Vienna Scientists IV [CD]

Artist:
Various Artists
Title:
Vienna Scientists IV — Five Years Of Solid Grooves
Label:
Emarcy / Universal Music
Cat. No.:
9866545
Format:
CD Compilation
Release Date:
Mon, 10 May, 2004
Barcode:
0-06024-9866545-9
Genre:
Electronica, Leftfield, Downbeat, Dub, Soul, Funk, Latin Beats
Download Release-info (DOC):
Deutsch | English

Tracklisting

Release Info

“Five Years Of Solid Grooves”, is not to be taken as a nostalgic look to the past, but an optimistic outlook towards the future. The foundation has been secured by a continuous release policy of quality products, the catalogue displays a considerable strive for fresh ideas, which at the end of the day secured succesful growth and a network of creative friends all over the place called world. Moreover, the slogan conveys the keeping of a promise, label founder Jürgen Drimal gave at the start of his enterprise: To craft a distinguished label - style on terms of sound, cover art, and attitude.

For independent record labels, 5 years of existence and on the rise is a rare story to be told. In respect of Vienna Scientists Recordings, the headline for its anniversary, “Five Years Of Solid Grooves”, is not to be taken as a nostalgic look to the past, but an optimistic outlook towards the future. The foundation has been secured by a continuous release policy of quality products, the catalogue displays a considerable strive for fresh ideas, which at the end of the day secured succesful growth and a network of creative friends all over the place called world. Moreover, the slogan conveys the keeping of a promise, label founder Jürgen Drimal gave at the start of his enterprise: To craft a distinguished label - style on terms of sound, cover art, and attitude. It was the release of three compilations which gave the “Vienna Scientists” label its identity as a mother who has been given birth to a breed of electronic music marked by black culture, namely Jazz, Funk, Soul, Latino, Disco and Dub. The growing succes which followed every single release gave vent for another 13 projects on 16 sound carriers, each one set apart from outputs by other labels by means of the scientists’ special formula. Distilling the ‘Vienna Sound Of Now’, the only thing which holds true for every release, no matter how different the results might be, is the attitude of the artists who share a common background. After the world-wide success for the K + D imprint, a stereotype of electronic music made in Vienna has been established by the media: That it has to be the ideal soundtrack for comfortable coffee lounges hooked on a slow, moody vibe. This cliché can’t be held up against reality in 2004: It is variety rather than uniformity which characterizes Vienna Scientists IV. Allright, there are no robot sounds to be found on the record, but everything that breathes life and soul into music produced with machines by human beings.

Track Infos

01 Freedom Satellite — Running Fast ft. Kudra Owens [4:20] *

The series kicks off with Freedom Satellite’s “Running Fast”, a brooding snake charmer of dark beauty, matched by the auguring priestess of soul Kudra Owens. Impersonators Jürgen Drimal and Gernot Ebenlechner don’t rely on odd sequenzing and customary electronic trickery, but instead compose a song with verse and chorus,that provokes plenty of saliva for the first full album release, planned to be unleashed this year.

02 Thunderball — Domino (To Vienna With Funk Mix) [5:30] **

Thunderball hail from Washington DC and salute the befriended label with “Domino” in the To Vienna With Funk version. The tight as teeth original gets excelled by an extra portion of percussion to make sure, every hip keeps on shaking allright. A constant headnod is secured and proves Sid Barcelona & Steve Raskin to be in the know what a solid groove is made of.

03 Rodney Hunter — I Wanna Know [5:08] *

How to keep up the pressure while slowing down the beat is a formula Rodney Hunter succeded with by the many Uptight Productions and Remixes he’s been responsible for. America’s greatest gift to Vienna’s electronic music scene comes around with a relaxed four-to-the-floor discofunkster, drenching enough sexy sweat out of every pore. “I Wanna Know” is an appetizer for this year’s full album “The Hunterfiles”, due to be released on G- Stone.

04 Stefan Obermaier — Inna Fat Dub Combo [5:21] *

Stefan Obermaier’s “Inna Fat Dub Combo” is a trip to echopark in order to take a rest from stressful chill-out excursions, listeners have recently been bombed with. The airy atmosphear of the track is maintained by avoiding pastiches of pads and synthie layers , troops of Ibiza compilations have left on the CD shelves for generations. After all, Salzburg, Stefan’s hometown, has to be relocated on the musical map, away from Mozart, to the sound of Kingston’s Studio One.

05 Stereotyp — Fling Style feat. Tikiman [5:16]

In contrast to its predecessor, Stefan Mörth’s approach to dub is marked by fast and tricky beatprogramming upholstered with a sparse, but rock - solid bass, a skeleton which gets humanized by loads of vocals. This time, Tikiman is in charge of the mike. Mörth finally established this style with the 2002 debut “My Sound” under his pseudonym Stereotyp on G – Stone, off which “Fling Style” has been taken.

06 Tosca — Gute Laune feat. Tweed [4:56]

Long time collaborators Richard Dorfmeister and Ruppert Huber aka Tosca love to spread a good vibe among their audience. Thus, they contribute “Gute Laune” (roughly the German equivalent to “a good mood”) to the compilation. The infectious fingersnapping and the bouncy house feel automatically does its job on the listener as singer Tweed propels the party. “Gute Laune” is cut from Tosca’s last year’s release “Dehli 9” which combined the band’s (yes! Band!!!) trademark sound with plenty of up - tempo vibes. Splendid!

07 The Menheads — Changes feat. Mr. V [3:41] *

The Menheads, a Scientists´ act right from the start, change gear, speed up and at the same instant cool down the bassosphere to minus degree. “Changes”, feat. Mr. V makes the difference in being catchy at one side and deep as the Mariana Trench at the other. Its Raggamuffin - style and the sung hookline in the middle sets the track apart from productions which are regular club tunes. Changes can really make it to receive some airplay, so let`s hope the best for Michael Hirschler and Marcello Armetta.

