- You pretty much know what you’re getting with Toolroom Trax. Every release is aimed directly for that clubby electro-house cash cow, and unashamedly so too. Some do it well, namely label guns Mark Knight and Dave Spoon. Others don’t. And unfortunately the latter dominates this showcase.
It starts promisingly with not-so-new-schooler, Patric la Funk, delivering an interesting cross between deep tech and ravey electro with ‘Tool’. Manchester DJ Oliver Lang dishes a slow burning electro chugger with ‘Dancing Girls’ next, which stands out as the best on the EP. But that’s as good as it gets.
Stu Hirst’s ‘Not Another Bassline’ sounds dated. The melody is cool but not enough to save its tired funky groove. ‘We’re All Freaks’ is electro with a minimal veneer which doesn't get near second gear, but Mecanique uses some interesting sounds in the process. Mr Soft’s ‘Crush’ is just terrible. It’s mash-up of disjointed ideas sounding like a HI-NRG Public Domain reworking. ‘Gimme The Bass’ by Filthy Rich is full of hooks and clichés and will probably be the hit off the release, but it’s cheesy framework reminded me of stuff that Hiltonesque clones and muscle-bound jocks call ‘awesome techno’. Lastly The Bronx’s ‘Electrik Park’ is a standard issue electro groover won’t turn too many heads.
Cheers to Toolroom for pushing new artists. Jeers for playing it too safe with the music.
Tracklist1 Patric La Funk - Tool
2 Oliver Lang - Dancing Girls
3 Stu Hirst - Not Another Bassline
4 Mechanique - We''''re All Freaks
5 Mr. Soft - Crush
6 Filthy Rich - Gimme The Bass
7 The Bronx - Electrik Park