ENTROPY SESSIONS 033 (2010-07-25)

01. Hybrid – Can You Hear Me (Original & Instrumental Mixes) [Distinct'ive]
02. LuQas – Altered States (Perpetual Present Remix) [Dead Famous]
03. Hyper & Grayarea – Low Level [Kilowatt]
04. Digital Breaks Foundation – Experience [V.I.M.]
05. Line Of Sight – Bubblegun (High Eight Remix) [Scarcity]
06. Kloé, Imprintz & J. Scott G. – Battlefunk Galactica (Beta Remix) [Shiznit]
07. The Emissary – Synapse (His Boy Elroy Remix) [Digital Sensation]
08. Retroid – Supernatural (Karton Remix) [Sound Of Habib]
09. LuQas – Replicant (MDK Remix) [Dead Famous]
10. Karton – We Bleed (VIP Club Mix) [Sound Of Habib]
11. Trafik – Neoteric Suite (Part 2) [GU]

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ENTROPY SESSIONS 032 (2010-06-01)

01. Intro
02. Future Funk Squad – Disorders of Skill (EK Remix) [En:Vision]
03. Meat Katie – Lucia (Vent Remix) [Lot49]
04. Product.01 – Destrukt [En:Vision]
05. Super Deejay Bobzilla – I.U.D.D.D. (Casual Bill’s Special Delivery Remix) [Mutate]
06. Plump DJs – Scrammed (Elite Force Mix) [U&A]
07. Enough Weapons – Supersonic (Eshericks Remix) [Ape]
08. Kickflip – Wonky Science [Breakin Even]
09. RuN RiOT – Everybody Needs A Bassline2 [We Are Live]
10. Attack Release Vs. Robosapiens – Trip (Myagi Remix) [Dead Famous]
11. Elite Force – The Law Of Life [U&A]
12. Robosapiens – Monkey Drummer (LuQas Remix) [Dead Famous]

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Artist: Felix Stone
Title: Solvent feat. Astra
Label: Flextone [FR0038]
Release Date: April 12, 2010
Tracklisting:
01. Original Mix
02. Lunar Shift Remix
03. Parallax Breaks & M_Spark Remix
04. Youthful Implants Remix

If variety is the spice of life, then you’re sure to be in flavor country with this release. There’s definitely something for everyone here, from progressive, to psychedelic, to nu skool. Grab the release on Monday!

Original Mix
After a short radio tuning sample runs its course, “Solvent” switches into a tight broken beat and bubbly bassline. Astra’s vocals are strangely reminiscent of M.I.A. in her “Paper Planes,” but float lightly atop the synths and bass. While the beat, synths and vocals all scream progressive breaks, the bassline is nu skool all the way. Stone’s previous productions have leaned more on the prog side of things, but this track shows he can easily hang with Retroid, Mesmer, and others of the nu-skool-prog fusion ilk.

Lunar Shift Remix
As you might expect, the Lunar Shift take on “Solvent” is harder, faster, and meaner. The breaks are beefed up, the tempo is bumped from 133 to 135 BPM, and the bass is decidedly more wicked. The new synth stabs added into the mix have a slight hardcore feel to them à la Prodigy. On the other hand, the vocals are virtually untouched in this remix, which I feel detracts from the overall production. Though a great tune, I could have done with more toned down vocals or even a dub.

Parallax Breaks & M_Spark Remix
Parallax Breaks and M_Spark make another appearance on Stone’s label, and again it’s a mind-warping, stormer of a tune. Aside from the vocal samples here and there, not much of the original is recognizable at first listen. After a barrage of percussion, pulsating bass, twisted synths, and stutter effects, the breakdown slows things to a crawl. The haunting vocal samples build to a crescendo and the track’s conclusion. This remix gets extra points for harnessing the original’s progginess and transforming it into something I’d say approaches psy-breaks bedlam.

Youthful Implants Remix
No stranger to Flextone Recordings, the youthful Mr. Alex Virr makes yet another star appearance on the label. Sinister bass stabs, sped up vocal samples, and a few new synth lines make for a refreshing change of pace here. While the overall feel of the remix is nu skool breaks with a hint of garage, a dubsteppy breakdown keeps things fresh. Youthful Implants is not one to be pinned down to any genre or sub-genre, and I certainly appreciate that.

Artist: Macho
Title: So Let’s Begin
Label: V.I.M. [VI.M.BREAKS036]
Release Date: 2009-11-25
Tracklisting:
01. Original Mix
02. I:lyke Remix
03. The Scientifics Remix
04. Toy Quantize Remix

Slovakian breaks remixed by Germans and Kazakhs, and Greeks? It’s a small world after all….

Original Mix
A didgeridoo-like synth loop reminiscent of the Prodigy or Aphex Twin kicks off this tune by Slovakia’s Macho, which is joined shortly by a fat, no-nonsense break-beat and a barrage of industrial guitar licks. The sinister, trancey pads slowly layered onto this tune, along with the 136 BPM tempo, give it a signature psy-breaks feel. All in all, this is a great original work, with the fusion of hardcore/rave and psychedelic synths making it a keeper in my book.

The Scientifics Remix
Tech-funk by design, this remix from the Greek trio is a slow roller at 128 BPM. Prevalent hi-hats amid an intricate percussion arrangement complement the groovy bassline well. Only past the mid-way point of the remix do we briefly hear a toned-down synth line from the original, but it seems to be more or less an afterthought.

I:lyke Remix
This rework by Germany’s I:lyke takes a rather leftfield approach, retaining virtually none of the original track’s elements. I:lyke slow things down tempo-wise, add a completely new samba rhythm, then layer on meaty bass stabs and a wealth of beeps and bleeps. Though not my style, or my favorite of the remixes, for that matter, this tune would be right at home beside tunes from the likes of Flore, Mephisto Odyssey, et al.

Toy Quantize Remix
Kazakh newcomer Toy Quantize put out quite a doozy with this remix. Acid synths from the original, staccatoed cymbal crashes, and new melodies layered on top of thick drums make this my favorite remix. It has one foot in psychedelia and the other planted firmly in the tech realm, but the track will be most appealing to the tear-out types.