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CDJay
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,049 posts
Joined: Nov, 2001
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 Posted - 2009/11/01 : 13:15:34
Cheers for all the feedback! It's always unnerving when unleashing something new. Our modus operandi biases strongly towards providing depth and variety for long term enjoyment, yet I think we're striking a balance when it comes to being more immediately accessible as well.
The thing I'm personally most happy with, which others have touched on, is the way the album flows through in its entirety. Whilst some of this can be credited to basic project management, the reason it can work is because the DJs complement each other and will actually strive to work collectively towards a cohesive and enjoyable whole.
Massive props to all involved and featured. Heroes, one and all.
CDJay @ Hardcore Underground
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Http://www.hardcoreunderground.co.uk
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m0nKeY
Average Member
United Kingdom
221 posts
Joined: Jan, 2005
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Posted - 2009/11/01 : 23:36:17
Instead of posting my review straight away I have spent time listening to each disc multiple times to come to my final conclusion... so here is my review.
CD1 (Darwin & Fracus):
This mix is nothing short of amazing, and I thought it opened very well. The only track I didn't really like was 'Unique - Rock Your Body'. I'm also glad Reese took his remix of 'Nothing There' in another direction because nothing will ever come close to beating the original which is one of my favourite tracks of all time.
Stand-out tracks:
Darwin - Y Don't U // Been waiting for this ever since it featured on the Next Generation Podcast #3 some 5 months ago. Awesome track!
Fracus & Darwin - Realms and Rough-Cuts // Epic tune, can't get enough of it!
To be honest I could list every track here except for #4, this is one of the best mixes (if not the best) I have ever listened too and exceeded my already very high expectations. The track selection is almost perfect. This is a prime example of why Darwin is my favourite DJ/producer at the moment.
RATING: 9.5/10
CD2 (Brisk & Marc Smith):
The first half of this disc I enjoyed more than the latter half, but it was still a good solid selection of tracks from start to finish.
Stand-out tracks:
Double Dutch - Eternity
Spenno & Jess - Find Your Way (Petruccio & Modulate Remix)
Brisk & Ham - Sunrise
Fretman & Darwin feat. Kyla - Summer Of Love
Brisk & Vagabond - Drift Away
Marc Smith & Recon - Stomp
RATING: 8.0/10
CD3 (Al Storm & Kutski)
I wasn't overly keen on this disc the first time I listened too it, but it gets better with each listen and now I really enjoy it. The mix of Breaks, Bassline, Drum & Bass and Gabber all on one CD means there is a track to suit every mood.
Stand-out tracks:
Bang - Flowers Need the Rain (Al Storm Mix)
Al Storm - Dubplate Skank (Dirty Chopper Mix)
Bishop vs Al Storm - Virtual Nightmare
Ultravibes - Bang! 2009
Al Storm - Jumpin'
Endymion feat. Nikkita - Abuduction
Scott Brown vs Hyperbass - I Became Hardcore (Hyperbass Remix)
RATING: 7.5/10
CD4 (Oli G & Lost Soul)
Nothing but fresh and excellent freeform, far better than the mix on HU3 in my honest opinion. Seriously loving 'Mood Music', which is such an aptly named track. I without a doubt would certainly like an Oli G & Lost Soul disc on HU5.
Stand-out tracks:
Devastate - Mood Music (Oli G Remix)
Invader & Cube::Hard - Use of Weapons (Dub Mix)
Gammer - Ambient Angels
Solution & Ephexsis - Elements
Sharkey - Lotek (Oli G Remix)
Lost Soul - Ragnarok
Solution & Ephexsis - Requiem
RATING: 8.2/10
Conclusion:
Well this complilation certainly passes the party test, I would happily play all 4 CD's at a party without feeling the need to skip tracks. One of the things I love about HU3 and even more so with HU4 is the playability, it's not a complilation you listen too once or even several times then get bored of, I still go back to HU3 and listen too tracks like 'Muscial Endeavour' and enjoy them almost as much as the first time I heard them. The balance is perfect with the varied styles spread across the CD's, the euphoria, emotion, happy, hard and fast beats keep coming relentlessy with stomper after stomper. The time and effort that went into track selection for this compilation must have been immense, even the few (less than 10) tracks that I wasn't overly keen on were still of a high enough standard. I was expecting a little dissapointment since HU3 set a very high bench mark but this has eclipsed that and become my joint favourite album with Bonkers 13.
