Meller - Rockable
Tribal Vision, November 2005
Author: pr0fane
Date: Nov 10, 2005
Views: 2631
Review by: Jannick Andersen // pr0fane
Website: www.sunrisesupplies.com
Label: www.dance-n-dust.com
Artist: Meller
Title: Rockable
Label: Tribal Vision
Format: CD (Jewelcase with 12 page inlay and DJ-insert)
Released: November, 2005
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/tvr1cd004_b.jpg
Review:
After 3 compilations containing a mix of progressive house and progressive psytrance for both the night and daytime, the promising new Czech label Tribal Vision is ready with their first artist-release: the new Meller album \"Rockable\", also containing 5 remixes - mostly by some well-known artists from the Tribal Vision roster. Meller consists of the two German DJ\'s Mel and Scherer, and while it perhaps isn\'t the most well-known act on the progressive scene, they have a bunch of releases in their biography, including a full length album, \"Solar Drums\", released last year on AP Records.
So ... 5 tracks from Meller, and 5 remixes of those same tracks - Looks like a quite interesting concept. Let\'s see if it can live up to Tribal Visions high standard so far.
01. Rockable [140 BPM]
\"Rockable\" opens the album with a short and very strange intro, which frankly made me consider if my copy was damaged. The bassline kicks in after only 1 second, and is banging psychedelic \"German\" festival progressive from the start - not really that groovy, and with a few very cheesy guitar-samples and some heavy percussion. Didn\'t really appeal to me.
02. Fatboy [140 BPM]
Things get a bit darker with \"Fatboy\", which is less of a daytime festival tune than the opener and more a nighttime progressive stomper. Some gloomy pads set the atmosphere, but the most dominant element is the male theme sample \"I am the great thick rockboy...\", giving the track some distinctiveness - but not enough to really make me appreciate the track overall.
03. My Favourite Man [140 BPM]
Up next is \"My Favourite Man\", and to me it\'s definitely the most interesting of the original tracks. A very corny sample of a drunk guy, which sounds like a cutout from an old live jazz-recording, is the theme of the track, and it really works like a charm, giving the track a nice, humorous touch - add to that some fairly funky and catchy grooves and the result is a quite good outdoor groover.
04. Phase Nacht [140 BPM]
As the title implies \"Phase Nacht\" takes the album back into the night territory, and it is definitely the most minimal track on the album, with a tight bass and a very static groove. Some of the percussion works quite well, but what is up with that random, out of tune melody? Didn\'t really like the track, and for me it was a low-point on the album.
05. Aurora [135 BPM]
Things improve a great deal with final original track \"Aurora\" though, the most laidback and mellow track so far, and one of the standouts. The male \"I feel something wonderful\" sample seems perfectly chosen for this nice little morning beauty, filled with blissful pads and sweet melodies. By far the most pleasant of the original Meller tracks, and also my favourite.
06. Rockable (NASA Remix) [140 BPM]
First remix is by Danish NASA, who\'s really established himself on the scene in the last couple of years with releases on Iboga, Plastik Park, DOMO, Com.Pact and Tatsu - just to name a few. His version of \"Rockable\" has more melodic layers than the original, and can best be described as a fluid mix of progressive and psychedelic full on. Cool remix, although more loyal fans of NASAs sound would like it better than I did.
07. Fatboy (Rinkadink Remix) [140 BPM]
One of South Africas absolutely finest exports, the wacky full on producer Rinkadink, is up next with a remix of \"Fatboy\". The result is really something special: powerful yet never stressful full on, super funky and groovy, and the theme sample has been tampered to perfection. This is the kind of tune that people will remember when looking back at a party - very quirky and original stuff, I totally love it.
08. My Favourite Man (Tegma Remix) [140 BPM]
\"My Favourite Man\" is remixed by Tegma from Sweden, and they\'ve given it a more full on approach, not as dark and techy as their latest releases on Tribal Vision and Moonflower, but pretty close to the lighter style on their \"002: avant.garde\" album. Basically a pumping full on/progressive trance crossover remix, with the groovy and melodic breakdown as my favourite part. Great work.
