Miika Kuisma – One Morning By The Riverside [Subtraxx]

This time you’ll be reading up on Finnish producer Miika Kuisma’s latest release, One Morning By The Riverside, just put out on his own Subtraxx imprint. He’s been a little quiet since his remix of Alex Kunnari’s Lifter, so hopefully this release will deliver. Read on past the break to see what I’ve got to say.

Life In Streams Remix:

In comes a subdued kick, tailed by some bouncy drum work and a low synth. We keep moving, sounds echoing around us…In come some portamento-ed synths, as a dreamy line weaves itself in and out of corporeality. This track is very laid back, dynamic builds are gradual, if present, and phrases are longer. We arrive at a break that brings that dreamy line into proper relief, and are left to listen as the main line emerges out of the fog. It glides in, and with a great build-up, we take off again. However, we are joined with a very electronic line, that is promptly backed up by the original drums. Everything drops for a bit, and we hit the DJ transition.

Original Mix:

This one starts out with a simple snare bit, which becomes flooded with lush synthwork that ebbs and flows, before a bass riff and percussion drop in. Dark lines are joined by one simple note, that plods along, and fades in and out. More lines are dropped in gradually, until the backing track temporarily retreat so that that simple note can evolve into our melody, and be joined by the piano. Strings cascade until we get a simple pause of ambiance. We refrain to our pre-break track, accompanied by the new piano lead. The percussion makes itself known, along with some yet-unknown synth work. In comes the transition.

Arto Kumanto Remix:

We get some very contrasted percussion to start, and a top-heavy kick, before we hear the tracks sounds fall into place. I do like that this one doesn’t have a club-pounding kick, it would feel off-color in comparison to the rest of the release. Kumanto’s percussion is taking center-stage, being spiked with the piano lead, and some of the other prominent lines from the other two works. Break arrives, featuring the piano, which is built up to crest and fall. Some of the sweeps are brought in, and we get right back into the track with some neat sweep effects. We get a pleasant break before hitting the DJ transition.

Good…Scratch that, excellent release by Kuisma. Both mixes are great. Kumanto’s remix was a great take as well. I could have seen more of ‘Quality X’ in the Kumanto remix, but it was nonetheless a good work. My personal favorite is the Life In Streams Remix. The best way I can summarize this one…The bulk of modern trance music takes you up and down; a proverbial roller coaster, if you will. This release is one of those that will not take you up…But across. It will send you on a journey, rolling down roads, through hills, into forests…There are few that can pull this effect off, and it’s quite refreshing. For that, I give this release a 9.5/10.

Release info:

Miika Kuisma – One Morning By The Riverside [Subtraxx]

1. Life In Streams Remix

2. Original Mix

3. Arto Kumanto Remix

Released June 10, 2008.

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