BA forum member: Voorheez - cd review

[Col]

i was looking forward to recieving this cd, as i had'nt really come across much hardstyle to be honest, and i was also looking forward to hearing the much talked about technical ability that voorheez possesed.

the programming was good, i felt the energy built nicley throughout the mix, and the tracks cohesed together well, which was cool. the only grouch i do have is that maybe it peaked that little bit too early, i felt that the last 2/3 tracks should have maybe being played slightly earlier, as i felt the tracks played just before these 2/3 possesed more energy, and aggression. (but maybe on the other hand it boils down to personal preference) overall on the programming side of things i was impressed.

the mixing was extremley tight, and consistent throughout, no faults whatsoever, and what impressed me further was the fact that occasionally, and more notably at the start of the mix you left little time to cue, but the mixes were still as tight as ever. i liked your aggressive, no nonsense approach, to your mixing, which was highlighted throughout, keeping the mix sounding fresh.

overall i was very impressed with your skills, you showed good all-round ability.

marks out of 10: 8.5

[Addict]

havn't received mine yet

[K Front]

Yeh i think COL sumed the mix up quit well. Real tight mixing, could not fault on that, track selection was spot on, really fresh sounding hardstyle. A lot of the tracks i have not heard and most are unique sounding compared to a lot of the hardstyle around at the moment.
When i first played the mix and heard the first few tracks i wasnt sure how you would be able to keep the energy throughout the mix, but it gradually got more powerful.
Also cramming 19 tracks in and cueing in such short time in some places shows you have talent.
Very good mix mate, this one will be getting canned.

:clap:

[wenna]

i got my copy this morning. very good. this cd sums up the sound of hardstyle as it is now. exactly how i would have done it!

[Addict]

*Voorheez's head begins to widen once more*
*suddenly*

*POP*
:lol:

[mattshephard]

ooo can i have one please vorheez?

[Jay M]

quality set again Vorheez ,well done :clap: ;)

[Voorheez]

*Voorheez's head begins to widen once more*
*suddenly*

*POP*
:lol:

Ha Ha - Stu, you're just taking the mick 'cos you haven't had yours yet. I'll send it tomorrow, I promise.

Matt, you'll have to wait until I come back from my holidays i'm afraid m8, keep an eye out, i'll resurrect the original 'Free Hardstyle CD' post. Be about a week and a half.

Thanks for the detailed reviews - all feedback is greatly appreciated!

[Hakka.]

Voorheez is a spot on mixer, I loved his last CD... shows true quality in mixing, thought and tune selection.

I definitly admire your ability mate... makes me feel I gotta practice more!

[Pots]

Thanks Si, i got my copy in the post today, had it on on my way to work with a bit of a soft head :s but anyway here goes:

the first track, around 1.03, the sound is really messy, the kicks aren't in line and/or the kicks from the two tracks dont complement each other well. At first i wondered my walkman was skipping, or if the headphones were lagging it up somehow, but it sounds the same on my hi-fi. To be honest I think the first track is poor full stop, im not a fan of weak claps that begin the mix. If it were my mix, I would be starting it on the vocal 'in the beginning' of the second track, or in fact just start with In Control. Although it does mix quite with the second tune, you seem to rush through the first 2 tracks. In Control is an absolutely amazing tune, very atmospheric, if it were me i would start with that.

Sorry to keep on a negative note but im sure you prefer to hear my real opinion than licking your arse. Mixing into Ti Ta TNT (4), im not keen on the way you can only faintly make the vocal in the background when its approaching. I prefer a real 'in-your-face' type of mixing, which i feel suits the agressiveness of the music. I would have the vocal a lot lot louder, maybe even cut to it a couple of times? Dunno how that would sound, might be wank, but i would prefer to hear the vocal controlling the passage. Also with this track, ive heard technoboy play a mix of it on a set ive got (live @ NRJ Extravadance) which is different to the two versions of the track on the vinyl. It wouldnt be suited to the pace of the mix this early, but the riff in my opinion is far superior, and if i knew what this mix was i would use it instead, probably later on in the mix.

