| Release Date: | 2005-09-21 |
By Marishka
Used with permission from Trancetribe
Rating: 8.5 stars
Enigma records was born in 2001, and since then has dedicated its blood and sweat to helping local Australian dance artists' creations reach the ears and dancefloors of the respective audience.
This self-titled CD compilation is the third of it's kind and comes on the heels of the popular mix albums by talented Sydney DJ's - Yoshi and Jumping Jack ("Soundtrack to my life" and "Art of trance", correspondingly).
The first two installments out of the "Enigma Records" series achieved critical acclaim, gaining praise from such bigwigs in Australian music circuits as In The Mix, 3D World and Resident Advisor alike.
Even knowing of such solid reputation of the label, this double CD release has impressed me even more than I dared anticipate.
First disc is driving and punchy, and features works by artists who do not require introduction in the Sydney music scene - Liquid M, Yoshi, Chia and H.P.S?. Liquid M's Schizophrenia kicks off the CD with its eery yet spinetingling hook and grimy bassline, setting the pace for the CD which ranges through from tougher, harder edge of trance, to hard house, to edgy, banging techno. Track 8 (H.P.S?'s Microdot) especially stands out with its quirky percussion - a techy track which nevetheless fits in perfectly between a range of hard house tunes. Energy levels are kept beyond all boiling points all throughout the CD, and culminate in a series of banging techno tunes, of the H.P.S? variety.
Second CD starts off somewhat Leftfield-esque - with a several chill electronic numbers, which are then built up to chunky progressive feel of the middle of the CD. Basslines on tracks 6, 8 and 9 (by Native, Dave Dean and Victor James respectively) especially got me wishing I was hearing them on Sweetchilli or Reason speakers instead of my headphones at home. Trancy-er elements are introduced later with beautiful pads and synths on a selection of tracks, especially those by Victor James.
The entire lot was mixed by a talented local rising star DJ - Scot Baker, whose first claim to fame was the winning place in the 2002 Plastic DJ Competition. Scott has not looked back since then, and by this CD you can tell why - tracks on both CDs are professionally interwoven into a seemless flow, second CD especially impresses with its journey from chillout beats to progressive trance.
Overall, this CD certainly stands up to any international releases of its kind (track selection *and* mastering-wise). The first disc be in the stereo especially when of need to being pumped up for harder events, whilst the second will be on permanent rotation in my stereo for a while to come.
The CD can be purchased directly from Enigma Records website, or from dance records stores around Sydney.