop which is joined by a kick and other percussive hits and eventually some vocal samples. It is deep and ethereal and would be perfect for an Balearic terrace set as all the tracks on here would be. Second you have ‘Late Night Dubbing’ which is warm and ambient and has a distinctive dubby bassline, bleeps, sitars and ethnic drumming. There is also a light breakbeat drum pattern that drives it along nicely and what sounds like wildlife samples. Then you have the original mix of ‘Next Dub’ which has a tough kick intro which is added to by reggae style choppy guitars as well as lead guitar and its the most uptempo track on the EP with a male spoken vocal and a seriously skanking feel to it. Finally you have the ‘Steven Cock Remix’ of the same track which swings the drum pattern and adds pads and sci fi effects which give it a more housier feel but still hangs on to the dub element. There is a spaced out breakdown then some strange vocal samples (I think) and the track plays on. This is a bold release and one that's rarer than hen’s teeth with it only being on 300 vinyls and my favourite track is ‘Late Night Dubbing’. If you have the chance, please check it out as it is well worth a listen if you want something deep and dubby.
http://www.elusiverec.co.uk
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