Lost Tribe
» Gamemaster (remixes disc 2)
Reviewed by scottie-nye
/ Submitted 28-10-03 09:44
Label: Liquid Asset
Format: 12" Vinyl
Genre: Hard Trance/Tech Trance
Well the second instalment of remixes of what is, in my opinion, the definitive track of the trance "golden years" circa 1997, is finally with us. There is definitely mixed opinions amongst Dj's and clubbers alike when it comes to the subject of remixing old classics, and understandably so, particularly if the remixes are below standard, as has often been the case. Personally, I don't mind too much - it is exposing some top quality dance music to the newer generation of clubbers and DJ's, whilst giving a new lease of life to tracks some of us heard when we first started clubbing. The golden question really then is, are they any good? In a word - well actually no you'll have to read the review and find out!!
First Up on the A-Side we have the Lee Haslam Tidy 2 remix, and a bit of a corker it is too. I was a bit unsure what to expect when I heard the Lee would be remixing this - would he take the riff and the vocal and give it the typical hard dance treatment, or would he add a tougher edge to the track whilst retaining the deep, driving edge of the original (and in my opinion best mix)?
Thankfully, he has opted for the latter and has turned out quite a sublime remix which is the best thing I have heard from him so far. It all starts off with a fairly standard 6 loop intro with a nice knocky kick, funky percussion and some interesting FX and drum programming, ideal for those who a partial to some cutting when in the mix, before the bass line is triggered off with the "Gamemaster" vocal. As I stated before, Lee has stayed remarkably true to the original mix here, and the bass line is very similiar, deep, and driving (quite Edison Factor ish in fact), with the whole production style of the track leaning more towards a trance production rather than a house one. The track builds with more layers of percussion and FX, and the filtered warbling noise of the original, before a cool mini break that uses tribal drums similiar to those in the old house tune Goodmen - Give It Up, before bringing in THAT riff. Many people are of the opinion that it rips off the riff from the oft copied but never bettered Dreams by Quench, but I personally don't see it. Regardless, it is a killer riff, one that manages to be dark and sinister yet still deeply uplifting, and takes us nicely into the break, where the Gamemaster "speech" begins and in come those fantastic choral voices (and Barry collapses under the DJ booth).
The tune kicks back in with the driving bass line, the main riff and melody of the original, along with the choir once more, and trust me, the dance floor will be a sea of raised hands and closed eyes. Top stuff.
On the b-side we have the Digital Blonde aka Ricky Smith remix, and he has turned out the version which differs most from the original. John 00 Fleming is a big fan of Digital Blonde productions, and there are not many higher accolades than that. On my first couple of listens I felt that this was the weakest of all the mixes, even those on Hooj, but it turns out that this little baby is a bit of a grower, and that the unwanted accolade of the weakest mix goes to the Darey 2003 mix.
The DB mix is deep, dark and gritty, very reminiscent of a Hemstock and Jennings or Neo and Farina production - aggressive percussion, gargling bass and a thumping kick drum. It builds into the first break with clever use of the choral samples and the main melody from the original, layering the different notes in until the complete melody is formed. At the first break, there is more use of the choral samples, and then the Gamemaster speech, which has had most of the rest of the track ripped out, giving it a bit more impact than any of the other mixes. The track then kicks back in, and Ricky has used a really nasty distorted synth sound which gives a very dark feel to proceedings. There is not much more to it than that, no bass line melody, no real peaks and troughs - its quite a low key affair, and not everybody will like it, but my advice is to give it a chance.
This is the least euphoric and most experimental of all the mixes, heads down, driving, relentless trance, with a very tribally feel about it - fans of the old Reactivate sound will like this . As I said, it was a bit of a grower for me, and will not find favour with every trance DJ, but I think this would be ideal as a filler track in a peak time set for the more courageous trance DJ's among us.
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