March 2005 Reviews

Hello All

Hope you are well!

Here are my reviews for this month for TTR Magazine (www.ttrmagazine.co.uk). Five of the tracks reviewed are reviewed by Dr J too.

All the best

Louk

[b][u]MARCH 2005 REVIEWS[b][u]

STAR ALLIANCE [Tune of the month]
Optio
Red Alert

It appears that I am always raving about how good a Red Alert release is and the latest one from Star Alliance, although needing to be sped up slightly, is a wonderful hard trance number with two very strong mixes, not that I'd expect anything less from the label! Both this and the DJ Dyno mix definitely will be in my box for quite a while to come! 10/10 (Louk)

DJ ORNATOR
Save Me
Lengo

German label Lengo (part of the Deep Mission collective) have gone from strength to stregnth of late with their hard reworking of ‘Enjoy the Silence’ by Depeche Mode and now with this from DJ Ornator. Both sides are well produced hard trancers that would rock even the most anti trance dancefloors. 8/10 (Louk)

CARLO RESOORT
Ayers Rock/Tape Delay
Liquid

With a string of quality releases under his belt with Dutch label Liquid, he's back with another two track stormer. Both are quality tunes with the choice cut being "Tape Delay" with its tough beats and basslines. This is sure to please the harder trance audience out there. Top stuff. 10/10 (DR J)

KRISTOFF
Digital Degenerate
De Novo

The third release from Fledgling Exeter label De Novo includes a rather excellent trancey original mix from Kristoff and a harder reworking by Welsh DJ Alex Calver. Both cuts work well like the label's previous releases and should fly out when released. 8/10 (Louk)

OMEGA NINE
Brainchild
Anthem

When I first heard this I was stunned, reworking the excellent 'Brainchild' by Nostrum, all three mixes are of the typical Anthem sound and within minutes of the first listen this found it’s way straight into my box and made me monkey dance. Top quality hard trance the way it should be! 10/10 (Louk)

TIESTO
Adagio For Strings
Nebula

Not more mixes I hear you cry! Fear not. Fred Baker & Phynn serve up the delights with their interpretations of this classic. The Fred Baker mix is tuff and uncompromising using the riff in the break only while Phynn adopts a more trancey approach. Nebula back on form? 10/10 (DR J)

SYNTHFLUT
No Time To Sleep
Resistance

London label Resistance prove they are a reliable name for hard storming trance with this release from Synthflut (aka Kamui / Virus Inc). In the past these two young lads have amazed me with their productions and this 'Scot Project' hammered two tracker deserves massive support. ****in ace! 10/10 (Louk)

SOPHIE SUGAR
Call Of Tomorrow
Galactive

The lovely Sophie proves that she is also a legendary producer with this epic trancer for the Galactive imprint. With her mix on one side and Irish man of the moment John O'Callaghan's mix on the other, both are of a high standard with the original just clinching it for me! 10/10 (Louk)

JAC
Lizard
White

An anonymous release this that turned up in my pile of tunes to review, however I have a good feeling I can work out who’s behind it based on the initials and the said DJs sets! Either way this is ‘hoofing’ to quote a phrase, a solid hard trance remix of the Mauro Picotto classic from years gone by! 9/10 (Louk)

64 BIT
Virtual Discotech 1.0
Beam Traxx

Beam Traxx were kind enough to send me their latest release and boy, what a release! Beam & Sean Tyas serve up a tuff, driving yet powerfully melodic trance remix that uses a spoken vocal to great effect. This is pure quality that sets the standard for modern trance. 10/10 (DR J)

MUZIKMAN
Air
Bulletproof

First surfacing in the summer of last year and back round again for another crack of the summer season is this anthem from Marcos. The riff on this, although slightly cheesy, proves hard to resist smiling to and the whole track is very strong! The Robert Gitelman mix on the flip isn't bad either! 9/10 (Louk)

FLASHBANG
Energy Reflect
Yakuza

Vincent De Moor's productions have always found favour with me as he was a very popular name in my record box when I discovered trance back in 1998. It's refreshing to see he's still producing quality trance of the highest order, with these two shuffly uptempo 'Jules' cained trancers. Excellente! 10/10 (Louk)

DJ VINCENZO
Tough Enough / Smash
Banshee Worx

Banshee Worx are proving to be a quality offshoot of Bonzai with a string of top releases under their belts. This one is no exception with both tracks doing the business! "Smash" is my personal favourite with a tuff, driving melody that'll make you want to move all night long! Fantastic. 10/10 (DR J)

