Various Artists - Slow-Release

[pr0fane]

 

Artist: Various

Title: Slow-Release

Label: Open Records

Format: CD

Released: November 2006

 

 

Review:

 

Open Records is a completely new label based in Australia. Behind the scenes we find the 2 DJ's Suspekt and Woodsman - probably not very well-known on the northern hemisphere, but a couple of highly requested DJ's down under. On the labels debut-release, "Slow-Release" we find 8 previously unreleased tracks and remixes made by a mix of artists from down under and abroad, from very well-known acts to acts previously unknown to the public eye.

 

 

1. Antix - Le Lascard (Embark Remix) [130 BPM]

The compilation starts with a remix for "Le Lascard" from Antix's last album "Twin Coast Discovery". This particular track was undoubtedly among my favourite tracks on the album, and here it's reworked by Embark - a new and, judging by this remix, quite promising producer from Australia. It's more simple and tribal, and doesn't quite match the epic quality of the original, but it grooves very nicely, and the breakdown with the classic theme is very blissful and well-done.

 

2. Brisker & Magitman - Clockwork [130 BPM]

Israeli act Brisker & Magitmans career has skyrocketed in the last year - their full on project Elec3 has had great success, but more so their progressive sideproject Brisker & Magitman is in high request in the progressive house/progressive trance scene, with releases on major players like Renaissance, Audio Therapy, Method (Baroque), SOG and Tribal Vision. "Clockwork" is a fine little track, although it in all honesty sounds like some of their older material, it's a sweet track - simple and deep, with a melancholic piano-melody.

 

3. Eegor - Prime Groover (Marathon Mix) [129 BPM]

Eegor is another newcomer from Australia, and here we're fed with his own aptly named Marathon mix of "Prime Groover", running for almost 11 minutes. It holds some of the same qualities as the Embark remix for Antix - deep, tribal progressive house with a "psy" edge, but to me it seems to miss a really distinguishable theme that makes it worthwhile for the 11 minutes. Not bad, just too much of the same.

 

4. Fog featuring V-Point - Seduction [128 BPM]

Another Australian newcomer, V-Point, teams up with Fog from Greece on "Seduction". I have mixed emotions about Fog and his earlier project Elastic - on one side it's very enjoyable deep, tribal progressive which reminds me of Antix in their "Lull" days, but to me he seems way too stuck in the same formula - and this track is no exception. Add to that some quite misplaced percussion and you have the weakest point on the CD.

 

5. D-Sens vs. Sirius Smooth - Tribalizer [132 BPM]

D-Sens is the solo project of one of the members of the French progressive psytrance project Lunaspice, and here he teams up with yet another Aussie newcomer, Sirius Smooth on "Tribalizer". What a great tune this is - it has a wonderful, deep bubbly bass, and a suburban-style club sound, yet still maintaining some of that big outdoor atmosphere. Solid work.

 

6. Sun Control Species - Nameless Blameless (Antix Remix) [132 BPM]

Antix follow up with a remix for Sun Control Species' "Nameless Blameless", previously released on Zenon Records' "Intelligent Manipulation" compilation last year. Compared to the rest of the tracks here, this remix is probably the trendiest, with sort of subtle electro-ish touches, a big trancy anthem, yet still staying true to the psygressive outdoor sound. Certainly a good remix.

 

7. Wombat - Ride Control [133 BPM]

Up next is Wombat - the new sideproject of one of Australias most well-known progressive producers, Sun Control Species, and "Ride Control" is naturally oozing of quality. It's slower than the majority of the previous Sun Control Species tracks, incredibly deep and with a big, massive sound that'll work wonders when chugging on an outdoor PA. Big tune.

 

8. D-Sens - Save The Children [125 BPM]

Frances D-Sens finish the compilation with "Save The Children", the slowest track on the CD, once again staying true to the concept of deep, tribal progressive. The groove is very lazy, and although it maybe isn't quite dancefloor-appealing for the peaktime, I find it very suitable for the opening or afterhours for a party. Nice comedown for a good compilation.

 

 

Bottom line:

 

Okay, "Slow-Release" perhaps isn't the best progressive compilation released this year, but in a time where progressive releases either seem to be following the electro-housey D-Nox & Beckers direction or the more full on'ish Liquid Soul/FREq direction, Open Records seems to have found another niche with this mixture of progressive house and deep, tribal progressive psytrance. The quality is consistently pretty good, and even the newcomers seem to have something to deliver.

 

Judging by this first release, Open Records is certainly a label worth supporting.

 

 

Favourites:

 

1 (!), 2, 5 (!), 6 (!), 7

 

 

 

Verdict:

 

7/10

 

 

Links:

 

Open Records: http://www.open-records.net

Open Records @ MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/OpenRecordsAustralia

[Krell]

I really love this first release from Open Records, deep atmospheric stuff, which doesnt thrive on vocals or anything which might be "trendy" at the moment.

 

This is no bullshit deep music for deep experiences.

 

Especially the first tracks I like, and also the last track is great (reminds me a bit of the classic Voodoof "Thru" on one of the classic TIP Records releases actually).

 

For me, this release places newly hatched australien Open Records amongst the current top progressive labels, I hope they will have a follow up on the way soon which keeps this standard or even surpasses it.

 

Rating: 8/10 or 4/5

 

Highs for me

!Antix ”Le Lascard(Embark Remix)” (08:40)

!Brisker & Magitman ”Clockwork” (09:45)

!Eegor ”Prime Groover(Marathon Mix)” (10:48)

!Fog featuring V-Point ”Seduction” (10:18)

!D-Sens ”Save the Children” (09:12)

Fog featuring V-Point ”Seduction” (10:18)

D-Sens vs Sirius Smooth ”Tribalizer” (09:26)

Sun Control Species ”Nameless Blameless(Antix Remix)” (08:34)

Wombat ”Ride Control” (09:37)

 

Best Wishes

 

- Krell