From: kellyd@cybernet.cse.fau.edu (David Kelly)
Newsgroups: alt.rave
Subject: Audio-Virus 1
Summary: Review of Current 12"'s
Date: 3 Oct 92 09:05:39 GMT
Organization: Cybernet

Audio-Virus 1 :

Okay..  Since I believe the more reviews, the better, here are some 
_opinions_ on some of the current 12"'s that are out there..

If this review looks at all similar to the XDZebra series (it should) 
that is not because I am blatantly trying to be an Ashdown imitator but 
trying to keep things somewhat homogenous..  Since Pete generally goes 
into CDs and compilations I will generally try and concentrate on some 
vinyl/12"'s so we cover more ground..

Unfortunately, since I am reviewing off vinyl I may not always have the 
track times, but when possible, I will list them..  I will also make an 
approximation of the 'Ashdown dance factor' which will be to the right of 
the track number..  :)

This issue will be somewhat longer than normal since it is the first, but 
I will try and do this about once a month..

Comments/Questions to kellyd@cybernet.cse.fau.edu

------------------------------------------------------------------------
AV1 Contents:
Electroset 'How Does it Feel'
NRG 'Feel the Fury EP'
Transformer 2 'Fruit of Love'
Audio FM 'Mr. Mars'
The Lonely People 'Eleanor Rigby'
Rotterdam Termination Source 'Poing'
Aquastep 'Oempa Loempa'
The Traveller 'EP II'
Innovation 'Hypersonic'
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electroset 'How Does it Feel?' - 'Jude on a Ragga Tip'

1  4  Electroset - 'How Does It Feel? (The New Order Remix)'
2  3  'Jude on a Ragga Tip (UK Mix)'

I think this is a bootleg..  Electroset does the Blue Monday cover (it 
was bound to happen sooner or later), but I am not sure _what_ the back
is - I would guess it is just a DJ Mix as it has a mix of a few ragga
tunes (including SL2's 'On a Ragga Tip') with Hey Jude sandwiched 
in between..
'Blue Monday' was a song better left alone..  Electroset strayed a bit 
from the original (which is a good thing) but I still don't like much of 
what they did..  The only bright spot is the little bits of piano in the 
breaks..  They directly sample Bernard whatsisname's 'How Does it Feel' 
line but that is all as far as vocals..
The 'Jude ..' mix is a little better but I am getting quite tired of 
hearing every new song sample the Beatles..  There are a few interesting 
beatless breaks, but basically this is a mix of songs already available 
with Hey Jude thrown in..

5/10 - domestic but nothing really special..  the Hey Jude sample seems
       to make this one somewhat in demand and this one is selling like
       crazy most places..

NRG - 'Feel the Fury EP' - Chill Music - TUV25

1  4  Feel the Fury
2  3  The Real Hardcore
3  3  Unity
4  3  The Promised Land

Breakbeat hardcore..  The title track is somewhat interesting and has a 
_very_ nice breakbeat but I think that breakbeat hurts the song, because 
when that beat isn't playing the song sounds fairly weak..  Typical 
sampling : 'Lets go lets go lets go crazy', '..  on and on until the 
break of dawn'..  'The Real Hardcore' is fairly insipid and (here we go 
again) samples someone who sounds like John Lennon - if a DJ plays this 
song (and I have heard it) he is playing it for that reason because the 
rest of the song is 150 bpm trash..  'Unity' is a meager attempt at 
ambience, and 'The Promised Land' samples from the now en vogue 'Willi 
Wonka'..  It is interesting to hear what they did with the Wonka samples 
(they sampled music from the movie also) but it doesn't make for anything 
but a novelty..

4/10 - I like the title track but it is just they needed some other beats
       that could match the power of the featured breakbeat..

Transformer 2 - 'Fruit of Love' - Profile - PROFT 378

1  3  7:00  Fruit of Love (Fruiture Sound of Belgium mix)
2  3  6:00  Fruit of Love (Guitar Mix)
3  4  6:20  Fruit of Love (Techno Mix)
4  3  7:00  Fruit of Love (Fruiture Sound of an Instrumental mix)

Overall nice simple ambience..  Simple female vocals - 'Fruit of Love',
'Raise your hands', 'Up now..'  I don't seem to be tiring of this one..  
There are a couple of beatless breaks with some beautiful sweeping synth 
pads and simple piano featured..  There is a wide variety of mixes with 
the first having a _bit_ of an FSOL influence, but not really..  The 
guitar mix has (what is this?!?!) guitar, and the techno mix is a little 
more upbeat..

9/10 - This would sound incredible at about 6am when people are a little
       tired and into that 'loving' :) feeling..

