Rapscallions – Amsterdam Express [Northern Exposure]

Up next is a bit of a special case; The Amsterdam Express by Rapscallions. This is the product when you get the likes of Tilt, Evolution, and Andy Ling together, and let them at it. The track has been given a digital advent by Northern Exposure Recordings, which, as the name might imply, has something to do with Sasha and Digweed…Indeed, this label is currently dedicated to digging up the duo’s various gems, and putting them out on the digital market, sometimes including fresh new remixes (alas, this track did not get a remixing, but no problem). Read on.

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As one might expect with such a line-up, we are in for the long run, and with The Amsterdam Express (ironically) clocking in at a massive eleven minutes, there’s not much else to say, but “All aboard!” A beatless intro offers up a spacey establishment, a slightly Arabic-esque melody, and the distinctive ‘wolp’ of a rhythmic bit of acid. A heartbeat becomes the only sound, before we hit the ground running. The acid is joined by hats and a rolling bassline, as the track is layered delicately. We get a bit of lead as we move along, and the drums ease out, kicking out a roll right before the break, but not for long, as they smash right back in, along with a beastly lick of a synth. The Express is wild, never being content with one thing, and insisting upon bringing back discarded layers, and re-layering them. Snare rolls abound to keep building tension. Another break gives the synthwork a bit of time to stretch out, before chugging into transition mode.

Mmm, acid. If you like Platipus, you’ll like this. Glad to see that some people out there are putting time into digitally reviving tracks such as this one. As for an actual rating, I offer an 8/10. It is a fine piece of work, but in today’s attention deficit club environment, I couldn’t see this one getting the time it deserves, unless serving as an opener…One for the memories, but that’s just my opinion, of course .

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