Christopher Lawrence and John ‘00′ Fleming- Beyond the Limit[Pharmacy]

Up next on the chopping block is the new collaboration between American Christopher Lawrence, and British John ‘00′ Fleming, entitled “Beyond the Limit.” The release has four tracks, the Original Mix, the Deep Mix, and two remixes from producers Jay Selway and Nicholas Bennison. This is the first ever release on Lawrence’s newly born Pharmacy Music, and hopefully “Beyond the Limit” is just what the doctor prescribed(Puns, they’re inevitable). Read on past the break to see what I’ve got to say.

I’ve been meaning to put this one up for some time, so sorry if I kept you waiting

Original Mix:

This one kicks off with…Well, a kick. The kick sets up a nice driving tempo while we are treated to various descending noises. I should also note that Lawrence and Fleming threw in some nice little variations on the kick(Not four to the floor all the time, in other words), which is pleasant. This track is constantly driving, and we are introduced to new sounds with each phrase. Cue the first lead, which keeps building in volume, all the while accompanied by these almost schizophrenic sounds(Though organized somehow), until it crests back to silence. Choirs are barely heard in the background, as the song strips out some noise, and brings in an excellent lead, that, in retrospect, reminded me of Cygnus X’s “The Orange Theme,” at least in regards to driving rhythm. We hit the break, and it descends right back into the initial lead, which is spiked with more nicely varied effects. Everything peaks back up again, and we are brought back to the end with both leads pounding right into your skull, the ‘Orange lead’ being assisted by a short bassline, right through to the DJ-friendly ending.

Deep Mix:

We start off with some nice effects, which are joined with what I believe is the traditional ‘psy-kick,’ much less substance and much more attack. We hear some more of those chirping effects, and a deep bass line which seems to jump out a little more. This track seems to have a little more structure behind it, but maintains that cacophony that may sound like a bad thing, but is actually decent. A new ascending synth is brought in right before a short break, before we are kicked right back into the action. This track keeps you guessing as to when we will hear the main leads, almost toying with your mind as it brings in pseudo-leads upon pseudo-leads, until we hit a synth that’s very psy and very foreign to the original, but is followed with the second main lead from the original, and a break that brings in a new variation. Driving, but not quite as powerful as its predecessor. We are brought out with some of those psy synths.

Jay Selway Remix:

Arpeggios and sweeps are joined with…Surreal vocals? Cool. A kick is present, gradually gaining energy, until we are brought into that introduction, which is spiked with those vocals, and what sounds like a horn at the end of every four measures. We get nice synths that give this track a groove, with that ever present horn. Synths build on synths, sounds build on those, and a sweep brings us into the meat of the track. Horn departs for now, and those synths start shifting tone to drive this track from cliffhanger to cliffhanger(This one has lots of little breaks, which I’m henceforth referring to as ‘cliffhangers’), until we hit the real break. The break keeps on going, treating us to some nice low sounds, and injecting energy all the way, until a siren peaks into this old-school lead. Looking back though, we don’t see any of the actual leads from the original, but in fact we are getting the first lead with some tone variation, as well as those ’schizophrenic’ sounds(I’m using that word way too much). The vocals reappear in the end of the mix…They’re pretty cool, wish Selway made more use of them.

Nicholas Bennison Remix:

Bennison begins with strings, and starts off with the second lead as an intro into the DJ transition. Percussion is rather full, I like it, and, again, schizophrenia. Say hello to some psy sounds, as we are built up. We hear some of the original elements, such as a pleasant arpeggio. First little break brings a complete change of tone. We’re left with nothing but a little bit of noise, and a dark and deep kick/bass combo. Cue the first lead as it’s brought in with Bennison’s strings, as well as his bone-rattling basslines. Cliffhanger ensues, and the second lead is brought back with some sweeps, then breaks back into the first lead, which carries us through what now seems to be the main break right into a fall…Another change of tone and we are given this evil sounding bass-y lead that takes us right to the transition.

San Remix:

This one starts off strong, and we hear those ascending arpeggios, before we enter the center of the track. This one takes the leads from the original, stutters them, and overlays them upon a nice strong bass, giving us a very techy track. We arrive at the break and encounter the second lead; a sweep starts accelerating, as the lead crests into the next phrase. Constant building slams us right into a kick, and we are led out by the two leads under the influence of stutter. All in all, nothing too remarkable, but it does have its merits.

Looks like I had a ton to say about this release. Excellent stuff, I must say. I especially enjoyed the fact that while was each track quite different, they all maintained a theme. Kudos to both remix artists, you really took ‘Beyond the Limit’ and made it your own. Pharmacy Music is off to a great start, and I definitely expect Lawrence to drop one of these bombs at the Electric Daisy Carnival this year . If I had to pick, I’d say that I enjoyed the original and the Selway mixes the most. Oh, and I’m glad to see that there are some decent American producers out there 

9.5/10

Release Info:

Christopher Lawrence and John ‘00′ Fleming- Beyond the Limit[Pharmacy]

1. Beyond The Limit – Deep Mix

2. Beyond The Limit – Original Mix

3. Beyond The Limit – Jay Selway Remix

4. Beyond The Limit – Nicholas Bennison Remix

5. Beyond The Limit – San Remix

Released on May 14, 2008. San Remix released on May 16, 2008.

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