Tannen 'Blackout' = Eric Prydz rip-off?

If you've been listening to Nick Warren's latest, you may have noticed a striking similarity between Tannen's "Blackout" and Eric Prydz's remix of "A Bit Patchy." The inspiration is obvious, but I'm reluctant to call "Blackout" a blatant rip-off. The idea of Tannen (Stel and Phatjack), A) creating a track that by sheer coincidence sounds like one the biggest tracks of last year , or B), thinking that they could get away with releasing an obvious copy of one of last year's biggest hits hardly seems plausible to me. The track is obviously a tongue-in-cheek tribute. If it was actually a genuine rip-off, do you really think Nick Warren would have included it on Paris, moreover, signed it to Hope?

Jody Wisternoff - February 2007 Chart

Here's the latest chart from Jody Wisternoff. Since coming back after a short break during the summer, the man has been unstoppable. If 2007 isn't the year we're rewarded with a Jody Wisternoff Essential Mix, or better yet, a full-blown mix compilation, then I conclude that there is no justice in the world.

1. Slam 'Azure' [Soma]
2. Milton Jackson 'Jinzou' [Urbantorque]
3. Ikon 'Signs (Jody Wisternoff Remix)' [Jalapeno Records]
4. Death Cab For Cutie 'Marching Band of Manhattan' (Blake Jarell Remix)
5. Blendbrank 'The Prophecy ' [CDR]
6. Quasar 'Worldbeach' [Fokused]
7. Umek 'Carbon Occasions' [Earresistable ]
8. Leama & Moor 'Distance Between Us' (Jody Wisternoff Remix) [Hooj]
9. K-Swing & Baber 'This Is The Sound' [Marine Parade]
10. LCD Soundsystem 'North American Scum (Kris Menace Remix )' [DFA]

You can listen to Jody's latest mixes over at Hybridized.

Jody Wisternoff - Way Out There - January 2007

Jody Wisternoff's latest Way Out There mix on Proton Radio is just an hour long this month as he gave the second hour to guest DJ Seven. Here's the tracklist for Jody's set:

1. Milton Jackson - Adventures In Stereo [Urbantorque]
2. Ikon - Signs (Jody Wisternoff Remix) [Jalapeno]
3. Presslaboys - 3 Hours [Viva Music]
4. Kosheen - Overkill (Eyerer & Namito Remix)
5. Phonique - What I Fake (Sleeper Thief Remix)
6. Tim Richards - Smolder (King Unique Remix)
7. Gus Gus - Mossa
8. Blendbrank - The Prophecy
9. Tracy Thorn - It's All True (Kris Menace Remix)
10. Tarmo Vannas - Topaz
11. Hook & Sling - The Bump
12. Robot Needs Oil - Volta

The mix starts off brilliantly with the sublime "Adventures In Stereo" by Milton Jackson. What a tune. You can read my review of Milton Jackson's Fade Runner EP ">here. From here, the mix moves into Jody's own remix of Ikon's "Signs." The remix is classic Jody, with several layers of subtle melody anchored down by bouncy bassline. Other highlights include King Unique's excellent remix of Tim Richard's "Smolder", Gus Gus' slow-burning anthem in "Mossa", as well as the housey Kris Menace Remix of Tracey Thorn's new single, "It's All True". All in all, another excellent mix from Jody.

Download: Hybridized

Nick Warren - Nocturnal Guest Mix Link

Here's Nick's recent guest mix on Matt Darey's Nocturnal Radio show. This is the first 60 minutes of Nick's January 2007 promo mix.

Download: http://www.mercuryserver.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37424

Nick Warren - January 2007 Promo Mix

An agonizing Nick-Warren-mix drought finally ends as the Bristol man released his first new DJ mix in nearly 8 months. The mix can be heard on Nick's website at www.nickwarren.com. Here's the tracklist:

1. Nick Warren & Jimmy Van M - One And Only [Hope]
2. Jamie Anderson - Time Is Now (Radio Slave Remix) [NRK]
3. Micah - Alacode [CDR]
4. 16 Bit Lolitas - Non Verbal Language [Hope]
5. Len Faki - Rainbow Delta [Kompakt]
6. Shlomi - The Monk [CDR]
7. Planet Funk - It's Your Time (Different Gears Mix) [Bustin' Loose]
8. Perspective - Perspective [CDR]
9. Oliver Moldan - Five Five Zero [Hope]
10. Ariane - Eternity [Hope]
11. ID
    

Nick doesn't disappoint here, as he continues to deliver his brand of deep, melodic house. "One And Only" is an obvious early highlight, but the mix really takes off with Micah's brilliant "Alacode" and doesn't let up for a good 30 minutes. Just as things begin losing steam, the deep groove and subtle melody of Oliver Moldan's "Five Five Zero" picks the pace back . 64 minutes in, Nick drops a Hope classic in Ariane's "Eternity". The nearly 7-years old production has aged marvelously, fitting in perfectly with the more modern tracks surrounding it.