For me the Hardcore Underground label is what HappyHardcore is all about, finally someone has listened to what the true fans want and produced and provided us with the underground sound we so highly regard and love! I predict a very bright and prosperous future for the label if the quality and dedication remains the same and the goal doesn't change, keep up the innovation and drive the scene forward.
I would even go as far as to suggest a slight price increase for the next album, you guys deserve to reap the rewards. Hell, I would have happily paid a tenner just for the Darwin & Fracus disc.
So all I have left to say is a big thanks to everyone involved, both the artists and those who work behind the scenes, the hard work is very much appreciated.
Thought I'd add a photo of my favourite albums too.
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Meathead
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
4,217 posts
Joined: Sep, 2006
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Posted - 2009/11/01 : 23:59:08
Where's one in this picture, sir?
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"Music creates order out of chaos; for rhythm imposes unanimity upon the divergent, melody imposes continuity upon the disjointed, and harmony imposes compatibility upon the incongruous." -Sir Yehudi Menuhin
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Quicksilver
Advanced Member
Sweden
2,545 posts
Joined: Jul, 2007
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 01:12:34
My review... copied from USH.
CD1
Solid mix! Good variety of tunes, and I never expected to hear a tune like Rock Ya Body in a mix by Darwin! Does anyone else think that On The Run sounds like it's produced by Darwin, not Stormtrooper? There's something Darwin about the lead! Great tune, nonetheless. I'm not so very fond of A Different Way or Come Into My World, sorry Fracus - but they might grow on me. ;) My favourite tunes are:
* Darwin & Fracus Feat. Ant Johnson - You Are My Oxygen
- Disappointed this is the only tune on the album with vocals by AJ, but good thing the tune is really awesome then. Great opening track, and great vocals as usual.
* Unique - Rock Ya Body
- Excellent rock touches (is it just me or is 2009 full of tunes with heavy rock riffs?) and really different from his stuff on CXH. Totally did not expect this from him! (Well, I actually thought it was Darren Styles up until some week ago but still didn't expect it ;P).
* The Mexican & Girdler Synthetic - Energize (Cube::Hard Remix)
- Cube::Hard rarely disappoints. Love the dark, raw, filthy sound.
* Darwin & Entity - I Know Where I Stand
- The best track on CD1. I don't know where to begin, this is just pure awesomeness. More tunes like this! I love the melody in the beginning and end of the track, why couldn't we have gotten more of that in maybe the middle of the track too? Build a whole track around that melody! The vocals, overall feel, and the sounds... Top tune. I can't wait to get the full length, is it coming out soon, CDJay? :lol:
* Lumin8 - Rivers Flow In You
- Heard this ages ago when it was first released and it's still just as great as then! My only complaint is that it should have been the whole track, I can't get enough of it. That guitar in the breakdown is very nice, too. This track always reminds me of the TV-series Twin Peaks... Might be because I had a TP marathon by the time this track was released but I just can't shake the TP feelings when I hear it. Love TP, though, so it's okay. ;)
* Enlust Feat. Lisa A - Give Me (Ponder Remix)
- Very emotional... My only complaint is that Lisa Abbott's voice doesn't quite fit such an emotional and serious track. Don't get me wrong, she's good but imagine Donna Grassie or Michael Mansion's singer (whoever she is) singing this instead! The piano is just haunting, it totally makes the track. Excellent closer to the first CD!
CD2
This was the CD I listened to last, and as expected it didn't turn out to be my favourite disc. Brisk & Ham's mix on HU3 is much better than this, but this one still has got some amazing tunes (and I wish CD4, too, had a BPM of 180+, this is what I love about Brisk's mixes! :D).
Favourite tunes:
* Double Dutch - Eternity
- I was confused when I heard this track and saw the name of it... This just oozes Darwin and I thought there had to be an error in the credits. I then looked in the booklet and it says "Additional production by N. Adam" so... Shouldn't this include Darwin in the credits somewhere? Anyway, great opener and I love the piano.
* Fretman & Darwin Feat. Kyla - Summer Of Love
- Tune! At first listen, I didn't think it was anything special but on second listen I realized how good it really is! Can Darwin do something less than "good"? Uplifting and excellent! Best track of CD2.
* Ham - Epic Riff
- Not as ... epic ... as some of you make it out to be but it's really good! Let's go!