Mix into 5 is brilliant, first really impressive mix of the CD. I'd be interested to hear if you agree with the points above actually because seeing how they're so early in the mix, being the perfectionist i know you are, i wouldve expected you to scrap it and start fresh if you knew something had gone wrong. Anyway back to the mix. Going into 6, i was expecting to hear some more cutting, especially as since your last CD, you said you really liked Danielle Mondello's style of cutting. I like the way 5 hangs around underneath 6 until the 'stereo' vocal snippet. Very clever & skillfully done there. That is the kind of planning that make your CDs stand out. I would like to see you match that kind of thoughtful planning with a more agressive mixing style - cutting is the main thing i would add. I know it can be too much at times, and you could argue you shouldnt mess around with such fresh new tunes, since the crowd wont actually know what they 'should' sound like anyway!

Here's Johnny- quality.

9 - brilliant. I love this simple kind of techno-hardstyle without too much of a riff. And especially the bass pops at the end of some bars - stop/start rhythm that really is the heart of what hardstyle is all about for me.

mix into 10 is quite hectic, i dont think hardstyle lends itself to this kind of mix - i feel it ends up sounding too 'busy'. But nice work with bringing 'i am the master' underneath it all again. I presume you're working with 3 decks cos you are doing some amazingly quick changeovers. If you're on two- take that as a massive compliment obviously!

10 into 11 is ****ing genius.

during 12 - where does that 'relax' vocal come from??!?!?! again brilliant work there! I love it. im not that keen on the riff in track 13 itself though!

14: the vocal is a bit annoying actually but i can overlook that cos the beat is so cool when it comes in! again the start/stop thing rules me every time i hear it. The riff isnt all that great again, ive heard that synth in a lot of hardstyle and its quite flimsy i find.

15: now we're talking ;) a classic hardstyle track.

16- good. again i find some of these riffs thin, but i think they sound much more impressive in a club environment so it doesnt effect it too much. The vocal and the beat are enough to carry it. One thing i do hate though it FX from early hardstyle tracks - like the one that comes in around 3 minutes into 16, which is blatently lifted straight from something else. You could say its a little wink to the history of the sound and the tracks that have influenced current ones, but i just think its very lazy for producers, and would purposely avoid tracks that contain recycled FX/percussion. Anyone that has run so far out of ideas that they reuse old sounds is not good enough for me. Even with technoyboy/guis who have made millions of different tunes you rarely hear the same noise twice, and i instantly ignore any tracks that use identical synths because they just sound like bad versions of the original tunes. (sorry for going off on one- this is a comment about the scene in general, not just that track!)

17 - not bad, sounds like mclaren - monoid though (same bassline)

18 - is brilliant, one the few brain ovulation remixes that doesnt sound like it was made in 5 minutes!

19 - made me scrunch my face up when i first heard the bassline so it must be good! A very good track to end on, definitely the most energetic track on there, would explode a club no doubt.

Overall i'd give it a 7, above average but not your best, and really ut only because you have set the bar so high with previous CDs. I will definitely be listening again, and i'll let you know if my opinion changes on any of it. Some very nice touches like i said, just none of it really jumped out and bit me in the face like hardstyle sometimes does. Hope all this criticism is helpful old chum, cheers for sending me a copy. Peace.

[Hakka.]

"than licking your arse"

Please oh please, start to be a bit less blatant in what you say? That will only stir feelings in people.

I certainly don't lick Voorheez's ass, I'm being honest to the facts "I've" heard. I have not heard this new cd to make judgement, but I know Simon in person and I admire the effort and quality of his last CD and that's what I'm allowed to say.

"licking your arse"

grow up, please...

[Hakka.]

I apologise for the end of my last post... but I was angry to think people actually think I lie or bend the truth just cause I want someone to react a certain way.

