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DJ Mole Advanced Member
United Kingdom
1,505 posts Joined: Jan, 2004
Posted - 2013/11/14 : 14:12:50
HU6 CD1: Scott Brown & Al Storm Mix.
I'm sure everyone will echo my sentiments that it's f**king amazing to have Scott Brown back and writing Hardcore in 2013. The scene certainly needs his genius. I'd obviously heard his solo work prior to the album (Enchantment, Don't Doubt Me) but his collaborations w/ Storm, Euphony, Fracus and Darwin were more than pleasing. Really like Spinning Around and his update of Space Invader is cool. Despite it not differing too much from his '99 remix.
I've been quite vocal in my praise with regards to the new Al Storm and Euphony tracks and they are both on fine form here. Is There A Reason? is definitely the stand out collaboration from them. It's got all the ingredients that I love about Hardcore. Vocals, pianos, breakbeats, 4x4 kicks and samples.
Another definite highlight is Feel the Friction. Again it's so refreshing to hear a new(ish) track involving Troops. Just a shame that it'll probably be the last one for the foreseeable future. It's a good solid mix though from start to finish.
Few tracks on there that I'm not too enamoured with. Don't like Kurt's Power of Love remix. I really can't look past the '97 Digital Boy Italian Rave Mix. Not really a fan of the Endymion bit at the end either. I'm quite selective with my Gabber. But yeah, a solid enough mix and it's great to see Scott Brown back. Hallelujah. (Oh yeah, he wrote a track entitled that didn't he?)
HU6 CD2 Review: Fracus and Darwin Mix.
It's been no secret that these two have been my favourite producers for years now, and this is the best album mix that these two have done. It starts off with the incredible Free From Form. The moment I heard it on Radio 1 back in the summer, it's been a firm favourite of mine. One of the coolest riffs (Oh s**t I sound like Mole) that I've heard in a Hardcore track this year.
Absolutely love Fracus' All Night. For me this is his best solo work to date. It's finally piped Illusion which I regarded as his best track for a year or two.
The mix then just keeps getting better and better. Tough job on remixing Don't Be Lonely. The original is still such an uplifting and emotional track for me. Note: It was released around a time when my father wasn't keeping in the best of health and that track really kept my spirits up.
Loving Light Up the Sky from Darwin, although I wish it was played slightly longer. I guess I'll just have to wait until it's released on HU in full.
The JAKAZiD track Make It Werk is really cool as is Fast Forward. That's probably my favourite Entity and Darwin collaboration since End of Time. (Oh yeah that's still not out......)
The mix really just goes from strength to strength and there's some really cool sounds from A.B, Klubfiller and Chwhynny. Thoughts and Smiles definitely made me ermm... smile! It's such a great track. Feels like I've heard it before?!?! Hmmm. ;=)
Then of course the best is saved to last. About To Fly has been my favourite Hardcore track of 2013 and it's great to hear basically the entire track in all its glory. Seeing footage of this played at Westfest during F&D set just reaffirmed my admiration for it.
I really can't praise the mix enough, despite there being one or two bits that haven't tickled me. Not really into the MOB bit. But I'll score this mix 9/10.
HU6 CD3 Review: Entity and CLSM Mix.
10/10. Next. hahaha, no in all seriousness!
BBHC has pretty much been my main musical pleasure over the past few years, so this mix was always going to intrigue me. I've followed CLSM/Jon Doe's music for well over a decade and he's a genius. I don't think anybody would challenge me on that. Entity's got a great ear for track selection (See his COH mixes and the last HU mix he done w/ Slipmatt) and whilst he might not be as prolific as other folk, he's made some cracking tunes. Spice, Fallout etc.
There has been very few times in which a mix is faultless and I enjoy every single track. I'm actually struggling to name another mix. Even on classic Bonkers albums there's always one or two bits that are a bit shoddy. This mix is 10/10 as there's not one track that I'd skip past. Starts off with a great CLSM remix then continues nicely through a new Chris Ross bit. (Please write more Chris, I love your work) and then onto arguably the track of the mix. Oh Yeah. Love the retro tinged piano BBHC that follows until we arrive at CLSM's Glow which is a phenomenal track.
More highlights include Soul Fever by HU's Sam B. This guy is one to watch out for and he certainly deserves his own album mix. Oh yeah... roll on HU Breaks volume 2. ;=)
Rudeboy Banquet is awesome. Love the Al Storm bit. Very reminiscent of Luna C's Piano Progression. And the last track is really soothing. Never heard of the producer before so it's always nice to see a name that you're not familiar with.
To be honest I can name every track as being great, but those are just a few that I'm picking out.
10/10.
HU6 CD4 Review: Thumpa & Obie.
And last but not least....
We arrive at the final mix on this great album and I'm pleased to say after being slightly dubious, it didn't let me down. Now I'm not the huge Freeform fan that I was during the late '90s / early '00s but I respect Thumpa for pushing that sound and he's always been one of my favourite DJs. Obie, apart from being the best Hardcore MC on the circuit has really stepped up w/ his productions over the past 12-18 months.
Loving the Alek Szahala bit at the start of the mix. It's a shame he doesn't write more music as he's one hell of a talent. The mix rolls along nicely and a track that caught me off guard was Endemic's amazing remix of Ascending Angels. A totally different spin on the track and it works pretty damn well.
The two 3Star tracks sandwiched midway through the mix are great, particularly Paradise. This is easily one of the best Freeform tunes in recent times. Love the riff!
The Chwhynny track is impressive, although I'm sure I've heard that before? Need to check the last HU EP to confirm but it's really cool. The Storm/Euphony bit is nice and it's very pleasing to see them doing a Freeform/Psy Trance edged type track. Works really well.
Rise From the Darkness (Substanced) soon follows and that's great. I've always been a big fan and this doesn't disappoint.
The mix ends up on a harder edged tip towards the end. Now I'll need to listen more closely, but I'm not completely sold on the tracks. I'm possibly not the correct person to critique the more Gabber(y) sounds as it's never really been my passion. But I do quite like that Joey Riot bit.
All in all the mix flows rather well and it's very pleasing to see a wide range of artists/styles represented on the mix. You can really hear the hard work that's went into the mix and I'm happy to report that it's a more than competent album mix and definitely worthy of a place on such an album.
In closing this has been the best HU compilation since volume 4. All mixes have brought something different to the table, and in the current UK Hardcore climate that can only be admired. Well done y'all.
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Posted - 2013/11/14 : 14:12:50
