Hi-nrg attack releases

[the_ditz]

I really want to buy the Va Va Boom album (I would just buy the 9 tracks I don't have, but that works out more expensive than buying the full album!) but I'm not sure that I can honestly afford it at the moment. My payday isn't till a week on Monday though...

Decisions, decisions... Put Down Your Gun sounds awesome!!

[DJ Mike TJG]

New Juno release:

Bratt Protone

01 Bratt Protone - "The Sound Of The Underground" (extended)
02 P Stone - "Light My Fire" (extended)
03 Babby One - "Let Your Mama Send You Buy The Milk" (extended)
04 Lucky Boy - "I'm A Lucky Boy" (extended)
05 Tam Arrow - "Fire To The Eurobeat" (extended)
06 P Stone - "Black Jack Fire" (extended)
07 Mote Mote - "Korea Japan" (extended)
08 P Stone - "Water In The Gas" (extended)
09 Beat Man - "It's The Final Shutdown" (extended)
10 Mote Mote - "Victim Of Desire" (extended)
11 Babby One - "Super Knife" (extended)
12 Tam Arrow - "Tam Arrow Go!" (extended)
13 P Stone - "My Hot Shot Katana" (extended)

[#Infinity]

Sweet heavens, Hi-NRG Attack is sure cramming a lot of new releases into such a small period of time! I only just bought Bazooka Girl & Friends and Nick Turbo Va Va Boom last weekend, so I probably won't be able to purchase this Claudio Magnani-themed compilation until much later.

Samples for this album are good in general, but overall the compilation feels a lot samier and more standard compared to previous releases they've put out, and that's not really a good thing when it's Hi-NRG Attack that you're dealing with. My favorite new track from this album based on the samples is probably My Hot Shot Katana, but Let Your Mama Send You Buy The Milk sounds like a pleasant little surprise as well.

[drnrg]

Funny how they chose Bratt Protone as this compilation's title. Wasn't Tam Arrow his most famouse alias at HRG?

01 Bratt Protone - "The Sound Of The Underground" (extended)
I've had this for someTIME now. A little mellower for HRG , but still catchy nuff for me.
8/10

02 P Stone - "Light My Fire" (extended)
Wow! I'm liking this alot. Sounds something from 90's Eurobeat. Bang Bang Bang works for me at all levels. The riff is something right out of 90's TIME as well.
10+/10

03 Babby One - "Let Your Mama Send You Buy The Milk" (extended)
I didn't think that title could pull off a Eurobeat vibe, but it even has an Italo sound in the chorus. He kinda going for that Rick Castle sound. I like it.
9-/10

04 Lucky Boy - "I'm A Lucky Boy" (extended)
He even sounds mellower in this song. Poor Luckyboy has gone thru many vocal changes. Roby, Franz, Gianni and Claudio. This song has trouble finding its groove melodically. Even the riff sounds confused.
7-/10

05 Tam Arrow - "Fire To The Eurobeat" (extended)
This one is always one of my favs from Tam. The Fire Fire Fire line reminds me of Atrium's song , also sung by Claudio. I really enjoy how smooth his vocals sound on this song.
10-/10

06 P Stone - "Black Jack Fire" (extended)
...and another melody switch for HRG. New unreleased songs make the biggest impact on me and this one gots me really excited. The chortus has another beat from another song, but I can't remeber wich one?
9/10

07 Mote Mote - "Korea Japan" (extended)
Another of my favourite aliases for Claudio. This song is simply on fire. Heavy on the Italo flava in that chorus makes it perfect for the catchy riff. Simply Amazing.
10+/10

08 P Stone - "Water In The Gas" (extended)
What a weird title for a song, but awesome melody makes up for that title. The beat in the verses is what catches my attention. This song kinda has two riffs, eh?I'm still waiting for Emergency.
9-/10

09 Beat Man - "It's The Final Shutdown" (extended)
This song made a real strong impact on me. I found myself singing It's the Final Countdown from Vanessa. Anyway, the rest of the song isn't too special, but still nice.
7+/10

10 Mote Mote - "Victim Of Desire" (extended)
Pretty good for Mote Mote. SomeTIMES the melody in the verses and bridge make the song all the more interesting. This one has a really overhashed melody in the chorus, but I still like it.
8-/10

