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Kooler - Open (Kamaflage 2004) CD
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DeathPosture
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 5, 2004 00:47
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Kooler - Open
Cover: http://www.saikosounds.com/covers/BFLCD73.jpg
Hi-res: http://www.duskdigital.com/albums/dusksleeves/BFLCD73_cover.jpg
Format: CD
Artist: Kooler
Title: Open
Label: Kamaflage, U.K.
Cat. #: BFLCD73
Date: May 26
Year: 2004
Track listing:
01. 08’30” In The Heights
02. 09’01” Solid Kiss
03. 09’40” Freefall
04. 09’47” Harold & Maude
05. 06’58” Open
06. 07’55” Superstar
07. 08’09” Awake
08. 08’22” Lift Lift
09. 06’36” Mango
Review:
Is Seb Mullaert the biggest star in the universe?
It seems that everything Swedish super-producer Sebastian Mullaert touches turns into gold! A résumé that lists Son Kite, Minilogue, Filur, Trimatic, Dab Screen and Ooze tells more than enough… Now he’s out with a full album under his Kooler alias – the first CD album to be released on Dragonfly spin-off prog label Kamaflage… And this looks to be one for the movers and groovers…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01: A nice chilled intro track here… Floating, dubby and straightforward… It’s a very rich, moody soundscape with all kinds of atmospheric, eerie sounds in the background… The first beats are introduced @ 1.30 and continues throughout the track… Nothing too complicated is going on until 6.00 - just plain progressive house – with the Mullaert quality stamp… The last 2.30 minutes are by far the best, where the moody atmosphere is even more omnipresent… Nicey nice! ;o)
#02: Let’s go deeper now… After about 55 seconds of beat-less chilling, it’s tribal groove time! This really showcases the talent of Seb - the king of progressive trance! I mean, just listen to those drums – they’ve got High Hat studios written all over them! It’s so contagious – so well produced. It’s light and fluffy and dark and heavy… Awesome! ;o)
#03: This tune was already released on Kamaflage 3 and as a 12” so there’s a good chance you’ve heard it already… It’s the sexy track! ;o) The weightless heavyweight – light as a feather and heavy as an elephant… Classic progressive beach-house trance at its best! This is amazing, hands down!
#04: This track was done with Marcus, so it’s kinda like a Son Kite track… Harold & Maude? Sounds like and old, married couple… Are you trying to tell us something Seb and Marc? ;o) Anyway, this is another fine tune… It slowly builds and builds for 2 minutes, before breaking out the affluent, infectious baseline… And as a striking contrast; the naïve melody which adds to the overall bounce-your-head effect this very smooth track has!
#05: We get a break-beat intro on the title track here… Seb plays around with all kinds of electro samples, turning the knobs and just experimenting…I’m guessing that this was composed around the same time as the “The Stars Within Us” tune from the Colours album by Son Kite… All the way through the beats are cut, dubbed and filtered… It’s one of the most chilled tracks on the album – its beach-house trance! Nice!
#06: “And now ladies and gentlemen, we present the biggest star in the universe!” Well, if we’re talking progressive beach trance, Kooler is definitely a strong contender for that title! Second track with Marcus… And this time, no ambient intro… In fact we’re now entering the more danceable part of the album… A deep, driving bassline sets the mood from the first second and alongside some wicked squelches it just builds and builds… Bob the Builder would be proud! ;o) Parts of this reminds me of the now famous Son Kite track “On Air” which is just as stellar as this is! Oh, and check out the samba-spice too… I’ll play this for ages! Best track here!
#07: “Look at the way it goes around”… Another deep, housy, progressive trance tune here… Tribal, repetitive percussion work accompanied by light, happy melodies… Jaw-dropping production and some seriously groovy rhythms… Very stylish break and build-up… Very subtle, almost simple… But it works! Sweet track!
#08: I’m not sure if this is the same as the Filur track Life Lift released by Kamaflage back in 2001 as I’ve never heard it – but whatever it is, it’s a nice little tune… Gone are the darker beats and we’re left with some smooth, chilled vibes… Delic’s! ;o)
#09: Alright, time for the mango-track! This is also a relaxed piece, with a wonderful chilled atmosphere… Under normal circumstances that high-pitched squelch would have grossed me out, but here it just fits perfectly… The female vocals also add to the overall sexiness of this track… Sweet way to finish a sweet album! ;o)
The promotional material describes this as “deep tribal grooves, awesome drops, infectious basslines and futuristic house…” Yeah, agreed… And might I also add smooth, groovy, funky, uplifting, euphoric and very, very sexy! As you can tell, I like the middle part of the album best, but all tracks are off a very high standard…
Full-on goa-heads and devout minimal freaks, should probably stay clear of this release - unless they are open-minded! This is borderline stuff and often it crosses the boundaries well into house territory! But who really cares, as long as the music is good? And believe me; it’s good… It’s good… It’s goooood! ;o) If you enjoyed the Son Kite album “Colours”, you’ll enjoy this too! Recommended!
