[vinyl] Desolat X-Sampler (Red)

Specs:

Artist(s): Loco Dice, Martin Buttrich, Premiesku, Guti, tINI, Yaya
Name: Desolat X-Sampler (Red)
Genre: techno, tech-house
Label: Desolat 
Catalog: DESOLAT 010
No. of vinyls: 2
Type: normal

Tracklist:

A: Martin Buttrich - L2
B1: tINI - That's Right
B2: Guti - Chiquitolina
C: Loco Dice - Definition
D1: Livio & Roby Pres. Premiesku - Caracas
D2: Yaya - You Know Telespalla?



 Opinion:

Having Loco Dice on my mind, and the night I had the chance to meet him, I choose this great compilation, Desolat X-Sampler, to review. For those that don`t know what it is about, let me introduce the concept. To this day there have been 2 Samplers released (one Red and another one Blue, in the chronological order), both in December (consider it as a Christmas gift), featuring artists that released some work on Desolat X (half of the Desolat label). So we got 2 vinyl packed with 6 tracks from people I think need no introduction. Loco and Martin were already strong into the business but the rest had an excellent breakthrough in recent years.

[club zone] A meeting with Loco Dice

Yesterday I attended a party at Studio Martin. Here is the poster:

I went home accomplished. Not only did I listen an excellent set, but I also had some time to chat with him and take a picture. His next LP? If all goes as planned, it is released in 2012. And no, he did not yet choose the color for the next Desolat X-Sampler.

Let`s see some photos:

[vinyl] V.A. - Anjunabeats 100

Specs:

Artist(s): Above & Beyond, Tranquility Base, Super8 & Tab, Luminary; remixes by Bart Claessen, Super8 & Tab, Oliver Smith, Michael Cassette 
Name: Anjunabeats 100
Genre: trance, uplifting trance
Label: Anjunabeats
Catalog: ANJ-100
No. of vinyls: 2
Type: gatefold

Tracklist:

A: Above & Beyond Pres. Tranquility Base - Razorfish (Bart Claessen 2007 Rework)
B: Luminary - Amsterdam (Super8 & Tab Remix)
C: Above & Beyond - Far From In Love (Oliver Smith Late Night Remix)
D: Super8 & Tab - Helsinki Scorchin' (Michael Cassette Remix)


Opinion:

 I guess every trance fan knows what Anjunabeats is. This label (which for me is no.1) is considered by many to be the best, offering quality trance from names like: Above & Beyond, OceanLab, Tranquility Base, Kyau vs. Albert, Super8 & Tab, Aalto, Smith & Pledger, Mike Koglin, Jono Grant, Andy Moor, Signalrunners, Boom Jinx, Nitrous Oxide, Oliver Smith, Daniel Kandy and many others. At the time I`m writing this, the label approaches it`s 200 releases anniversary and I`ll surely grab the forthcoming vinyl.

[vinyl] V.A. - 2 Years Cecille Records (2Y Cecille)

Specs:

Artist(s): Nick Curly, Ethyl & Huxley, Premiesku, Affkt & Felipe Venegas, Negru vs. Boola, Daniel Kampf
Name: 2 Years Cecille Records (2Y Cecille)
Genre: tech-house, house, deep-house

Label: Cecille 
Catalog: CEC2YC3
No. of vinyls: 2
Type: normal

Tracklist:

A1: Affkt & Felipe Venegas - Meilan
A2: Nick Curly - Right Or Wrong
B1: Ethyl & Huxley - Byzantine (2YC Ethyl Rmx)
B2: Premiesku - Les Tuileries
C1: Daniel Kampf - Honolulu
C2: Negru vs. Boola - Red Alert
D: Affkt & Felipe Venegas - Azufaifo



 Opinion:

 Cecille and Cecille Numbers are one of my favorite labels when it comes to tech-house, releasing work from artists such as Nick Curly, Markus Fix, Sis, Premiesku, Ilario Alicante, Butch... and the list continues. 2010 came with a compilation celebrating 2 years of existence, having 7 tracks and 7 more as a digital download bonus (beats me why they choose to only fill half of the last vinyl side and not stick in another song). Nonetheless this is an excellent work, keeping up with the rhythm and quality of Cecille. I`ve met Nick Curly (who is in charge of the label) at a gig a few months ago and he gave me a superb autograph on the back of the cover (as seen above).