I'm honestly, not like that.

And I know many others on here are not like that either.

[Col]

Thanks Si, i got my copy in the post today, had it on on my way to work with a bit of a soft head :s but anyway here goes:

the first track, around 1.03, the sound is really messy, the kicks aren't in line and/or the kicks from the two tracks dont complement each other well. At first i wondered my walkman was skipping, or if the headphones were lagging it up somehow, but it sounds the same on my hi-fi. To be honest I think the first track is poor full stop, im not a fan of weak claps that begin the mix. If it were my mix, I would be starting it on the vocal 'in the beginning' of the second track, or in fact just start with In Control. Although it does mix quite with the second tune, you seem to rush through the first 2 tracks. In Control is an absolutely amazing tune, very atmospheric, if it were me i would start with that.

Sorry to keep on a negative note but im sure you prefer to hear my real opinion than licking your arse. Mixing into Ti Ta TNT (4), im not keen on the way you can only faintly make the vocal in the background when its approaching. I prefer a real 'in-your-face' type of mixing, which i feel suits the agressiveness of the music. I would have the vocal a lot lot louder, maybe even cut to it a couple of times? Dunno how that would sound, might be wank, but i would prefer to hear the vocal controlling the passage. Also with this track, ive heard technoboy play a mix of it on a set ive got (live @ NRJ Extravadance) which is different to the two versions of the track on the vinyl. It wouldnt be suited to the pace of the mix this early, but the riff in my opinion is far superior, and if i knew what this mix was i would use it instead, probably later on in the mix.

Mix into 5 is brilliant, first really impressive mix of the CD. I'd be interested to hear if you agree with the points above actually because seeing how they're so early in the mix, being the perfectionist i know you are, i wouldve expected you to scrap it and start fresh if you knew something had gone wrong. Anyway back to the mix. Going into 6, i was expecting to hear some more cutting, especially as since your last CD, you said you really liked Danielle Mondello's style of cutting. I like the way 5 hangs around underneath 6 until the 'stereo' vocal snippet. Very clever & skillfully done there. That is the kind of planning that make your CDs stand out. I would like to see you match that kind of thoughtful planning with a more agressive mixing style - cutting is the main thing i would add. I know it can be too much at times, and you could argue you shouldnt mess around with such fresh new tunes, since the crowd wont actually know what they 'should' sound like anyway!

Here's Johnny- quality.

9 - brilliant. I love this simple kind of techno-hardstyle without too much of a riff. And especially the bass pops at the end of some bars - stop/start rhythm that really is the heart of what hardstyle is all about for me.

mix into 10 is quite hectic, i dont think hardstyle lends itself to this kind of mix - i feel it ends up sounding too 'busy'. But nice work with bringing 'i am the master' underneath it all again. I presume you're working with 3 decks cos you are doing some amazingly quick changeovers. If you're on two- take that as a massive compliment obviously!

10 into 11 is **** genius.

during 12 - where does that 'relax' vocal come from??!?!?! again brilliant work there! I love it. im not that keen on the riff in track 13 itself though!

14: the vocal is a bit annoying actually but i can overlook that cos the beat is so cool when it comes in! again the start/stop thing rules me every time i hear it. The riff isnt all that great again, ive heard that synth in a lot of hardstyle and its quite flimsy i find.

15: now we're talking ;) a classic hardstyle track.

16- good. again i find some of these riffs thin, but i think they sound much more impressive in a club environment so it doesnt effect it too much. The vocal and the beat are enough to carry it. One thing i do hate though it FX from early hardstyle tracks - like the one that comes in around 3 minutes into 16, which is blatently lifted straight from something else. You could say its a little wink to the history of the sound and the tracks that have influenced current ones, but i just think its very lazy for producers, and would purposely avoid tracks that contain recycled FX/percussion. Anyone that has run so far out of ideas that they reuse old sounds is not good enough for me. Even with technoyboy/guis who have made millions of different tunes you rarely hear the same noise twice, and i instantly ignore any tracks that use identical synths because they just sound like bad versions of the original tunes. (sorry for going off on one- this is a comment about the scene in general, not just that track!)