8.5/10
Favourites: 2(!), 3(!!), 4(!), 6(!!!), 7
DeathPosture
External links:
Saiko Sounds: http://www.saikosounds.com/english/display_release.asp?id=4054 (Audio samples available!)
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[Note: Should be out in the shops @ May 26! Look forward to it!]
  On really romantic evenings of self, I go salsa dancing with my confusion... |
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pr0fane
Multiphase
Started Topics :
418
Posts :
3816
Posted : May 5, 2004 01:01
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Nice review as always DeathPosture.
I’m really looking forward to this one. “Freefall” was definitely one of the highlights on the 3rd episode of Kamaflage, and the Son Kite album was extremely well produced, and is no doubt one of the best albums released this year.
The cover design looks pretty sweet by the way. Stylish.
DJ pr0fane (Iboga Records) | Multiphase
www.sunrisesupplies.com | www.iboga.dk | www.soundcloud.com/pr0fane |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
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375
Posts :
5032
Posted : May 5, 2004 12:39
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oooooff why spoil me on this morning?
is it aviable to buy anywhere on this globe ?
tech house beach trance is my field, gimme this album asap please God !
Believe your soul ! |
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Pasha
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
260
Posted : May 5, 2004 13:13
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Zombi, you're funny.  But I agree with ya...
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 6, 2004 20:34
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PKS
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
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490
Posted : May 6, 2004 20:43
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To clown: Because Kamaflage is some sort of progressive side label of Dragonfly Records, just like Liquid Sound Design is also a side label of Dragonfly... But they uses the same kind of catalogue numbers, so it is actually only one label
CHILL TRIBE
CTRCD01 QUALITY RELAXATION
CTRCD02 RELAXED JOURNEYS
CTRCD03 EAR PLEASURE
CTRCD04 WOMBATMUSIC - Shameful Silence
CTRCD05 POLYPLOID - Grow Your Own
CTRCD06 IAN ION - Gringo Locomotion
CTRCD07 SUNKINGS - Before We Die |
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humph
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
44
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169
Posted : May 7, 2004 12:26
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exactly... it has a catalogue number from Dragonfly, but is a different label. kind of be good if all the shops showed it as Kamaflage not dragonfly since thats what it is.... this release isn`t anything to do with psy-trance at all... |
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CLAW
CLAW
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117
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2738
Posted : May 7, 2004 14:33
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Henry
Started Topics :
4
Posts :
85
Posted : May 25, 2004 14:29
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The cd is out today. Enjoy!
Please post further reviews if possible but thanks for the top class analysis DP.
H |
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : May 26, 2004 04:34
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clown
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
97
Posts :
1777
Posted : May 29, 2004 21:14
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well, what can i say.. JESUS LORD this album rocks..
I really wasn't expecting anthing of this high quality.. together with the son kite album, dj's are prepared to hit the decks and broadcast some of the freshest sounds of the summer..
All the tracks have there own little specialty.. my fav is SUPERSTAR, for its funkyness... but they are all great..
keep the psyhouse comming boys..
"VA - REWIRED" OUT NOW !! (techtrance invasion) ---> http://forum.isratrance.com/viewtopic.php/topic/86303/forum/9
http://psy.techno.fm <------- Jester Records's Internet Radio channel
www.jesterrecords.ca |
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SenstatuX
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
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320
Posted : May 30, 2004 02:49
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06. 07’55” Superstar
I LOOOOVE IT!!!
really goOOOd album!!
Keep it up grabben =)
i live for this moment here... |
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ecnalab
Started Topics :
2
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49
Posted : Jun 2, 2004 10:09
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Another great album! Seb is on a roll! I will definitely be blasting this at gigs this summer.
-xo Truffle Radio ox-
Waves of Psychedelic and Progressive Trance
http://ecnalab.com/radio
playing : FREq ~ Human Blue ~ Son Kite ~ Prometheus ~ Vibrasphere ~ XV Kilist ~ Ticon ~ Atmos |
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Zombi
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
375
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5032
Posted : Jun 2, 2004 13:16
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Music at its best definition !! Iv been waiting for this one prety long time and here its come - Kooler make what i waited from Son Kite, a pure progress into tribalistic reality of liquid grooves and electric bongos !! Progressive crossover stuff that maded with love !!
Thank You so much Seb, fantastik release for upcoming summer season !!
Believe your soul ! |
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qedominic
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
13
Posted : Jun 5, 2004 03:03
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nice album! special style! |
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