Search - Fade, Scott Stubbs :: Progressive House Anthems: B.O. Limbo Records

Topaz brings another fine European sound to the U.S.

Douglas A. Greenberg | Berkeley, CA USA | 12/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Topaz Records, headquartered in New York but seemingly focused also around a Las Vegas trance scene that stars DJ Scott Stubbs, has undertaken a fascinating new project of late. They have released mix cd's featuring the "best of" various European artists and labels, making this music available to those within the U.S. market who are not prone to purchasing imports. Previous mixes of this type have included Scott Stubbs' "Platipus Presents the Evolution of Trance," and DJ Grover's "An Evening of Trance," featuring the work of Pablo Gargano, aka Eve Records. This time, Stubbs and also Florida-based Fade (Neil Kolo and Chris Fortier) have put together a two-cd package that presents some of the best releases from the Scottish progressive house label, Limbo Records. Limbo is one of those small outfits that is more interested in presenting top-notch tracks than in making tons of money, and this cd package demonstrates this devotion to quality. Both mixes feature hypnotic, rhythmic, melodic and thoroughly entertaining dance music, skillfully mixed and attractively packaged. Nearly all of the tracks are first-rate, trancey compositions that seemingly straddle two closely related musical categories, trance and progressive house (obviously, Limbo Records itself calls its music "progressive house," but most trance fans will find the sound to their liking). I have but a few bones to pick with the sequencing and mixing--for example, Stubbs includes a full five minutes of a dronefully repetitive piece by Gypsy called "Varisuvia." This kind of one-or-two-notes-repeated-endlessly track would have better been edited to a shorter length, in my opinion. Another so-so piece is the Fade remix of Soul Surfers' "Slip," which features cheesy vocal loops that I found myself wishing would disappear. Overall, however, the set provides a lot of terrific music for a reasonably low price. Fans of such dj's as Chris Fortier, Sasha, John Digweed, Dave Seaman, Nigel Dawson, Noel Sanger, Nick Warren, and others whose musical comfort zone is located at the boundary between trance and progressive house will surely enjoy this package.I should note in closing that there was, in fact, a terrific previous dj mix of Limbo tunes mixed by Steven McCreery entitled "Limbo Live @ The Tunnel," a 1998 cd produced by Limbo Records itself. This wonderful set is no longer in print, but the good news is that part of the back catalog of Limbo's fine music is once again available through this new Topaz release."