09. Phase Nacht (Etnoscope Remix) [140 BPM]
Etnoscope is up next with a remix \"Phase Nacht\", and as usual from these Swedes their version track is very heavy on their trademark: rolling live-percussion. Their remix is much better than the original, with a very organic atmosphere, and a sound very suitable for a nighttime forest set. Not a very surprising or ground-breaking remix, but solid work nevertheless.
10. Aurora (Vibrasphere Remix) [132 BPM]
Last - but certainly not least - we get a remix by one of my personal favourites, the Swedish duo Vibrasphere. They have a very distinct sound, an extremely smooth and caressing mix of ambient and trance, and it\'s a perfect match to \"Aurora\", which was already the mellowest of the original tracks. Vibraspheres remix has an even more laidback groove than the original, and generally the sound is very epic and uplifting, almost suitable for a set by Tïesto - but I can\'t really say that it\'s a bad thing. Totally amazing and enjoyable remix.
Bottom line:
As a stand alone album, I would have considered \"Rockable\" a pretty average release. The 5 original tracks are decent, but not much more - the production isn\'t always as clear as most have come to expect from the best progressive psytrance in 2005, and generally the musical content isn\'t really that impressive either. The release is definitely saved by the remixes though - all the remixes are of fairly high quality and pretty different from the originals, with especially Vibrasphere and Rinkadink standing out with some truly stunning reworks.
All in all \"Rockable\" is pretty good - quite diverse, with a mix of morning and night progressive psytrance, minimal, and a twist of full on as well. If you have liked Mellers releases so far, I guess you shouldn\'t hesitate in picking it up. Otherwise buy it for the remixes.
Favourites:
3, 5, 7 (!!), 8, 9, 10 (!!)
Verdict:
7/10
Links:
Tribal Vision Records: www.tribalvisison.cz
Meller: www.meller.de
DJ Mel: www.dj-mel.de
Website: www.sunrisesupplies.com
Label: www.dance-n-dust.com
Artist: Meller
Title: Rockable
Label: Tribal Vision
Format: CD (Jewelcase with 12 page inlay and DJ-insert)
Released: November, 2005
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/tvr1cd004_b.jpg
Review:
After 3 compilations containing a mix of progressive house and progressive psytrance for both the night and daytime, the promising new Czech label Tribal Vision is ready with their first artist-release: the new Meller album \"Rockable\", also containing 5 remixes - mostly by some well-known artists from the Tribal Vision roster. Meller consists of the two German DJ\'s Mel and Scherer, and while it perhaps isn\'t the most well-known act on the progressive scene, they have a bunch of releases in their biography, including a full length album, \"Solar Drums\", released last year on AP Records.
So ... 5 tracks from Meller, and 5 remixes of those same tracks - Looks like a quite interesting concept. Let\'s see if it can live up to Tribal Visions high standard so far.
01. Rockable [140 BPM]
\"Rockable\" opens the album with a short and very strange intro, which frankly made me consider if my copy was damaged. The bassline kicks in after only 1 second, and is banging psychedelic \"German\" festival progressive from the start - not really that groovy, and with a few very cheesy guitar-samples and some heavy percussion. Didn\'t really appeal to me.
02. Fatboy [140 BPM]
Things get a bit darker with \"Fatboy\", which is less of a daytime festival tune than the opener and more a nighttime progressive stomper. Some gloomy pads set the atmosphere, but the most dominant element is the male theme sample \"I am the great thick rockboy...\", giving the track some distinctiveness - but not enough to really make me appreciate the track overall.
03. My Favourite Man [140 BPM]
Up next is \"My Favourite Man\", and to me it\'s definitely the most interesting of the original tracks. A very corny sample of a drunk guy, which sounds like a cutout from an old live jazz-recording, is the theme of the track, and it really works like a charm, giving the track a nice, humorous touch - add to that some fairly funky and catchy grooves and the result is a quite good outdoor groover.