* Marc Smith & Re-Con - Stomp
- I seem to be one of the few who really likes this track! I have no problems with the vocals like some of you, I think they fit nicely. Feels weird to have a tune on HU4 that has been on an album like HTID2! :D
* Darwin & Obie - Bring The Bass
- Please, you two, make more tunes hinting toward Gabber - or even better, go full out! :mrgreen:
CD3
Love the fluctuations in this mix! I've already grown to like Rave Breaks from the Helter Skelter CDs so it was no problem to me. The only downside is that some of the tunes I like the most are so short due to the amount of tracks featured!
Favourites:
* Bang! - Flowers Need The Rain (Al Storm Mix)
- Woohooo! What a tune! So bloody brilliant, how it goes from Rave Breaks to pure kicking Hardcore 4-on-the-floor. And how catchy are those vocals and that lead!? Absolutely the best track on CD3! Why is there no mention of this getting a release? I'm desperate, HELP! :mrgreen: I thought Al Storm was butchering the old Bang! tunes with his collection of remixes, like the Shooting Star remix was crap... Glad he proved me wrong!
* Dougal & Gammer - Feel Free (Rave Breaks Mix)
- Too short, but for the duration it's uplifting and catchy!
* Al Storm - Jumpin'
- Makes me happy, and even though the beat reminds me of the likes of Styles' Sorry, etc, it's in a whole different league!
* Kutski & Al Storm - Power Of Darkness
- Lovely. Driving and dark! It's a taste of things to come (at the end of the CD). Where are the samples from? At first I thought it was Darth Vader but upon second listen I realized it's not.
* Endymion Feat. Nikkita - Abduction
- Love the vocals, so eerie and yet powerful and when it kicks in to "I WOULD MAKE HIM PAY!!!" I just wanna go nuts! Thought the spoken parts were samples from a movie, cause I recognize them slightly, but it says "Vocals by Nikkita" so is it something made up and recorded by Endymion and Nikkita themselves?
CD4
Epic. It doesn't get better than this. This CD alone pisses all over HTID, CXH, Helter Skelter, etc (despite me liking them, too :lol: , but when you compare with this CD they're just like little farts in space).
Favourites:
* Devastate - Mood Music (Oli G Remix)
- Haunting. That intro and that breakdown later on in the track - haunting, haunting, haunting!!!! I almost don't want the beat and acid to kick in cause I'm so captivated by the piano and mood. Calm before the storm!
* Invader & Cube::Hard - Use Of Weapons (Dub Mix)
- I really don't know what to write about the tracks on CD4 more than that they are so bloody good?? This being no exception. Cube::Hard, like I said, rarely disappoints.
* Ephexis - Sick Seduction
- Best track on the whole album I think! Love the guitar riffs (like I said above, seeing more and more of this lately!) and the entire track is just one big aural orgasm! Sick seduction, electrocution. *headbangs*
* Solution & Ephexis - Elements
- Great work, Solution! Although, it's hard to fail when you're doing something with Ephexis. :lol:
* RaverRose vs Thermal Force - Eternal Cannon (DJ Rx Remix)
- Wowowowow. I love the dirtiness and roughness of this tune. I bought the full version after just 2 listens, I don't think that has ever happened before. :lol:
Ah bloody hell... I love Lost Soul - Ragnarök, Solution & Ephexis - Requiem (this one took me a few listens to get into though) and Lost Soul - Axiomatic System too! No, wait, I love the whole of CD4! :D
Meathead, seems we have varying opinions on Rock Ya Body. What about it don't you like?
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a.k.a. Phaaze
My SOUNDCLOUD
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acidfluxxbass
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
5,000 posts
Joined: Apr, 2008
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 08:10:47
Still writing my review =D
it'll kick all the other reviews out the window :]
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Aka Archefluxx
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/archefluxx
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m0nKeY
Average Member
United Kingdom
221 posts
Joined: Jan, 2005
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 10:01:32
quote:
Originally posted by Meathead:
Where's one in this picture, sir?
Delivery estimate: 9 Nov 2009 - 11 Nov 2009
Dispatch estimate for these items: 4 Nov 2009 1 "Hardcore Underground Mixed By Kurt & Stormtrooper, Fracus & Mozz, Darwin & Cube::Hard"
Various Artists; Audio CD; £8.98
On it's way!!! :)
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m0nKeY
Average Member
United Kingdom
221 posts
Joined: Jan, 2005
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 10:18:32
quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver:
Meathead, seems we have varying opinions on Rock Ya Body. What about it don't you like?
