E.P has been off the air for a while, but I got mine. All I can Say is Eurogrooves Eurogrroves Eurogrooves. I challenged Mr. Dall Ora to out do himself and create an even better song than A Perfect Hero and he did just that. More on that song later, but right now....Dr. NRG's SEB 192 review.
2. Domino & Kaioh - Nack 5(Go Go's)- This song originally gained a lot of hype with clips here and there all over the web, but aside from the good riff, it's pretty much a 5 minute radio jingle. The positive aspects are of course, that Domino and Freddy sound great together, the riff and the overall melody are good, but the lyrics just make me laugh, especially the last line in the chorus, which is 79(let's Go).5. It irritates me even more when they repeat it 5 x during the secong chorus. I'd say it's a mediocre novalty song that could have been so much better with proper lyrics. The Nack 5 line and 79.5 lines really get played out fast.
7-/10
3. Apple- Hey Boy(Eurogrooves)- This is more like it. Damn what power in that intro! Elena sounding alot like she did in Luca Pernicci's songs. The song reminded me of Para Boy- Barbi. The definate standout here are all the different instruments and soundworlds Mr. Dall ora has incorporated in his new style. Anyone who says they can't hear the difference are totally tone deaf. First off the Verses uses a different structure all together. You can hear Elena's vocals sampled and used as the actual melody and sound pefrect when coupled with that well known bridge. 1234...You have to Love it! The Hey Boy line is good old Dall Ora Eurobeat and sound best in the third phrase when it suddenly morphs into what I concider one of the best and (Read) proper Eurobeat breaks in a song since A Perect Hero . The Riff works extremely well by inserting extra synths keys inbetween each bar. and once again those poor Synths really sound like they got a pounding.LOL! All and all a powerful number for Miss Ferretti and it really sounds like both her and Mr. Dall Ora had fun making this song.
10+++
4. Megan- 1,2,3,4 Live On Dance Floor(Sinclaire Style)- Here is a perfect example of how a song can be so misleading when hearing the initial sample. First off; Sinclair has raised the volume even higher. Hurray!" Now he can compeet with the power of the other labels. I gotta say, this song turned out to be so much better than I ever expected. I could even say it's DELTA worthy. Definately Sinclaire's best offering to date. Megan's Vocals have also gone up a notch, but she sounds really great . especially when accompanied by the small claping effects in the verses. The bridge is kinda dull, but the Chorus is really full of life and it sounds like Bratt is finally starting to have some fun creating Eurobeat. Offbeat outro doesn't ruin the song's atmosphere.
8/10
5.Alphatown - Harajuku Night (Saifam) I still think F.C.F. is a better title for this song than Alphatown, but someone thought it was TIME for another Alphatown title to be released. I gotta start out with that intro. It sounds very original with it's Pop Corn effect and the added female vocals coupled with Mauro's vocals really gets the listener prepped up for that fast, but oh so catchy riff. I'm really starting to love Saifam all over again. Mauro really is getting into his vocals once again and he sounds so much like he did in the 80's. Everything works wonderful. The only slight peeve would be the chorus. Harajuku Nights just doesn't work as catchy as a initially thought it would. What I really love is that really cool break. I love the beat accompaning the harajuku Nights chanting. It's a short break, but sounds really in place with the rest of the song.
9/10
6. Domino- Para Girl(GoGo's)- We are up to the two songs that really don't work for me at all. Chanting and cutesy Eurobeat is really skippable material for me. The song is produced really well ,because it uses the adequate soundworlds for this type of song and I'll go as much to say that I like the melodies in the verses and bridge. Especially the male vocal cameo, but those chants inbetween make me cringe everyTIME I hear them. Not to mention the tottaly irritating Peace and Rythm chants that just kinda ruin the song for me. I probobly won't listen to this that much, but it's nowhere as bad as Irene's entry.
6-/10
7. Irene - Food Fighter(SCP) Like I mentioned on my initail thoughts, this was just produced to irritate me. There is nothing mature about this song at all. I could just say I hate it and move on, but I'll try to find some positive thing to say...and the only thing would be the bridge between the verses and chorus; mainly cuz there is no ridiculous shoutouts. It really isn't delicious. I really can't understand why SCP just didn't give this to Kika & Fancy and leave the Irene title alone? Who else hates the way they sing Foof Fighter? It sounds like Foot Fighter and all it needs is animated girly's kung fuing throught the song. Ahhh!!!! I can't beleive SCP have managed to drop lower than I Love My Dog? Please no more of this ever
3/10
8. Tri- Star- SEF Deluxe(HRG Attack) Hell YES!!! agressive proper Eurobeat. I love Tri-Star, but especially because Garcon makes his usual appearance in the appearence. You can hear him so wonderfully sing the SEF line. I also believe the female vocals are sounding rather normal. A lot like Ciao Ciao style. I can't get that riff out of my head. It's so HRG Attack and really boosting the songs power to another level up untill that awsome outro.