04. Phase Nacht [140 BPM]
As the title implies \"Phase Nacht\" takes the album back into the night territory, and it is definitely the most minimal track on the album, with a tight bass and a very static groove. Some of the percussion works quite well, but what is up with that random, out of tune melody? Didn\'t really like the track, and for me it was a low-point on the album.
05. Aurora [135 BPM]
Things improve a great deal with final original track \"Aurora\" though, the most laidback and mellow track so far, and one of the standouts. The male \"I feel something wonderful\" sample seems perfectly chosen for this nice little morning beauty, filled with blissful pads and sweet melodies. By far the most pleasant of the original Meller tracks, and also my favourite.
06. Rockable (NASA Remix) [140 BPM]
First remix is by Danish NASA, who\'s really established himself on the scene in the last couple of years with releases on Iboga, Plastik Park, DOMO, Com.Pact and Tatsu - just to name a few. His version of \"Rockable\" has more melodic layers than the original, and can best be described as a fluid mix of progressive and psychedelic full on. Cool remix, although more loyal fans of NASAs sound would like it better than I did.
07. Fatboy (Rinkadink Remix) [140 BPM]
One of South Africas absolutely finest exports, the wacky full on producer Rinkadink, is up next with a remix of \"Fatboy\". The result is really something special: powerful yet never stressful full on, super funky and groovy, and the theme sample has been tampered to perfection. This is the kind of tune that people will remember when looking back at a party - very quirky and original stuff, I totally love it.
08. My Favourite Man (Tegma Remix) [140 BPM]
\"My Favourite Man\" is remixed by Tegma from Sweden, and they\'ve given it a more full on approach, not as dark and techy as their latest releases on Tribal Vision and Moonflower, but pretty close to the lighter style on their \"002: avant.garde\" album. Basically a pumping full on/progressive trance crossover remix, with the groovy and melodic breakdown as my favourite part. Great work.
09. Phase Nacht (Etnoscope Remix) [140 BPM]
Etnoscope is up next with a remix \"Phase Nacht\", and as usual from these Swedes their version track is very heavy on their trademark: rolling live-percussion. Their remix is much better than the original, with a very organic atmosphere, and a sound very suitable for a nighttime forest set. Not a very surprising or ground-breaking remix, but solid work nevertheless.
10. Aurora (Vibrasphere Remix) [132 BPM]
Last - but certainly not least - we get a remix by one of my personal favourites, the Swedish duo Vibrasphere. They have a very distinct sound, an extremely smooth and caressing mix of ambient and trance, and it\'s a perfect match to \"Aurora\", which was already the mellowest of the original tracks. Vibraspheres remix has an even more laidback groove than the original, and generally the sound is very epic and uplifting, almost suitable for a set by Tïesto - but I can\'t really say that it\'s a bad thing. Totally amazing and enjoyable remix.
Bottom line:
As a stand alone album, I would have considered \"Rockable\" a pretty average release. The 5 original tracks are decent, but not much more - the production isn\'t always as clear as most have come to expect from the best progressive psytrance in 2005, and generally the musical content isn\'t really that impressive either. The release is definitely saved by the remixes though - all the remixes are of fairly high quality and pretty different from the originals, with especially Vibrasphere and Rinkadink standing out with some truly stunning reworks.
All in all \"Rockable\" is pretty good - quite diverse, with a mix of morning and night progressive psytrance, minimal, and a twist of full on as well. If you have liked Mellers releases so far, I guess you shouldn\'t hesitate in picking it up. Otherwise buy it for the remixes.
Favourites:
3, 5, 7 (!!), 8, 9, 10 (!!)
Verdict:
7/10
Links:
Tribal Vision Records: www.tribalvisison.cz
Meller: www.meller.de
DJ Mel: www.dj-mel.de
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