11 Babby One - "Super Knife" (extended)
Complete with lasers when I first heard this , I thought it wasd TIME. maybe the new De Niro. This is one Super Fantastic song that I can listen to anyTIME anywhere. I have no idea what it means , but damn dio I love "Spacy" Eurobeat.
10+++++

12 Tam Arrow - "Tam Arrow Go!" (extended)
Damn I have this on those first mail order Live Music Cds. I think they forget what they have released. Anyway, this one is my favourit Tam song ever. Claudio really new how to put that emphasis on certain words to give the song that killer power.
10+++


13 P Stone - "My Hot Shot Katana" (extended)
This is what I'm talking about. It's those whoas in the chorus that blow me away. What a chorus. best new song on the compilation.
10+++

The hit ratio is heavy on this cd. If you are a fan of Claudio's vocals, then I highly recammended it. If you are an HRG fan, just get your Mom's credit card and order it allready.

[valiant]

Wow, this release is amazing.

Finally! Yay for "Let Your Mama Send You Buy The Milk"! (I love it!! Such a fun song )

A lot of these tracks are pretty fresh imo. I always enjoyed Claudio's vocals (especially in Hi-NRG Attack)

There are simply too many good ones here in order to determine a favorite. Excellent release once again Hi-NRG Attack! Keep em' Rolling!

[the_ditz]

There is not a single sample hear that doesn't sound awesome!! Unlike #Infinity, I actually think the tracks on this album all sound like they have their own unique personality. It's good to hear a change of pace every now and then and some quirky little melodies that have never been showcased before.

I'm off to purchase all of these right now

[trainerkelly]

From what I listened to so far on the Bratt Protone album (I started listening to it at school, before the bell, so...), there are quite a few surprises for the intros, which didn't sound quite like Hi-NRG Attack to me, but were great to listen to nonetheless.

x3 I'm looking forward to listening to the rest of it and listening to it on repeat for a while. I'll probably post up a review in a couple weeks on it. =3

[wolftickets1969]

There's still many completely unheard artists in the 2004-2006 era, including several "one track wonders", eg Alison Batton, Judy Lee, Lady Truffle, Frengo, Miss Joke(claimed to be Alice, but that may be a lie), as well as Nikka Tosta - Cross My Heart, Giorgia Barrows(long time no hear for this alias) - Taking Your Breath Away, Michelle Rose - I Never Found A Girl Like You(lesbian?), several Alice in ParaPara Land songs, etc. Hopefully they'll get around to these someday, if not, so be it.
BTW, Speed McQueen sounds like a completely new (male to boot) artist, IMO. Sadly, he's also a one track wonder so far.

[Jay]

From what I listened to so far on the Bratt Protone album (I started listening to it at school, before the bell, so...), there are quite a few surprises for the intros, which didn't sound quite like Hi-NRG Attack to me, but were great to listen to nonetheless.

Probably because these are all a few years old, back when HRG possessed an ounce of creativity.

[zoupzuop2]

From what I listened to so far on the Bratt Protone album (I started listening to it at school, before the bell, so...), there are quite a few surprises for the intros, which didn't sound quite like Hi-NRG Attack to me, but were great to listen to nonetheless.

Probably because these are all a few years old, back when HRG possessed an ounce of creativity.

They ever stopped?

[Jay]

I thought HRG was more creative a few years back, both melodically and lyrically, but each to their own, I guess.

Their recent male productions are nice to listen to these days, but they lack the spark of the HRG productions from yesteryear. Some of the songs from the Claudio Magnani album are really cool, such as 'The Sound of the Underground'. I've had it on loop for about two hours now, heh.

[taQ]

hmmm...the Lucky Boy song isn't claudio though, it's rick castle.

[the_ditz]

I love this release. There isn't a single song that I dislike, and every one has a certain charm that draws me in.

The vocal melody of I'm A Lucky Boy is really tender and understated for Hi-NRG Attack. Super Knife has such awesome raw power throughout, and My Hot Shot Katana is a well-structured production all around.

