Search - Barry Harris :: Circuit Sessions 00.3

That Sound ... Again and Again

J | Washington, DC United States | 11/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I never thought I'd see the day that hard-edged, repetetive, emotionless dance music would be considered "mainstream." But since Barry Harris (along with Chris Cox) of Thunderpuss have topped dance music charts over and over, then I guess this stuff doesn't really qualify as anything else. If you don't know Barry Harris' extremely popular pounding build-ups and thunderous synths from the last 2 years, then you've either been in a coma or you don't like dance music (which may as well be the same thing to me). Ever heard the remixes of "Kiss the Rain," "It's Not Right But It's Okay," or "Sexual (Li Da Di)?"Well, for everyone who has, "Circuit Sessions 00.3" is a 12-track CD collection that will certainly sound familiar. The best of these: Kevin Aviance's "Dance For Love," a very catchy music mix that sounds like a BB bouncing around inside of a balloon featuring Aviance's trademark vocal range -- from purring cougar to crabby chainsmoker; and "Get Wicked" by Those 2, which features another jumpy piano riff with words that say it all, "Here comes that sound... again and again!" Barry Harris' production and remix talents are best showcased on the blaring synths of "Movin Up," but he has near-misses with Jocelyn Enriquez' "When I Get Close To You" and Jennifer Holliday's "Think It Over" -- not that they're bad, they just seem formulaic and don't appear to do much to compliment the singers' vocals. Oddest of all is "Beg For It" where Harris rips off his own past creation, Kon Kan -- this is an experiment that take a 3 second riff from 1989's "I Beg Your Pardon" and stretches it out to a five-minute dance song for the current era [ugh].Elsewhere, "Mangamania" and "Revenge" are decent tribal beats though instantly forgettable; "Love Non Stop" is a deep house tune that promotes "sex and drugs nonstop," which is perfect affirmation for most people who're into buying this music; and "The Second Coming" is a cool doomsday industrial type tune that if I remember correctly is borrowing from Quadrophonia. The last two, "Higher" and "Just Come Back 2 Me" seem to be re-releases of songs that I know I've already purchased not all that long ago. They're okay songs, but here they sound more like some hobbyist's bootleg mixes rather than total reproductions.Barry Harris is now on a traveling DJ tour and he's coming to my town this week. I'm certainly going to go, and if he spins anything like he does on "Circuit Sessions 00.3," then I'll definitely have a good time."

Best Of The Series!

robbie | NEW YORK, USA | 01/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have all 4 "circuit session" cd's that have been released so far, and this one is by far my favorite. I was the first one i bought, and it led me to buy the other ones. I am a big fan of the remixing of thunderpuss, and barry harris showcases his skills as a DJ on this nonstop 72 minute album. If you like Thunderpuss remixes, this album has a few of em and a lot of other hard house tracks that will get you pumped up. Barry's mixing is flawless, and he really suprised me with his talent. I hadn't heard most of the songs on here until I got this CD and I was very pleased."