House Reviews

Linus Loves Stand Back Data

It’s a pleasure to review a Scottish produced track that has support from DJs across the board, and now looks to explode onto the commercial scene. In it’s original form it was Linus Loves, The Terrace on Breastfed records and after plays from Pete Tong, everyone started spinning this electronic houser with a French influenced bassline to die for. Think Daft Punk, Alan Braxe and you’re on the right track. Ministry Of Sound bods Data quickly snapped it up and to give it that commercial push, got the Linus Loves boys to add a vocal. The one they opted for is a Stevie Niks / Prince collaboration; Stand Back. Fans of the instrumental needn’t fear, it’s also included.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Ritmo Dynamic Calinda Xtravaganza

Predominantly trance based label Xtravaganza show they still know where to dig up the booty-shaking house bombs, ( remember the Black Connection anthems ). Calinda, if you couldn’t guess is a latin-tinged carnival of a track, in the same vein as Negrocan’s Cada Vez, but with more balls! No idea what the lyrics translate to, but their hypnotic appeal control the crowd and the funky but stomping bassline will move any floor.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Hardsoul feat Ron Carroll Back Together Soulfuric

Hardsoul team up with gospel legend Ron Carroll to produce a soulful, heart-warming vocal gem. Anything with the Soulfuric seal of approval always does the damage and this particular smooth houser has had support from Erick Morillo, Mousse T and the Hed Kandi boys to name but a few. Original mix is more laid back, perfect for cooler bar sets and for building a groove. While the Hott 22 mix picks up the pace, funky bassline and percussive samples in the same style as Topazz - New Millennium, or the Tim Deluxe mix of Saffron Hill.

Marks Out Of Five : 4th Base!

Skullduggery With Or Without U2 White

Cheeky bootleg, obviously, of U2’s With Or Without You. Very commercial but highly effective. Two mixes, full vocal or dub, both work extremely well, depending on your crowd. Smooth bassline and hypnotic strings build slowly but when the instantly recognisable vocal appears, the smiles and cheers lift the floor to a new level. Bono and the boys never seem too bothered by dance mixes of their tracks so there’s a good chance a major label will snap this up.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Mighty Dub Katz Let The Drums Speak Southern Fried

Norman Cook’s outstanding label produces yet another floor filling house bomb! Played by the man himself at the phenomenal Brighton Beach Party, and already appeared on a recent Hed Kandi compilation, Let The Drums Speak is a soulful yet uplifting anthem. Based around a sampled tribal chant, already covered in the more commercial and vocal Let The Sunshine In by Mad Jolly Vs Jet St, out earlier in the year, but with added percussion, raps and filtered effects, this is another worthy member of the Southern Fried family and is sure to dominate the clubs.

Marks Out Of Five : 4th Base!

Solitaire I Like Love ( I Love Love ) Susu

Susu have rapidly became my favourite label over the year, with a never ending string of top class, soulful funky house. The Concept imprint is a surefire contender for stealing Defected’s crown as top house label. This release from Solitaire is sure to be their biggest release to date. It’s constantly been growing and growing since first plays at the Miami Winter Music Conference and is now set to become a huge hit, both in the national charts and the clubs. The infectious vocal is in a 70s gospel style and the track is based around a funky Modjo-esque guitar loop. Chuck in some filtered effects, add some top notch remixes from Graeme Park, Alliance DC and Morris T, and we have a belated summer anthem, perfect for warming up those cold, winter nights.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Trance Reviews

Tomcraft Brainwashed Data

The follow-up to Loneliness arrives with a bang! Generally darker than its predecessor but no less effective. Again utilises a haunting female vocal and a driving bassline. Evil, electronic hoovers and stabs help to gel the track together. May not be as commercially successful as Loneliness, but should gain longer club play. Most of the remixes stick to the same format as the original, with the stand out mix coming from DJ Choose F. The added bonus comes from an Above and Beyond mix of Loneliness, more euphoric than the original and breathes fresh life into an already established anthem.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Dirt Devils Music Is Life Nulife

Brought us the classic driving trance sound of The Drill in 2000, and return now with Music Is Life which seems to pick up the pace from where they left off 3 years ago, and take the sound to a whole new level. Features a vocoder-esque vocal loop and a heavy techno riff. This track is getting spins from all the big guns, with plays on Judge Jules’ show 12 weeks running, gaining the Tried and Tested accolation also.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Y Traxx Mysteryland Nebula

1995 classic, probably most well known these days from its inclusion in Kevin And Perry Go Large, gets the 2003 remix treatment and brings it bang up to date. Whole host of mixes including an original re-edit, new vocal edit and CJ Stone, but my ‘picks’ of the bunch are the Fred Baker and Mr Sam’s remixes, vocal and dub alike. Retains all of the best elements of the original, luscious piano line, haunting vocal chant, and adds to them. A new addictive vocal and synth line with an unintrusive but driving bassline. Truly euphoric trance at it’s best.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Warrior X Incentive

Michael Woods shows us his classical background with his latest release under his hugely successful Warrior guise. Orchestral loops are the basis for X, ( incidentally a vocal and probable change in title is on the way ), and with the unmistakable Warrior bassline, another anthem is born. Fantastic support from all the major players with airings on just about every radio station. Incentive prove their consistency with another top track.

Marks Out Of Five : 4th Base!

Lostribe Gamesmaster 2003 Liquid Asset

A few years ago, every major tune seemed to have a connection to the genius that is Matt Darey. Everything he touched turned to gold. Then things seemed to go quiet. Now to celebrate his return to the fore, he has teamed up with his just as brilliant brother in law; Michael Woods ( Warrior ), and each have remixed his sublime Lostribe track Gamesmaster, which used the wicked electro riff from Quench’s Dreams. Both new versions improve the original, but Woods just edges it, with a harder kick and a more haunting vocal.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!

Eminem Vs Deep Dish? Nobody Listens To Techno White

Serious lack of info on this absolute monster track, that dominated all the opening parties in Ibiza this year. I’d heard it was the work of DJ Isaac, but this promo has the name of genius producers Deep Dish on it. Simple but thumping rolling bassline provides the backbone, while the vocal loop sample of Marshall Mathers telling us, "Nobody Listens To Techno, So Lets Go", just builds and builds, repeating itself over and over again creating, cheekily, a techno-esque anthem. Might never see a full release so search out and see your dancefloors explode.

Marks Out Of Five : 5th Base!