Reviews

January 1998:

The Subjective EP (Rotation UK)

February 1998:

Mark Verbos-Compulsive Disorder EP (Subsounds-Belgium 12): Milwaukee's Mark Verbos is going going international on us, and this release on Subsounds is definitely the best stuff I've heard from him in awhile. The A1 track Red Light Special is a drummy track with lots of hi-hat action and compressed toms. I'll play it out, but I will definitely pitch it way down. Bonus here and on the whole EP is the nice crisp drums and production. A2 Mastoid is in the same vein as the A1, but adds a funky bassline and interesting sub-bass sounds. Lots of jack friendly/Landstrumm inspired sounds here. All the sounds build throughout the track and makes Mastoid the clear winner on the EP. The B1 track Assault features more clean and banging drums with lots of reverb and noisy laser sounding stabs, and the B2 Confusion is almost chicago sounding with its driving drum tracks, analog chirps, and tracky house beat.; (*8 stars of 10-oracle)
G Flame and Mr. G-Nastiness EP (Metalbox-UK 03): The Advent make another run for the house and techno DJ's crates with this slamming new EP on Metalbox. 3 tracks are included here and each one is a winner. A1 Dig Deep has some nice pounding metallic sounding drums with lots of reverse edits and EQ'ing throughout the track. Add to that a sample ("Oh-that shit is pumping"), the trademark Advent swirly keys, and a phat bassline and you have a winner. B1 P N Sizzla doesn't have much to it except the pounding house drums, metallic sounding snare with lots of housey keyboard stabs but it works well, and I'll be dropping it in my sets. B2 Just Another is a bunch of loopy disco string mayhem with a tough beat, hand claps and Basic Channel style keys in the background. Again, it doesn't sound like much, but if you are an Advent fan and/or appreciate quality techno and house production I guarantee you will dig this.
(9*stars of 10-oracle)
Orlando Voorn presents The Stalker-Blast EP (Fierce!-Holland): Dutch funky techno master Orlando Voorn (remember Fix on KMS) presents his latest tracks in the form of The Stalker. This is actually a 2 EP set (which I didn't know when I bought it mail-order and 2 came in!) and basically, the first EP is a throwaway and the 2nd rocks. We will start with the 2nd EP as its worth reviewing. Funk D'Void takes the title track Blast and make a long side of must buy tech-house. Their trademark strings are all over this one, nice drums (as usual) are omnipresent in the mix with little tribal flourishes in the beat. This is quality jazzy influences techno-house of the finest order and worth the purchase on it's own. Phunk=Phunk is Voorn's take on the Midwest US techno sound with Chicago sounding drums and 313 inspired keyboard sounds. There's lots of phasing and bleepiness going on throughout the mix. One quick thing though...I didn't think the drums were deep enough. they sounded a little hollow, but otherwise the track has very nice production. The B2 Burning Passion on first listen sounds blatantly commercial with arpegeiated organs, horns, and sweet sounding vocals. Listen again fool! For me, this works as a nice morning track on a house floor for an adventurous dj. There's enough meat here for any credible underground dj, and smooth enough to get you laid. Now on to the task of reviewing Vol. 1. A1 Blast-Main Mix is remixed by Freddie Fresh. Basically if you dig the Missile records sound and stomping techno tracks that don't do much, this may be up your tree. Production is up to the Fresh quality threshold, and it sounds nice. It just doesn't do what the other tracks did for me. The B2 has the Original Blast Mix by Orlando Voorn, and again it just doesn't stand up to the brilliant 2nd half of this double. This is also a banging unapologetically techno mix that gets messy in places. The B2 remix by Freddie Fresh is a downtempo electro/ambient journey that is decent, but not worth the $10 in my opinion.; (*8 1/2 stars of 10 for the Pt. 2 EP; *5 stars of 10 for Pt. 1 EP-oracle)
Joel Mull-Leaving Ground EP (Lask-Sweden): Stockholm's Joel Mull is making big waves in the techno and future house worlds with his latest releases. He is quickly turning into one of those omni-present Swedish producers in constant demand. Leaving Ground will tell you why. None of the tracks are named, but they all have the same feel and function. A1 is a drummy flanged drum track with a bassline that sounds like its homing in on something. Lots of hi-hats are here and ethereal vocals fade in and out of the mix. A2 is a Dutch sounding tech-house track ala Touché with heavily reverbed keys. B1 is a drummy techno-house track with minimal overtones and lots of reverbed swirly keys. This is actually a grooving track with very warm and clean production. This is future house in my eyes. Joel Mull is taking the same sounds you have always heard and reconstructing them in front of your face. There is brilliant production all over this EP. This EP is mega-smooth and full of good vibes. I had a smile on my face the second I dropped the needle. If you like the Aubrey releases on Solid Groove and Textures-this is up your tree. If you are a dj looking for something different sounding that will work on a house floor or a techno floor-don't sleep on this one. This is an important record. Miss at your peril.; (*10 stars of 10-oracle)