''45% Progressive, 35% Trance, 10% Soft-tech, 5% Breaks, 5% House, 100% Solarstone.'[/align]
Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury were Solarstone but the brand has almost been in a state of flux since 2007’s split in the partnership, not more so highlighted than 2008’s average Rain Stars Eternal. Now with the name Solarstone equating to just Rich Mowatt can new release Electronic Architecture restore the Solarstone name to where it belongs?
Electronic Architecture is a courageous project. Collated from the catalogue of upcoming Solaris Recordings tracks, no doubt this album seeks not only to put Rich Mowatt on par with the likes of BT or Daren Tate in terms of high quality atmospheric music production but also elevate previously unknown or obscure producers to the limelight.
Beginning with the laid back grooves of Jigsaw by Tarrantella, the track evokes the chilled atmosphere of the Balearic sunset and prepares the listener for a proper journey in dance music. But maybe just as quickly as the sun might go down on that coast, things heat up on this album and only by track four the pace has picked up with the awesome Questinia by Filigro, it’s punchy melody combining well with the sweeping FX and random samples.
Black & White shows just how effect the addition of a breakbeat track can be to shake a set up and it works so well in the mix with the tribal chanting from Touched By God. In fact I’d love to hear a bit of a mash up here of the two tracks. Next up and it’s the French Renaissance mix of Slowmotion by Solarstone and Orkidea almost a combination of the bassline to I Feel Love and the breathy French female voice from French Kiss.
Other highlights on Disc One include Before They Came and the closing trance number, Mirror by Winterlight with it’s funky bassline.
Over on Disc Two and you might need an umbrella as the Reconstructed Intro gives you 1min 24 of electrically charged rain before the main mix kicks off with Leo G and Muttering Retreat. Further in, Majera’s Believe is a track no self respecting trance jock should be without. The way the melody filters in and out during the breakdown, then is partnered by the bassline is pure euphoric bliss.
A much more upbeat trance based set, the arpeggiated loveliness of Astral Breeze combines well with the Breakfast remix of Peace. You’ll see an update from Observer & Heatcliff to 2005’s Starfighter by Haylon and it’s this track that really sets the scene for an all out pumping conclusion to the set. I loved Try To Find and its plucky harpsichord sounding melody. Sensual Illusion closes the sets energy for all intents and purposes with its electro tech bass as the last track Shocks gives an unexpectedly chilled but beautiful finish.
Above all else, the sublime tracks, the tasty edits, the album also shows other DJs just how to construct a set to excite the senses. Without a doubt this puts Solarstone back where he belongs.
1. Tarrantella - Jigsaw (Reconstruction)
2. Forerunners - Dragonfly (Ilya Malyuev Remix Reconstruction)
3. Cormac Murphy - Oversound
4. Filigro - Questinia
5. Katcha - Touched By God (Alucard Remix)
6. Under This - Black & White (Reconstruction)
7. Solarstone & Orkidea - Slowmotion (French Renaissance Mix)
8. Jahawi - Kenya
9. LTN - Outer Limits
10. Harley Soan - Long Drive Home
11. Edu - Before They Came (Escape Mix)
12. Dave Horne - What Lies Between (Retroid & Original Reconstruction)
13. Winterlight - Mirror (Solarstone Subterranean Mix)
1. Reconstructed Intro
2. Leo G - Muttering Retreat
3. Majera - Believe
4. Stan Void - Transience
5. Bot Cipryan - Astral Breeze
6. Saints & Sinners - Peace (Breakfast Remix)
7. Solar Energy - Wanna Feel What You Feel (Instrumental)
8. Haylon - Starfighter (Observer & Heatcliff Remix)
9. Jox - Microbial
10. Solarstone & Alucard - Late Summer Fields (Forerunners Dub)
11. Gary Orvis - Try To Find
12. Souls In Motion - Sensual Illusion (Reconstruction)
13. Reii - Shocks
