Straight out of Russia by way of France, Hook Recordings are all smiles to be able to offer up their latest release “Lost Love” from two of their newest international artists, Tamerlan & Djons.

Russian native Tamerlan has had music in his veins since childhood and started playing the guitar at age 11. By the age of 17 he found his way to France where he soon started producing his own music and along the way he met Djon. Like Tamerlan, Djon has been involved in music since early childhood so it is no surprise that these two soon began producing together under the name Tamerlan & Djon. This Russian/French production team won a remix contest hosted by French Dj Muttonheads and have had their tracks supported by some of the dance scene’s biggest players including Matt Darey and our own resident guru Chris Cowie.

Their debut EP on the Hook imprint starts off dirty with the duos “Lost Love” (Dirty mix) and it doesn’t disappoint. If you like your trance with a little nasty grime then this one is for you. Dj’s this cut is guaranteed to get the crowd surging…..dancers grab your glow sticks!

Read on past the break for the lowdown on each version in this package and for some high quality sample!  This label is doing what so many labels fail to do nowadays: Keeping the retro trance flame alive while sprucing it up for 2009.

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You would be forgiven for thinking Mark Rogan’s, Dead Of Night and Rythmical Dawn were created in the heart of Detroit’s depressed, post industrial scenery. But no, this classic slab of Detroit Techno was manufactured in Belfast from an artist who clearly has his finger on the moment. It’s the sound that takes you and your mind on a journey without the dramatics of a roller coaster on speed.

Rogan puts in a sterling effort for his first Bellboy release. It’s all there, the sound of Sci-Fi, the layers of 909 percussion, the subtle gear shifters emphasised in the mix by raised chord sound scapes and rhythmic enhancing ride cymbals that arrive just when you need them. Both Dead Of Night and Rythmical Dawn lean heavily on the Detroit classic Techno sound but at the same time Rogan stamps his own identity in to the proceedings with confident non formula arrangements and carefully cultivated sound ingredients all blending together to make tracks that brim with dark melody and subtle funk.

Rogan’s Bellboy debut is accompanied on remix duties by fellow Irishman Colin Mckeown aka The Parallel. Taking a more laid back approach with his mix of Rhythmical Dawn he’s focussed his mix on a sustained chord which eventually brings its self to a crescendo opening up the tracks essence to the listener. Again like Rogan, The Parallel has a love for those classic 909 drum hits and he uses various hats in one form or another to shift the song in to more energetic gears. It’s all very subtle but it will hit the right mood buttons for the listener at home or on the dance floor.

Hit up the read more link for tasty high quality samples and be sure to support the artist you love, buy their music!

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Hook is back with one of the biggest releases of the summer: Deniro’s “Mind of Man” remixes.

Originally released in 1996, Deniro’s Mind of Man became a pivotal release for Hook’s unique brand of no compromise trance. It was often quoted as the release that “Got Me in to the Hook Sound” and immediately became a firm favorite of many of the day’s major players. It gained a host of CD compilation licenses most notably appearing on one of the early Global Underground compilations, a brand which became synonymous for its taste and influence.

2009 sees this Hook classic getting the remix treatment from the tracks composer Chris Cowie using his X Cabs alias to put a new twist on the original. He’s joined by Nicholas Bennison, no stranger to the Hook label having recently released his first outing for Hook with his Deadweight Ep and also Jonathan Allyn, a newcomer to Hook but a name traveling fast up the Trance ranks.

Read on past the break for my take on each version, some high quality samples and for your chance to tell us which one is your fav!

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Not even a week ago I discovered Invasive Recordings, and I simply couldn’t stay away from this release, because, well, the label rocks. And it doesn’t hurt to support local talent, right?

Macca is back with another tech house banger that includes some older influences (you’ll have to sample it to find out!) and manages to dig into the newly renewed electro movement. That’s right, electro movement, move along, there’s no such thing as a mnml movement.

Read on past the break for a sweet high quality sample and some links,

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