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Geck-o - It’s What We Are

Label: Theracords
Catalog#: THER-050
Released: 23 March 2011
Style: Hardstyle

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Rik van Dam, a.k.a. Geck-o has been producing for about four years now. In 2008 this led to his first release: A remix of the track 'Hallucinating' on Explosive Records. Since then he’s has been unstoppable, releasing on labels like GBH Records, AVIO and of course Theracords. Geck-o is known for his great variation in style, he even produced some very exciting experimental fusion of hardstyle, hardtrance and techno under his alias Geck-e. This time however he presents us three ordinary hardstyle tracks. Well, ordinary... there’s nothing ordinary about these tracks.

It’s What We Are
Is the first track on this three-tracker. It starts with a simple vocal and drum pattern. Then the bass kicks in. The kick has a nice long tail and sounds great together with the cut vocal, giving it more power. In the intro you can already hear some cut samples from the melody and I must say, it sounds promising. Then the track breaks down smoothly and a clap comes in, building up the atmosphere. Now you can hear the melody in its full extent, it’s very uplifting yet powerful thanks to its piercing synth. It sounds great but it also sounds a bit slow at some times. In the end this doesn’t really matter of course, as the DJ will mix the track in his/her set. Besides, I think it’s a good thing not every track that’s being made has a BPM of 155 these days. After a while the tracks breaks down again, creating a clap-your-hands-moment one more time.

I think this track will do well on festivals because I think it’s a track everyone can enjoy. I sure do anyway!

Oh, and by the way: Headhunterz liked this track very much as well and made a reversed-bass edit (which won’t be released though), also very nice. Listen to his edit here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCtxrpHj3mo

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I Eat Woofers
Can this track live up to its name?

I’ll skip its intro because it simply isn’t too interesting and is just for mixing anyway. But then... What is that sound? It keeps getting louder! When I hear a vocal saying “Kick the bass” I immediately go for my volume control, trying to spare my roommates who are trying to get some sleep. But it’s too late... A wall of low frequencies is filling up the apartment and as soon as I hear it, I’m sold; I can’t turn the volume down. After 90 seconds of blasting on full power, my subwoofer can take a short breath. But already the tension is building up again, I can feel it coming. Wait, what is this? The kick starts punching again but the melody is filtered down completely. This is a bit of a disappointment, I would’ve preferred it if all hell broke loose immediately. Slowly but surely the filter comes up. This is gonna rock anyway, I know it. And then there it finally is: “KICK THE BASS!”

The melody in the climax is simple but very effective, this how I like them best: Pure awesomeness! And then finally it’s over, my roommates can go back to sleep. To answer the question I asked earlier: Can this track live up to its name? Hell yeah it can!

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Underground At Night
This is the final track on the release, and as it name suggests, it’s a bit more industrial. So let me tell you upfront: This isn’t exactly everyones cup of tea. I personally can enjoy the bit more experimental stuff occasionally but I ain’t no expert either.

The track starts off with a tok-sound and a very short cut vocal. Then a sweep comes up and the bass kicks in. I may have been premature in stating that my roommates can go back to sleep, ‘cause this kick is harsh! It kinda sounds like there’s a train passing by, especially because of the steam-whistle-like sound. These are the typical industrial sounds you expect in a track like this.
After a while the track breaks down and the mood gets darker. At the end all that’s left is some creepy white noise. Then the steam whistle breaks the silence, sounds like there’s another train coming! That’s why you always have to wait till the lights stop flashing at a railway crossing, you never know if there’s second train coming! A sinister sounding synth builds up. I try to get off this track but my foot got stuck between the rails. Luckily, just at that moment, the kick comes back again giving me the power to move my feet. The train passes right in front of me with great violence, blowing back my hair.

This is a track that has to grow on you. But after listening to it a couple of times, I have it say it sounds very cool.

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“It’s What We Are” has a nice uplifting feeling to it but isn’t a typical three-of-a-kind track. My guess is it will do great at the festivals this summer. “I Eat Woofers” however is my personal favourite, it is a banging track! I dare you to turn up your subwoofer and see what stuff you can break with the air pumping out of that thing. “Underground At Night” finally, is another great, more industrial track from Geck-o. It will certainly make his fans very happy. And like I said, it has grown on me as well.

Conclusion: This is an awesome release and is certainly well worth your money!