I'd missed this recent release on revitalised R & S Records until Rothko was playing me some of his latest new records. I immediately went daft for the lead track on this single.
Stereo Freeze is a monster of a dubstep/electro banger. I've been playing it a lot, and mainly at ear-shredding volumes. This is easily the best track I've heard by Untold, but is so good that I'll keep checking them out, just in case there is more as good as this.
The flip side isn't quite so good. There are excellent elements and sections, but the whole is a little disappointing. Much more the Untold I'm used to.
I picked this up in Undergound Solush'n in Edinburgh when I ventured through there to celebrate my brother's birthday.
I have to say that I was very excited when I first heard of this release, the first new Model 500 record in over 10 years. The truly legendary innovator Juan Atkins has been releasing records on his Metroplex label since the mid 80s and a number of them are among my all time favourites.
Add to that the fact the Mad Mike has joined in along with some of his Underground Resistance acolytes and I really didn't need any more convincing. I was so certain it would be good that I bought it without listening to it first. I was not disappointed. I picked it up in rubadub almost a week ago now and I have been playing it over and over since.
OFI shows the new line up have updated the classic Model 500 sound of bassline, processed vocals and electro percussion. But what a bassline this time! Only UR make this kind of wonky electronic funk, and it's been a while since it was as fine as this.
The breakdown comes from nowhere and disappears as fast, but the melty synths that come in are so sweet. Then it's back to the bassline and the boom. This all adds up to a stunner for me, if a little odd in places.
Mad Mike remixes OFI on the same side where he strips it back, boosting the vocals and arpeggios and a adding a wee bit of acid burble. Very Kraftwerk. Very good. I love the way he twists the arpeggio around, it sounds a bit like he could be playing guitar to me, but who knows?
On the other side you'll find Huesca, which sounds so Detroit it hurts. It's more 4:4 than OFI, and the overall effect puts me in mind of top notch Red Planet or Galaxy 2 Galaxy, but still with a distinct Model 500 flavour. Right up my street.
This is a fucking awesome single and I really hope I don't have to wait another 10 years for the next one. This collaboration has brought the best out in everyone and reminds me why I love Detroit music so much.
This really is fairly ancient. First released in 1994,a time when trance wasn't a bad word. I remember hearing both sides of this record loads during the time I was first getting into clubbing and partying. I thought it was about time I picked it up.
For me its mainly about Jeroen Verheij's remix of his own track, although I still have a soft spot for Joey Beltram's remix, despite the fact its really starting to show it's age.
