Convextion - Miranda (Remixes)

Sorry to burst anyone' dub-techno bubble, but clearly this is a seriously misunderstood release. To all those claiming disapointment, regard this as a reissue to a monumental track, PLUS a series of accompaniying remixes, none of which are straying from its genre, e.i. a house or drum and bass remixe. That would be criminal if they were anything else than a take on the original. Hype, no. A favor, more than anything. What's the going Ebay price on Ebay as of late? Exactly. Not to mention everyone else pitching in on the remixes are geniouses in their own right. Techno-haters, hate on. I am VERY happy with ALL aspects and efforts from all artists on this release. With countless forgetable releases in our beloved genre, I scratch my head when it comes to negative responses to talented, wait, legendary artists as such included in this release. Wonders never cease...

Hyped, hyped, hyped and ....... overhyped !!!
I must say that the anticipation nearly killed me with overjoy to come to the final conclusion that MATRIX deliver an overprized special edition deluxe 2 x 12" pack.

The only track worth mentioning on this release is the original version.
All the rest is to be ignored, especially for this kind of money.

This is happened many times before, hyping something into eternity and than don't come forward with a product that fits the hype.
Overall conclusion is that a lot of people are extremely dissapointed in this release.
And that is something that shouldn't have happened.

'Miranda' was and is considered special by many partly because it embodies an aesthetic which was new and evolutionary at the time: the realisation of the capability of ineffable beauty in mechanized noise. This is typified by its notorious saw-wave lead within metallic digital synthesis. With inherent distortion, there's a contradictory ‘organic’ effect. Another paradox: despite this being ‘machine music' par excellence, displaying a precision in its angularity, the interplay of the abrasive high hats on the off-beat against that salacious, cool, bass is nothing short of funky. It’s all executed with a lack of adornment and a restraint which make it far too easy to overlook this record. However once your mind has awoken to the artifice in the economy of the arrangement, it's a joy to behold.

Repressed and heavily in demand, so many words circulating over this release, not sure why? Yes, it is a great record this much is true, does it really push the envelope forward or break boundaries, that is questionable? I'm not 100% sure, I really do adore it's many deep qualities and honestly when i first heard it on Juan Atkins master mix cd, i decided back then in 1996, it was the best song on the CD. Truth is, i still believe it carries it's weight even today. I was suprised when i saw it was being re-released and have been waiting for 4 months + to physically get a copy of it, which was in my opinion was very lame. Why advertise a release date if you can't live up to it, by the time it came i was furious i paid so far in advance to have a copy! Well, onto the music, Miranda carves out a sound which sends the dormant slinky syncopations of BC into a padded cell of cushioned, muffled bass, passing through the best of Juan's "Deep Space". It explores a tangential, parallel dimension of deep Detroit techno, submerged in icy synthesizers and enchanting melodies which seem to yearn for deep exploration. Sean Deason gives us a mix in which you can definitely hear his passion for atmospheric layers of sounds complimented by a deep driving bassline, beautiful stabs and smooth but dirty drum machines over top the original tune, which provides that early KMS edge missing in the original, top shelf mix for sure. The Deepchord and Echospace remixes are just utterly seductive, and are mixed in such a way which i think they capture the greatest elements of 60-70's reggae recorgings, (i.e. Lee Perry & Burning Spear in an experimental sense) and Juan Atkins in his deeper phases, truly mezmerizing bodies of work. If more records sounded like this i would have a much larger collection and would def. purchase records more often. Couldn't live without this release, best release in 2007 by a mile!

