Page 51 - Zone Magazine Issue 011

Danny Slade [UK] - Dance
MUSIC REVIEWS
Latroit - Everything Is Beautiful [House Of Latroit/Kobalt] - Zone Rating - 8/10
This tune first saw the light of day when it was featured in Fatboy Slim’s video recorded set from Glastonbury and quite rightly it shone as a quality piece of commercial edged Bassline House.
The track itself is a proper party starter which starts with a looped female sample saying “Beautiful” over some phat beats which takes you to a vocal and piano lead breakdown which is neatly followed by some seriously catchy deep bass to get the dance floor swaying in a way that any good summer anthem should do, and this is a proper anthemic track with just the right amount of vocal to keep it uplifting and the right amount of bottom end to bet those booties shaking to the beat.
In fact my only criticism of this release is that there is only one mix included but then again when a track is accessible as this one is, maybe that is a good thing as the last thing you need is to be bogged down by a load of pointless remixes when one killer mix will suffice.
So if you are the type of DJ that likes to get your audiences showing a lot of love for a tune out on the dancefloor, this is a track that is well worth looking out for and I for one will be playing it in my sets for the foreseeable future.
https://soundcloud.com/deepsounds/latroit-everything-is-beautiful-premiere
Blue Amazon Presents Super Fluke - Your Voice [Krafted Music] - Zone Rating - 8/10
This six mix release from Blue Amazon features a vocal sample from Suzanne Vega’s 1987 track ‘Tom’s Diner’ saying ”I Am Thinking Of Your Voice” as the main hook and a fine hook it is! In fact the track itself has been sampled 67 times according to Google which is high praise indeed but back to the track in question, The mixes cover a range of styles of which my favourites are the following:
The ‘Tech Stomping Mix’ which uses a tough backbeat with metallic sounds, acidic stabs and a tight synth bassline, the ‘Extended Dub Mix’ which is a fine piece of electronica with a deep growling bassline, swung percussion and a retro sounding analogue synth riff and the ‘Zac Gee Radio Mix’ which cuts up the vocal sample and adds risers, a rubbery bassline and in my opinion is is not long enough, but that is the case with radio edits. On the whole the six mixes are all competently produced and are living proof that a good and quirky original track has a long shelf life, which is perhaps why this track is still being used to this day to supply beats and vocal hooks to a plethora of artists both new and old. It is also worth mentioning that this track in no way sounds dated although the sample is an old one and I will be happily playing it for a long while. https://www.facebook.com/EJUnderground
Chris Bekker & Tricia McTeague - We Can Be [Vandit Records] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Vandit’s latest release comes in the form of a full vocal mix, a dub and a club reworking from label boss Paul Van Dyk which is a real arms up in the air affair.
First up though is the Original Mix which kind of defies classification in the classical sense as it manages to sit on the fence between a number of genres and is all the better for it as Tricia McTeague’s full vocal is a soaring affair and the backbeat is a House/ Trance hybrid with arpeggiated synth riffs, risers and a tight analogue synth bass line which should win fans from many a different musical tribe.
For those who like things a bit more full on the Paul Van Dyk Remix bumps up the BPM and delivers a full on Trance work out with cut up vocal samples, a driving kick drum, galloping bass line, snare rolls and added melodies which fatten up the sound nicely.
There is also a Dub Mix which is pretty self explanatory and will suit DJs that don't like playing vocals in their sets. My choice for my favourite mix is a closely fought battle as the trance lover inside me would love to pick the banging Paul Van Dyk mix but the quality of the Original is undeniable and in this case just wins due to its versatility and the quality of the vocal delivery.
http://www.chrisbekker.com
Various Artists - Ayeko Various Artists [Ayeko Records] - Zone Rating - 8/10
There is nothing like a mystery to whet one's appetite and this compilation is a bit of a mystery as its on a label that I’ve never heard of and from a promo company that I don’t know how to contact to thank for the quality grooves they keep sending me! What I do know is that it is a label sampler and that the genres covered are Tech and Deep House and thats about it I’m afraid.
First up is Corey Romero’s ‘Let Yourself’ which has a simple frenetic bass line, risers, stereo panned violin stabs, a spoken male vocal sample saying “let yourself go” and loads of crazy sound effects which make for a compelling groove. Next up is Central Rodeo’s ‘Kinshasa’ which dials up the funk with a tight bottom end, rolling percussion, a grooving bassline and plenty of spaced out vocal samples.
Then you have Dylan Casale & Mecho’s ‘Foggy Morning’ which starts with a lolloping kick drum and builds with tizzy hi hats, more crazy vocal samples a stabby lead line and not much else, it is the most minimal on the release but still manages to pack a funky punch. Then lastly you have Marko Borgo’s ‘All Ways’ which is a more rhythmic track with crazy percussion loops, throbbing synths a rubbery bassline and a female spoken vocal which is eerie and ethereal.
The release date is September 9th and the catalogue number is: AYK026. My favourite track is ‘Kinshasa’ but all four are of a discernable quality. If you like your grooves on the deep and quirky side, this sampler is well worth a listen. http://www.ayeko.com
Yamen & EDA - Temporis EP [One Records] - Zone Rating - 8/10
French duo Yamen & EDA make a welcome return to One Records to release this accomplished four track Deep Tech House EP thats sure to turn heads wherever its played as the production is polished to a tee.
First up is the title track ‘Temporis’ which is all about the percussion and ambient sounds that seem to eloquently bombard your senses but never overload the soundstage and this is followed by ‘The Mankind’ Which starts with a simple percussion loop and builds through a thudding kick drum and female spoken vocal samples into a real deep dancefloor groover.
‘Hustle’ Has a breakbeat intro and develops through different percussive elements with added dubby synth stabs and quirky vocal samples and builds into a full yet subtle aural assault with futuristic samples and a subtle electro synth bass line and finally ‘Running Out’ kicks in the beat full on and adds more of their trademark quirky samples and progressive percussion loops which build up to a harmonious cacophony that is controlled and endearing.
All four tracks work equally on their own as they do as a whole and my favorite out of a good bunch is ‘Hustle’ as I am a sucker for a break beat every time. What I do recommend though is that you check this release out if you like your music a little different from the rest and admire diversity in sound. https://www.facebook.com/onerecofficial/