A 60-minute edit of this is currently available on TribalMixes as well as the Mixing Bowl. I'll be on the look out for a high quality MP3 of the entire 79:38, and I will post it here once I find one.

Review: Shiloh - Café Del Mariachi

Label: Hope Recordings (HOPE065)
Release Date: February 19th, 2007
Rating: 10/10

The wait is finally over, as Shiloh's "Café Del Mariachi", which we originally heard as background music on Shiloh's website back in '05, has finally been released. Let me assure you: the wait was worth it. The original is quintissential Shiloh, with a huge rolling bassline topped by complex rhythmic melodies. The flip nearly steals the show. Nick Warren transforms the upbeat original into deep, growling storm of tribal rhythms coupled with a devasting bass role. After a deep intro, the remix warps into roaring finale that will drive any dancefloor into submission without exception.

Overall, a great release for Hope Recordings. With new releases due from the 16 Bit Lolitas and Oliver Moldan among others, 2007 looks to be another solid year for the Bristol-based label.

Review: Jody Wisternoff - Nostalgia

Label: In Charge Records [IC010]
Release Date: October 30th, 2006
Rating: 10/10

Way Out West's Jody Wisternoff continues to establish himself as a name aside from his productions with Nick Warren, and his latest release may be his most substantial yet. "Nostalgia" is a pumping house track with an ultra deep bassline. On the surface the track feels like a simple house toe-tapper, but closer listens will reveal a rather complex arrangement of classic sounds and samples. Jody's own remix on the flip though is the real star with it's uplifting production and distinctive melody. Classic progressive house fans will feel right at home with this home. "Cold Drink Hot Girl" was certainly one of the stand-out tracks of early 2006, but I've got to hand it to Jody on this one: he's definitely outdone himself here. A must have for everyone.

Classic Review: Joi - Asian Vibes

Label: Real World [RWSCD9]
Release Date: 1999
Rating: 4/10

"Asian Vibes" is a hokey new age pop track featuring an "ethnic" vocal layered over a simple distorted guitar riff. Both the original mix and radio edit are hopelessly trite. The Skeewiff remix isn't worth your time either. The only reason to check this out is for the Way Out West mix. The Bristol duo transform the original into a dirty progressive breaks track with a haunting piano line and plenty of classic WOW touches. Progressive breaks and hardcore WOW fans might want to track this down for the remix, but it's not worth seeking out otherwise.

Nick Warren to Compile New GU

Nick Warren has announced that he is compiling a new mix compilation for Global Underground. No details yet, though he has posted an e-mail address for artists to send their tracks to for consideration for inclusion. Although this will be Nick's 7th GU, he has a reputation for putting out quality mix CDs, especially in the last few years.

Review: Kenneth Thomas - Orange Room

Label: Hope Recordings [HOPE060]
Release Date: May 29th, 2006
Rating: 7/10

New signing for Hope Recordings, Kenneth Thomas, turns out a driving trance stormer with some rather catchy progressions. Thomas goes for the deeper end of the trance spectrum with a driving, distorted bassline and little noodles of trance melody layed over top. On the flip, new Hope Recordings A&R guy and industry vet Nick Warren turns out an even deeper remix. Nick eliminates most of the melody, leaving only a few atmospheric touches, and makes the distorted bassline the focus of the track. The result is a very effective club track that has a very Way Out West feel to it. Certainly WOW fans will feel right at home with the flip, while fans of non-cheesy trance will most likely enjoy the original. Overall, a solid release for Hope.

Review: Nick Warren - GU028: Shanghai

Label: Boxed [GU028CD]
Release Date: July 12th, 2005
Rating: 9/10

GU025: Shanghai is Nick Warren's finest and most unique mix CD to date. What really sets this mix apart from Nick's previous mixes and pretty much every other mix CD on the market right now is that nobody else sounds like this. Whereas most DJs in 2005 are spinning some form of electro house, nobody sounds like Nick Warren right now. And considering the vast amount of genres Nick has managed to include here, this is rather surprising.

