Artist: Benz & MD
Title: Still Rain / Dead Calm
Label: Silver Planet Recordings
By: Simon Jones | 5 July 2004
Tracklist:

• A: Still Rain
• B: Dead Calm

Benz & MD "Still Rain / Dead Calm"

With a string of singles under their belt already, and one single just out on Hope Recordings, the duo of Greg Benz & Marco Di Carlo don't seem to be heading out of the record boxes of the usual suspects any time soon, as every month seems to bring a new remix, collaboration or production from them. This prolific behaviour has not hindered them in the slightest however, as each release has been superb, and this debut two tracker for Silver Planet looks set to contain that flawless streak of quality once more.

'Still Rain' drives along right from it's opening moments, the trademark rolling beats and bass that graces much of this duo's work providing the huge backdrop, against which an enchanting melody unfolds, floating through the tight synth arrangements that are laid down over the top. Sliding bass effects increase the tempo step by step as the track moves along, climaxing in an emotional and dreamy breakdown that pays tribute to the epic house sound of the mid 90s, before the track fades away like the sun setting on the horizon, this melancholic track guaranteed to leave a smile upon your face.

'Dead Calm' is by all terms a stark contrast to it's a-side partner. Gone is the emotion, and in it's place is a tough, rolling groove that takes control of the track's many layers and pulls them into one. Dark stabs that cut in and out of the groove are underpinned by a trippy melody line. Subtle strings are used sparingly to add some grandeur to the soundscape, but there's nothing elegant about this as it's dark bass and haunting effects take hold, and the finale is anything but calm, as another dancefloor bomb is delivered into our laps, reading to level even the biggest of rooms with.

Benz & MD can seemingly do no wrong, with this single sitting alongside their most recent 'Wonder' as quite possibly two of the best records to emerge this summer, for indeed the winning combination of warm melodies and deep bass provides the perfect aural accompaniment to those days of hazy blue skies, with this single without a doubt Silver Planet's finest moment in quite some time.