17 - not bad, sounds like mclaren - monoid though (same bassline)

18 - is brilliant, one the few brain ovulation remixes that doesnt sound like it was made in 5 minutes!

19 - made me scrunch my face up when i first heard the bassline so it must be good! A very good track to end on, definitely the most energetic track on there, would explode a club no doubt.

Overall i'd give it a 7, above average but not your best, and really ut only because you have set the bar so high with previous CDs. I will definitely be listening again, and i'll let you know if my opinion changes on any of it. Some very nice touches like i said, just none of it really jumped out and bit me in the face like hardstyle sometimes does. Hope all this criticism is helpful old chum, cheers for sending me a copy. Peace.

i think you have gone a little over the top, although i do admire your detail. you seem to criticize the tracks a little too much mind, remember that different people have different tastes mate.

[Jay M]

i dont think Vorheez was loopking for a rundown on how well the tracks he played have been produced and stuff (as col said everyone has different tastes),i think a review of his mixing and structure would have been enough

[Paul Nisbet]

yeah, what was all that about???

[Pots]

Guy, Ive known Si for about 2 years now, ive got 4 of his excessive CDs, and he appreciates a detailed response. It may seem out of the blue to you lot but I think he would be expecting and hoping that i write something detailed rather than a: "COOL CD MATE" type response, because he is a serious DJ and I am a serious hardstyle fan. Yes I know different people have different tastes, i am giving my fair and honest opinion, you are welcome to state yours.

[Pots]

I apologise for the end of my last post... but I was angry to think people actually think I lie or bend the truth just cause I want someone to react a certain way.

I'm honestly, not like that.

And I know many others on here are not like that either.

i accept your apology hakka! I wasnt referring to any of you in that phrase! I meant it totally relating to myself! I could quite easily say 'wicked cd mate' and be done with it, but its not constructive, it doesnt add anything to what he already knows. Im not saying you, or anyone else has licked his arse!

[dj vorny]

Thanks Si, i got my copy in the post today, had it on on my way to work with a bit of a soft head :s but anyway here goes:

the first track, around 1.03, the sound is really messy, the kicks aren't in line and/or the kicks from the two tracks dont complement each other well. At first i wondered my walkman was skipping, or if the headphones were lagging it up somehow, but it sounds the same on my hi-fi. To be honest I think the first track is poor full stop, im not a fan of weak claps that begin the mix. If it were my mix, I would be starting it on the vocal 'in the beginning' of the second track, or in fact just start with In Control. Although it does mix quite with the second tune, you seem to rush through the first 2 tracks. In Control is an absolutely amazing tune, very atmospheric, if it were me i would start with that.

Sorry to keep on a negative note but im sure you prefer to hear my real opinion than licking your arse. Mixing into Ti Ta TNT (4), im not keen on the way you can only faintly make the vocal in the background when its approaching. I prefer a real 'in-your-face' type of mixing, which i feel suits the agressiveness of the music. I would have the vocal a lot lot louder, maybe even cut to it a couple of times? Dunno how that would sound, might be wank, but i would prefer to hear the vocal controlling the passage. Also with this track, ive heard technoboy play a mix of it on a set ive got (live @ NRJ Extravadance) which is different to the two versions of the track on the vinyl. It wouldnt be suited to the pace of the mix this early, but the riff in my opinion is far superior, and if i knew what this mix was i would use it instead, probably later on in the mix.

