- It has been a long time coming, but Steve “Porterhouse” Porter has finally delivered the goods with his long-awaited artist debut Homegrown. Steve already has a laundry list of original releases and remixes under his belt, but this album really proves that he has come into his own on the production front.
The album is mixed, but fear not, most of the tracks have been released on vinyl via two separate LPs released by FDS. Additionally, certain tracks and the entire album are available iTunes, EDM Digital, etc.
Porterhouse kicks things off with an emotional, upbeat number, “Flutter Nutter.” It really sets the mood for the disc as it gives the listener a feel for what lies ahead. Things turn a bit with “Between 9 & 10” sounds like three tunes in one. Once you think it has caught wind, things shift and it heads in a different directions. Track three, “Swanky,” is one of my favorites on the record. It is a tough, dirty, electro-y tune that would set the dance floor alight. The only vocal of the record is found here and it is one that should be in everyone’s box (hence, buy it as a single!)
“Bobble Daze” keeps the mix headed in the right direction with a pronounced piano line, which carries through “Beat N Potatoes,” until the mighty “Vodka Cranberries” raises the stakes again. “Cranberries” was released last year on Nu Republic with various remixes and was supported by almost all the major progressive DJs. It has a driving baseline with a haunting backing to it that works wonders in dark places at odd hours!
“Rage in the Cage” is another piano driven, upbeat tune that is sure to keep a listener boogying in their headphones before “Sandbox” brings things down a bit. The sounds are layered in such a way that each time I listen to it I pick out a different tweak and underlying sound.
Track 9 sees Porterhouse get serious- real serious- with his the original version of his massive “Definite Form” tune. Everyone knows the story behind this one and has probably heard Sasha play his “Stretched Limo mix” a few years back, but this tune is still the bees knees and sounds as fresh as ever.
“Electric Jelly,” is another late night mind-melter. It rises, it falls, it makes your ears tingle! “Lady Elaine” continues on with a set of bells and piano lines that are subtly done, but then it takes a sharp right with a variety of off axis sounds that only last for a short bit, before things get back in order for “Square Dancing” which has a very euphoric feel to it that I have not come across in a few years.
The penultimate track, “Purina,” does it’s job without really standing out. However, the wait for all Porter fans is finally over. I have been asked more than once what the loop that plays on his website was from. Well, here is the answer . . . “Homegrown.” The last track on the album is a real corker. Once again, it has a subtle build (the loop) that leads into a monster bassline that is probably one of the best album closers I have ever heard. It feels to me like a piece that symbolizes the end of a journey, and what a journey it was.
This album has been a long time in the coming, and it was well worth it!
Tracklisting:
1. Flutter Nutter
2. Between 9 & 10
3. Swanky
4. Bobble Daze
5. Beat N Potatoes
6. Vodka Cranberries
7. Rage in a Cage
8. Sandbox
9. Definite Form
10. Electric Jelly
11. Lady Elaine
12. Square Dancing
13. Purina
14. Homegrown