I may do a complete review later on today, but I'm really excited for more releases showcasing unreleased Hi-NRG Attack tracks from this same time period. In my opinion - similar to what Jay said - these songs highlight a time when the creativity levels at Live Music Studio was at an all-time high, and if only they could rediscover the spark they had back then in their modern productions, they would be the shining stars of SEB (they're still one of my favourite labels, but they could be so much better on the evidence of these tracks).

[wolftickets1969]

They haven't completely lost their creativity, of course, have they? Examples: YKML(one of the most unique HRG songs to appear on SEB), Turbo Power, Wheels On Fire, Bomba, Matrioska niet Katiuska, Race Speed & Fire.
Does anyone think Avex have a "style forcing" restriction imposed on HRG(although they can independently release material)? Conversely SCP, although locked into Avex for publishing, still have innovation/creativity up their sleeve.

[the_ditz]

They haven't completely lost their creativity, of course, have they? Examples: YKML(one of the most unique HRG songs to appear on SEB), Turbo Power, Wheels On Fire, Bomba, Matrioska niet Katiuska, Race Speed & Fire.
Does anyone think Avex have a "style forcing" restriction imposed on HRG(although they can independently release material)? Conversely SCP, although locked into Avex for publishing, still have innovation/creativity up their sleeve.

I never said that they had lost their creativity completely, but the evidence of these tracks is that they were soooo much better (and produced more consistently good tracks) a few years ago.

Anyway, who's up for a full review of Bratt Protone...



01 BRATT PROTONE - THE SOUND OF THE UNDERGROUND (05:04)
We kick off this powerful trip with a (welcome) repeat from the Tornado & Friends release. The UFO-style whistling and the "woah-oh-oh-oh" strands get this track off to a mysterious start. The hook is quite low in tone compared to many other productions from this time, and it has a sharp raspy tone to it. The vocal melody is quite playful, rising and falling but always flowing methodically. The hits used throughout add the trademark Hi-NRG punch to the production as a whole, and you are never far from an electric guitar flourish to keep you happy! I can guarantee that you will be singing that "woah-oh-oh-oh" strand after listening to this track a couple of times - it really stays in your brain!
Score: 9.5/10

02 P STONE - LIGHT MY FIRE (05:16)
BANG! BANG! BANG! is how we are greeted in this track, so you know we're going to have quite a powerful production ahead. The introduction on the whole is fairly uneventful and doesn't have a unique or catchy hook like The Sound Of The Underground, but all is forgiven when that classic bright brassy hook starts to dance over the beats. The synchopation used in the vocals here reminds me of other hits tracks of late like Sexy Wild & Crazy Sound, so instantly this track has a little more depth from the varied rhythms used. If anything, I'd say that the vocal melody is a little erratic during the bridge in particular, but things come together nicely during the chorus with another catchy rise and fall section with those sharp synth hits and more hooks than you can shake a stick at! The breakdown after the repeated verse is a little cut and paste for my liking, but overall this is a very well-done and catchy track.
Score: 9/10

03 BABBY ONE - LET YOUR MAMA SEND YOU BUY THE MILK TONIGHT (05:03)
Wow - what a unique intro! The synth chord bursts sound like they have been taken straight out of a piece of 90's dance-pop, and the female vocals soaring in the background reinforce this idea. This track has a slightly slower BPM than the previous two, so it stands out nicely. As soon as the main hook kicks in, we are straight back into that high brass hit synth sound, and an almost goofy melody takes us into the tongue-in-cheek vocal section. For once, I can actually say that I was quite impressed with the lyrics of a Hi-NRG Attack track - this one tackles the subject of a boy who is forbidden from seeing the object of his affections by the girl's family, so he develops an ingenious plan to get around that - "let your mama send you buy the milk"! Sure, it's wacky and extremely cheesy, but this is pure Hi-NRG Attack gold! I love the bridge section in particular, and the melodic progression is one that I've rarely heard in Eurobeat - it's almost latino in places! Overall, this track is definitely the one that will grow on you the most with repeat listens, and it's a welcome diversion from the more full-on energy-packed aggression of the other tracks on the album.
Score: 10/10

