Review by:
Jannick Andersen // DJ pr0fane (Dance N Dust Records)
www.sunrisesupplies.com




Artist: Antix
Title: Twin Coast Remixes
Label: Iboga
Format: CD (Jewelcase with 4 page inlay)
Released: November, 2005
Cover: http://217.160.138.169/pic_b/ibo1cd034_b.jpg


Review:

Take one of the most successful progressive albums of 2005, ask some of the most well-respected artists on the scene to remix it, and you have Antix\'s \"Twin Coast Remixes\": A highly anticipated remix-release with appearances by artists like FREq, Phony Orphants, D-Nox & Beckers, Vibrasphere and Sun Control Species. The original release is Antix\'s critically acclaimed 2nd album \"Twin Coast Discovery\", and behind the remix-album is Danish powerhouse Iboga Records ˆ the most active progressive label in 2005, and widely a label widely considered as one of the most important on the progressive labels on the scene today.


01. Antix - Le Lascard (D-Nox & Beckers Remix) [130 BPM]
First remix is from D-Nox & Beckers, the sizzling hot German duo with some truly stunning releases behind them the last year. As expected their remix of \"Le Lascard\" is groovier than the original, but isn\'t quite as dirty and funky as some of their later works. Their version never gets as euphoric as the thematic original, but is overall quite good - delicate and enjoyable.

02. Antix - Hiding Place (Phony Orphants Remix) [125 BPM]
The danish duo Phony Orphants is up next with their remix of \"Hiding Place\" - a track that already was a remix Antix/Fiord made of Rhian Sheehan and Jess Chambers track by the same name. Like on the latest Phony Orphants album, the sound here is very oldschool-inspired, with a very distinct 80\'s touch. While it worked pretty good on the album, this remix feels slightly awkward to me though - the epic vocals doesn\'t seem to fit very well with the dirty electro synths.

03. Antix - Cold Nights (FREq Remix) [130 BPM]
After the release of his monster-hit of an album, \"Strange Attractors\" back in 2004, FREq seemed to move towards the faster and faster progressive sound, but lately he has moved back in the groovier territory around the 130 BPM mark. In my opinion the slower tempo fit better with his sounds, and this remix of \"Cold Night\" is certainly no exception - laidback, but with a stunning big-room sound, big pads and delightful melodies. Excellent remix, and in my opinion FREq\'s best work for quite a while.

04. Antix - Little Honey (Fitalic Remix) [130 BPM]
Up next is \"Little Honey\" remixed by Robbin Fitter from Holland, better known as Fitalic. The groove is - as always by Fitalic - bouncy and upbeat, and it works fine with the melancholic theme from the original. Not a very original remix overall though, but I can\'t say that I didn\'t find it enjoyable.

05. Antix - Forever Changing (Vibrasphere Remix) [133 BPM]
\"Forever Changing\" was in my opinion one of the standout tracks on the original album, so a remix by one of my favourite acts, Vibrasphere was something I was looking very much forward to. Sadly the result was a disappointment: Vibrasphere left out their trademark; the big room reverbs and trancy pads, and instead the remix is rather flat and sterile - not necessarily bad, but not that noteworthy either.

06. Antix - Little Honey (Sun Control Species vs. Osiris Indriya Remix) [130 BPM]
Sun Control Species team up with the, to me, unknown artist Osiris Indriya from USA on the remix of \"Little Honey\". Their version is very close to the melancholic original, yet with a deeper and slightly gloomier atmosphere and embellished with delicious tribal percussion. A very pleasant track, but as a remix I found it to be too close to the original, and not really that interesting.

07. Antix - Le Lascard (Ohrsten Nors Remix) [128 BPM]
Ohrsten Nors from Germany isn\'t among the more well-known names on the progressive scene, but a few years ago he appeared on a few releases from labels like Tatsu, Nanobeat and Plastik Park. His remix of \"Le Lascard\" is certainly among the more daring on the CD - dark, rough and minimal, but despite the good intentions I didn\'t really connect to it. I especially didn\'t like what he did to the vocals.

08. Fiord - Hybrid [128 BPM]
The Strom Brothers themselves finish the remix-CD with \"Hybrid\", made under their new alternative project Fiord. It\'s a really delicious trancy breakbeat tune, and as the name slightly suggests, it\'s a hybrid of some of the tracks from \"Twin Coast Discovery\", like the theme from \"Le Lascard\" and the melancholic female vocals from \"Cold Nights\", plus some entirely new melodies. Delicate track, and a fine way to end the CD.


Bottom line:

If you liked the Antix-album, I am certain you\'re going to like most of this as well, as the sound is pretty close to the one on the album. That is perhaps also the biggest problem though - the remixes are generally a bit too similar to the originals, and I would have preferred if the release had some more diversity. That being said, the overall quality of the remixes was pretty good - the only true disappointment was the Vibrasphere remix, which didn\'t live up to my expectations.

So \"Twin Coast Remixes\" is a good package - it doesn\'t quite reach the same high level as the original album, but is certainly worth the money.


Favourites:

1, 3 (!!), 4, 6, 8


Verdict:

7,5/10


Link:

Iboga Records: www.iboga.dk