de aller-, allereerste review..blij..
als deze de toon zet voor de rest, zeg ik hulde.
gisteren ook een reporter van het haarlems dagblad langs geweest bij me thuis, die een enorme muziekfreak bleek te zijn. ook wel us leuk goeie vragen te krijgen door de lokale krant. lol.. artikel verschijnt donderdag, zal de scan hier ook neerzetten.
OOR tekst krijg ik ook deze week, en verschijnt in de OOR van begin december.
Review by Beats and Beyond (by Youri Jozee)
Dutch DJ/producer C-Jay recently released his new album Forever Now, the official follow-up to his highly anticipated 2008 album Magnanimity. Here’s the full rundown.
C-Jay
The 34-year old DJ/producer has established himself as one of the most versatile artists in the grey but adventurous area where progressive and psytrance meet. His 2004 debut release SwayWatch caught the attention of some of the biggest names in the genre, after which C-Jay went on to spread his tentacles across various facets of the game as a DJ, producer and label owner (of The Sessions Recordings). His previous album Magnanimity –a beautifully orchestrated release packed with both chilled out as energetic electronics confirmed- confirmed his skills, and now he presents its successor in the form of Forever Now.
Forever Now
Armin van Buuren, Hernan Cattaneo and Eelke Kleijn are just some of the names that have been playing cuts from this new album, and upon hitting play it immediately becomes noticeable as to why that is. The album as a whole can be defined as a sparkling yet powerful progressive house affair, although C-Jay’s love for the psychedelic side of progressive & trance is still in effect. Commencement part 2 opens the album with a slow-paced, highly emotive groove decorated with numerous layers of melodies. Very laidback and melodramatic, the tune forms a bittersweet introduction to the album. The second track Vienna (of which the EP version was released last September) paves the way for the uptempo part of the album. Playful synths stabs, fierce rhythms and –especially in its second part- mesmerizing synthesizers form a very convincing progressive tune.
Tracks such as Dog On The Floor, Solid2De (ft. Liftshift), and the hugely rocking Artificial Stimulance lean on a more “Israeli” psytrance-based vibe. Throbbing basslines, mean punching kicks and spacey melodics are what remark these tunes, and the result is no less than impressive. Another highlight? Yup. Closing track The Click finishes the album in a very techy way with rumbling rhythms and lowdown bass as its biggest attraction. Great job on the breakdowns and climaxes too.
As a whole, Forever Now has become a very atmospheric, no-nonsense album reflecting C-Jay’s skills and love for the music. All eight tunes are marked by an outstanding overall production, with each individual tune adding its own ingredient to the mix. Although firmly rooted in progressive and psytrance, the album has become a very diverse dish without losing focus of the balance. If you’re into leftfield progressive and psytrance, then this one is for you.
Rating: 8.3/10
Label: Plusquam Records
Release date: November 2010
Forever Now tracklist:
1. Commencement part 2
2. Vienna
3. Electric Cafe (ft. Sezer Uysal)
4. Dog On The Floor
5. Solid2De (ft. Liftshift)
6. Artificial Stimulance (ft. Shylock)
7. Stealth (ft. Barry Gilbey)
8. The Click