YES, YES, YES!! 1995 release, available again!! Out of the depths of Detroit's Matrix label comes the most important release in the mid 90's as far as techno is concerned and the most in need of a revamp, the obscure cult classic i rate in the highest pedigree of deep techno, stands side by side with the Basic Channel cosmos. I would have to say this will be a cult favorite for any self respecting techno dj. One of the quintessential dub related releases of all time! I know that is a bold statement, seeing as how there is so many mixed opinions out there but i stand by my words. I think some may not understand the beauty of this recording and all it's hidden depth, the remixes really steal my heart, to say the least. The deepchord mix comes correct with its echo-heavy atmospheric density which was was layed out and pioneered by the hands of the mysterious Detroit/Berlin axis of minimal techno, but done with such perfection on this mix. And the Echospace mix i would mostly associate with the producer known as Maurizio, as it seems to really capture the essence and feeling of those early recordings. It really captures that same feeling in a very original way, slowly developing lo-fi dub processing and abstract rasta chords with an emphasis on processed noise & hiss. Extremely gorgeous & some of the finest and most invigorating listening out there, period. essential in every sense of the word!

Yet another Convextion record - yet another hype. How many months did they delay its release this time in order to gain attention? Four...? Yes, four months of unsupportable pre-release hyping and countless "OMG this has to be the best Techno record ever!" (p)reviews. Alleged limitation generated even more furor.
And now that it's out? Disappointment. As usual DeepChord try (and fail) to score with another poor attempt to sound like Rhythm & Sound. It's really not that hard to come up with something new and original, guys, so why not just give it a shot? Oh well, some will never learn it. But even Sean Deason turns the original into a boring standard track by relocating its emphasis towards a more prominent kickdrum on his "Psykofuk Remix" that lacks of any subtlety - and as if all this was not enough there's this dreadful Echospace version that completely takes the cake and embeds "Miranda" in a coffin made of meaningless post-minimal pseudo-Berghain sound. A mass product.

The one thing that saves Matrix Records from the ultimate disgrace is the original version of "Miranda", previously untitled and insanely rare in its original release. This, arguably best, track of Gerard Hanson's is predominantly characterised by a very alien sounding, reverberating chord that fades in and out over a hectic beat and generates a wonderfully sterile and alien, yet concurrently very touching mood. A true stunner, especially when experienced on a decent PA in its full gorgeousness.
Unfortunately that doesn't cover the fact that most of the music on this long anticipated release is dull and that Mr. Convextion seems to prefer collectability to quality on his recent releases. Poor overall record.

The original mix is a classic. A continuation of the Enforcement style of hard dub techno, verging into trance territory. A reissue was well overdue, but...

This is going for £18 in most UK stores. Plus the remixes really are nothing special - the Psykofuk mix sounds like a harder kick was mixed over the original and sped up a bit. The Echospace and Deepchord remixes are yet more interminable Vainqueur-style dub rip-offs that last far too long.

Massively overpriced, and not worth it. Give me a £6.99 reissue of MATRIX1, please.

Finally received my copy after 4 months of waiting, the question everyone seems to ask is, was it worth the wait? 110% worth the wait in my opinion, this release could end up being the best detroit techno record of 2007. Seems like this is the year, deep detroit techno is finally coming back and coming back stronger than ever with productions like these. The original as we all know from the many mix cd's of Juan Atkins & Derrick May was sensational as ever and feels like it hasn't aged a second, this was 20 years ahead of its time. The Sean Deason mix also gives the release some appeal to old school detroit club heads with it's samples of Carl Craig's, "throw" and hard hitting jacking beats. Not sure how but this project see's the first ever remix by the hands of Deepchord, I was blown away when i saw they were doing a remix and what a remix! An ocean of dub derived chords and deep sleeper rhythms make this first remix from deepchord one that will be talked about for years to come, mind blowing. Then The real suprise on this release was the echospace mix, (and after some research realized this was Rod Modell's project with Soultek, what a team, could they be the next Rhythm & Sound, I think so) and HOLY GOD, that gave me hope for the future of dub tech. Just when you thought it couldn't go any further than it already has with artist like rhythm & sound, basic channel, scion, vainquer, substance, vladislav delay, pole, etc. This mix is the icing on cake for me and pushes the sound years forward with it's sonic depth and DEEP, DEEP, DEEP melodies, utterly stunning! This release is probably my fav in the last 5 years, if you miss this you will cry yourself to sleep for months! Couldn't recommend this one more, excellent.