Search - Victor Calderone :: Resonate

A Wild Ride !

Quixcity | New York City | 07/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A deceptively austere cover and a cryptic title make good camouflage for Victor Calderone's latest. This is a dance album with subversive intent. It wants to take us back...back to our jungle roots. That of course is the intent of most DJs today. But what makes Calderone's album so radical is the degree to which it succeeds. "What Awae Wanna," by DJ Pippi presents I.K.I., gives the set an African launch with it's tribal pidgin vocal. The closing cut, Underworld's "Two Month's Off," ends the mix with its own brand of tribal urban exuberance. From start to finish, the album covers a perfect arch of dark tribal build. If one word could characterize this disc, it would be VIRILE. This is the quality that resonates thru Calderone's backbeats, his bass and drums, and all of his effects. Jungles are virile places, and the human jungle is all about drums and rhythms and chants. Though National Geographic never told us so, jungles are also brimming with sexual energy. Calderone's jungle is both African and New World, as the Latin-inflected rhythms of several numbers testify. When you enter Calderone's world you leave European sensibilities far behind. This is one of those rarities: a perfect continous mix. It is not an album from which one would tear away bleeding chunks with a "burning" knife. Not that it lacks highlights, such as the mindbending "Alessa," performed here in its original garb by De Loren & Colors, and in remix by Iberican Tribal Mix. Most especially, Calderone's own productions: "Drive," "Deep Dark Jungle," and "Resonate" all testify to the erotically mesmerizing effects that percussion and rhythm can have on the human mind."

Hot Tribal House Set

JT in ChiTown | Chicago, IL USA | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Victor Calderone's "Resonate" is a tribal house fans dream....hot, steamy, sexy and created with the sole purpose to make you dance !! The drums are hard, bold and really smack and pop....the hi-hats energize....the vocals are sultry, moody, and in a tribal toungue that really compliments the mood. From beginning to the end you won't quick dancing until your a sweaty pile on the floor !!! The best thing about this mix is the extended play on the songs....Victor is not so concerned about showing you every record he has in his magic stash, but instead chooses to carefully weave the tunes together letting you absorb each song fully (meaning the songs go for 5-7 minutes....which is more representative of a club set and not a cheesy DeVito play-the-song-of-the-minute mix). Victor is dishing out shots to the body like a prizefighter with high energy hits like "Impress Me"...can you say 'Uhhhh Huhhhh', "The Drive", "Deep Dark Jungle", the title track "Resonate" and my personal fav "Am I On Your Mind" will have you wringing out your clothes by the end of the set and wiggling that backside till it shakes right off !! Tribal House taps into something primitive within all of us and Victor's "Resonate" is solid, seemless and sooooo sexy !! I'm NOT a big fan of "Wild Luv" but aside from that track....this cd is made custom made for dancing. It is also my new goto cd for the drive into/from work and it won't let you fall asleep on the ride home from the clubs either !!! Tribal fans will adore and those in touch with the club scene will appreciate its dance-ability !!! Worthy of my finest 5 lolly Rating !!"

Deep, dark, complex, genius!

Nathan A Norman | NYC | 07/27/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Just like one of his favorite clients, Victor Calderone is not afraid of change. His early outings relied heavily on more uplifting, vocal types of house tracks. The present finds him squarely in tribal territory, and what a beautiful place it is! I guarantee you have never heard beats like this (unless you've been blessed with hearing him spin live, of course). Hard, deep, dark, organic and challenging, with few vocals to distract. If Mensa had a house soundtrack, this would be it. Stand out tracks are "Magnifique," "Impress Me," and, of course, all of Vic's original productions: "The Drive" (feel that percussion!), "Deep Dark Jungle," and "Resonate." If you feel house music, if it is a spiritual thing, if it moves your body, you will not be disappointed. "I'll take you back to the deep, dark jungle...THIS IS HOUSE MUSIC!""