Artist: Baggage Handlers
Title: Vaportrail
Label: Proton Music
By: Jason Calvert | 13 August 2005
Tracklist:

• 1. Original Mix
• 2. Chris Micali Mix

Baggage Handlers "Vaportrail"

Hot on the heels of their last two releases, Proton set the path ablaze with their third release, showcasing a release as strong as the last two, putting them in excellent stead with other leading labels. This release comes from Baggage Handlers, an outfit consisting of a collaboration between Opencloud members Blake Potter and Corey Spengler, and Lance Cashion. If you think that sounds hot, then you're pretty much right on.

The Original Mix has subtlety in mind. Nothing to overpower us in any way, yet nothing which could cause our interest to wane. Percussion leads the way, with some lush pads generating some massive atmosphere around the composition. A very laid back melody finds its spot perfectly between the pads and the bassline, giving the track an overall polished feel which would work well in the earlier stages of a set, or even better, just to sit back in your lounge and groove to. This mix proves that a track doesn't have to smack you in the face straight up to prove its point.

But it is Chris Micali's mix which has been causing people to talk lately. Keeping faithful to the original, the power is turned up and all the small elements of the track have been tweaked and twisted to turn it into a dancefloor monster. Our melody becomes the driving force here over the percussion, and the bassline compliments this perfectly. The lush pads make their appearance again, but filtered to give a very different feel. The atmosphere is still there, it just takes on a new form.

A very strong release from the Proton boys, and by now most people can sense a pattern of strong quality in their releases. The future is only looking bright, and I definately will be on the lookout for new releases as they come, and I advise everyone else out there to be doing the same.