Tune: Pole Folder & CP - Bokoto 10PM

Although there really isn't anything particularly exceptional about this track's composition or production per se, the fact that it's been stuck in my head for nearly a week might be evidence to the contrary. "Bokoto 10PM" is a simple, high-energy house track with a brilliant melodic hook that grabs you instantly and refuses to let go. The track was included on Nick Warren's Paris compilation on Global Underground and is currently scheduled for release as part of Pole Folder's Buenos Aires EP on Hope, though no release date has been announced as of yet. Listen to the track on DJ CP's MySpace.

Review: Pole Folder - Reprotected EP

Label: Proton Music [PROTON0021]
Release Date: April 20th, 2006
Rating: 5/10

One of the best releases from Belgium's Pole Folder was 2004's Protected. With it's airy atmosphere and emotional vocals, it's understandably considered a classic. Fast forward to 2006, and the digital label Proton Music is revisiting the track with a couple of remixes and a new original track from Pole Folder himself.

The new original, "8", is just spell binding. It seems to be based on that plucking melody that we heard near the end of the original "Protected". A variation of that simple melody appears here backed by ambient strings. Atmospheric, and quite enchanting. I hope Pole Folder continues making music like this. I might enjoy this more then any cut off of his album.

Mashtronic is up next with their remix of "Protected". The German group takes the subdued original and tries to make a slamming club track. A rolling electrofied bassline and a huge beat are mashed with the atmospheric pads and soothing vocals of the original. To me, these two aesthetics don't mesh well. It's not poor by any stretch of the word, and the production quality is up there, but quite simply, it doesn't work.

Opencloud's interpretation closes out the package. Huge breakbeats and slices of acid melody kick the track off in somewhat obnoxious fashion. You can hear the original mix underneath all the swirling acid, but we soon learn that this is "Protected" on steroids. Midway through, the beats cease and we hear cut-up samples of the original vocals as well as that beautiful plucking melody from the original, but it's soon back to the obnoxious and noisy beats. Pretty poor.

"8" is an amazing track, but backed by a pair of disappointing remixes, it's hard to really see the point of this release. The Mashtronic remix, while a decent club track with a great electro vibe, is completely ineffective as a remix. Released as it's production, the story might have been different, but the sound just doesn't mesh well with Pole Folder's original. And then Opencloud's mix is just too abstract and noisy.

Review: Pole Folder - Enter The Rhythm/Waxxx

Label: Bedrock [BED29]
Release Date: February 4th, 2002
Rating: 9/10

Pole Folder's sophomore effort after the massively successful "Apollo Vibes" is an excellent foray into deep, atmospheric house. "Enter The Rhythm" is massive, and features all the signature Pole Folder elements: complexity, depth, and an absolutely killer bassline. But the real winner here is "Waxxx", which features fellow Belgian and DJ CP. "Waxxx" is absolutely epic. Clocking in at a whopping 12:39, Franquet gave himself a lot of breathing room, and it paid off. The track progresses fairly slowly, but features an absolutely heavenly breakdown that will send shivers down your spine. Uplifting, emotional, euhporic, and absolutely spell-binding. Not to be missed.