Waterspark – Lego [Nu-Depth Recordings]
Posted by Andre on June 30, 2009 under Releases | 
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I stumbled upon this release while browsing Beatport this past week, and I must say, being the huge lego fan that I am, I simply couldn’t pass up the chance to give it a listen. Nu-depth Recordings is a rather young label, born in 2007 as the brainchild of Danny Powers who felt there was yet ‘room for another quality trance outlet’. I’d say he’s held up his end of the bargain!
The lead off track provides a great alternative to the boring and often drawn out ‘intro’ versions found in the trance world. Keeping the listener interested and using a melody intro to usher in the track is a work of genius. Along with Daniel’s original mix are mixes from Perceptive Recordings’ Andy Blueman, Discover Dark’s Gary Maguire and another up and coming UK producer, Dave Horne.
Read on past the break for samples, my full review and for your chance to vote for your favorite version!
Waterspark – Lego (Original Mix)
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With a spooky and space-travel inspired intro, I feel like I’ve traveled back in time and am listening to some old Kraftwerk track. It’s not long until the melody is introduced, just shy of the 20 second mark. It’s this no nonsense, no let-me-add-silence-and-strip-everything-away type of introduction that instantly sets this track apart from others that consider themselves great opening intro tracks. The track’s balance is kept throughout, and I’m glad to hear that there are still artists who don’t overpower the mids/lows of their tracks to generate a more impactful first impact….sometimes its about growth….right? The breakdown highlights the lush and spacey melody while deep and intricate pads interact in the background. A well crafted breakdown that should pick up just about any tired soul.
Waterspark – Lego (Andy Blueman Remix)
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I discovered Andy after falling in love with the epic melody of ‘Nyctalopia’ in 2007 (gosh, has it already been that long?). Considering his previous work this amazing melody is a perfect fit for Andy’s style of trance. Andy’s jacked the tempo up some and added some spine tingling synths to the mix, adding more support and depth to the already epic melody. Unlike Daniel’s original mix, Andy waits until the breakdown to truly unveil the melody, which he’s redone in soft piano….pure sexy. The fact I’m so calm at the moment can only bode well for the climax before the crash….my ears are eagerly anticipating it. Just as expected, the track takes off in the latter half, leaving me utterly breahless.
Waterspark – Lego (Gary Maguire Remix)
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Gary’s name is unknown to me, but I’ve discovered the gent has collaborated with John Askew on his latest album, ‘Z list Uber Star’. From the first beat I can sense the Discover sound oozing through. The use of a solid kick drum and the inclusion of a synth based siren/bell/alarm sound send the track into dark territory, but not until the first mini break/build lands at the 60 second mark. Bonus points to Gary for shaking things up structurally. The track’s relatively slower tempo is confusing to my ears….what I’m hearing is providing me with tons of energy, but I sense things aren’t keeping up to what I want. Maybe if the track was jacked up 2-4% in tempo? The breakdown and melody showcase a very dry synth melody with some massive reverb decay, perfect for a large sound system in a big uk club! Back into kick-to-face territory after the crash and the track carries on.
Waterspark – Lego (Dave Horne Remix)
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This time around we’ve got Dave Horne taking the original in a very different direction. This is still trance, but he’s added some tech/electro elements (most notably a killer snare/clap combo) to the mix, creating a nu-age hybrid of sorts. This version is even more dreamy than the original, for what reasons? I’m having a really hard time figuring that out… Regardless, this is just the kind of thing I’d love to hear while chilling on a beach, a sunny patio, or while enjoying the company of a fine wine. Progressive, dreamy and escapist describe this to a tee.
The Verdict
I’ve got to say I am completely smitten with this release. Each mix provides a slightly different take on the original, which in my opinion is an absolute gem, and I’m having a hard time deciding which version I like best. Regardless, I know each of these tracks will get tons of airplay with me on my podcast and while I’m out and about.
Score: 8/10
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Aaron said,
That original builds wonderfully…Legos were awesome, unless you consolidated them in a huge-ass tub then couldn’t find the one piece you needed. Looks like you found that piece!
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