Mix into 5 is brilliant, first really impressive mix of the CD. I'd be interested to hear if you agree with the points above actually because seeing how they're so early in the mix, being the perfectionist i know you are, i wouldve expected you to scrap it and start fresh if you knew something had gone wrong. Anyway back to the mix. Going into 6, i was expecting to hear some more cutting, especially as since your last CD, you said you really liked Danielle Mondello's style of cutting. I like the way 5 hangs around underneath 6 until the 'stereo' vocal snippet. Very clever & skillfully done there. That is the kind of planning that make your CDs stand out. I would like to see you match that kind of thoughtful planning with a more agressive mixing style - cutting is the main thing i would add. I know it can be too much at times, and you could argue you shouldnt mess around with such fresh new tunes, since the crowd wont actually know what they 'should' sound like anyway!

Here's Johnny- quality.

9 - brilliant. I love this simple kind of techno-hardstyle without too much of a riff. And especially the bass pops at the end of some bars - stop/start rhythm that really is the heart of what hardstyle is all about for me.

mix into 10 is quite hectic, i dont think hardstyle lends itself to this kind of mix - i feel it ends up sounding too 'busy'. But nice work with bringing 'i am the master' underneath it all again. I presume you're working with 3 decks cos you are doing some amazingly quick changeovers. If you're on two- take that as a massive compliment obviously!

10 into 11 is **** genius.

during 12 - where does that 'relax' vocal come from??!?!?! again brilliant work there! I love it. im not that keen on the riff in track 13 itself though!

14: the vocal is a bit annoying actually but i can overlook that cos the beat is so cool when it comes in! again the start/stop thing rules me every time i hear it. The riff isnt all that great again, ive heard that synth in a lot of hardstyle and its quite flimsy i find.

15: now we're talking ;) a classic hardstyle track.

16- good. again i find some of these riffs thin, but i think they sound much more impressive in a club environment so it doesnt effect it too much. The vocal and the beat are enough to carry it. One thing i do hate though it FX from early hardstyle tracks - like the one that comes in around 3 minutes into 16, which is blatently lifted straight from something else. You could say its a little wink to the history of the sound and the tracks that have influenced current ones, but i just think its very lazy for producers, and would purposely avoid tracks that contain recycled FX/percussion. Anyone that has run so far out of ideas that they reuse old sounds is not good enough for me. Even with technoyboy/guis who have made millions of different tunes you rarely hear the same noise twice, and i instantly ignore any tracks that use identical synths because they just sound like bad versions of the original tunes. (sorry for going off on one- this is a comment about the scene in general, not just that track!)

17 - not bad, sounds like mclaren - monoid though (same bassline)

18 - is brilliant, one the few brain ovulation remixes that doesnt sound like it was made in 5 minutes!

19 - made me scrunch my face up when i first heard the bassline so it must be good! A very good track to end on, definitely the most energetic track on there, would explode a club no doubt.

Overall i'd give it a 7, above average but not your best, and really ut only because you have set the bar so high with previous CDs. I will definitely be listening again, and i'll let you know if my opinion changes on any of it. Some very nice touches like i said, just none of it really jumped out and bit me in the face like hardstyle sometimes does. Hope all this criticism is helpful old chum, cheers for sending me a copy. Peace.

W.T.F i was gonna do a cd and give it away but gettin muppets like this rippin ur mix apart i personaly thought the mixing was tight and set stuctured well some tunes i liked some i liked more nuff sed ;)

[Hakka.]

I understand mate.

I've not heard his newer cd to offer feedback but I look forward to the opportunity!

Sorry again for my minor outburst!

[Voorheez]

I think I need to add here that I already know pots pretty well, and he isn't being insulting to me, he's just giving his true honest opinion, which I do respect.

Here are my answers to your points m8:

the first track, around 1.03, the sound is really messy, the kicks aren't in line and/or the kicks from the two tracks dont complement each other well.

Can't see what you mean here, the Eq's faze each other out a little, but I think other than that the 2 tracks fit like a glove. I love the Marilyn Manson-esque opening of Tee & Pee, but not anymore of that mix, hence the immediate mix-out. The kicks go out a tiny little bit, but not much.