FRED BAKER VS NYRAM
Confirmation
In Trance We Trust

Some fine tunes coming from the ITWT stable of late, none more so than this little trance gem! Man on fire Fred Baker proving his worth as a producer with a powerful, melodic trance anthem that has gained massive support worldwide! A classic in the making? 10/10 (DR J)

DARK BY DESIGN
Blackout Remixes
Goodgreef

With the original on one side proving its worth as an anthem for many dancefloors across the UK, Japanese legend Yoji Biomehanika provides, in my opinion a rather disappointing remix. For me, the original is spoiled by including operatic vocal, which is a shame but if you missed the limited original first time don't miss it now! 7/10 (Louk)

DJ MYSTERY
From Day To Night
Sys-X

Dutch label Sys X have provided some of the best harder tracks in my collection ever since their debut release 'Bombs Away' by 'High Voltage'. Surprisingly on this release, the A side 'Party People' isn't the standout track for me, as it is overshadowed by the rather frenetic 'From Day To Night'. Lovely twisted trance. 9/10 (Louk)

JON THE BAPTIST + IAIN CROSS
Substance
High Fish

The High Fish boys continue to push their unique brand of energetic trance to new heights, with the third release for their promising label. On one side is the amazing original mix (my preferred choice of the two), while on the other, Mantra (an alias for producer Log One) delivers a different, yet quality reinterpretation. Cool stuff. 8/10 (Louk)

CLASSIFIED PROJECT
Starlight Chaser
Mondo

After a rather unfortunate delay, this excellent euphoric trancer finally hits the shelf with a very good remix by Northern Irish wonders Agnelli + Nelson. I will be honest and admit I can't decide which mix I prefer as both are very good and typical of the Mondo style we all know and love. Check it and see! 8/10 (Louk)

BEYOND UNREAL
X-Rated
Dedicated

Dedicated continue their trend of putting out magnificent trance monsters with this two tracker from Beyond Unreal. Saying that, I'm not keen on the flip side 'Rhythm' but title track 'X-Rated' is storming, yet rather funky trance and deserves play from the major names. 9/10 (Louk)

DJ MERLIN + C BASE
Human Spirit
Tunnel

Fellow TTR reviewer Damien James put me onto this track and I have to say that I bloody well appreciate him doing so! The A side of this monster picture disc from German legends Tunnel, whilst being slightly slower than what I have come to expect from them, is fantastic with a riff that does not stop building. Pitched up it's certainly a winner. I'm Well Impressed! 10/10 (Louk)

JOWAN
PT-78
Silicon

Dutch master Jowan has been swamping the UK with his energetic style of tech trance for the past two years and here he returns with 'PT-78'. Although the title reminded me of chemistry lessons from my school days, both the title track and B side 'Overflow' are dirty bass laden monsters which, like previous silicon releases, will go on to bigger things! Cool! 9/10 (Louk)

DIGITAL DELAY
Love Put Us Into A Groove
Mondo

I have lost count of the number of DJs who are after a copy of this track after the mammoth Radio 1 play it has been receiving, but finally (after massive setbacks) this is coming out on Mondo. The original is here in full glory alongside a Koishii + Hush remix that also works wonders. Mark my words this will be huge! 8/10 (Louk)

INVADER + DODGEE
Nausea
Inner Vision

Possessing the quality of being the fastest record in my collection at the moment and the only record I have to slow down to fit into my set, Northern producer and label owner Ben teams up with Welsh protégé Dodgee for this slice of euphoric mayhem. A reworking by AMS on the flip rounds the package off nicely, but the original does it for me! 8/10 (Louk)

RAINE
Fresh
Superplastik

While the A side of this 'Dominating', does very little to wet my appetite, the B side, 'Fresh' almost destroyed my speakers when testing this at home. Chaotic percussion, a dirty bassline and massive amounts of synth trickery all come together in one hugely effective track. Oh yes boyo, need I say more!!! 9/10 (Louk)

OLIVER KLITZING
Be Satisfied
Headline

Producing track after track of high quality tech trance, Oliver returns with 'Be Satisfied'. Fair enough this is a little less melodic than his usual output, however with a Mistress Barbera remix and an awesome flip side that would work well in the early stages of a set, this one pounds away like a jackhammer. Thumpin! 9/10 (Louk)

Good reviews mate. ;)