X-Static (2) – Free

The E-Type Remix on Side AA is a proper remix. Sometimes with remixes you'll find that they are no more than edits, re-edits or rearrangements. However, apart from the same female vocal samples as side A. Pretty much every other sample or sound source has been exchanged. There is no doubt in my mind that the remix has a more underground feel. Yes, side A is an anthem and I loved it at the time. It's a dancefloor killer. Still like it.

Side AA wasn't played as much and in many ways has grown on me more so over the years. Whereas I can't really imagine side A ever being included outside of anything other than what would be expected in a typical UK breakbeat hardcore set. Side AA just sounds more versatile. It's less vocal, it's sparcer in arrangement, it consists of a more subtle build-up, it's darker but also contains ethereal breakdowns. I mean that ambient floaty bit, where in heavens was that taken from. It's sublime. Also, because it has been looped a bit more and there is a four to the floor underpinning most of the arrangement, it has more of a techno feel. It wouldn't sound THAT out of place alongside old techno of the belgian variety, house and also very early jungle techno for that matter. And to be fair, it was played and fitted well alongside more technoey tracks back in the day.

P.S. Side A's main bassline seems to sample or at least sample a similar sound like on Da Posse's 'It's My Life (Aluh Mix)'.

Side AA makes great use of The Prodigy's We Gonna Rock synth pattern. In fact I think it probably sounds much better on this in my opinion as it's looped and flows free-er and more underground sounding. Doesn't include the awful chipmunk vocal either. I'm not a fan 'da horrid chipmunks' vocals as I've expressed many times ad nauseum. Also, it makes good use of the classic stab from Razor Boy & Mirror Man ''Beyond Control'/Photon 'Doin' Our Thang'' as well.

https://www.discogs.com/Total-Maddness-Lawanda-Big-Bottom-The-Sounds-In-Da-Air/release/52811 Just Incase anybody is interested where the sample came from, as a side although it is written "The Sounds In Da Air" she says "The Sounds In The Air" who cares though? :)

The original version is a classic!

I bought this records about 11 or 12 years ago when I was about 14 or 15 years old and here in the Midwest, USA, was having trouble finding oldschool hardcore, acid house and other classic dance music. I bought some records from an online dealer, but he was out of stock of one of the records I ordered so he returned some of my money and sent copy of "Free" for free as an apology for the part of my order he couldn't fill, he said he thought I would like it based on previous purchases of mine. I had actually thought about buying it as I had heard it before online, but having the actual vinyl it became one of my favorite oldschool tracks, The original version has such a nice vibe and the remix was always good for raging or rolling or while otherwise altered. The production isn't extremely clean, it's ind of dark and murky (?) in parts, especially on the remix which adds to its ravey vibe. And the vinyl is heavy and pressed super loud. You can always find copies real cheap here on discogs and it's more than worth picking one up if you're into this era of breakbeat and dance music, and it in my opinion it's one of the best earlier releases on Production House,

The E-Type Remix was by Barry Hobbs & Nick Ball though ony credited as E-Type on the release. They also assisted the A-Side but are not credited. The main sample in the track ´Sounds in a air´was sampled from Masters at work.