9+/10
9.Eurogroove- Euronight(Eurogrooves)- It's TIME for that magnificant number form Eurogrooves. Ah yes. Power right from the beggining. No doubt the Dall Ora style oozes out of every soundworld. The intro is really quick ,but right from the strat we get the epic "Euronite" chants that sound just like Jackson O or Lou Turner would sing in songs like Super Guy. I swear all TIME/Eurogrooves male vocalists sound so vane and proud when they sing that the songs are pure EGO. Again, whoever says that they can't hear the difference, clean out your ears. Listen to the way that riff is played. It skips and then inserts the keys in a way only Eurogrroves music can be played. The verses sound great with pure Eurobeat lyrics. I guess Lorenzo is singing this one. You can really hear the different octaves in his vocals throughout those Verses and Bridges and the "Follow me Tonight" line just gets the listener ready for that powerful powerful chorus. Now it's TIME for the standouts. The riff right after the second chorus. Was that played backwards? Damn I havn't heard that. The third verse is always great, cuz you get to hear each raw instrument that Sergio plays and the ways it jumps right into the "Euro" chants right before the chorus really sounds like two different vocalists singing in the song. This TIME around the break is kinda short, but oh so full of that aggressive power I have come to cherish form Mr. Dall Ora. The ripping guitars the pounding synths during the "I'm on fire" lines and now the added Groove. damn Eurogrooves presented the perfect song ever for a debut. It's TIME for my favourite part. The mini break with the the ohs,ohs right before the last chorus. Now that is what I call a HI Energy Eurogrooves rollar coaster ride. Now can he top that?
10++++++(best song ever for a debut)
10. Mara Nell- Pagal(HRG Attack)- This was the last fast song on the cd, but what an incredible entry form HRG Attack. The title is pure nonsense, since I never actually hear the word Paga in the chorus, but this song is what we have come to know and love about Live Music Studio. You have some really nostalgic melody in the verses much like Ciao Ciao song would have up to the inserted synths between each line. than it has a melody in the bridge from a Louis song, than BAM! a chorus to blow most choruses out of the water. Power Power and Agressivness from a female sung song really gets my blood pumping and this song does just that.
9+/10
11. Valerie Scott- A Simply Melody(Saifam)- I can't recall the last TIME when we had a female song from Saifam on SEB, but here we go. The feel of the cd takes a dive deep into the slower romantic sound of the 90's. I love that sound. Here we are graced with what looks like an older track from the Gabrielli era at Saifam. This ong is truly amazing in it's overall melody, but it really moves me when that beautiful Italo bridge comes in. The chorus is equally moving how it morphs into the synth riff, which sounds more adequate calling it a chord progression since it's feel is Italo. The third couplet is very special since you hear the raw soundworlds and without a doubt my absolute favourite is the way it builds up to it's perfect ending. oh.Watch out for that false outro. It's too perfect.
10/10
12.Kevin Johson- Tonight Tonight(DELTA)- We are up to one of my top 3 tracks on this milestone of a cd. Anyone who listened to TIME in the mid 90's will immediately recognize that style of intro. The song Every Dog Has His Day by Stop Limit Line immedieatly came to mind with it's galloping bass and mega clear percussion. Infact what we got here is a song reminding me of those older David R. Jones and Phil & Stan hits. Especially in that chorus, which sounds slightly like a speeded up version of TIME After TIME...but wait that isn't the only surprise. Not by a long shot. You must go way back in TIME to the 80's to recognize the riff inspired by one of Newfields favourits. That's right Tension- My Dream. Only played faster and revamped to Eurobeat style of today. This song will please any Italo fan who longs for the relaxed and meloncholic(is that a word?) melodies of the golden era. Even the way the chorus is sung is pure Italo memories. In my eyes the only song with a proper Extended legnth. Even Eurogrooves entries were slightly shorter than usual, but this song holds the perfect structure for mixing. Pity it won't be on vinyl. I would love to own this gem.
10++++/10
13. Annalise feat Dave Rodgers - Unbelievable(ABeatC)- ABEatC has nothing to be ashamed of with only one song on this cd, because it's better than both Go Go's songs put together. The intro is simply amazing. The raw piano reminds me of something I would hear in a Dee Dee song. It also takes a page right from the 90's style and is also inspired by Pasquinni's early work at FLEA . The riff brings this wonderful song into the Eurobeat of today, so it makes this song a perfect hybrid of 90's and 2000's. Dave and Annalise sound incredible together and should produce more songs like these in the future. The third verse plays the synths in a jumpy and catchy way that I really wish Dave has finally gotten rid of those other week airy keyboards and just sticks to this wonderfull sound.
10/10
Ace- Wait For You(SCP)- SCP really redeem themselves with this song. I care 0% for the original and it's horrendouse pop percussion, but this song sounds like a page out of Jay Lehr's story. In fact, I wish he had sung it, since I perfer his vocals to Ace. Here Ace sounds good. The song it'self starts off rather slow, but kinda builds up to romantic Eurobeat speed; wich is something I couldn't pick up on the samples. So yeah, I eat my words by saying it sounding like a simple production, cuz it's really beautifully produced and also one of my favourites. The break inbetween with it's pianos and music box is really moving and could hve more impact in my life than I realize. Only TIME will tell.
9+/10
Once again the songs that are mega agressive and those that are romantic have the biggest impact on me. The ones inbetween are o.k., but it's those extremeties that really stand out for me. Eurogrooves has made possibly the best debut for a Eurobeat Label ever. tied with HRG Attack's Jay Gunner- Touch Me and Vibration's -Jacky O- Flippin Out. Saifam really took the frontline with two incredible songs, HRG Attack hardly ever fails me. Even Garcon's Ride In My... from 191 grew on me quickly. Sinclaire has broken out of his boring dull shell and is injecting some real Eurobeat vibe onto his music. The surprises were Abeatc which after so many years can produce a beautiful track and definately DELTA; who produce hit after hit, but this TIME hit that perfect zone with an amazing remmenicent sounding track.... and last ,but not least SCPs complete turn around with Ace's entry. The future looks bright for Eurobeat if we keep getting these different styles in every cd.
The mega mix was again a compltete waste of space, just showcasing the choruses. They can easily fit two more songs in there.
And how does a song like Unbelievable deserve a 5/5?