MAtRiCks
The Golden Days are unfortunately behind us
Dima doesn't sound like he did on the europanic series and hi-nrg attack sure as hell don't sound like they did on eurobeat flash or euromach. scp don't have that euromach quirkiness quite as much anymore either. both SunFire and GoGo's are miles away from the golden days of A-Beat-C, and I feel the same way about all the dismantled pieces of Delta. Let's just not mention saifam and time/eurogrooves, please.
TIMEs change, not always for the best, but we have to take what's coming and appreciate it while it lasts!
Terrible comment and completely false. I ; for one ,don't share that way of thinking at all and I've been with Eurobeat from the start.True that we no longer have Vinyls nor the parapara craze to boost Eurobeat sales, but the producers are still creating great and memorable Eurobeat. You base your comment on those older compilations and nonstops cuz the japanese made them famouse? .I don't need the Japanese to tell me what's going to ba a hit and what's not? Who are they anyway to pick the classics? IMOP, Night Of Fire wasn't all they cracked it up to be. I make my own assumptions from what I like and hear.Sure it's your own personal opinion, but Your words, especially that last statement is what I concider 100% pessimistic and don't say you are being honest, cuz if that's what you tryly beleive, then you are just listening with your ears and not your heart.
with that I will continue second part of my review.
5.)
Lou Master-
Up & Dance Up & Go (SCP)
Up next is SCP’s second showing on the disc. I must say that on this volume SCP has had the strongest showing. Again; I am taking into consideration the Extended version of the song as it appears on ITunes downloads and completely erasing the SEB edit from my memory. For their second showing; SCP introduces us to a new promising artist. I have read various comments comparing; not only the artist name of Lou Master, but also the style of the song to TIME/Eurogrooves. In Fact; Gino Caria, as Lou Grant had a similar hit with the classic, “Take Me up & down”. A song; that is forever etched in my mind, as one of the best TIME extendeds of that era. For the most part; I agree with the Eurogroove comparisons, but in the end, A Dall Ora extended version would have been much more exiting. With that out of the way; I begin my review of Lou Master- “Up & Dance Up & Go”. The song is definitely one of the best SCP songs I’ve heard this year, but the whole structure of the song; for some unexplained reason, has already begun to grow tiring to my ears. Perhaps, cuz I’ve overplayed it or even cuz, I made my own extended out of the original edit? Whatever the reason; it seems I tried doing so much with this song, that I have now even begun to skip it. I still get the strong urge to sing along and stomp my feet whenever I hear it, but its replay value is not as high; as say, “Disconnected” or “The Top”. It has a great intro. Adrenalized, pulsing, synths, with about as much power found in a Eurogrooves intro; but much too short to really get me anticipated for the riff. The melody is catchy enough, but I also get the feel that the verses go by too quickly. The chorus; powerful as a chorus can be is also very predictable. About the one thing that I can safely praise is Lou’s vocals. I certainly hope to hear more of him in the future. His Aggressive style is a fuse between Christian De Leo and Luka Torchianni and with a bit of Fastway hype to it. A Really incredible combination of vocal tones that I wished had been used for a song with more depth to it. I understand that this was probably the quickest way to introduce Lou to the Eurobeat world as an aggressive new comer, but all things considered; Fastway could have performed this song as well. I won’t get too much into the break, because it sort of lacks imagination. It’s just a reverb or whatever of the drums. What I did absolutely love, was the way the instrumental part is introduced right after. It’s the instrumental part of the bridge coupled perfectly with that third verse. I still think that third verse is wasted with pure “gogos” and “Ddance”. I think it might have worked better with “Gogos” in the first part and then lyrics in the second part, but that’s my opinion. Taking everything into account and when comparing this extended to Hotblades; I find that “Up & Dance, Up & Go” might actually be more effective as an edit. I’m still 100% for the extended, but I get a feel this song could have been much more interesting in the intro and break. It’s odd, but this is the kind of Eurobeat that usually blows my mind and I’m seriously wondering if anyone else is getting this overkill effect from this song that I’m starting to get? Either way; it’s still a great song with amazing vocals, but for me to rate it a 10, would now be meaningless, since I consider other songs on this compilation to be much better. Perhaps Lou Master is one of those artists that will get better with each new song? That really gets me excited for any new material from him in the near future. For now, I’ll just dance Up & Down.
9/10
6.
Typsy & Typsy-
Dance Boom Boom (Saifam)
How do you ruin a totally decent Eurobeat song? Ask Saifam. They seem to be experts on that. I’m talking about Typsy & Typsy’s new song. As Jay mentioned; this song has a rather charming intro, also reminding me of Mela’s “Sandy”. The whole vibe of the song is very uplifting and takes me back to Boom Boom Beat’s early years. It’s bouncy, happy and you can’t help but to feel like you’re in a TIME machine back to the Euromach days. Everything spells Hit for Saifam, and then they go ahead and throw a wrench into the whole structure of the song. Everyone knows what I’m speaking of? The case in question here is, what possessed Saifam to bring back “Rasta Man”? I dare say that he was the reason I hated all those want to be housy deals from the 90’s. Bands like Real McCoy and the like. How cheesy and aweful an idea. Why do you wanna sound like you are Jamaican when your music is clearly from Italy? Who asks for this? Avex? Is “Rasta Man” the new mode is Japan? This song would have been much more effective if Mario Farina had actually taken the mic and did some rapping like on “Just a Game” from Vanessa. Even the style used in Sabrina’s “Boys” would have been better, but these Jamaican tones are out. The worst part is that “Rasta Man” is all over the break and about 80% of the song, so that makes it almost unlistenable to my ears. I really think it’s TIME for Saifam to really take a good look at themselves and get back in the game. It almost seems like they are getting back at AVEX for some past grudge. I don’t know, but please, I’d rather they showcase a terrible song, than a good song that is ruined with “Played out” ideas… And with that, I’ll press the skip button whenever this song begins.