08 Darcosan — Got Something feat. Colee Royce [5:23] *

Vienna Scientists´ rooster constantly expands with fresh talents, and one of its major prodigys is Darcosan. He owes his name some reputation as being the magus of darkness. “Got Something” has all ingredients, a mystic brew of this sort is supposed to contain: Gurgling Basses reminding of an uprising storm, that is driven by a hotstep rhythm and Colle Royce’s cryptic message which carries a claustrophic mood. At the end of the song Miles got woken up by all the rattle and delivers his colorite trumpet thing! Darco runs the Voodoo down in 2004.

09 Zabine — Find Me (Madrid De Los Austrias Remix) [4:46] *

Wien is home of many traditions and one certainly is to party at maximum level, thanks to a lively club scene. One fine example for a good night out is a new club outfit ‘Passage’ which has recently been opened by Sunshine originator Heinz Tronigger. Together with Michael Kreiner he founded the Madrid De Los Austrias, a duo which has been doing smashing remixes for artists like Koop and Groove Armada in association with Dr. Rich. This time they twist and turn Zabine’s “Find Me” until we listen to an afro percussion - leaden offbeat that is fueled by some slapping bass action. As a result, there’s no other chance for someone’s feet but to move. Muchas Gracias!

10 Legal Subs — No Comprende [5:43] *

It is a common fact that also legal substances can lead to addiction and in case of an overconsumption of Legal Sub´s “No Comprende” it certainly will turn out abusive. The two Saarbrücken - based conductors Stefan Klauck and Fred Scholl resurrect an imaginary Latin Big Band, in which its witful drummer tackles the bass player like a Ronaldo at top form does with its opponents. The Guitarist turns out to be a master in the vein of wha - wha watson tradition. This first cut by the Subs won’t necessarily be their deepest in future times, but a gateway drug abused by many addicts.

11 Flowerz — All Tonight [4:04] *

Flowerz’ “All Tonight” should be christianed “Every Night”, because this track is the perfect song to get a Saturday-Night-Is-Allright-for-Party-vibe straight. Thanks to its bell – like keyboards and female choruses, this is an easy going mate which has some romantic nostalgia in the bag. Despite of its velvet skin, the dry mix of the drums let some bones shine through. Flowerz consist of two species of different cultivation: They go by the name of Matt Flores (Combination Records/Düsseldorf) and Michael Sauer (Electric Mojo Club/Hamburg).

12 Megablast — Over feat. Cesar Sampson [4:04]

One of last year’s highest poll ranks for best electronic music albums hailing from Vienna was “Creation” (Stereo Deluxe) by Sascha Weisz aka Megablast. It derrives its special charme from a discourse between cold, digital sounds and the warm, human quality of singing. Foremost, “Over”, a farewell to a called – off love affair captures strong emotions, while avoiding too much Schmalz at the same time. Vocalist Cesar Sampson’s reputations as one of the smartest upcoming voices in the soul business gets fostered by his performance on this track. He drops some Stevie Wonder magic, the Motown singer once had around his Innervisions phase.

13 Shanti Roots — New Toy [5:33] *

Just knowing “Believe” (Afrique-E.P./VIE 010, top entry at rank 2 in the DCC!) from clubbing, one might be surprised while listening to Shanti Roots’ “New Toy”. If the first slab was like a swarming mosquito’s nest by means of its voodoo samples, Markus Dohelskys now plays out his oldskool deck of cards! Putting on his sneakers, he relaxedly swings between the coordinates of Funk and Hip Hop. With the wha - wha pulse and its flute layers New Toy reminds of a 70s Crime Movie that could have been called “The Streets Of Vienna”.

14 Telemark — Reality 2003 [3:57] *

“Reality 2003” sounds better than it actually was last year! Telemeark throw no bombs, provoke no wars, no economical crisis and no ecological catastrophy, but churn out a heavyweight champion of downbeat extravaganza. Despite of their rockbottom downbeat accentuation, Telemark invite all listeners to go on a magic carpet ride and take off with some far out melodica sounds, just until an electronic fuzz bass at the end of the track demonstrates what the word ‘gravity’ really means.

15 Dublex Inc. — When It Comes … To All Of That [5:18] *

At the moment, Dublex Inc. is a name that can be found on every important Freestyle Don’s playlist in this hemisphere. After all, it was the release of “Tango Forte” (Pulver 03) (also to be found on “A Family Affair”(VIE 011)) in 2002 which marked the breakthrough for Stuttgart`s producer - collective. Since then, there have been offerings to remix some bigger names in the biz plus constant touring as DJs. The musical brothership between Vienna Scientists and Dublex Inc. has lateley resulted in the project Human Fly, documented with a futuristic breakbeat outfit called “Urbi et Orbi” (VIE 007), a joint venture of Felix Stecher, Jürgen Drimal and Gernot Ebenlechner. As the logic of shared preferences suggest, “When It Comes…To All Of That” sounds very “scientific”….’nuff said!

16 Waxolutionists — A Stranger’s World [5:52] *

The curtain falls and The Bionic Kid, DJ Zuzee & DJ Buzz, better known as Waxolutionists are finally on the screen with their Soundtrack – alike “A Stranger’s World” rolling out in front of its listeners. Pretty close to English Hip Hop sound - aesthetics, like the ones of Roots Manuva, RjD2 or Herbalizer, this time Waxolutionists yield a score - like theme, the sort of Claude Chabrol might have used. This is Film Noir à la Viennoise!

*) previously unreleased
**) previously unreleased

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