Further expanding upon the more subdued and melodic sounds that Nick first explored on his Reykjavik compilation and on the oustanding Don't Look Now bonus mix CD, CD1 is a fantastic headphone or at home experience. The first three tracks are particularly lush and majestic with SJ Esau's "Fat Cat" being one of the finest opening tracks I've ever heard. By the time track four rolls around, the kick drum picks up and we're treated to some of the more rocking tunes in Nick's box. The ethereal "Pillow" by Yvel & Tristan and the absolutely gorgeous "Sunshine" by Starecase are personal highlights, though there really isn't a weak track anywhere to be heard.

CD2 picks up right where CD1 leaves off. The mix starts off innocently enough with the dreamy "Natural High" by Chimera, but we're soon treated to a diverse array of genres that Nick masterfully arranges and manipulates to create one of his most rocking and enjoyable sets to date. He effortlessly blends garage rock and breaks into acid house and progressive. Once again, there isn't a weak track to be found. Shiloh's superb remix of Pop Shuvit's "Conversations" and Kosmas Epsilon's anthemic "Sorry For Being Rude" are easy highlights, though you could really single out any track as a highlight. The inclusion of the 1990 acid house classic "Acperience 1" by Hardfloor will be a highlight for many. The last four tracks of the mix build to a blurry emotional peak in Derek Howell's "Your Touch" before fading out.

Overall, a unique, diverse and thoroughly enjoyable compilation by Nick Warren. I could almost universally recommend this album to anyone. Long time Nick Warren fans, new fans who just started enjoying his work with Reykjavik (like myself), electronic music fans looking for an alternative to the electro-tinged house that's all the rage these days, Northern Exposure fans, and pretty much anyone who enjoys melodic electronic dance music will love this mix.

Classic Review: Leftfield - Open Up/Cut For Life

Label: Vinyl Junkie [VJAY12]
Release Date: November !st, 1995
Rating: 7/10

'Cut For Life' is an excellent alternate mix of the Leftism version of 'Song Of Life'. The song starts off similarly to the original Leftism mix with the dubby down-tempo reggae beat, but around the two minute mark, the song suddenly shifts gears, dropping the thunderous beat and chunky bass line from the last half of the original Leftism mix. The rest of the song chugs along in similar fashion, changing up the beat and adding different sounds here and there before finishing up in similar fashion to the original.

An interesting tidbit: Nick Warren said this is one of the three vinyls he keeps in his box at all times (the other two being The Age of Love's 'Age of Love' and Mory Kante's 'Yeke Yeke'). Here are his comments on Leftfield and this track: "Leftfield are one of my favourite bands. Their sound is so British in the way they take their influences from dub reggae to hip hop to techno and mix it all up and come out with something that wouldn't get made anywhere else. This track has all these elements. It starts with half speed reggae and comes in with all the elements of dance tracks that I love."

Review: Nick Warren - Back To Mine

Label: DMC Publishing [BACKCD001]
Release Date: February 1st, 1999
Rating: 8/10

Although a trance DJ/producer primarily, Nick Warren also has excellent taste in electronica's more down-tempo genres. In recent years he's been pursuing the sound more extensively resulting in several amazing mixes, including his recent Reykjavik compilation on Global Underground. His entry in DMC's Back To Mine series, although not quite as stellar as Reykjavik (specifically CD1), it is still quite good, and is certainly a mix you'll find yourself come back to again and again.

The mix starts of brilliantly with the warm, yet haunting breaks of Talismantra's "Warmth Reheated". The jazzy "This Way" by Skanna (AKA Quivver) is another early highlight, as is Craig Armstrong's "This Love" which features the lovely vox of Elizabeth Fraser. Things slip a little after this though. I've always found Moby's "Go" to be irritating no matter what mix it's presented in, and the oddly abstract "Wormhole" by Glide was a little to eclectic for my tastes. Warren gets back on track from here on though. The spooky "Spritual Technology" by Symbiosis is a definite highlight featuring a ghostly vibe similar to most Global Communication productions. Sub Sub's "Past" might be THE highlight of the mix with it's mellow melody and breezy groove. Nick goes eclectic again with the almost folk-like guitar riffs in Gianni Marchetti's "Part-y-time" before closing the mix with the eerie yet intriguing "Space Van" by Glide.

Although slightly inconsistent in some regards, Warren's Back To Mine is never dull, which is more than you can say about most down-tempo CDs. There are a couple of tracks I tend to skip over on this mix, but the majority of this CD is excellent. It also exhibits a sort of universal appeal in that it could just as easily be recommended to fans of electronica as it could be recommended to people who prefer other genres of music. Give it a listen; you're bound to find something you like.