DJ Alex Corton – Good Looking Records

Good Looking Records

Various – Studio-X2 X17DB (2CD-) / Studio-X2 X4DB (Part 1/3)

2004

  The week begins and it’s back to the five days of life that has to be supported by some good music. I hope your weekend was enjoyed?!

  For our next round of Good Looking Records, we move into the second chapter of the Studio X Series, which saw another batch of talent showcase their work in a slightly underground presentation within the labels catalogue. 

   While we have some well established names on the LP, such as J Laze, Greenfly, Nu Moon, Kymera and Vice Versa, we also have a couple of tracks by artists that I feel like we missed in a blink. Alex DB and then Cubix.

   For the reviews, I’ll be writing up about each of the vinyl released tunes and then a smidgeon about the CD only tracks. 

   Ten of the tracks made it onto vinyl from the double CD, which is a much more satisfying ratio than the first Studio X release. 

  Artwork for the X-2 series, comes from the joint efforts of Ben Brewis and Gareth Jones. I’m sure there are a few stories behind this project, including how some of the little messages that project a collection of DAT’s being sent to Bukem for his selection of tunes for clearance on the label, came to be. There’s a certain holding pattern with these pieces of music reaching a compilation with a view to main release. The funny thing is, if the label had released them all individually, would they have made more money? Who knows, it was a bit tits-up at times.

    Such is life, that the vinyl releases that were taken from the CD, miss out on a couple of real gems. Cubix, Nu Moon and Alex DB were all resigned to the CD only, which hurts like hell when you hear just how good a couple of those are. Here’s a little snapshot from the label for you:

Message on the case 

“”STUDIO X2” is the second album in an exciting series from Good Looking Records. Brand-new and previously unreleased tracks again skilfully picked by the master, LTJ Bukem. With cuts from Vice Versa, Kymera, J-Laze, Greenfly, Nu Moon, and Pariah, this 3 disc set is a sure-fire taste of the future; new producers alongside label favourites, with an array of well known producers creating the perfect remixes.

John B, Carlito, Drumsound & Simon Bassline Smith, Commix, Stress Level & TC1, and Artificial Intelligence add their unique styles to this great package. This compilation is also available as a 17-track double CD, the second of which is a bonus CD of the remixes and exclusive interactive CD-ROM. The STUDIO X factor – you’ve either got it or you haven’t, and once again Good Looking prove they certainly have!”

  Track 1 on the CD is by Brazilian producer Alexandre Augusto Da Conceição, who goes by, Alex DB who only had this and maybe 2-3 other releases on digital, as far as I’m aware. I wonder if DB stands for Decibels or Dolby? His track is ‘Aurora Boreal’ which is one superb, simple and metronomic slice of heaven. The techno synth stabs swirl and twirl along side a nourishing side car of bass. If you need one to settle the antacids of life, this is a real peach. The feeling when listening to this reminds me of Mark J’s ‘Flight 19’ in its casual and infectious way of transcending the atmospherics in a very deep way. Hats off to Alex! 

   Track 2 is also the first Side of Part 1 of the vinyl series. The first disc has two tracks from the first CD and the second 12” plate has two tracks (remixes) from the second CD. J Laze is the artist providing ‘Virtual Realmz’, broadening the bandwidth of the minds unconscious energy and regurgitating the sanctums of the spiritual core. For me, this track sounds more open and engaging in a slightly slower speed of around -3 on 45RPM, so I’d root for that kind of tempo to really let the tune breathe. Rob Blaze sets out an array of mind blowing elements in here, with a breakdown that fuels more re-energizing sauce for that funky bass and smooth beat workout. 

    On side B of this first plate, and the third track on CD 1, we have Kymera and ‘Following Forward’. This track is a fucking beauty, hooking you in right away with those descending chimes and smooth pad, while it’s that towering percussion that slices through the air with that beat programming. Ross Marshall is a guy we didn’t cover in the reviews as he only released on Looking Good Records, in 2002, so this is his first outing in the Good Looking Records catalogue. The music here couples the particles of the mystical mists, and douses the senses with a velvet tenderness, keeping the movement going and awakening the space gods. Top work here! 

   The next plate has remixes from John B and Carlito, which sparks a high class dose of experience and creativity into the fray. John B remixes ‘Virtual Realmz’ from J Laze on Side C, taking the original from the first plate and layering those electronic trance and techno ingredients straight from John’s spice rack of creativity. The harmony of the tech plinks, that huge warm bass and vocal wail, conjure up that world of old and new, meshing the heightened elevations of euphoria with the thunderous, sub surface rawness. The first major bell breakdown throws another switch of destruction out too. It’s a flame thrower of a remix which John spins to perfection. Really love this one. A steppers atmospheric voyage that packs a rapid helping of musical steroids into the mix. 

   Side D dips into the sacred world of Carlito’s wonderful expressions, remixing the original Greenfly track ‘Biorhythms’ that we will review tomorrow on Part 2/3. Anything associated with James Mitton Wade is never one to take lightly, as his output is so extensively admired. The ex Essence Of Aura member slots together slices through the variable waves on this poetic sea of sound. It’s another fine example of how to keep the movement and release the stress in one track. This is the only venture that Carlito made onto the Good Looking label as his commitments at the time with Creative Source, Moving Shadow and Defunked most probably held onto his output schedule between 95 and 2002. James brings a delightful splendor to this track, lifting that piano riff and building his skill set around it. A magnificent remix!

  That’s today’s review complete, tomorrow I’ll work through the second part of the series on vinyl and review another couple off the CD that didn’t make the vinyl cut.

   My blog is moving along, so the Good Looking back catalogue can be explored right here and you can cast back through the reviews so far on the label. I hope you enjoy!