Magazine
Zany - Remix Pack
Label: Fusion Records
Catalog#: FUSION 096
Released: 21 Mar 2011
Style: Hardstyle
Fear.FM Release Database
Buy it at Hardstyle.com
Zany is like the Godfather of Hardstyle. He's not as old as the actual Godfather, but his power and strength within the scene is one not to be reckoned with. This guy knows what he's doing and so does his label - Fusion Records. Their 'darker' sound has taken the Hardstyle scene by storm with artists such as Zany, The Donkey Rollers, Frequencerz, Jack of Sound, B-Front, Titan, The Pitcher, Dozer... The list goes on (please take no offence if your name is not mentioned).
Because Zany has released many bombs over the years - he has become an international threat for the U.N! It's time to release these great tracks in a new, present day, Armani suit. This remix E.P has no less than 4 whopping remixes of 4 great tracks.
Be On Your way (A-Lusion Remix)
A-Lusion has been in the scene for a long time. With hit's such as Veritas (which has also undrgone a remix by Zany), Talk Iz Tomorrow, Visual Perception and the recent solo track Fortuna (The In Between), he sure as hell knows what he's doing. Recently Scope DJ and himself 'hooked up' to form a Hardstyle duo: Second Identity.
Now, on to the track. First thing that pops into my mind when blasting this shiznit through my headphones is "Damn.. this is hard!". Decent kicks which are complemented by some crazy screeches are what makes this track sound so rough! The vocal, "This is my territory, be on your way" reminds me of some crazy farmer with a shotgun standing outside his barn yelling at a distant dust cloud rolling closer and closer. It isn't a stampeding herd of crazy cattle, no... The dust cloud is a stempede of rough kicks rolling in, followed by a twirling spiral of screeches. If any of you have watched 'Lost' before, you can imagine the screeches as the 'Smoke Monster' - that's how crazy these screeches are! Now put yourself in that poor farmers shoes. He's absolutely soiling himself!
This track will surely make me stomp around like a mad man at any party! Be sure not to get too close when you see me fist pumping away when this track drops! That said, this brings me to my closing statement, my fist pump award! A-lusion (and Zany), you've done it again! A double armed, teeth clenching fist pump!
Buy it!
Pure (Brennan Heart Remix)
Brennan Heart, a respected Scantraxx artist who has established quite a name for himself. With his distinct sound (mainly in the synths he uses), we know when a Brennan Heart track is dropped. Pure is about Cocaine. Pure Columbian cocaine. I guess I can say, this track reminds me of my girlfriend. Not because she has a powdered moustache, but just because she's Columbian. This will be her new anthem!
I'm all against drug use and whatever, but drug vocals were quite the rage back in the days which explains the remix choice.
I can honestly say I'm quite (pleasantly) surprised about this remix. Brennan Heart shows us that he's also capable of some nice hard tracks. The passed few releases, we kind of heard the more melodical Brennan Heart, but this remix takes me back in the days. I can still recognize his style with familiar kicks, but it fits in great with the remix. The melody is simple, much like the original but that's just fine! The synth also has a slight Brennan Heart feeling, but again also fits the remix/track well. Don't expect a hands up in the air moment in this track. Not the usual Brennan Heart tricks, oh no! Expect some pounding beats, hardcore (not the genre) vocals and darker melodies.
I give this beauty a one armed double action fist pump... With a smile!
Buy it!
Frequency (Jack of Sound Remix)
Jack Of Sound - the new kid on the block, as far as super labels go. This guy is renowned for his amazing mash-ups and has finally made his way to the Fusion team for some major producing. With his latest release "Ghost Story/You're Next" which went down quite well, he's back with an awesome remix of one of my favorite Zany tracks - Frequency.
Now, how can anyone even start remixing such a classic? I guess you need balls of steel to even try, but Jack of Sound pulled it off with minimal sweat. He's kept the original cool sounding melody which kind of floats up and down giving me a feeling of being in a circus. But instead of the circus being filled with happy clowns and sexy acrobats, it's filled with the clowns you only see in your nightmares, or the (stuffed toy) ones sitting on that rocking chair, staring at you through the dark as you try to sleep!
Just pull that blanket over your head and feel the sweat of anxiety drench your pillow as you pray to anyone that's listening to come and bust a cap in that annoying clowns ass (maybe the gangsta's in the next section can help). However, you won't need to wait long as Jack's kicks slam through your door like a SWAT team and blast that motherf*cker from the face of the earth! Oh yeah! Throw that blanket off your bed and party like you've never partied before!
These kicks are brutal and therefore get my knee shattering stomp complimented with a double armed triple fist pump AND a teeth clenching smile! Oh yeah!
Buy it!
Thugs (Noisecontrollers Remix)
The Noisecontrollers were once a great force within the Fusion label (I gather they still are) but now that they have parted ways to startup their own label, together with Scantraxx hero - Wildstylez, called Digital:Age they've rolled down the more 'housey' Hardstyle road, whereas the Noisecontrollers were renowned for their absolutely crazy sounds and scene shaping kicks.
The remix was actually done over 2 years ago, if not more, it was on the Qlimax 2008 Live CD that you got with the DVD!
The track has a slight 'Early' feeling to it. With gated kicks, cut vocals and a funky saw synth building up to a great reverse bassline. I can really feel the (old) Noisecontrollers sound in this track. It's not exactly hard persé. By that I mean, today's Hardstyle (especially the rawer Hardstyle) is going down the Hardcore-kick road which kind of makes todays tracks feel more rough! However, this track is still hard in it's own way with a dark feeling, hard kicks (but with a softer, more subtle sound) and great synths. A couple of gangsta's had to go poppin' caps in each others asses half way through the track - why people need to fight it out during these rougher tracks is beyond me - "Go take it outside homies!". But we're not going te let these hoodlems spoil our fun!
This is a great remix of a geat Zany track. Although the track has already been played quite a lot, it's great to finally have it for myself! This one is getting my get-down-on-one-knee-like-Tiger-Woods-after-he-putts-in-a-world-champion-golf-winner fistpump.
Buy it!
To conclude, this remix pack is a beauty! 4 awesome remixes of 4 very awesome tracks and all of them remixed by 4 very talented artists which have kept a distinct Fusion feeling to the whole Remix pack! A tip for anyone buying the tracks. If you're a DJ, get the Original Remix (not the edit). If you're just an avid Hardstyle listener, then get the Edit as the intro and outro are cut out for your listening pleasure!
