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Music reviews
Human Blue (Dag Wallin) from Sweden is out with his third album on Spiral Trax Records. He got a good reputation for his drifting progressive style on his previous two albums, Ice (1998) and Electric Roundabout (2002). The album title this time is Electrolüx, and on the cover art there is a picture of an old Electrolux radio. By the way, the cover art is done by dj Bakke.
Human Blue "Electrolüx" Spiral Trax Records 2004 (SPITCD019)
1. Soulsqueezer
2. Demon Dance
3. Virtual Turnaround
4. Harmonix
5. Rollercoaster
6. In Between
7. Drag Queen
8. Atom
The first track shows that he obviously has tried out a new style since his last album. This is a hard pumping track that becomes almost of the full on kind. It is still progressive trance, but more agressive and massive than the usual progressive trance we hear around. While other progressive artists mostly go towards a progressive house style, this guy sure has gone the other way on this track. Track 2 is also pretty full on. As a friend said on our first listen, this reminds me of some Flying Rhino stuff! And yes, it does sound a bit like some Flying Rhino stuff. For sure a track dj’s like James Monro would put on at a party. Not very varied, but totally trippy and drifting, with massive sounds floating in and out of the track. One of my favourite tracks on this album. Track 3 is also of the hard pumping style. Music that will fit the progressive crowd and the full on lovers. Groovy bass line and a very trancey vibe. After several minutes a drifting typical Human Blue melody comes in, perfect for the morning. Another favourite on this album. Track 4 goes more towards pure progressive trance like we have heard from him before. Deep, rolling bass line, with echoing sounds jumping into the track now and then. A real floor stumper, with several trippy sounds that makes you float on the dance floor. Nice one.
Track 5 (Rollercoaster) was first released earlier this year on a 12” on Spiral Trax. This is another of his progressive masterpieces. Pumping progressive groove, weird bubbeling sounds in between and fluffy morning melodies that doesn’t sound too cheesy. I’m sure this will be a hit in the summer heat on the out door progressive dance floors around the world this summer. Track 6 has a really progressive upbuilding. Now we are coming near a progressive house style, but this sounds really trippy. Drifting progressive beats and layers of sounds that build up slowly. He has also added some nice tribal drums in there. Nice one. Track 7 followes the more housy vibe. Pumping progressive beats with some tribal drums playing around. This track could have been a bit more varied in my opinion and it doesn’t sound as trippy as the other tracks on this album. The last track we get here reminds me quite a lot of the style Atmos gave us a few years ago. Echoing jumpy sounds and a stumpy bass line.
Human Blue delivers another good quality album. Nice to hear that he explores some harder styles within trance also, and the progressive crowd should not be scared, because there are still plenty of progressive pieces here too.
PK (shivapks@hotmail.com)
