From: Pete Ashdown <pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com>
Subject: XDZebra Review #12
Followup-To: rec.music.misc
Originator: recmusic@galaxy
Reply-To: pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1992 08:29:49 GMT

XDZebra Review #12

If you're an electronic musician with a fair amount of material, send a tape
to my label, or just write to get on the mailing list:
	Addiction
	PO Box 510192
	Salt Lake City, UT  84151-0192

When in Utah call the Taste of Flesh hotline 801-461-3375.

Back issues are available.  Mail me if interested.

This is all my opinion.  Flames against a review are pretty pointless, so
don't bother.  Let me know if you have any other comments though.

The number next to the index is the "dance factor". 5 = high, 1 = low

XDZebra Reviews may be reproduced without permission under one condition,
they remain intact and unchanged.  If you publish this in print, mail me a
copy via "Addiction".

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review #12 Contents:
Skin Up.: Accelerate
Eon: Basket Case
Stakker Humanoid 92
The Grid: Figure of Eight
Steve "Silk" Hurley: (Back To) Jack Your Body '92
Digital Orgasm: Moog Eruption


Skin Up.: Accelerate
Polydor/LOVE: EVOCD17 INT 863209-2
1   5   03:37 Accelerate (Rat Race Edit)
2   5   05:55 Accelerate (Rat Race Mix)
3   3   03:36 Horny (Skin Up's Re-Touch)

Comments: Accurate, blinding, ripping house music with a melting female
vocals.  Almost break-beat, but not quite, "Accelerate" contains a whirring
piano track that moves you to a frenzy.  The mixes are not very different from
each other though.  "Horny" is a big let-down after "Accelerate" but does
contain some -interesting- sampler material.

Summary: 8/10. Expensive import for about 13 minutes of music.  Keep an eye
out for this on a comp.


Eon: Basket Case
Vinyl Solution: STORM 39 CD
1   3   05:48 White Coat Mix
2   3   04:15 Black Coat Mix
3   2   03:24 Mr. Raucous Rides Again Version
4   3   05:00 Chillage Mix
5   4   05:36 Asylum Mix

Comments:  A real snoozer after a long break for Eon.  I can almost hear the
phone call now, "What do you mean I have to put out a new single for the
album?"  "Basket Case" uses two samples to the boredom and death of the
listener.  Even more regretable is the fact that all the tracks are barely
danceable.  Despite being thankful for the lack of Dune samples, Eon has
disappointed me with this attempt at being Prodigy.

Summary: 4/10.  I hope the album is better.


Stakker Humanoid 92
Jumpin' & Pumpin/Earth Beat: CDS TOT 27
1   3   03:40 Stakker Humanoid (7" Original)
2   4   04:56 Stakker Humanoid (Smart Systems Remix)
3   4   05:43 Stakker Humanoid (Gary Cobain '94 Mix)
4   3   07:39 Stakker Humanoid (Omen Mix)
5   4   05:34 Stakker Humanoid (303 Tribe)
6   4   04:53 Stakker Humanoid (Outer Limits)
7   3   04:59 Stakker Humanoid (12" Original)
8   3   02:44 Stakker Humanoid (Dub Drums)

Comments: Due to the popularity of Future Sound of London, Brian Dougans'
earlier work was rereleased and remixed again.  Despite its age, this is some
really sharp cybertechno.  Some really cool vocorded samples with an
interesting beat & melody.  Jumpin' & Pumpin' never skimps on the mixes and
this is no exception with eight different tracks equaling 40 minutes of music.
It would seem that J&P has upgraded their equipment as well since this sounds
a lot better than their earlier releases.

Summary: 8/10.  What a single should be, but at an import price.


The Grid: Figure of Eight
Virgin: VSCD 1421
1   3   03:32 Figure of Eight (456 7" Edit)
2   4   06:23 Figure of Eight (Grid Tribal Trance Mix)
3   2   06:27 Figure of Eight (Todd's Master Dub)
4   2   04:00 Magic Tree

Comments: The Grid gives us a "Pacific" style single here with a house-like
saxophone line and ditty dit dat vocals.  At first I thought it was not very
good techno, but then I realized it was really good trance.  Especially the
remixes and the final track "Magic Tree".  This is the first thing by The Grid
that has been obtainable for me, but it is obvious that I've got to track down
some more.  These two guys have a lot of talent.

Summary: 7/10.  Well produced too, nice art on the jacket.  A bit short
though.


Steve "Silk" Hurley: (Back To) Jack Your Body '92
!Hype: MAXI CD 90 11452
1   2   04:52 Back To Jack Your Body (Burger Industries Remix)
2   3   06:47 Jack Your Body (Burger Industries Def-Mix)
3   2   09:38 Jack Your Body (Bionaut Ambient Remix)

Comments: Surprising trance from the !Hype label in Germany.  These tracks are
good, especially the "Ambient Remix" but aren't unusual.  There is a bit more
than casual sampling of Oceanography's "Wind" going on here as well.  The
first two tracks are very deep house, but still trancy.  I feel they would be
better off without the annoying "Jack Your Body" sample, but then they
wouldn't have a title.

Summary: 6/10.  Again, good but short.  Nice but not cheap.  I would have
liked to see something more original than the "Wind" rip.


Digital Orgasm: Moog Eruption
Dead Dead Good: GOOD 17CD 4509-90279-2
1   4   03:37 Moog Eruption (Guilty of Love Edit)
2   4   04:33 Moog Eruption (Guilty of Love Remix)
3   4   06:15 Moog Eruption (Drop Ya Goo Mix)
4   4   07:02 Moog Eruption (Original Mix)

Comments: It must be really hard to be Oliver Adams and company and be able to
not only put out a constant stream of music, but have different labels sign
whatever you release.  Yes, this is another Lords of Acid variant,
unfortunately it isn't a very good one.  Despite the fact that this is
available on comps already, Prime Cuts felt the urge to send it to me in their
last "mixed bag" shipment.  Quite amazing how the mixes for this single are
almost as bland as the mixes for "Free Your Body".  I'm starting to wonder if
there are any singles that LoA and aliases put out that do have decent mixes.

Summary: 2/10.  There was something to be expected from such a great name, but
unfortunately it is just a poor alias.
-- 
	   "What state is Salt Lake City in?" - Ticketmaster Agent

DISCLAIMER: My writings have NOTHING to do with my employer.  Keep it that way.
Pete Ashdown    pashdown@slack.sim.es.com    ...uunet!slack.sim.es.com!pashdown

Newsgroups: rec.music.reviews,rec.music.misc