Audio FM - 'Mr. Mars'/'Imagscience' - Euphonic

1  4  Mr. Mars
2  4  Imagscience

This is a duo from Gainesville, Florida with their first 12" and it is 
actually quite impressive..  Pretty simple but some interesting sampling 
use..  'Mr. Mars' has a very ambient strange feeling - the only thing I 
dislike about it is the drum production..  Sounds like the drums were all 
recorded on one track or a cheap drum machine was used..  Maybe it is 
just the production - can't expect too much out of a Gainesville studio.. 
'Imagscience' is a little more upbeat and I like the drum production a 
little better..  Simple 4/4 time, but very bassy kick..  I prefer this 
track because it is kinda driving..

7/10 - very promising group..  domestic also, so it will only run you
       about 5 bucks - not sure what the distribution is though.. might
       be harder to find out west..

The Lonely People - 'Eleanor Rigby' - Rave International - RNTW 1002

1  4  Eleanor Rigby
2  4  Wot's the Difference
3  4  You Move Me

Well..  What can I say?  Another Beatles cover..  I actually must admit I 
like this one a bit though..  The techno grind-section is incredibly hard 
offset by the ER lyrics..  Some good production, also..  The song drones 
on too much at the end with the repitition of the 'Ohh.. Look at all the 
Lonely People'..  The two other songs are really just filler but aren't 
all that bad - nothing special though..

6/10 - I feel bad giving a gimmicky song like this anything higher than
       5 but the music is quite good..

Rotterdam Termination Source - 'Poing' - Watts - WR718

1  3  Poing (Original)
2  3  Bonus Poing
3  3  Poing (Stuiterhouse)
4  3  Poing (Tune Request)
5  3  Poing (Jump a Little Higher)
6  3  Poing (Easy Synth)

I hate this song..  The only reason I include it is to say that, and 
because of the recent thread into drum sampling..  There is a fairly good 
kick and snare on here that would be incredibly easy to sample..

0/10 - should've stayed in the cartoons..

Aquastep - 'Oempa Loempa' - Wonka Beats - WONKA1005

First 12"
1  4  4:39  Oempa Loempa (Instrumental)
2  4  6:46  The Flower (Astrospidered)
3  4  7:01  Walhalla's Gate
Second 12"
1  4  6:46  The Flower
2  4  4:54  Oempa Loempa (Vocal)
3  4  5:47  Carrousel

This is the first exposure I have had to Wonka Beats, a label from 
Antwerp, Belgium specializing in tribal-sounding beats..  I went in 
thinking it was going to be a gimmicky release centered around Wonka 
samples but that is clearly not what this is..  The expected 'Oempa 
Loempa' samples are hidden in the so-called 'vocal' version and _barely_ 
used at all (maybe twice)..  I like everything on here especially 
Walhalla's Gate and Carrousel..  Very hard to describe though - not 
really ambient but not hardcore, the drums are tribal but the music is 
very melodius..
I don't think this is _incredible_ but it portends good things to _come_ 
in the future..

8/10 - includes a color by numbers in the gatefold for you creative
       types.....  :)

The Traveller - EP II - Wonka Beats - WONKA 1006

1  4  6:16 Tribal Journey
2  4  7:14 Lip's Endless Loops (Live at Dawn)
3  4  3:36 Sudden Impact
4  4  6:52 Nativity (For You)

Basically anything I said above you can say here..  Not _incredible_ but 
definately with promise..  _At least_ 1 of the members of Aquastep is 
here too (Sven Van Hees) but the other 2 could be also with pseudonyms..  
The sound is very simlar to Aquastep and anyone who likes one will like 
the other..  'Tribal Journey' seems to be the most played but all are 
good..  'Sudden Impact' reminds me a little of the old Belgian New Beat 
group In-D..  The speed of these (Aquastep also) are closer to Belgian 
New Beat also, but not quite..

8/10 - I am very interested to hear what Wonka Beats does next..  This
       is definately not for the hardcore types - a lot of you will
       probably hate these so listen before you buy..
       Wonka promises a CD compilation soon too..

Innovation - 'Hypersonic' - Vinyl Solution - STORM52

1  4  Hypersonic
2  3  Void
3  2  Bliss

This is another hard to describe group..  Hypersonic is fairly fast with 
breakbeats, but not really hardcore..  I like Void, personally - it seems 
to harken back to 'New Wave' and the days of Kraftwerkian bleeps and 
bloops..  Cutesy little melody with a breakbeat behind it..  I can almost 
see Dieter dancing now..  Bliss is somewhat of an Orbital sounding tune.. 
I like the beginning but it doesn't seem to go anywhere from there..

6/10 - Hypersonic gets old fairly fast but I am into Void right now..
       Definately a group to keep in the back of my mind for the future..
       Much better than 'Weird Nun'..  :)

And now is the time when we dance!

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kellyd@cybernet.cse.fau.edu
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Newsgroups: alt.rave