Scent - Up & Down
Positiva Recordings
Catalogue Number: ABR001
For the record another artist I have very few background details on. The press sheet
that came attached with this release informs us Scent is Daniele Davoli. The name may
not ring bells but previous outings under the alias Black Box (Ride on Time) should
have everyone stroking there chins. On vocals we have Mandy Darcy whom last year came
second place in Heinekens thirst Dj competition, something I'm sure every one of us
is envious of! So onto the triple promo pack.
Original
Oh ai what an intro. Strings that sounds faintly familiar with clashes of percussion
teasing your ears. It all comes to an abrupt end when the main kick rolls in, a simple
play on beats, easy listening for everyone. We then get a taste of female vocals, now
I know what you’re going to say, I said it to, DB Avenue - Point of view anyone? It has
that feel to it, a nice soft vocalist whose chirpy lyrics could put a smile on anyone’s
face. The track plods along at a nice pace breaking a smile on even the most forlorn
face. A breakdown towards the end adds a little change of scenery though it’s not needed.
I wouldn’t expect this mix to get aired at a Funky House club anytime soon, it’s a
little to Radio 1 for most peoples liking. However its fantastic listening material,
something you’d appreciate in your office or car.
Hott 22 Vocal mix
Here we go; things are certainly heating up as we flip this baby over. The pace quickens,
the cutesy Radio 1 image is dropped and there’s a distinct shortage of vocals (compared
to the original, which is in no means a bad thing, it just makes better dancing material).
Its hard to go into any further detail on this mix, it’s a formulated funky track, the top
layer bass line also acts as the main riff whilst the bottom bass line sinks nice and deep
and just hits short of the rumble effect.
It’s very nice, I can certainly see me dancing to it (more so than I am in my chair right
now) should it be aired at a club. If I close my eyes I can see it getting a good thrashing
out in Ibiza this summer, it has the right ingredients to make it a sure fire hit on the
surrounding beeches of San An or Ibiza Town, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Superclub mix
If an intro were anything to go by then this looks to be a beast. It’s the underlying
breathing of that bass line that brings tears to my eyes. Before long we are welcomed
to our first break down. When the percussion makes its entrance the bass line floating
in the background gets thinner and thinner till it fades out making way for the vocals.
As the song progresses and the vocals run its course it creeps back in before phasing
with a sample that sounds similar to an aircraft, swish! The breakdown follows and that
aircraft sound becomes the backdrop for an air raid sample! Its proper trippy stuff BUT
its excellent trippy stuff! Short samples of the main chorus break over the final phase
of this track and what a track we have! Original and innovative, a real master piece, if
the weirdness of this baby doesn’t do it for you, I don’t know what does!
Kurtis Mantronik Dub
Much like the Hott 22 mix this ones geared up for the sunny island that is Ibiza. Only it
has a twist, its much more fierce. I say fierce very loosely, funky house is never going
to be as fierce as say Techno or Hard House but as far as fierce and Funky Tracks go, this
one sits at the top of the table holding the gold cup. See its all about that echo effect
on the vocals, every Drum & Bass fan will instantly know what I'm talking about, they make
a weightless track heavy. Those mixed with deep bass lines and clean cut mid/high range
equals a fantastic all rounder. There’s no denying the track doesn’t change pace much, the
intro is quite lengthy and after the initial pause in beats it’s all going off. Yet the
flow of the track over the course of the main break down and beyond sounds fresh as the day
it was made.
Superdub mix
Take the superclub mix, strip it of its vocals, mix up those crazy air raid sirens and
airplanes even more and hey presto, we have the Superdub mix. Well, kind of, see this
is far more intense. Its not fluffy, it’s damn right freaky. The aircraft/air raid sirens
really hit the spot and some. It’s like having a banana boat sundae, only with two helpings
of ice cream and not one... And with HUGE spoons instead of poxy little table ones.
There really isn’t much more that needs to be said on that mix, its mind boggling. Nail,
head, bang right on.
Overall, it’s not going to be as big as Lola’s Theme, not even close. You will encounter
the original if you’re a fan of the radio, be it local or Radio 1. That, however, isn’t
where the money is, its all about the superclub/superdub mix and the Kurtis Mantronik.
Something different to entice you for your weekend antics, a gem amongst my vinyl collection
and providing you’re on the ball, yours to.
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Review by Muzik
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