Firewall - Kilimanjaro

[Dreamboy]

Behind the one-man act Firewall stands UK top-producer Stuart Langelaan that continiously has fed the sceen with legendary productions and remixes for the past years. Not until now has the rock solid producer taken the step forward and launched his own label, Lange Recordings. The label is, as springboard for Stuart, destined to build a strong back-catalogue, which of this is the first release.

With Firewall Lange has come up with a guise that has such strong name to compare to legendary names such as Gouryella (up ‘til Ligaya), Solar Stone and James Holden. But with ‘Kilmanjaro’ Lange takes a downfall as he fails to stand up to high standards set by Prior tracks ‘Reflections’ and ‘Touched’.

You can clearly see the progress in Stuart’s production from the first production up until now. The first two releases had such strong emotions, not only by the very core of the production but also by name. But with ‘Kilmanjaro’ the now much more agressive, energetic and hard scene has influenced Firewall’s sound.

If the original mix of ‘Kilmanjaro’ would have been a mix on the first Firewall release it would most probably been the more energetic of the pair. It kicks off with a rigid kick and bassline with hi-pitched hi-hats on top after fair enough many bars. As the first hint of the melody starts to climb Lange tweaks an element into a long spaced last-breath cry for help. As the main melody really gets space in the ether the production gets a slowly elevating feeling which powers off with the very soft flute strings that hits in. As the background starts to go more silent the track goes down into the break which slowly builds up with bits and bobs of the wide array of elements already used. The break climbs up and bursts into the production’s highlight, the euphoric and amazing melody that with the help of beautifully arranged back-ground sounds remenisces of what Firewall used to sound like – simply heavenly. The track then goes down a slope and then up again for yet another battering of the silk sounds that goes under the name ‘Top of Kilmanjaro’.


And if you thought the original mix would have enough right-on energy to have been Firewall’s adaption to today’s scene you’ll get a long face when you turn to the B-side’s ‘Lange mix’. Surely Lange has made a name for himself by mashing and slashing all sorts of tunes into a variety of styles, but you do get surprised by his approach on this release. The tune slowly starts with something you’d probably guess ‘German 1980’s Robot War’ if you’d been asked to answer what comes first into your mind when hearing it. The surprising believed-to-be kick/element gets back-up from a light kick to be boosted by a pulsating bassline and Mauro Picotto-like echoing elements. About 2 minutes into the production the melody comes in and adds another level to the so far less convincing tune. As an impressingly arranged and tweaked set of strings fires off the tune from the background the production gets almost hypnotic while it persues it’s target break. For the euphoric fans much have been left out until the flute-sound of a calm melody emerges and fills the production with bright light. As a break-beat piece breaks out, the dark and sometimes tweaked elements sweep in and leaves the soft flute-sound to being a last-breath-for-life in the background. The main melody’s sound rapidly takes control and fires off the production into a the journey of a prime example of the hybrid between melodic and energetic that has grown strong the past years, something that also saves the production from turning into a German bier-party mit light-sticks.

Even thou both mixes featured on the release strongly fortfies Lange as one of the scene’s by far strongest producers, this release doesn’t quite stand up for the test of being a Firewall. ‘Kilmanjaro’ lets me down as it struggles to stand up to the the metal forged sound of the guise, known for delivering blistering melodies filled with emotions strong enough to bring our laughter and tears. Then again, if a new-found clubber with quite short roots heard the original of ‘Kilmanjaro’ he/she would most probably say it’s one of the best tunes played in a long time – probably why all DJs that matters have caned this tune for ages, and will be again with it being released last Monday. The original mix is simply great (but not a solid Firewall to me), but is let down by the rather uneven Lange mix.

[DIONYSOS]

Lange all the way baby!

[Thirix]

lange rules.give us some links for his new tracks.