[vinyl] Paul van Dyk - Hands on In Between

Specs:

Artist(s): Paul van Dyk; remixes by Super8 & Tab, Kyau & Albert, Jon O`Bir
Name: Hands on In Between
Genre: trance
Label: Vandit 
Catalog: VANDIT083
No. of vinyls: 1
Type: normal

Tracklist:

A1: Talk In Grey (Paul van Dyk Remix)(vocals by Ryan Merchant)
A2: Castaway (Jon O'Bir Remix)(vocals by Lo-Fi Sugar)
B1: New York City (feat. Austin Leeds, Starkillers)(Super8 & Tab Remix)(vocals by Ashley Tomberlin)
B2: Complicated (Kyau & Albert Remix)(vocals by Ashley Tomberlin)

Opinion:

Hands on In Between is the name of the remix album following the fifth album released by trance superstar Paul van Dyk. I was fortunate enough to attend almost all the events featuring him, here in Bucharest, from 2006 until today (once a year). His shows were great, due to his DJing skills and his own productions, making the people in the venue dance till the morning light. The remix album features 15 songs, and 4 of them made it on this vinyl.

[vinyl] Livio & Roby pres. Premiesku - Mistique

Specs:

Artist(s): Premiesku (Livio, Roby, GeorgeG)
Name: Mistique
Genre: tech-house, house
Label: Desolat 
Catalog: Desolat X002
No. of vinyls: 1
Type: red colored

Tracklist:

A: Mistique
B1: Equinox A
B2: Little Jasper Joe

Opinion:

If I was to name the best Romanian djs and producers, the first place would surely belong to Livio, Roby & GeorgeG. Having started from zero, the trio released some progressive tracks under the name of Monochrome, winning contests and making the clubbers aware of their existence. Their style shifted towards a techno/tech-house approach and became friends with superstar Loco Dice, mixing throughout Europe, touring USA in a bus and releasing some tracks at Desolat. This is their first EP on this record label. And what an EP it is...

[vinyl] Alex Picone - Motherland EP

Specs:

Artist(s): Alex Picone
Name: Motherland
Genre: tech-house
Label: Bosconi 
Catalog: bosco005
No. of vinyls: 1
Type: normal

Tracklist:

A: Mina
B1: Nana
B2: Tascha

Opinion:

Alex Picone is my kind of artist: great dj sets and excellent productions. And this vinyl is one of them. I do like his basslines very much, because (in my opinion) they are so strong and make you move even when you are in a car and with the speakers at a very high level. Unfortunately I did not receive the original cover so visually I can say that one of the vinyl label has the name & tracklist of the EP, while the other has only the Bosconi logo and the number of the release.

[vinyl] Loco Dice - 7 Dunham Place LP

Specs:

Artist(s): Loco Dice
Name: 7 Dunham Place
Genre: tech-house, minimal
Label: Desolat 
Catalog: DESOLAT LP 001
No. of vinyls: 4
Type: gatefold

Tracklist:

A: Breakfast At Nina's (additional vocals by Mista Moe)
B: How Do I Know ?! (additional vocals by Le Verne)
C: Consequently Eccentric And Delicate
D: Black Truffles In The Snow
E: La Esquina (additional piano by I M Tango)
F: Tight Laces
G: Pimp Jackson Is Talkin' Now!!! (additional vocals by Michael Jackson)
H1: I Got Leaks In The Roof
H2: M Train To Brooklyn 

Opinion:

A couple of years ago I saw Loco Dice playing his debut album in Studio Martin, Bucharest`s best club for electronic music. I don`t really remember much of that night, just that it rocked (and no, I did not drink... that much :)) ). I had no idea then that this LP would be one of the key pieces in my vinyl collection.

[vinyl] Nic Chagall, Wippenberg, Rank1 - 100

Specs:

Artist(s): Nic Chagall, Wippenberg, Rank1
Name: 100
Genre: trance
Label: High Contrast Recordings
No. of vinyls: 1
Type: one-sided, golden
Also available on: The Best of High Contrast - The Story So Far

Tracklist:

Front: 100 (original mix)[8:50]
Back: -

Opinion:

I`ve chosen this record to be the first reviewed vinyl on my blog for many reasons. First of all it`s a superb release by 3 big names in trance, a track that I first heard on a summer night, by the sea, played by Above & Beyond in their set for Liberty Parade 2010 (Black Sea, Romania). The vinyl represents the first big milestone for High Contrast Recordings, the name 100 (or Hundred as it is stated on the cover) representing that fact. Also the beginning of this blog almost coincides with my trance shows`s 100 edition, so another reason to have this first.