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SINGLE REVIEWS JULY 2004

After a bit of a lull in the scene, rumour has it we're set for an electro revival this summer - though maybe a more commercial incarnation than some of us would like.

Sparkle peruses the latest in electro-pop, and other stuff now hitting a dancefloor near you; Alter Ego - 'Rocker', Christian Kreuz - 'Wir Sind Bereit', Cursor Miner - 'The Sport Of Kings', Dykehouse - 'Chain Smoking' and Melchior Productions - 'Searching'.
ALTER EGO - ROCKER 12" (Klang Elektronik)
Caned at this year's Sónar festival - much like 'Sunglasses At Night' was 2 years ago - 'Rocker' might just be this summer's big tune. It goes without saying that this is a long way from the dark end of Klang's spectrum that brought us those seminal Il.ek.tro 12s in 1998.

'Rocker' kicks off with a precise beat and squelching bassline, cemented with sparse German production. Alter Ego tease us with fake build-ups and cheeky tasters before letting the thrashy synth melody kick in. Fashion changes fast and this isn't a track to stand the test of time, but it's bound to get everyone dancing in the mean time.

On the B side there's melodic reconstruction by Blackstrobe - although it points towards the more commercial dancefloor, there's some great electronic elements and it's every bit as catchy as the original.

CHRISTIAN KREUZ - WIR SIND BEREIT 12" (Disko B)
With its funky bassline 'Wir Sind Bereit' grooves through poppy, bleepy electro with German lyrics. The original and Leroy Jackson mixes are a bit bland, but on the B side there's some innovative stripped down remixes; a tech-funk effort from Munk, and a classic electro break from Tierpark Toni takes us straight back to an 80s disco. It's a shame there's no escaping the unimaginative vocal line.
CURSOR MINER - THE SPORT OF KINGS 12" (Lo Recordings)
On juicy red vinyl this is like a sparkling gem in a sea of mediocrity. The captivating melody is addictive from the start - it builds into what can only be described as an epic track. Glam to the max, Cursor Miner pulls off a Van Halen style guitar solo and borrows rock structures to create an electronic track with a completely new attitude. It may sound like a recipe for disaster but it's impossible not to like.

'Grilling The Cheese' on the flip side is a dancefloor banger - with its pounding beat and pulsing snyths it grabs you and shakes you even harder than 'The Sport Of Kings'. The tasty breakdowns and sheer melodic force give it massive dancefloor impact - a 'neo rave' classic!
DYKEHOUSE - CHAIN SMOKING 7" (Ghostly International)
If 'Chain Smoking' aims at that post-rock territory that's currently percolating the electronic scene then it's missed the target by miles. This trashy guitar-lead number sounds like a football anthem... by Busted. If this is the best tune he could pull from forthcoming album "Midrange", then it's not looking good for the former Planet Mu signing.

On the flip "FYD" is one of the rudest songs I've ever heard. There's a fairly catchy melody and synth stolen from the 80s, but despite the shock factor and talk of Dykehouse's "Dutch love broom" he leaves us with something flaccid and unsatisfying.
MELCHIOR PRODUCTIONS - SEARCHING 12" (Playhouse)

From the first few bars this production sounds not unlike Playhouse label-mate Ricardo Villalobos - but when the funky shakers kick in it takes on a housier tone. Indeed the sparse beats, simple bassline, synth stabs and vocal snatches make this sit well alongside the housey output from labels like Trapez. It's funky and mixable but there's a disappointing lack of track progression.

On the B side 'Deep Steps' gives us more minimalist house production but nothing very inspiring. High standards for this genre have been set by Donnacha Costello, and unfortunately Melchior Productions is lagging behind.
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