Page 52 - Zone Magazine Issue 011

MUSIC REVIEWS
Louk [UK] - Hard Techno & Trance
Oliver Kucera - Tension [UKR] - Zone Top Tune - 10/10
You've probably all heard me rave about this guy before, there is just something about his production that really hits the spot with me! Fusing the elements that made the techno we all love of old with some modern production styles was always going to be a winner, and this is something he excels at. All three tracks on this EP are worthy of a play but it's the rather quirkily titled "TRDX902" that stands out for me.
Chopped up vocal stabs, some lovely chords and a monster of a kick drum and ferocious attitude make this something special rather indeed! Just one of many belters to come for the rest of this year on Roman Zawodny's awesome UKR imprint.
https://www.beatport.com/release/tension-ep/1820524
Jake Conlon / Hoth System - Dubtek Vinyl 003 [Dubtek] - Zone Recommended Tune - 9/10
I love this label. After throwing some well renowned parties in Leeds, the Dubtek crew have focused their efforts on a record label that concentrates on the rather purist industrial sound. Only three releases in, yet all three have masses of long standing playability that ensures they will feature in record boxes for quite some time. And even better is that they are released on vinyl too.
Jake Conlon offers two cuts that wreak of the fact that he is from Birmingham, and the 'Black Heath Works' cut really causes some chaos when dropped, with its building synth work and frenetic percussion. The two tracks from Hoth System are more than worthy of a play too.
http://www.unearthedsounds.co.uk/products/jake-conlon-hoth-system-dubtek-vinyl-003
Construct Rhythm - Prime Selection Series One [Construct Rhythm] - Zone Rating - 8/10
This label should need no introduction, I have raved about them since my teens. The recent double pack from label boss Andreas Kraemer & Crazy Erg is still in the record box now and here Andreas manages to select four high quality percussive grooves to produce a vinyl that really works well for the darker floors.
With his own 'Gloove' being a straight up rolling number, and Pounding Loop 'Moments' taking on a harder form, it's the cut by 'Malice' that is the favourite of the release. With 'Paranoia' being both uptempo, sinister and an altogether rocking production when played in a peak time set. All four are playable so I'd really seek this one out if I were you.
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/andreas-kraemer-prime-selection-series-one-ep/615097-01/
Josh Wink - Talking To You (Remixes) [Intec Digital] - Zone Rating - 8/10
One thing I love about Wink is his ability to build dark and twisted grooves that are both accessible and manage to be longstanding in your record box. That was definitely the case when this first surfaced back in 2014 on Ovum.
Intec superstars Carl Cox and Jon Rundell both step up to remix it and deliver two very credible, yet different versions that complement the original well.
Carl's mix takes on a funky route, including many of the elements that make the original so special, while Jon Rundell's mix is my favoured one here, keeping things sinister with lots of detailed percussion and synth work. Expect this to be played lots over the remainder of the Summer.
https://www.beatport.com/release/talking-to-you-remixes/1810843
Point Blank AKA Secret Cinema - Meng's Theme [Gem] - Zone Rating - 7/10
This was a big track for me when growing up, on the notable R & S imprint, and Jeroen Verheij has produced many a wonderful production under his Secret Cinema guise since. Gated synths and tonnes of emotion make up the original which works for taking the crowd on a more melodic tip.
On remix duties are Christian Smith and Wehbba, who chill the original out a bit, taking on a deeper tech groove, that still retains the charm of the original but is more suited for earlier on in the night. The original still wins favour for me and it is lovely to get a remastered copy of it. I'm off to Spain next week so expect this one to be cained there!
https://soundcloud.com/secretcinema
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