Did you mean me? I just didn't particularly like the track that much in comparison to the others on the disc, that said, it is still a fairly good track and I'm probably just being picky, if I had heard it on a lesser compilation I would have probably enjoyed it more.
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CDJay
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,049 posts
Joined: Nov, 2001
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 10:19:50
FYI you'd probably get HU1 quicker, and for cheaper, if you ordered from here:
http://www.kraftyshop.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=68
CDJay
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Http://www.hardcoreunderground.co.uk
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m0nKeY
Average Member
United Kingdom
221 posts
Joined: Jan, 2005
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 10:38:24
Too late to tell me that now, doesn't matter it's coming anyway! I've already heard discs 1 & 2, so just want to hear the 3rd one which I am confident will be my favourite. Hopefully my T-Shirt will arrive soon too! :)
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Edited by - m0nKeY on 2009/11/02 10:39:05 |
Trimms
Senior Member
United States
494 posts
Joined: Aug, 2008
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 18:42:00
Okay I ordered the CD AGAIN and it is coming... 2 actually... but I cracked and checked out Mood Music since everyone is talking about it... I got chills. That song is so good I just want this album NOW. I crave disc 4, if Mood Music is anything to go off of. What a tune!!! Like seriously I just checked it out about 15 minutes ago so I am still buzzing and you'll have to excuse my excitement slk!!!kdsj!!!!ak1!
Anyway, I can't wait to get this album and I really want to hear the Styles (if Unique is Styles, is it????) track on here, and see how it fits in to the CD and the mix, and I want to really hear CD3 as everyone is flipping out about it. I will put my review here when I get it in the mail hopefully by the end of this month...
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Edited by - Trimms on 2009/11/02 18:43:40 |
Quicksilver
Advanced Member
Sweden
2,545 posts
Joined: Jul, 2007
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 20:07:15
quote:
Originally posted by Trimms:
I really want to hear the Styles (if Unique is Styles, is it????) track on here, and see how it fits in to the CD and the mix
That's not Styles... It's some other guy, like who did Breeze vs Unique - Sometimes and the Come With Me remix.
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a.k.a. Phaaze
My SOUNDCLOUD
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Trimms
Senior Member
United States
494 posts
Joined: Aug, 2008
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 20:10:38
quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver:
quote:
Originally posted by Trimms:
I really want to hear the Styles (if Unique is Styles, is it????) track on here, and see how it fits in to the CD and the mix
That's not Styles... It's some other guy, like who did Breeze vs Unique - Sometimes and the Come With Me remix.
Ah okay thanks for the clear up... I was stumped ever since the TL came out about why Styles was on it.
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acidfluxxbass
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
5,000 posts
Joined: Apr, 2008
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 21:33:00
quote:
Originally posted by Trimms:
quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver:
quote:
Originally posted by Trimms:
I really want to hear the Styles (if Unique is Styles, is it????) track on here, and see how it fits in to the CD and the mix
That's not Styles... It's some other guy, like who did Breeze vs Unique - Sometimes and the Come With Me remix.
Ah okay thanks for the clear up... I was stumped ever since the TL came out about why Styles was on it.
thats a point actually. Will styles ever be welcome on a Hardcore Underground Tracklist?
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CDJay
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
3,049 posts
Joined: Nov, 2001
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 21:48:50
Good, stylistically relevant, material will always be welcomed onto any album I am involved in. If licensable. Largely irrespective of who it is by.
edit: Reading back on that I could have worked a pun in. Feel free to.
CDJay
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Http://www.hardcoreunderground.co.uk
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Edited by - CDJay on 2009/11/02 21:49:29 |
redwingz
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
2,483 posts
Joined: Jan, 2005
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Posted - 2009/11/02 : 21:54:46
quote:
Originally posted by Quicksilver:
* Endymion Feat. Nikkita - Abduction
- Love the vocals, so eerie and yet powerful and when it kicks in to "I WOULD MAKE HIM PAY!!!" I just wanna go nuts! Thought the spoken parts were samples from a movie, cause I recognize them slightly, but it says "Vocals by Nikkita" so is it something made up and recorded by Endymion and Nikkita themselves?
The vocals are original and recorded and written by Nikkita I do believe
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