I’m a junkie!
I admit it. Who was I kidding in the first place? After years of denial, I’ve come to terms with the fact, plain and simple, I have a habit that I need to feed. What started off as something I needed every three or four months turned into a monthly yearning. Monthly became fortnightly, fortnightly became weekly… now, I’m afraid it’s an almost daily requirement!
But it isn’t a chemical dependency that I need to placate. It’s my constant need to listen to different kinds of music that has become my very own monkey. Nevertheless, it’s a habit that I love to feed and given the vast range available, I have a variety of choices from which I can feed this habit. If anything, I sometimes feel like a child in a chocolate shop!
With ‘dance music’ having become so popular, we’re bombarded with a large number of releases on an almost daily basis. Hence, it’s sometimes difficult to separate the great from the mediocre and truly find a gem. Once such gem that I’ve discovered is ‘Soundworx Session Two’ mixed by Tom Stephan.
Many may not be familiar with Tom Stephan apart from his production work under the guise of ‘Superchumbo’ with which he has remixed the likes of Kylie and Missy Elliot. His rework of ‘Sandstorm’ by Darude was a task that no one thought was possible given that this track was extremely distinctive and the fact that it had been literally murdered by every DJ in existence. In his hands, ‘Sandstorm’ was barely recognizable and he managed to make it sound fresh.
‘Soundworx Session Two’ opens with the wonderful beats of Christian Hornbostel’s ‘Back to the Music’. If you think this track sets the tone for the remainder of the CD, kiss that theory good bye now! From the next track, ‘People Don’t Know’ by Artificial Funk, this CD grabs its listener and refuses to let go until the last track. Tom Stephan has put together a mix that showcases the house sound in all its murky glory. This is dark, this is dirty, this is house at it’s most twisted! Simply, this CD is nasty! But in the best possible way. Add to that a touch of tribal and you find yourself listening to something that is very unique. After having listened to this mix, I’m not surprised that this DJ/producer is a protégé of Danny Tenaglia. If you’re expecting to hear a wall of bass, this CD isn’t like that. It is however something left of the centre that gets you up and dancing within no time.
I think the intro to the opening track says it all: ‘You want to try something new? To share an experience that is completely different? Do you want to take the chance that you might like it? Then come with me… come…’
Enjoy this as much as I did.
Tracklist: Tom Stephan - Soundworx Session Two
01 ‘Back to the Music’ (Tough & Twisted mix) Christian Hornbostel
02 ‘People Don’t Know’ Artificial Funk
03 ‘Come With Me’ (Dark mix) T-Total
04 ‘Get Ur Freak On’ (Superchumbo’s Superfreakon remix) Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot
05 ‘Parada’ Alenia
06 ‘Jack Ya’Self’ (2001 Jack) Trevor Rockcliffe
07 ‘Hausjam’ Trendroid
08 ‘Pray’ Laid featuring Derek Conyer
09 ‘The Sea’ Indart, Wally & Kucho
10 ‘Remainings III’ (DK remix) Adam Beyer
11 ‘Loving You’ (CF’s 2001 Summer mix) Cevin Fisher
12 ‘Intermede’ (The Beloved ‘Girl Interrupted’ mix) Yann Fontaine
13 ‘Loose Leaves’ (Bryan Robson 4/4 mix) Nova Scotia
14 ‘Loose Leaves’ (Illinton remix) Nova Scotia
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