Page 61 - Zone Magazine Issue 021

danny.slade@zone-magazine.com \\ TUNES
Rich Wakley, Jack Swaffer & Richey Profound - Runaway [Stashed Music] [Tech-House] Rich Wakley’s career as a producer and DJ is on a distinctively upwards trajectory of late and here he teams up with up and coming production duo Jack Swaffer & Richey Profond to release another Tech House banger that truly rocks tha funky beat. It begins with drums and a time stretched female vocal sample saying “runaway” which are swiftly added to with a kick drum and a simple but effective bassline and the track builds with crazy looped sounds and a recognisable vocal sample loop and a funky guitar loop that again has featured on a few tracks before. Not to worry though as this track sounds very fresh while almost paying homage to some classic tracks of old which lets face it is the beauty of House music persae, as it is constantly reinventing itself to fit the modern genre that is the producers preferred dancefloor weapon of choice. As the track progresses there are deep brass stabs and odd rhythmic sounds like fast stereo panned claps and drum breaks. There is a whopping great breakdown in the middle with the female runaway sample fully utilised and a nifty little bass sample to usher the track back in for the second funky movement and it is a very floor friendly affair. So if you are looking for a new school jam with old school leanings you won't go far wrong with this tune which is gutsy and brimming with dancefloor flow. Its a powerhouse of a tune and is well worth a listen on your next download mission. https://soundcloud.com/rich-wakley
RECOMMENDED
Jethro Watson & Brisboys - Hypernormalisation [Krafted Digital] [Tech-House]
This two track EP comes with no information whatsoever about it apart from the release date so your guess to its background is a
good as mine. Not to worry though as its whats recorded that's important to us so lets have a listen and see what we can find out. There are two tracks and first up is ‘The Ghost’ which is a mid tempo jaunty affair which starts with an ethnic sounding percussive intro and immediately builds with a kick and heads to a mini breakdown. As it builds more percussion is added and a melodic synth line and vocals appear but not in the foreground of the mix and they are spoken not sung and the effect is wonderous. The synth line develops and a light smattering of acid is woven in to give it aural teature along with a string line for presence. The title track is more uptempo and again starts with a percussive loop that is swung and is soon added to by spoken vocals and a funky bassline that really carries the track well and fits perfectly with the topline which is futuristic and quirky. There is a guitar sounding riff as well and all of the sounds really compliment each other including vocal pads that come and go and the spoken vocal that plays throughout. My favourite one is the title track but both need commending for being different enough to stand out from the pack of lacklustre dance tracks that are churned out on a weekly basis. This have their own individual sound and its one that sits well with me so I have no problem in scoring it ten out of ten and making it my Top Tune! https://www.facebook.com/kraftedofficial
Heart2Soul Inc. - Sacred Music [Phonetic Recordings] [House]
Heart2Soul Inc. are a British Dance Music production duo made up of DJ’s Steve Lee and Frank Mac who have been DJing since the 1990’s
so sure know a thing or two about dance music. This single track release starts off with a percussive intro which is joined by a simple one note bassline and then gets mildly twisted with the adding of a 303 sound which twists and turns its way throughout the beginning and end section of the tune and never becomes too much but is just enough to give the track a really nice groovy feel. There is a one note string line to add the tension to the track and a great spoken vocal about dance music which acts as another great hook to a track that has many already insofar as the production is spot on, it has a swung feel without swung percussion and there is a great less is more ethos going on throughout. The track has been road tested on early promo by a plethora of DJs and the reactions to it have all been very positive. In fact I am looking forward to giving it a bit of a hammering myself as this is good current homegrown house music at its best. There is no such thing as a sure thing as musical tastes are subjective but I have a strong feeling about this track that it just may go the distance and make it as a summer anthem so its well worth seeking out! https://www.facebook.com/Heart2Soulinc
Pete Kingwell vs. Loki - Cylons [Terminal Trax] [Hard Trance]
This Hard Trance weapon of dancefloor destruction comes fully loaded with awesome old school Sci fi samples and a fine ferocious remix by
Noizy Boy. The gloves are off for this ferocious pair that are both based around a great sample from the old sci fi series Battlestar Galactica and first into the fray is the ‘Original Mix’ which starts with a super distorted kick and other percussive sounds which lead to a slow kick drum roll and a riser which take you to a piano infused breakdown with the first use of the sample. It then kicks back in with a sidechain bassline and added acidic stabs which work a treat. There is a second breakdown that uses more simples of the actual battle against the Cylons and features great retro laser cannon sounds and is followed by some absolutely full on 303 work and a bell sample as the track plays out. Next we have the Noizy Boy remix that really takes it to another level with a muted kick in the intro which is joined by claps, risers and a snare roll that brings forth the madness with a super distorted reverse bass sound and the sample playing in the background. Then there is an old school sounding synth riff and the track is in full swing with a couple more breakdowns and more of the samples used to great effect. Both are prime examples of the Hard Trance genre and go to show that with the right sample and some serious studio smarts, magic can still happen. My favourite is the original mix because of the acid sounds but both blow minds. https://soundcloud.com/terminal-trax
Chris Sterio & Sean McClellan - Grace [Pangea Recordings] [Tech-house]
Progressive House veterans and label residents Chris Sterio and Sean McClellan need no introduction and while they could not live farther away from each other (Chris in the Isle of Man, UK, and Sean in Charlotte, NC, USA), the two have found a way to collaborate and create catchy and energetic club tracks that and have gained fans all over the World. There are 5 mixes and the Original lets the fun commence with a percussive intro with The main synth riff stabbed over the top which develops into a full blown riff which plays until the bassline and simple but effective female vocal is added. Its a groovy little number with bongos and lots of swirling noises in the soundscape and sounds very polished. Next up is the ‘Zed White Remix’ which starts in a darker manner with the bassline and percussion and builds with menacing synths and the vocal sample and that is followed by the ‘Ri Za Remix’ with a solid kick and stereo panned noises, a galloping bassline with a deeper feel to it with the vocal sample distorted to good effect. The last two mixes are the ‘Sapiens Remix’ with a slower tempo with added sounds of children playing and a lot of echo and reverb in play and finally ‘Matt Black’s Not Over Yet Remix’ which starts with a kick and a closed hi hat then brings in a clap and then brooding ethereal synth chords and has a dubby feel to it. All five are quality productions and well deserve a listen if you like your progressive house and I have no favourite as all are worth a play out to the right crowd. https://www.facebook.com/pangearecordings/
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