If it were my mix, I would be starting it on the vocal 'in the beginning' of the second track, or in fact just start with In Control. Although it does mix quite with the second tune, you seem to rush through the first 2 tracks. In Control is an absolutely amazing tune, very atmospheric, if it were me i would start with that.

I like to start a cd with quick mixes, it helps keep the pace up - I wouldn't say they are rushed. I also think that The Beginning>In Control is my favourite mix on the CD.

Mixing into Ti Ta TNT (4), im not keen on the way you can only faintly make the vocal in the background when its approaching. I prefer a real 'in-your-face' type of mixing, which i feel suits the agressiveness of the music. I would have the vocal a lot lot louder, maybe even cut to it a couple of times? Dunno how that would sound, might be wank, but i would prefer to hear the vocal controlling the passage. Also with this track, ive heard technoboy play a mix of it on a set ive got (live @ NRJ Extravadance) which is different to the two versions of the track on the vinyl. It wouldnt be suited to the pace of the mix this early, but the riff in my opinion is far superior, and if i knew what this mix was i would use it instead, probably later on in the mix.

I don't think this mix is available on vinyl, and I haven't heard it, and besides, I like this mix! Regarding the vocal, it was EQ'd to the bassline coming in, and the vocal is quite quiet at the beginning of TNT. I don't think it would have sounded much better any louder - and I was kinda focusing on keeping them locked together, because putting two basslines on top of each other (when TNT kicks in) requires them to be perfectly together.

Mix into 5 is brilliant, first really impressive mix of the CD. I'd be interested to hear if you agree with the points above actually because seeing how they're so early in the mix, being the perfectionist i know you are, i wouldve expected you to scrap it and start fresh if you knew something had gone wrong. Anyway back to the mix. Going into 6, i was expecting to hear some more cutting, especially as since your last CD, you said you really liked Danielle Mondello's style of cutting. I like the way 5 hangs around underneath 6 until the 'stereo' vocal snippet. Very clever & skillfully done there. That is the kind of planning that make your CDs stand out. I would like to see you match that kind of thoughtful planning with a more agressive mixing style - cutting is the main thing i would add. I know it can be too much at times, and you could argue you shouldnt mess around with such fresh new tunes, since the crowd wont actually know what they 'should' sound like anyway!

I don't like cutting much, especially on CD's. It's not my strong point - I do admire Danielle Mondello, but it's just not my style. Maybe live, but not on CD, for me anyway.

during 12 - where does that 'relax' vocal come from??!?!?! again brilliant work there! I love it. im not that keen on the riff in track 13 itself though!

From track 13 - Sisma DJ - Relax, it's actually in the mix there. That you can't tell it is, I shall take as a compliment!

16- good. again i find some of these riffs thin, but i think they sound much more impressive in a club environment so it doesnt effect it too much. The vocal and the beat are enough to carry it. One thing i do hate though it FX from early hardstyle tracks - like the one that comes in around 3 minutes into 16, which is blatently lifted straight from something else. You could say its a little wink to the history of the sound and the tracks that have influenced current ones, but i just think its very lazy for producers, and would purposely avoid tracks that contain recycled FX/percussion. Anyone that has run so far out of ideas that they reuse old sounds is not good enough for me. Even with technoyboy/guis who have made millions of different tunes you rarely hear the same noise twice, and i instantly ignore any tracks that use identical synths because they just sound like bad versions of the original tunes. (sorry for going off on one- this is a comment about the scene in general, not just that track!)

It samples Technoboy - Hardrive by my estimation, and the vocal is from Richard F - Cookie Dough Dynamo. It works well though, and that's the main thing.

In whole, if the main problem you had was the tracks, please remember that it has been extremely slow as of late - I can only work with what is produced, and these tracks I feel are the cream of the crop. The last volume was the opposite, there were loads of good tracks around, so that one sort of came together on it's own.

Have a few listens more, and maybe you'll feel a bit different. The pacing came hard on this because this is the first volume that has been 100% hardstyle. This is because I am planning on dong a sister hard trance volume soon.