Page 51 - Zone Magazine Issue 012

Waxhands [UK] - House & Techno
MUSIC REVIEWS
Han Haak - Redemption EP [Sudbeat Music] - Zone Recommended Tune - 9/10
Han Haak, since hitting the techno scene in 2012 has had a busy few years cutting through and making a name for himself. His own unique brand of techno sits comfortably in between that and into the tech house and progressive sound. This ep is a perfect example of that. Title track “Redemption” is a chunky progressive house number. Shuffling hats and a chunky bassline are the basis of the track, with echoing vocals riding on top before the break and a chiming lead line comes in and brings a euphoric edge to things.
The King Unique remix takes things on a more chunky edge. Staying very true to the original, it generally beefs things up considerably and gives the track a more aggressive feel.
Finishing up the release is “Damnation” which to me feels like Han Haak has remixed the title track in some way. It has an extremely similar sound to the original and rounds things off nicely,
Great release, and will be deadly.
https://www.beatport.com/release/redemption/1649849
Dweller – We come from Detroit EP [Hedonistic records] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Based in London town, up and coming producer and DJ Dweller is making some serious waves. With previous releases on EJ Underground, 18-09 Records and Sweep the floor, his distinctive style of chunky house and techno is garnering him some great support from within the industry.
His forthcoming EP on the Mark Dale's Glasgow based Hedonistic records is a showcase of that style.The title track is a solid tech house banger, with a distinctive spoken vocal running through and glueing things together. Sparse drums give everything the space to breath, before the break and a bit of acid comes in to give things another layer.
Boogaloo is my pick of the bunch from the ep, kicking of with an intro of big almost tribal drums, the ragga style vocal running again throughout the track gives energy to it. A solid bassline and top line work perfectly together with a smattering of 909 snares breaking things up.
Finally, Words carry madness rounds things up nicely. The shuffling hi hats and again the spoken vocals are the basis of the track. The ascending bassline allows he track to roll along nicely with a sub that only the best soundsystem will do justice.
Keep an eye out for more Dweller. This is a sign of a promising 2017. We come from Dertroit is released late November.
https://soundcloud.com/hedonisticrecords/dweller-boogaloo-preview-forthcoming-
november
Kasey Taylor pres. Kaymid - Sensitive [Lo-fi 45] - Zone Rating 7/10
After my review last month of Kasey Taylor + Lister Coray – Departime, this dropped into my inbox, and boy am I glad it did. Label boss Kasey Taylor has a new alias, Kaymid, and if this release is anything to go by, it is gonna be a deep affair. This is proper deep techno, with the repeating vocal intro bringing in layers of percussion on top of a heavy bassline. The sub on this track is pretty epic, you definitely wont get the full experience listening to this on a pair of earbuds. Synth stabs punctuate things sproadically and a huge sidechained pad give a small amount of airiness to things. Heavy drums give an oppressive feel to the track, and it doesnt let up, with almost glitchy hats and cunchy, snappy snares holding things together and giing the trak energy.
Melbourne's Muska gves his remix a unique techno swing edge. Ive never really heard anything like it before and its very unusual. Not to say I dont like it at all! Using more of the original vocal sample than the original track, and cutting and scattering it up, before layering it over the top of the track. It gives the track a certain funk to it, and is a really interesting sound.
All in all an interesting package and another solid release from Lo-Fi 45.
https://www.beatport.com/release/sensitive/1854954
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