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Donkey Rollers - 06-Sep-05 10:23 AM
Hardstyle is real simple music. So, it is very disappointing that over the half of all hardstyle releases are bad stuff with terrible bass kicks and no own ideas. That's why I can understand Hardstyle haters, though I'm a fan of this genre. The rest sounds nearly the same, kicking asses as well as no other electronic music style can. And just a very few hardstyle tracks can send you on a trip far away, exciting and defining the fascination of evil, which has its roots back to Hardcore. For the most producers they're highlights in their career, that they just couldn't get hold of. But there's just one group who can hold their banner of banging Hardstyle high: The Donkey Rollers!

Their fascinating metamorphosis of synphonic elements with pumping hardstyle without getting too trancy is absolutely mindblowing. Mad, but harmonic synths, a threatening atmosphere supported by an dark and oftenly filtered male voice and absolutely clear production are their trademarks. You can hear, that their tracks are produced with much effort and love to music. Even some people don't liking any kind of techno were impressed by their ideas. These guys really know what they're doing.

If you find a record having "Donkey Rollers" printed on, you're not just reading an artists name. You're reading a quality mark for real good hardstyle.

Franchino - Ogni Pensiero / E' Controllo - 24-Aug-05 11:06 AM
The a-side starts very strange, sounding like playing a record backwards and then stopping it to play it forward. This is just a matter of habbit, but after it an avalanche of rumbling minimalistic beats rolls over you. Nice, but nothing special... As the break beginns the style switches and an catchy melody escorts the rhythm to the end... Good tune!

But by god, beware from the flipside. This is really awful. The track starts with an relaxing ambience, which is not really the flaw. But there are those dumb Italian vocals talking something about mental projection over and over again. Just as repeating the word "Matrix" in an strange sounding Italian slang. A Cappella from 1:20 up to 2:00!!! Then a low quality progressive trance part accompanies the vocals to the break, which is a really bad imitation of Rob D.'s "Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Remix)". After this the melody of the break gets combined with the beats before and voilà: The bad dance track is finished!
I also like the movie "Matrix", but you can definitely overdo it...

Just buy, if you really love the a-side...

Brain 13* - Acid Machines - 29-May-05 11:03 PM
I just know the "Brains" from 1 up to 13, but this is the best one of those 13. The "Cutoff Mix" has strong acid lines, including the whole spectre of the 303, from dark and deep up to noisy and twittering. More than eight minutes long! Pure ecstasy!

The "Alien Mix" is pure madness. It would be nonsense trying to describe those unbelievable acid lines with words. You have to hear it. Either you love it or you hate it to death. I'm one of those who love it. ;)

Kan Cold vs. Frank Ellrich - Theme of Pharmacy / Transmission - 29-May-05 11:03 PM
"Theme Of Pharmacy" produced by Kan Cold is exactly that what you expect when you buy this record and know other Kan Cold productions like "Tracid vs. Kan Cold" from the "Tracid Traxxx EP Vol. 1" or the Kan Cold Remix of Kai Tracid's "Conscious". It's an exciting hardtrance track containing a nice fast melody and the well known "Shaver Bass". It's nothing new but a proved concept that works... ;)

"Transmission" is more interesting. The bass is new, the pitched congas make you smile about the wealth of ideas and the choir gives the tune a touch of monumental film music. But even the boombastic lead in can't compensate the boring melody. When you hear the first bar you expect the most exciting hardtrance melody ever... But soon you will recognize that there is only this bar. It's a pitty about the potential, because the rest of the track is very well produced.

Five points for "Theme Of Pharmacy" and four points for "Transmission". I rounded up. ;)

Various - Tracid Traxxx - EP Vol.1 - 29-May-05 11:03 PM
"A*S*Y*S vs. Hennes & Cold" is a pumping hardtrance track containing a very long, minimalistic lead in. The sudden break introduces the epic main theme, that dominates the track. After this melody has rocked the club the acid line fades in. Within one minute of pure acid ecstasy the 303 and the main melody form a furious final. The best track of the whole EP in my opinion.

"Warmduscher vs. Derb" is the perfect fusion of rough Derb sounds with headcrushing acid. The bass is a bit weak, but this is compensated by one of the best acid line I ever heard.

"Tracid vs. Kan Cold" is a typical Kan Cold release. The influences of Kai Tracid are such similar to the ones of Kan Cold that just the typical "Shaver Bass" is enough to let them die. Anyway it's a good track. ;)

All in all a very nice vinyl that gives you an impression what Tracid Traxxx is.

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