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V/A- Daily Basis # 2 - Flow rec. march 08
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aden
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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Posted : Mar 30, 2008 01:56:17
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Title : Daily Basis 2
Artists : Various
Label : Flow records
Release date : March 08
Tracklist
1/ C-Jay vs Citizen : Burnout (128 bpm)
2/ Ocean : Shadow of the Light (136 bpm)
3/ Tim Davison : Incite (128 bpm)
4/ Piece Process : Coup de Grâce (130 bpm)
5/ Duca : Sampler (128 bpm)
6/ Nano-Mechanic : Encounter (128 bpm)
7/ Elegant Universe feat Leif Hatfield : Grizzly (128 bpm)
8/ Lob : Is it over? (128 bpm)
9/ Peter Gun : Drifting (130 bpm)
Almost two years after launching the successful “Daily Basis” compilation, Progressive label Flow records delivers the second installment of this series. International DJ Pena, the man behind the Portuguese label, has patiently collected these tracks to produce a representative snapshot of today’s trends in Progressive.
1. C-Jay vs Citizen : Burnout
The first track is the result of the unprecedented collaboration of two prominent Dutch artists each already well-known in their own right in the full on and prog-house genres : Wouter Thomassen aka Citzen/Zen Mechanincs & C-Jay. This interesting team delivers this quite lenghty and ambitious piece (more than 11mn) which unfolds a nice sense of atmospheric trance with airy pads and a relentless driving rhythmic combo at a very progressive bpm, unsurprisingly drawing inspiration from Zen mechanics’ instinct for pulsation. The break classicly but successfully relaunches the track towards uplifting altitudes that don’t lose touch with unremitting dance floor energy. Nice collab which calls for more.
2. Ocean : shadow of the light
Next is the first appearance of Ocean, the new side project of French producer Thomas Dubreuil, one of the heads behind the better-known full-on project Altöm. His seminal production as a progressive composer is strongly scented with easy, positive full-onish ideas, notably in the kick drum combo which you’ve heard a zillion times, and the pads. There is an audience for that, but also strong competition from former full-on expert producers writing prog today. Given that there is more coming out at Blue Tunes and also in the pipeline, I would expect a much more personal touch and a distinctly progressive feeling in future if Ocean wants to make an original imprint in the progressive soundscape.
3. Tim Davison : Incite
After a few singles and remixes signed at the best progressive-house labels such as Mashtronic, Groove Zone, Baroque/Method, Sog etc, Briton Tim Davison returns to Flow, this time on CD, to demonstrate some of his skills in composition. These include his lightly shuffled snare and compelling bassline which build up a nice driving force. The simple yet funky, catchy motif, flavoured by reverb, is underlaid with a pitch-bent bass in the final bars of the sequences which yields a nice, discreet epic dimension. Even though the track shows almost no evolution, these ideas all conspire to make a well-crafted prog-house tool. Look out for more from this talented producer, notably some wicked tracks with samples from Underworld, Leftfield, Chemical Bros, which are waiting to be released but have already produced, under Pena’s command, a strong effect on the dancefloors recently.
4. Piece Process : Coup de Grâce
After a bunch of releases, Belfast-based producer and DJ Matt Philipps here serves up another reliable big-room DJ tool in the prog-house genre with a forceful bassline and lead, and a classic break with an atmospheric interlude. This is a standard, club-oriented piece that nonetheless makes a reliable dj tool.
5. Duca : Sampler
Serbian producer Dusan Sekic is featured in so many Progressive compilations these days that his success has made Duca one of the most in-demand monikers. His rhythmic combo uses a pleasant set of moderately distorted and arpeggiated bass lines, a driving lead flavoured with exotic little percussive hick-ups and bells which will appeal directly to your hips. The midterm break comes in and transposes the lead to unleash a cheese fest that makes Pizza Hut look like diet food and that will undoubtedly bring hands-in-the-air reaction to the dance floor. But it all depends how you like your cheese....
6. Nano-Mechanic : Encounter
For the following contribution, Maestro Pena turned to one of the finest gunslingers in Portugal.
After a single digital release, Sergio Oliveira makes his debut on CD with “Encouter”. It unreels a good combination of trancey reverberated pads and feelings blended with a bouncy electro distorted bass. This mixed approach will seduce those who are keen on renewing their approach to electro without breaking the classic moulds.
7. Elegant Universe feat Leif Hatfield : Grizzly
Next is another, more complex story written by arguably one of the most talented duos of today’s progressive scene, the Israeli duo Elegant Universe, who need no further introduction, as their CV has been presented many times on this forum. This time, Leif Hatflied has joined forces with them to sing a part. He came to fame with his frequent collaborations with Franck Beckers under the Export Audio moniker a few years ago, and a recent and excellent “keep on” EP which came out on Sprout revived his renown. “Grizzly” quickly opens onto a mesmerizing wha-wha undulating bass and ushers in Hatfield’s well-sung score until a more technoish arrangement unfolds all the way to the break. It features a violin-sounding pad that unleashes powerful harmonic waves, until, in the final sequences, the rhythmic combo slams back, featuring the sampled and abreviated vocals, which are then reduced to an “on the kit” leitmotif. This is an expertly orchestrated winner which dishes up a unique blend of pop-rock infused electro-tech atmospheres. Thumbs up!
8. Lob : Is it over?
Next is an exceptional combo made up of three of the biggest shots in the progressive scene : Aussie Maestro Kasey Taylor, Pena himself, and Antonio Ricciardi, arguably Portugal’s biggest House DJ. They got together in a studio somewhere around their Lisbon hangout to produce this seminal piece, which features light breezy pads that hint at more atmospheric moods. Yet, “Is it over?” evolves towards more elliptic, hi-pitched, rattling staccato synth arrangements in the second half which allude to the percussive atmosphere of today’s minimal-technoish arrangements. However the punchy rhythm predominates, with offset clicky beats, which is clearly rooted in the threesome’s love for the big prog-house vibe that Kasey Taylor has successfully delivered so many times. A cool attempt to mix styles and another reliable DJ tool.
9. Peter Gun : Drifting
German producer Peter Juergens presents here my favourite track from him : a dark thumping prog-house/trance groover, with a strong and deep bass with effective rhythmic build up, moderately seasoned by offset tribal percussion flourishes, with potent final grinding whip-hits that target the right spot in your brain. A perfect finish.
Bottom line
Pena’s enlighted eclectism and expertise has done it again! The patient gathering of the tracks has paid off and this is a highly recommended second instalment of the Daily Basis series, as it covers the full spectrum of today’s progressive music scene. All tastes should be satisfied even though the focus on Prog-House/Prog Trance cross-over seems to be the strongest asset of this album. My preference goes to numbers 1, 3, 7, 8, and you can be sure you will hear a lot of these in the forthcoming summer festivals.
ADEN
Related links
http://www.flow-records.com
http://www.myspace.com/flowrecs
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Pangea
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
72
Posts :
279
Posted : May 3, 2008 01:06
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just got this in today and its a real treat!! perfect for the weather around here at the moment, sunny about 85 lite breeze from the south southwest a big phatty and im in heaven!
all the tracks sound very classy and smooth, a nice blend of progressive electro and just good ol outdoor in the sun classics,
gets a little to electroy at a few parts for me in the Ocean -shawdow of light --- but its still great quality
the c jay and citizen is brillant and elegant universe has one again come through very properly.
Charles (preference) has done a very nice job with these tracks-- top notch work
added to the flow banks:)
cheers
kameleon
http://www.pureperceptionrecords.org/
 pureperceptionrecords.org
pangeaproductions.org
myspace.com/pureperceptionrecords |
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