Groove Diggerz: Get Fresh

12" Out on Breakin’ Even A1: ‘Get Fresh’ Dub Mix B1: ‘Get Fresh’ Sam Hell Remix B2: ‘Get Fresh’ Radio Edit 

This release is one funky monkey, well-integrated vocals and plunking bass. Production is crisp and just, as you would expect from the duo. In some respects it’s nothing new but covers all that you would require. It’s bouncy chorus and happy vibe reminds me of summers past. 

Kicking off with a gentle string sound beats vocal and pad, (shouldn’t be too hard for the DJ’s to mix in), then slowly building with the odd bleep here and there, and boom plunky bass in yer face! The synth line is reminiscent of old skool rave, and then progressing on basically repeating the elements. The outro brings in the strings for a gentle finish, which I feel should have been used a lot more. My overall opinion is that this is a good track, and of a professional standard, but it is at the same time quite standard, but then it is the dub mix. 

The Sam Hell remix has a grimier feel, with plenty going on. There is no pause for thought and the basic repetition doesn’t get boring. There is plenty of energy and it works well, not too much vocal. The synth line needs a breather at some point, but having said that I quite like the intensity. Again this is well produced and the guitar style dirty synth gives it an edge. I would have to say this is my favourite on the release but then I like the dirtier grimier sounds. This mix also keeps with a similar structure and arrangement, just taking out the vocal sound, injecting a robots voice, and replacing the funkier sounds with harder edgier elements.   

3 of 5 Stars

Specimen A: A: ‘Freak In Us’ Ft. Miss Trouble B: ‘Rock This House’

Out on Funkatech ‘Freak In Us’ is a hard edged no messing thumper if ever I heard one, reminding me slightly of a ‘Far too Loud’ track, but holding the ‘Specimen A’ essence. Think of all the elements in tear out today and they are present here. Squelchy bass, heavy distorted guitar, dark notes, and decent production. Starting of with the sound of, what sounds like a Russian music box, but giving the sense of a carnival from the early twentieth century with nothing nice to over (this is no bad thing) other than a freak show, which was probably the idea, boom into the main banging arena, with the use of scary laughter samples and a well known musical progression.

The build up is tremendous and the vocal brings the chorus in nicely. It feels like I have heard the parts to this song before, or it may be just clever associations, either way I like this track a lot. The break down introduces a picked guitar, reminiscent of 80’s rock, but that is soon forgotten and the vocal brings us back to where we should be, in fact as an outro the vocalist seems to realise it’s time to go, uttering ‘gonna rush this song, rush this song’ well that’s what it sounds like, correct me if I’m wrong though. It is certainly something that would fit into one of my sets nicely, a filthy beast!   

The flip ‘Rock This House’, offers up some strummed guitar and a wah-wah. Heavy beats, a progressive build up, as you would expect then more break down wah-wah, and at about one minute fifty we start to ‘Rock This House’!! Distortion and grime galore, this is a rough journey but not unpleasantly so. Hitting a 4/4 beat and introducing some clapping it will definitely get you bouncing. ‘Rock This House’ doesn’t shine quite as brightly as ‘Freak In Us’ but makes a good ‘B’ side, wasn’t so happy about the abrupt ending either, but as long as you are aware of it you will be fine.  

4 of 5 Stars 

REVIEWER: Toby D