MOST TALENTED HOUSE PRODUCER - JUDGES COMMENTS:
Emeskay - Equalize
http://soundcloud.com/emeskay_promo/emeskay-equalize-preview
Seems like ‘Equalize’ has already been released and rightly so! All the elements work well off each other and good use of EQ means this will translate well on the dance floor. The bottom is tight and defined. We especially like the FX on the breaks - great use of the 'slow down' effect too - some kind of glitch vst maybe? A great attempt at making house music! 8/10
Bassfactor - When The Cracks Start To Appear
http://soundcloud.com/bassfactor-1/bassfactor-when-the-cracks
TRACK NOT AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD ANYMORE, SO COULDNT COMMENT.
DJ Program - Cold As
http://soundcloud.com/dj-program/cold-as-feat-nathan
The way this has been EQ'ed means that it reminds us slightly of old Ital Disco, with an old school production vibe - but we're not entirely sure that is intentional! The synth sounds are a bit too 'preset' for our liking (reminds us of some of the presets on the old Pro-52). Musically the elements are working well, but it's a little bit 'obvious'. Needs more work. 6/10
WINNER!
Mindis - Fly
http://soundcloud.com/mor-music/fly-original-mix
Now this one's deep! Perfect for Sunday chill-outs or even early/late doors in the right club. Melodically this one is stunning, with so many different melodies hitting you at every juncture - it's a wonder he's been able to fit them all in! Gabriele's vocals are superb and enter at exactly the right place. Great stuff. 9/10
Dj Wigglez
http://soundcloud.com/wigglez-530/dj-wigglez-dj-enlighten-shit
Good, well produced track with a good sense of musicality but we feel it's in the wrong section. This really should have been entered into the Electro section, as the synth lines fall into that category. The 'Wah wah' lyrics is definitely going to get the right clubs moving, but playing this is a true house club may result in a a few raised eyebrows! We can't really give this one a mark.
Colin Balzli - Wish The World Away
http://soundcloud.com/cbalz/wish-the-world-away-night
Now this guy has a lot of musical talent, you can hear it straight away with the piano line. The low pad in the break has been placed at exactly the right frequency and the filter comes up just at the right points! The kick is ever so slightly wobbly in the second half though - we suspect a slight dip on the EQ at on the pad at the fundamental kick frequency might sort that, although as usual with production it could be a mixture of conflicts. All in all a really great piece of work and if the tweaks were carried out could be released in an instant! 8/10
WINNER!
Mindis – Carma Buss
http://soundcloud.com/mor-music/carma-buss-original-mix
The second track from Mindis of Mor-Music and he's really starting to impress us. We really love the way the mallet sound runs into each bar with really perfect use of stereo delay. In fact use of delay throughout the whole track here is great. The filters on the main sound feel random and exciting and really draw you into the groove of the track. The tom work in the second half is mesmerizing, being placed in exactly the right space with a great short reverb. This guy definitely has his own style! 9/10
Beat And Juice - Midnight Shadows (Lea Dobricic Remix)
http://soundcloud.com/leadobricic/beat-and-juice-midnight
This one is extremely impressive. The sax works nicely across the top and in general if feels like all the elements you'd expect are there, with a confident and defined clap creating the overall swing. If anything the kick feels a little dead, perhaps needing a little more sub as we're not sure how that would come across on a mainroom sound system. Still a funky track that thoroughly deserves to be released. 8/10
Enigma - Guilty Pleasure (Original Mix)
http://soundcloud.com/enigmaproductions/enigma-guilty-pleasure
Musically, this could be a superb track but it's let down with the EQ/effects work. Even mastering wouldn't bring this one to where it needs to be, as the sub bass line is too overpowering so you'd find it hard to bring the kick into line. But this is definitely the kind of stage an artist should get to with their arrangement before spending hours tweaking and getting all the sounds in the right sound space! 5/10
DJ Program ‘Gypsy’
http://soundcloud.com/dj-program/gipsy-women-remix
People probably voted for this one for the Gypsy woman lyric but to our ears it sounds a little out of tune. The lyric isn't quite sitting with the rest of the track and if feels almost like it's been thrown in at the end in order to make the track more appealing. You can see what he's tried to do but it's not pulled off. Just our opinion though! 4/10
MOST TALENTED HOUSE DJ - JUDGES COMMENTS:
Chris Freefall - Ibiza Sunset Mix
http://soundcloud.com/chris-freefall/ibiza-sunset-mix
Anyone mixing on three decks needs props and Chris does this well. Some of the cross fades are a little obvious and sometimes distract from what happening in the tracks. We especially like the last ten minutes though - tough! 7/10
David Ridgely - House Mix
http://soundcloud.com/grooves/david-ridgely-may-2012-power
The mixing is smooth and on point and the style is well defined. The whole mix gels well - although the volume level @ 20 mins lowers way too much (as it does @ 48 mints). You're really going to be able to tell the drop in level in a club! 7/10
Jamie Lightning - House Mix
http://soundcloud.com/dj-lightning/house-2012-mix
Jamie's beat matching is good. The Show Me Love Accapella doesn't really work, as it's in a different pitch. However the rest of the mix is general good but again there does seem to be quite a few pitch conflict problems. We'd definitely advise a good old read up on mixing in key! 6/10
Scott 'DJ DK' Gill - Awaken Ibiza 2012
http://soundcloud.com/scott-the-dog/30-min-comp-mix
Good to see this one has been mixed purely with the basics - CDJ's and a mixer! And this guy can definitely mix. A few odd pull backs here and there but we'll forgive him. The track selection flows and the strength here lies in the programming (although the mix does get a little distorted in points so just watch those levels Scott!) 8/10
Keith Brook - Passion Bar May 2012 Mix
http://soundcloud.com/keith-brook/keith-brook-passion-bar-volume
MIX NOT AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD, SO COULDNT COMMENT.
Miss Grace - Relentless Progressive House
http://soundcloud.com/djmissgrace/jacked-beats-1st-birthday-mix
We always like a good introduction and this one is class! A solid track selection with tight mixing and a quality modern sound. Some of the place the tracks are brought in could be a little better and the mix at 18 minutes seems to just suddenly drop in volume. All in all not bad! Tune selection is the strong point here. 7/10
Flashback303 - Old School
http://soundcloud.com/dj-flashback303/housemix-vol-3
MIX NOT AVAILABLE ON SOUNDCLOUD, SO COULDNT COMMENT.
DJ Shanon White - Dirty House Music Quick Mix
http://soundcloud.com/shanonwhite/quick-mix-dirty-house-06-may
It's very hard to judge a DJ on a 13 minute mix, so we'd advise a longer mix next time. The problem here too is the mix is all distorted and often the beat matching wonders off. However we do do love the tough techno-house sound on offer here. There’s talent here – it just needs more practice! 5/10
WINNER!
Verone001 - Mixed
http://soundcloud.com/verone001/verone-mixed-im-the-one-whos
This is an example of why programming is just as important as beat matching skills. There's such a wealth of good music on offer here and it's all been mixed together like a true pro - loads of character in the mixing, although not too obvious to get annoying! Tracks come in at the right place, leave at the right place and stay in for exactly the right amount of time. We suspect the DB4 has been used here too for maximum creativity! A brilliant mix and a worthy winner. 9/10
FINAL WINNERS:
MOST TALENTED HOUSE PRODUCER: MINDIS
MOST TALENTER HOUSE DJ: VERONE001