04 LUCKY BOY - I'M A LUCKY BOY (05:01)
Smooth vocals and bell synths are the order of the day here, and I for one am a fan of this track for its tenderness that never seems contrived or too prissy. The female backing vocals contrast beautifully with the crystal clear lead vocals, and the sentiments behind the lyrics cannot be missed - "I'm a lucky boy to fall in love with you". This is the kind of aishu eurobeat that Time used to attempt on several occasions throughout an SEB decade, but they never came near this simplistic yet highly effective and polished Eurobeat ballad. I can't get the melody of this track out of my head - I've been whistling it at work all day long - and I can tell that it will be one of those slower tracks that will shine on for a long time to come, in the company of Wait For You by Ace.
Score: 9.5/10

05 TAM ARROW - FIRE TO THE EUROBEAT (05:04)
Those Night Of Fire-esque crowd cheers during the intro make it clear what track this one is paying homage to, but don't expect a Sinclaire-style production, as this one is pure classic Hi-NRG Attack gold. The simplicity of the chorus really makes this one a big crowd-pleaser in my eyes, and I can just see the crowds going wild in a nightclub as the sound effects suggest. The synth execution and overall production of this track perhaps isn't as polished or elaborate of other tracks on this album, but for that reason it has a certain charm. The main hook seems almost too high-pitched, bright and clean for the song, but I can't deny that it sounds great in that retro 80's form. The only thing you can really say about this track is - FIRE!!! FIRE!!! FIRE!!! Fire to tha eurobeat!!
Score: 9/10

06 P STONE -BLACK JACK FIRE (05:03)
Oh wow, Im loving those digitized, muted electric guitar riffs during the intro in this track. It gives the track a really unique and powerful first impression. The main hook is another well-planned power trip - everything's sounding awesome so far. To be honest, the verses are the only real part of this track that kind of let the side down. There's nothing melodically wrong with them, but after such a unique intro, they just somehow seem quite generic. However, by the time we've reached the chorus, all is forgiven - that rousing sing-along vocal is epic, and it actually puts me in mind of something that Mega NRG Man may have done earlier on in his career. Those synth chords backing up the vocals give things a really unique quality as well - I can't help but think of one of those really epic late 80's, early 90's power rock ballads when I hear it. All in all, a great package with fantastic production values once again.
Score: 9.5/10

07 MOTE MOTE - KOREA JAPAN (05:16)
Most of you will probably have heard this track already, so I'll keep this review a little shorter. The vocal melody is the thing that shines here for me, purely for the unique rhythms and cool pitch/key changes that are incorporated - that excellent part just before the bridge where the melody descends through a few 16th notes excites me more than any melody should! I'm also loving the unique synth production during the main hook - those sharp staccato hits teamed with the longer synth tones give a really explosive combination!
Score: 9.5/10

08 P STONE - WATER IN THE GAS (05:03)
Now, I don't want people to laugh or roll their eyes at this comment, but hopefully those that have heard the intro to this track will understand. Basically, the producers have somehow managed to create shimmering water in musical form! The shuddering synths and lighter bass tones all combine to create a sense of a large open area of water. However, I reckon there must be some petrol in there too, as BAM!! The main hook explodes with its supersaw melody and speedy beats. There are some more really interesting melodic details in the vocal line of this track - the most noticeable of which can be heard during that epic bridge section. Each individual section of this song could be a completely different track if it were extended, and I think that's the fun part of the track on the whole. Also, you've gotta love that 2nd hook after the second chorus iteration - it really adds another cool dimension to the overall production. Oh, and look out for the hook for "The Final Countdown" by Europe making an appearance during the second half of the song!!!
Score: 9.5/10

09 BEAT MAN - IT'S THE FINAL SHUTDOWN (05:09)
The BPMs take a small drop here again, and to be honest I can't decide whether that's a good thing or not. The intro for this track is fairly arbitrary and doesn't really do much other than pass time before the main hook. And it's a hook that doesn't really sit well for me - perhaps it's just outshone by the more complex and powerful hooks from other tracks on this album, but it doesn't really inject much energy into the song for me. The vocal sections are a little better, playing with some subtle key changes and good flowing patterns in the melody, but overall I feel that this track just seems to be lacking a little spice and spark. It may grow more on me, but for now it is the black sheep of the release.
Score: 7.5/10

