Magazine
Tha Playah - On the Edge
Label: Neophyte Records (NEO 056)
Release Date: 02-09-2011
Buy at Hardstyle.com
Fear.FM Release DB
Jim Hermsen is a man with many faces. He started out as a young and promising producer with a questionable repertoire of tracks like “Weird Clit”, “Keep Them Titties Jumping” and “Fuck the Titties”. Should we take this guy seriously? Is he going to stay? A one-day sensation or an, as of yet, unrevealed genius? In time his tracks became better and better. Think about “I Call Tha Shots”, “The Rule of Cool” and Bling Bling”. He worked with artists like Neophyte, Evil Activities, DJ Mad Dog , Nosferatu and Tommyknocker. His tracks have been remixed by Art of Fighters, DJ D and Nitrogenetics, and two years ago he knocked us all down with two excellent tracks. First, “Why So Serious”, and secondly, “Walking the Line”. Both tracks were played and respected worldwide and still are. It won’t take long before this guy outgrows his parent label Neophyte Records. Until then we’ll wait and enjoy his latest project, the 2-track EP: “On the Edge / Clockwork”.
On the Edge
The first track “On the Edge” starts with a philosophical monologue combined with a nice set of dreamy strings merging with some more hardcore-like synths and slow percussion. When only listening to the first 2 minutes, this track wouldn’t give you the idea that you’re listening to a hardcore track. It takes a whole extra minute to build up some more to the introduction of the main kickdrum. The melodies are refined and subtle, changing every 10 seconds in sound and intensity. Once in your head these melodies won’t be going anywhere. When listening carefully (from the break and further) the melodies seem inspired by the main melody of “Energy 52 – Café del Mar”.Though they are not quite the same, and they are certainly more elaborate.
Although this track is more than 8 minutes long, it doesn’t seem that long when listening to it. This tracks just sucks you right in and will do great on the dance floors.We already heard Jim playing this track in June and we’re sure a lot of you will recognise this track immediately when it hits the speakers.
Clockwork
The second track is a remake of an old trance classic by Cygnus X called “The Orange Theme”. The old trance melody is recognisable and it plays in your mind from the first note on, but does not fully reveal itself untill after 1.5 minutes. The track has some fierce kickdrums which seem a bit to much in a track with such a nice melody.
During the intro we also recognise an old vocal sample out of “Bertocucci Feranzano – XTC Love”. Who would have thought they’d use that sample once more? By using this sample Jim just fires up the atmosphere even more. Halfway through the track the melodies are rearranged once more, forming a nice break. Though this track is more straight on, it sure does get those feet moving. Excellent for getting the crowd to sweat like hell.
With these new tracks Jim once again shows us he’s a man with a diverse style. And it won’t take long for him to hit the number one spot in many ‘best of the month’ lists. For those of you who don’t buy records, these tracks are also released as 320kbit mp3 and besides that you can also find them both on the new Domain Hardcore CD, or separate on diverse other compilations. Check them out.
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