V/A – Set/6 – Evolved
Artist: Various
Title: V/A – Set/6 Evolved (Compiled by DJ FREquence)
Format: CD (jewel case)
Label: Iboga Records (Denmark)
Cat. #: IBOGACD33
Distribution:
twohandsdistribution.com
Date: November 2005
Track listing:
01. 08’50†FREq – Carbon Based Lifeforms (Sun Control Species Remix)
02. 08’42†FREq – Strange Attractor (Liquid Soul Remix)
03. 09’25†Beckers – Switch (Ace Venture Remix)
04. 08’27†Zen Mechanics – Environmental Porn
05. 08’27†Morax – Lost In The Woods
06. 09’10†Casa Flava – Further South (Deep Mix)
07. 06’38†Nyquist – Singularity (FREq Revision)
08. 07’13†Manuel Duego - Deception
09. 09’22†Nasser - Vovoli
Review:
Slicker than your average!
The 33rd (!) CD release by Danish label Iboga Records is the 6th in the notorious
Set-series… The 4th was Israeli proggy trance, whereas the 5th was smooth progressive summer choons… This one is compiled by FREq (Aran Gallagher) under his DJ FREquence moniker… It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the FREqqy sound, so I’ve been looking forward to this particular compilation for a long time… Let’s find out what Aran has cooked up for us this time…
Let me take you thru the tracks…
#01:
FREq – Carbon Based Lifeforms (Sun Control Species Remix) [135 BPM]
CBL was the opening track on FREq’s
Strange Attractors album released in 2004. Ah very distinct, epic classic which is now remixed by fellow Australian Andrew Davidson…This remix might not have the same instant-headbang-factor as the original has, but I like it nevertheless… It’s very housy and immensely dancefloor friendly… Tribal and totally driving too - and it pays homage to the original. Obviously not better than the original, but still a pretty solid tune…
#02:
FREq – Strange Attractor (Liquid Soul Remix) [135 BPM]
Strange Attractor was, and still is, my fav’e track from the FREq album… So remixing it could be sacrilege… Don’t mess with royalty! Nicola Capobianco from Switzerland does a pretty decent job on this remix though – and I’m glad I don’t have to accuse him of blasphemy… It’s far from being as massive as the original – and especially the first couple of minutes are kinda boring… I know it’s all about building, and further on in the track the phatness is introduced… Those huge reverb sounds have been chopped up and filtered, but they still sound excellent! Remix approved!
#03:
Beckers – Switch (Ace Venture Remix) [132 BPM]
Another ‘classic’ remixed here. This original track by Frank Beckers was pretty much a progressive anthem, and now it’s re-assembled by Yoni Oshrat who has had brilliant tracks on the previous two
Set-compilations… To be honest I was never really taken by the original – and I blame it all on those damn vocals… I mean the music is frekkin’ excellent… If only that guy would just STFU!
‘I’m not your party toy’…Aaaargh! Puke! It really ruins it for me… Apparently there’s a Wrecked Machines remix out there which kicks the shit outta this one, but I haven’t heard it… Yet!
#04:
Zen Mechanics – Environmental Porn [135 BPM]
Luckily the Flying Dutchman Wouter Thomassen is here to save the day… This guy has yet to let me down with his crossover stuff and tight production… And sure enough, this is cross-over stuff too – somewhere in between tribal progressive and uplifting morning trance… Smooth, funky and silky white… Uncomplicated perhaps but very easily accessible… I’m digging it loads!
#05:
Morax – Lost In The Woods [134 BPM]
Morax is Michael Reznik from Israel – he mixed one of my fav’e progressive tracks this year: Prosect –
Sonified off the
Inner Circle compilation released by Tribal Vision earlier this year… This is a deeper track than the previous ones – with a darker, grittier edge… And yeah, I can see where the forest analogy comes from… There is definitely something wooden going on here… I really like the structure of this track – and the acid-bits towards the end kicks ass! A nice, hard-hitting track!
#06:
Casa Flava – Further South (Deep Mix) [130 BPM]
This is my first encounter with Casa Flava (Olivier Berger and Stan Kolev) who are Plastic Fantastic regulars… We’re back to floating, crossover progressive trance now… Very driving with tons of reverb action going on… The tribal-drums are pretty cool and the overall lazy groove is nice! Deep indeed! I can see why FREq likes this – it’s very similar to his own style… The bridge after the break is particularly sweet… Kick-ass track!
#07:
Nyquist – Singularity (FREq Revision) [132 BPM]
Nyquist is a darker FREq moniker… So Aran is remixing himself here. I’ve only heard one other Nyquist track and frankly that didn’t do much for me – but I guess adding the FREq-tag helps, as this is a really nice tune… Dark yes, but with an evident psy-touch to it… It’s sad though, that the melodies are hidden all the way in the background… They kinda drown in distortion… But a nice track nevertheless!
#08:
Manuel Duego – Deception [130 BPM]
This is my first encounter with the music of Israeli producer Manuel Duego… We stay in the darker realms on this track… It’s groovy and all, but somehow also a little uninspired and bleak… Not bad at all, just not as notable as some of the previous tracks…
#09:
Nasser – Vovoli [132 BPM]
This is the alleged bonus track by Nasser Halahle from Israel … Why it’s supposed to be a bonus is beyond me, but who the hell cares… This is floating, funky, tribal progressive trance with morning qualities… Very lush, but pretty harmful… It does what it’s supposed to though – move your feet!
Another well-adjust journey in the Iboga
Set-series… Maybe not as good as
Set/5 but its damn close. As always with Iboga, everything reeks quality here – from the cover art to the informative release notes… Pure class!
Aran has picked some real gems here, and besides maybe from the
Switch Remix, there are no bad tracks on this compilation… Iboga Records are truly the undisputed heavy weight champs of progressive trance… A safe buy for anyone into slick-yet-edgy progressive trance – and I’m sure this will appeal to the crossover crowd too… Enjoy!
Favourites: 1, 2(!), 4(!), 5, 6(!), 7, 9
DeathPosture
External links:
Iboga Records:
http://www.iboga.dk
Discogs:
http://www.discogs.com/release/558135
Saiko Sounds:
http://tinyurl.com/cd6oz
TranceShop:
http://tinyurl.com/cqeyk
Beatspace:
http://tinyurl.com/akrwg
Psyshop:
http://tinyurl.com/7gbpe
Wakyo:
http://tinyurl.com/8chlf
Cisco:
http://tinyurl.com/7uv6v
Chaos:
http://tinyurl.com/ajfsy