Kuffdam & Plant - Seduction
Joof Records
Catalogue Number: J00F 017
A: Seduction (Level Above mix)
B: Seduction (Goa mix)
The ever popular John '00' Flemming, as a man as a DJ as a producer, and as label boss
is true to form firing on all cylinders of late. His label certainly has been making a
lot of noise recently with some storming releases, testament to John's ear for a quality
record. The 16th release in an already astonishing back catalogue of quality saw John
himself on production, 'Mahadeva' was a huge record for the likes of the world's number
1 Tiesto, Scott Bond and Armin Van Buuren amongst many others. Seduction looks set to
do similar damage, having already been tearing up more discerning dance floors on promo.
Kuffdam hails from Scotland and Plant for Cyprus, a strange European blend then, which
seems to work to good effect if Seduction is anything to go by. Seduction which is out
this week (w/c 19.04.04) is the duos debut release on JOOF. You may be more familiar with
Kuffdam under the guise, The Shove Brothers, the track Paranoia was released earlier this
year. Moving onto the first side of the vinyl, and the Level Above mix, which to me has a
John '00' set track written all over it. Not a million miles away from the kind of sound
evident in AR52's recent double A-sider. Floaty trance minus the cheese, with a large yet
unobvious lead, rolling over a backdrop of intricate underlying synths, pads and strings.
The percussion work here is really nice, and the congas work well with the track to add a
deeper feel to the sound. The bassline is warm and bouncy, and on the whole the track is
definitely something I’d slip into a set. So to sum up this side, I’m pleasantly surprised
with a track I kind of indulge in on pure blind faith. Even with little insight into the
producers I think on the strength of the label alone this one would be well worth a run out.
Flipping over onto the B, we have the interesting entitled Goa mix, on first impressions
you may well think you're in for a Goa trance treat of old. It's not really the case
though, what you do get however is an uncompromising tech trance bosh fest, which provides
a really nice alternative to the more trancier Level Above mix. The synth work on this mix
brings new meaning to the word swirling, and it's every which way, providing a rather
exciting and exhilarating sound. Purists not be digging this from the outset, however given
a few plays there is an allure about the Goa mix which is quite hard to resist. The kick is
much tougher, as is the percussion as a whole which combined with the tenacious bassline
gives that underpinning tech feel. Production is tight throughout, and it's all really
hypnotic.
In conclusion then, JOOF 17 really doesn't disappoint, but did I really expect it would?
Not at all. Credible, underground anthems come as standard on this label, which now appear
to be fixing releases a permanent place in my box.
View comments here
Review by Xalno
|
