Escape Artist (2) – Energy Breakthrough

The Australian-led early '90s trance pastiche movement continues to spill over from semi-ironic lockdown-stream niche into mainstream respectability as intrepid Antipodean producer Escape Artist lands on London-based Phonica Records. The original version is gorgeous and dreamy, although frustratingly it loses the 4/4 kick halfway through in favour of a breakbeat and the rest of the tune feels like an extended breakdown that never quite drops. Step in Leeds-based man of the moment Adam Pits to club it up with excellent results, adding a riffy bassline that punches through on a good club system and some of his signature psychedelic synth work to transform this into a late-night anthem guaranteed to transform the dancefloor into a forest of upraised hands. The only downside for the vinyl purists is his bizarre decision to cut it at an eye-watering 147bpm. Digital DJs will engage master tempo and tractor-beam it down to earth with impunity, but good luck to those still clinging onto the 1210s with pitching this to a playable tempo without it sounding like you've had one line of ket too many.

Dreamy breakbeat trance revival - - - - -

every track has a lot of variations, many elements keep coming and disappearing, making it very interesting (especially when you compare to a lot of repetitive and uninspired trance tracks)

my favorite track is A1 : very emotional, you feel like you connect to what's around you when you listen to it (note to me : must try LSD on this) The first house breakbeat part with 'String of Life style' chords going to some big minor pads is pure cream - A2 is a bit meh, too much on the happy trance side for me and the bass is boring. B1 is nice.

Would have loved another dancing track instead of B2, but overall very nice EP - keep up the good sound man !