Here are the reviews of two recent planet e records, as promised:
PE RMX 5951
Designer Music, remix Vol. 1
A1. Good Girls
A2. Stevie Knows
B1. No Control
B2. Latin Chic Behind Door #1
(all remixes by Carl Craig. World Subscription special limited edition. DJ
use only).
okay, I feel kind of unprepared reviewing these as "remixes" of some other
tracks (that I don't own or haven't heard) so if they're remixes, I'm
afraid I can't review them in light of the original material that was
re-worked. So I'll describe them as best I can as stand-alones. If that
makes any sense.(?)
A1. Good Girls - Percussive to say the least. This track starts out with a
wham, and it's all right there, 100%. No slow/additive build up or
anything, full on latin persussion, but not really "house" per se... hard
to describe. The core of the track is a wildly banging noisy drum loop, (a
la "Jam the Box") but it's quite latin sounding, very very dancable. There
is are no synthesizer chord or lead sounds in this track as far as I could
tell. Midtempo BPMs, these are (of course) not your typical techno
percussion sounds. Tight toms, almost marching band style, (when you hear
it you'll know what I mean) with a short roll here and there. Just when you
thought it was over these filter fade outs and ins commense about 3/4 of
the way to the end (a la "Filter King"), for a really unique rise and fall
effect with different layers of sound. The first thing I grabbed to mix
with it was Sound on Sound, if that tells you the style.... I remember
hearing Carl spin this at WCBN's Crush Collision radio show in July, and
wondering what the hell it was. It's a slammer, and a hard track to forget.
A2. Stevie Knows - This track begins with a similar style of a looped
tight-tom roll, again with a very latin feel, and a more traditional
midtempo housey beat. Claps, and then a great sampled "la la" type of
melody that totally carries the track, (could it be Stevie Wonder, as the
title may suggest?). Add a single piano note every measure. The track has
more elements of house, breakdowns to just the hi-hats and bass, then add
claps, and bring it all back with those crazy ass wild drums. This one will
pack the funk, also.
B1. No Control - Starts with great Carl-style persussion, some noisy break
loop (a la Science Fiction) through a bit of effects, and then BOOM BOOOM
this *deep* kick drum, plus easy-mix claps to complete the 4/4 equation.
Then a sexy female vocal sample "ooh!" on the four count, and "I don't
think I can control myslf" (or something like that) sample. Bring the
different persussive patterns up and down in the mix, and add a short yet
sweet house piano, while the drums battle, and then let that 200lb. kick go
solo. This track has much soul and is the most produced-sounding and
club-ready of all these tracks, perhaps. Very DJ friendly, too.
B2. Latin Chic Behind Door #1 - Latin is the operative word here. Starts
out with a male vocal sample saying something about Mambo in spanish,
sample and hold, and then this crazy cowbell goes acapella until another
kick from planet DEEP comes in. The bottom end here is incredible, one for
the bass-bins. Add cool slow backspin-turned-loop, and a "1, 2, 3" and let
the rest of the funky drums attack. Bring that spainish sample back here
and there, and the track becomes a funky housey dance track -- with that
cowbell having it's own way now and then. Pretty good funky house-party
track, but my least favorite of the four tracks.
Overall: All these tracks share a similar flavor, little or no typical
electroinics/synthesis, and heavy on the RHYTHM structures. I enjoy it,
very unconventional, no "cookie-cutter" tracks here, very unique sounding
(as Carl usually is).
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GEMINI - A Moment of Insanity
(I forgot the catalog number, PE-GMI-1 or something like that?)
A1. A Dream
A2. Crossing Mars
B1. Crossing Mars (remix)
B2. A Moment of Insanity
(all tracks written and produced by Spencer Kincy. Remixed by Free.)
I'm not familiar with Spencer Kincy, can anyone else fill me in? BMG?
A1. A Dream - midtempo to slow housey beat, cool unconventional percussion,
panned snares, pretty piano and dreamy synthesis, something that reminds me
of a clock ticking, very "full" sounding track, but still airy. Well
produced. This track wanders in and out of strings, melodies, and has a
gentle dance groove. I like it... but in a gentle way. For that
"sensitive" DJ like Jason Attaman. ;)
A2. Crossing Mars - Cool clocklike/bell interesting pecussion, more of a
dancey deeper house bassline than the previous track. Smooth synth, smooth
house chords, cool/funky james brown sounding "uh!" sample, and some nice
added subtle changes as the bassline changes and unwinds. Cool, a late
night, deep house smoothie.
B1. Crossing Mars REMIX - DJ friendly long kick-drum intro, add
clocklike/bell percussion, add neat-o percussive flam-clap like Prince used
in "Raspberry Beret" (does anyone know this hollow clap sound I'm talking
about? Also found on lots of old Model 500 records, it's very
characteristic...) and more synthesis and effect tricks, melody comes in
and out but very rhythm oriented. More repetitive loops, yet still a layer
of smooth synth underneath it all, as in the original flavor. Pretty good
remix, but not mindblowing or anything. I could imagine Stacey Pullen
maybe working this into one of his sets...
B2. A Moment of Insanity - Kick drum, then add snares, and the breaks arn't
where I wasn't expecting them. Add a 4 note FM sounding synth (sort of
squiggly melody), and some hi-hats. There are some deep tone bells in the
background in and out, and then it's basically done. Though unique
sounding, this disjointed track doesn't do anything for me.
Overall: pretty good, but the highlight here is Crossing Mars, and the
remix of it. If you like your house full and smooth, you might check this
out. It's a pretty subliminal dance record, and as with most planet e
records, it's unique and original sounding. I would listen before buying,
if possible, I don't know how it would go over "out on the floor." If you
liked the feel of The 4th Wave "Touched" on planet e, then you may like
this record... but I don't think it's as strong as 4th Wave release,
overall.
I welcome all feedback and other opinions, peace.
Matt MacQueen
*please note my email address has changed to: macqueen@pilot.msu.edu
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