- Grayarea’s Nosmo, Ruin, and McRae first got the worldwide recognition they have long deserved when their self-released track entitled “One for the Road” was dropped by Sasha on the “Live at WMC” Essential Mix. Since then, the trio have gone on to work with such prestigious labels as Hope Recordings and Polyester – just to name a few. Also, a recent guest slot appearance on John Digweed’s Kiss FM radio show couldn’t hurt either.
Their latest release starts off with “Asleep at the Wheel” - a tune that, if nothing else, is guaranteed to jolt awake anyone driving home after a late night out at the clubs. Beginning with atmospheric sounds layered over a simple kick drum, things begin to take off when the massive bass line drops. What follows is a peak time tune, with breakdowns thrown in at all of the right places. “Asleep at the Wheel” is serious business for any DJ looking to get the crowd off their seats, onto the dance floor.
The flipside offers the Designated mix of the tune that first got the trio’s name noticed on an international scale – “One for the Road”. While “Asleep at the Wheel” is undoubtedly a peak time stormer, this tune fits perfectly at either the beginning of a set, or as the night is winding down and the sun begins to rise. Featuring layered synths over a solid break beat; it’s no wonder that this track has earned a permanent home in many DJ’s record boxes.
Grayarea find themselves among a group of Chicago producers such as Pat Foosheen and Naveen G., who continue to find their works showing up on the very best record labels. This release is a good reason why that is. Be sure to look out for a remastered original version of “One for the Road” along with a Gabriel and Dresden remix on Hope Recordings in January. Also make sure to look out for their upcoming track, “Yewminyst”, which will be featured on the upcoming Nick Warren Global Underground compilation and should see a Spring 2003 release on Hope.