-6/10(no vinyl cover 4U)
I mispelled the name Nikita Jr. on purpose.
7.)
Nikita Jr.- Touch Me (HRG Attack)
Wow! There are really a lot of different styles on this cd to keep us out of our comfort zone. Fortunately the retro Italo rebirth style of HRG Attack is one I admire tremendously. In my ears, the label has their Italo perfected. I hear different melodies in all their songs of this style. Lately; the female sung songs, sound like they have been heavily influenced by the SAW style of the 80s. This is probably the number one reason that I warmed to the style of the newest songs from Ciao Ciao and Michelle Rose. This song continues my gage on hot, but just to get it out of the way; I’m a little confused by the selection of the Nikita Jr. Alias? I’ve always considered her title to be more effective for the more “Happy” style songs. Furthermore; HRG Attack uses the effect that sounds like two girls are singing, which is better sounding when Ciao Ciao sings a song. They have Doll Sisters, HRG United, and a few other aliases they could’ve used. There is another side to this and I believe that HRG want to introduce new sides to their more wacky performers? They did the same with Joe D. Toaster and Garcon and the response was incredible to say the least. This new Nikita Jr. doesn’t really introduce any new ideas or raise the bar for this Italo style song. It’s a catchy song with heavy synths and great vocals that the listener will probably only really enjoy if he/she is really head over heals with their Retro Italo. I fall in that crowd and find that the whole combination of sound worlds and melodies is what really keeps me coming back for more. I love how HRG Attack can slow down their usual frantic breakdowns and make them a part of an Italo style song. You can pick up on the “Go” chants used in the intro just as if they were rehashed from an old School Cy-Ro song and still fall in perfect sync with these slower bpms. The heavy guitars used throughout the song can also be taken from an x synth fest from Mad Cow’s discography. In, fact; any fan who recalls true Italo, will have a hard TIME recalling hard guitars in the songs, because they were not used in those days. That is the magic of HRG Attack’s Retro Italo sound. Fusing the hard Eurobeat guitars with the relaxing Italo melodies. For further proof listen, to Krystina- “Lonely Hearts” or Styloo- “ My Dreams” from the short lived Disco magic label of the 90’s. Hard Eurobeat bass lines with Italo melodies, spelled mega success for those two songs on the Iventi High Energy charts of the 90s. For me; Nikita has gone from teenager to full grown woman with this new “Touch Me” in terms of song style. Even the lyrics suggest that she can finally hang out with the Ciao Ciao girls.
9/10
8.)
Dave & Futura-
Sun Fire (Sun Fire)
Boy, Times have sure changed. I can recall just yesterday when an SEB compilation had more than 5 AbeatC appearances. Both artists, Dave Rodgers and now Futura, have established themselves strong contenders in The Eurobeat scene. Dave Rodgers is actually considered untouchable in terms of popularity, but he has given new comer; Futura ,a chance to sine; not only in her vocal skills, but also her writing abilities. We all remember “Fire Dragon”? As far as I’m concerned, that song remains untouchable and I still believe that song to be secretly under the Sun Fire catalog. I’ll admit that when I first heard “Sun Fire”, I wasn’t too thrilled. I expected the Label’s theme song to be more enticing. Really absorb me into that name “Sun Fire”, but as I listened to the song; I came to the conclusion that Sun Fire records is all about Dave & Futura, so the song must naturally carry aspects from both performers. If you listen to the song with this in mind; you will begin to appreciate it, on another level. It has the style of introduction Dave is now using in his songs. A more aggressive style with Arabian sounds to it. I have a feeling Futura incorporated this style since she first appeared with “I’m Superstar” Or at least that is what I think? The melody and riff ;borrow heavily from Dave Rodgers classics, stemming anywhere from “Golden 70s Years” to “Space Boy”, but played with synth styles heard in the latest Futura songs. You also have the ever present Guitar solo, and vocally; Dave sounds, just as great ever. I’m also getting used to Futura’s vocals. She is really trying to belt out those notes and sound as effortless as Dave does delivering the goods. Now; for all the vocal power the song has, I only wish the music would have also been more powerful to fit a title like “Sun Fire”. To be a theme related song, I expected something more along the Lines of “Louder & Faster”. Now; if I view it as a Dave and Futura duet, I would have to say that “Just Another Day With You” is the best one yet. I never heard a complete version of “Dance into My Town”, so I can’t take that one into full consideration, but “JADWY” had a picture perfect intro and that’s enough for me to declare it the current champion. This song; with its great breakdown and hard synths and guitar, will enjoy many repeat plays on my stereo on the weeks to come. The best thing about Sun Fire label, is knowing that a Dave Rodgers solo effort isn’t too far from the horizon.
8+/10
Still a few songs to go to complete my SEB 217 review. Up next a wonderful new entry from one of my favorite David Dima Aliases, The long awaited return of one of my favorite aishu Eurobeat artists, the sophomore entry from Marika and Irene doing what she does best and just spreading pixie dust over the whole disc.
