Artist: Chris Micali
Title: Schiphol
Label: Aurium Recordings
By: Nick Williams | 29 August 2006
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Santiago Nino Mix

Chris Micali "Schiphol"

Aurium's 11th release brings Chris Micali to the label's forefront with his first release on the label. Chris has always been known to bring a signature blend of sweeping atmospheres with funked out grooves that will always bring a smile to your face. 'Schiphol' is simply one of those Micali groovers that just keeps building and building. The remix brings Guatemalan Santiago Niño back for his second production on the Canadian label. He brings a pounding alternative from the original, while still following a similar build and vibe.

The original of 'Schiphol' lays Chris' signature groove to start it off, leaving nothing aside. From the first beat you know this will be a rolling, chuggy progressive house tune. Layers and layers of filtered ambience with stuttered vocals add the funk and keep attention, while it keeps building and building. Round filtered stabs and sprinkles of melody add even more to the groove. Chris really knows how to create a space for his music and this one is filled with wet filtered grooves. The track is, however, missing a melody and that creates a stale end to this song. Also, with more sound design and edits to the drum samples, Chris really could have made his groove sparkle like diamonds, allowing for some more freedom in the grooves that he creates. That would have taken this song to the next level, and really grabbed some attention. Truth be told, this track will be sure to get the dancefloors moving.

Santiago Niño's remix is built around a pounding drum loop, that allows his flow, and build that he creates with it, very impressive. Similar to the original, the energy builds in rises and falls. Energy keeps rising and falling towards the peak. Then everything breaks back down to nothing, and then raises even further. Santiago utilizes the vocal and sparked sprinkles of melody from the original to create a wetness in the ambiance, that when paired with filtered stabs, keep this groove going. I could see Hernan Cattaneo playing this song if he was feeling like getting a funky groove going. Kind of ends a bit stale, but very suitable for a dj who likes to layer long mixes.

Following major licensing success from previous releases, I don't know if this one will reach such heights. I have been a fan of Chris' work for a long time and I know that he has more in him to take his music to the next level. But don't let that deter you from having a listen, as this is great big-room progressive house music. One thing that I love about this label is that they have been true to their style of music since their first release, and you get the same vibe with this one as you do their first release.