Mstation Pop etc Commentary, Reviews
pre Dec 04 reviews are here
Fri, 01 Apr 2005
Tom Baker's Chart and Mix Mp3 at bottom
Chart:
1. Demarkus Lewis - The House Guest EP - Guest House Music
2. Grant Dell - Acid Bubble - Stupendous
3. Demar Vs Janet Jackson - Unkown Title - Roxy3
4. Switch - This is sick - Front Room
5. Tom Baker + Lawrence Mohammed - La Diablada - Wrong
6. Mastik Soul - Zencisk - Moxi
7. Martin Venetjoki Ft Derek Conver - Really Dont Stop - Dust Traxx
8. Nick Chacona - X, Y and sometimes Z - Grayhound
9. Colin Brown - Just a feeling - Chapter
10. Asad and Tangun - Fear and Loathing by the Bosphorus - Wrong
Record reviews for TTR Magazine, PitchAdjust.com, Radar Magazine,
Mstation.org, Dancecommunity.be and many more..
Grant Dell ‰ÛÒ Acid Bubble
Artist: Grant Dell
Title: Acid Bubble
Label: Stupendous
Cat no: STLP014
House
12"
Grants returns to NYC's Stupendous recordings with this fine piece of
underground party funk. "Acid Bubble" is built up from an insatiable
rhythm pattern, multi layered FX and acid stabs. It's one of those
tunes that just rolls on and on effortlessly. "Inspire me" is a
deeper, techier work out, with shuffling percussion, pitched up vocal
FX and more cheeky acid tinges. 5/5
Jackie Johnson ‰ÛÒ Boobs and Biatch
Artist: Jackie Johnson
Title: Boobs and Biatch
Label: RZ
Cat no: RZ12
House
12"
David Duriez's RZ maintains the "Blast from the past" ethos with this
4 track Chicago influenced EP. "Disco Boobs" is pure Chicago to the
core, with a cymbal based drum pattern and repetitive FX. "Return of
the wild bitch" takes on a DJ Pierre vibe, where an Akai piano riff
sits under a one-note string and lively drums. "Old Skool Biatch" is a
classic jazzy, jacking party work out and "The big track" is a
stripped back chi-town drum work out. 4/5
Solid Groove ‰ÛÒ This is Sick
Artist: Solid Groove
Title: This is Sick
Label: Front Room
Cat no: FRM010
House
12"
Dave Taylor's "Switch" project continues with ultra loud, cut and
paste style, boundary-pushing house. "This is sick" is a one-sided
single-track release that certainly does what it says in the tin. The
bass line is like something from mars and a lovely female vocal sample
declaring the track title. The track then darts back and forth from
the main drum loop to a string-led breakdown and various other drum
loops patterns, ensuring the listener always gets what was least
expected! 5/5
Tony Thomas ‰ÛÒ Growth EP
Artist: Tony Thomas
Title: Growth EP
Label: Cubic
Cat no: Cubic002
House
12"
The second release on Tony Thomas' new label see the man bringing a
slightly more electronic angle on his tried and tested percussive
productions. "Growth" is an infectious acid house number for those
peak time moments. "Serious" sees Tony use bring his musical skills to
the fore, with twangy guitar, trumpets a Hammond organ and a big room
peak time feel. "Remember" is a contemplative, chilled, deep house
roller, for much later in the night. A very useful EP. 4/5
Leigh Morgan vs. Harold Heath ‰ÛÒ House the weather
Artist: Leigh Morgan vs. Harold Heath
Title: House the weather
Label: Boxa
Cat no: Boxa 003
12"
House
This collaboration results in two lively and intoxicating tracks.
"House the weather" is a funky, drum work out, with a rolling bass
line and some dizzy, uplifting vocal cuts and FX. The track for me
however is "Willy Wonka" with bundles of energy and more use of
intoxicating vocals and FX. Halfway through its breaks into just the
kick, and a sick reversed bass line which is going to shake people's
drinks off the table when played out on a system. 4/5
Rob-in ‰ÛÒ Hysteria EP
Artist: Rob-in
Title: Hysteria EP
Label: Brique Rouge Traxx
Cat no: BRT017
12"
House
Rob-in, usually associated with musically composed jazzy house
presents a huge, big room, tribal monster in "Hysteria". Loud FX and
solid, rolling beats are pretty much all to be found here, but if this
was designed just to rip up dance floors then this will effortlessly
succeed. "Spirit" is jacking, electronic and emotive, with
multi-layered 80's synths and soft, spoken word. "Peace" lies in
Rob-in's more usual territory of jazz tinged, deep house. All 3 tracks
are excellently produced. 4/5
Flash Atkins vs. Monsieur Manton - Photoshoot
Artist: Flash Atkins vs. Monsieur Manton
Title: Photoshoot
Label: 3am
Cat no:
12"
House
Flash Atkins aka Ben Davis lends a techy big room flavour to 3am's
house label in "Photoshoot". Pitched down vocals hover over a bright
acid line and bursting bass line. "Wishpole" fits with 3am's
traditional, ligher sound, where jazz licks and double bass stabs sit
amongst a laid back, shuffling drum pattern and light vocals give a
summery feel. 4/5
Trevor Rockcliffe Ft Blake Baxter ‰ÛÒ Relax EP
Artist: Trevor Rockcliffe Ft Blake Baxter
Title: Relax EP
Label: Mentor
Cat no: Mentor010
12"
Techno
Trevor Rockliffe and Blake Baxter re-kindle their relationship after a
long hiatus. And as you'd expect from two techno heavyweights as this
is a solid release of soul lifting techno. The main mix focuses on a
clean, punchy, drum arrangement, with Baxter's distinguished vocals
soothing your ears. The acapella unfortunately keeps the synth line,
which makes it almost unusable for any production heads wishing to
dabble with the vocals. The "Layback" mix is slightly deeper and
housier, the "Kickback" mix takes things firmly into techno territory,
with a marching drum arrangement. 4/5
Mastic Soul and Tony Thomas ‰ÛÒ Moxi 002
Mastic Soul and Tony Thomas
Title: Moxi 002
Label: Moxi
Cat no: Moxi 002
12"
House
Second in the series from the tribal head honchos, this two tracker
sees one track from each producer. Mastik does the business with
"Zencisk", a simple, yet extremely effective percussive work out that
is aimed squarely at the dance floor. It consists of little more than
then the drums, bass and a scattering of effects, but when the rhythms
as good as this you don't need much else. Tony Thomas' aptly titled
"Bend your senses" is a deeper, drugier affair, built of the usual
tribal rhythms and a mirage of intoxicating samples, stabs and FX. 4/5
Download a twisted underground house mix - tracklisting upon request:
http://www.kickinside.com/mixes/techhouse/mp3/djtombaker_offthepeg.mp3
--
Tom Baker
www.djtombaker.com