10 MOTE MOTE - VICTIM OF DESIRE (05:04)
Some drunk siren layers greet us to this rather unsettling intro, and things are made even more confusing with the addition of what sounds like a giraffe in labour to the structure. The na-na-na's unsettle me further for some reason - I can't tell why, it's just a weird intro! From the main hook however, we are in a completely new song. The raw power of the hook makes me think of classics like Control Alt Delete And Blow, and I'm instantly at ease again. Overall, this track highlights everything that is good about male Hi-NRG Attack tracks - raw energy and power, an incredibly catchy and fairly simplistic vocal melody and of course those stuttering tom-tom drums and synth bursts keeping that element of surprise in the mix! This track isn't going to change the world, but I quite enjoy it on the whole... that intro may take a little longer to sink in though.
Score: 8.5/10

11 BABBY ONE - SUPER KNIFE (05:04)
Okay, let's try to find a word to describe this track......... nope, there is no word strong or accurate enough to describe just how freaking AMAZING it is!!! From the get-go, we are greeted by beat bursts and an introduction to the chorus that we'll soon be singing non-stop! The middle section of the intro has a really interesting bass riff going on that serves to build the tension, as you wonder exactly what is come next, and then....WOW!! That final vocal strand before the hook is almost orgasmic - think the "EURONIGHT!!" strands during the intro to the Eurogroove track and you're halfway there. One of the best main hooks I've EVER heard follows (and that's saying something). The brassy-string combination in the synth used is just perfect and it dances happily over the beat and guitars. The playful nature of the vocal melody is also a real treat as it grounds the track a little after the amazingly high-octane intro and hook, and the whole section is so sing-along friendly that I can guarantee you will be singing along to at least one part by the end of the song. The synth bursts during the chorus to highlight the "SUPER KNIFE" are just perfectly placed, and all-in-all I just cannot get enough of this track. On a side note actually, I somehow can't get the image of a superhero out of my head when I hear the chorus... Without a doubt, the highlight of all of the unreleased Hi-NRG Attack material thus far. PLAY IT LOUD!!
Score: 10/10 (although it deserves 1,000,000/10!!)

12 TAM ARROW - TAM ARROW GO! (05:03)
This track holds quite a few fond memories for me, as it was one of the very first Eurobeat tracks I ever heard (back in my DDR/Stepmania days in the early 2000's) and I have to say, it stands the test of time very well actually. The "woah" creates a really infectious hook running through the track, and we have all the possible Hi-NRG Attack words - energy, boom, power, and that classic "Ahy-ahy-ahy-ah" strand. This is a classic in my eyes, and it's great to hear it again!
Score: 9.5/10

13 P STONE - MY HOT SHOT KATANA (05:25)
Sadly, we have reached the final track of this epic journey, and they have saved an absolute corker until last! The almost disco-style "boo" synths during the intro create quite and futuristic atmosphere and I love the classic stuttering muted synths in the background. The main hook is one of the more melodically appealing of the tracks here, and it really has an infectious rhythm and melody, while showcasing a broad range of notes. When we get into the vocal sections, we have the winning combination of synth hits, smooth vocals and scattered beats, but the best part of the track centres around a fairly simple musical device - the key change into the chorus! Once again, I am excited more than I should be by a piece of music, but that sliding volume increase into the key change and that excellent chorus is just fantastic. I also adore the fact that during the breakdown, we hear the chorus at the verse pitch before the melody switches once again to the higher key. On the subject of the breakdowns, this track definitely has one of the more inventive second halves - it doesn't just sound like a cut-and-paste job, and the whole thing flows perfectly. Had Super Knife not been on this album, this track would've been my highlight without a doubt. Still, it's an awesome to end an awesome album.
Score: 10/10

Top 3 tracks (you MUST buy these!!):
Babby One - Super Knife
P Stone - My Hot Shot Katana
Babby One - Let Your Mama Send You Buy The Milk Tonight

Overall, I'd definitely rate this album as the best to be released by the label on junodownload.com so far. The quality is completely unparalleled and there is not a single duff song out of the 13 tracks. I cannot express how fantastically varied and incredibly catchy the tracks are - the only way you could understand is to purchase the tracks yourself, sit back and enjoy the energy trip!!