- The "modern disco-house hybrid" personified by the likes of Hot Natured, certain recent releases on Crosstown Rebels and now Maceo Plex's Ellum Audio seems to have quite a lot of gas left in its tank, but it also rubs a lot of people the wrong way. This effort by Odd Parents probably isn't going to win the sub-genre many new fans.
"Fame" is built around a sleazily-used vocoder which huffs and puffs in all the right places. There's a lot more clarity in the original version than the remix but this just serves to emphasise the differences between each. Catz & Dogz and Martin Dawson do, however, create a sense of entrapment which appeals. The starker digital exclusive "Friday Forever," meanwhile, takes a few more risks. The other original, "Silk & Wine," is an optimistic stomper of a groove nestled somewhere between trance and the horizon.
It's a competent release, but it's also an example of a sound that has become too safe and institutionalised. I personally have a lot of time for it, but I'm also hoping to see some of the artists involved push things in different directions from here.
Tracklist A Fame feat. MP
B1 Fame (Catz N Dogz & Martin Dawson Sweet Saturday Remix)
B2 Silk & Wine
Digital: Fame (Catz N Dogz & Martin Dawson Friday Forever Remix)