Artist: James Harcourt
Title: Hysteria
Label: Release Grooves
By: Simon Jones | 10 December 2003
Tracklist:

• A: D Ramirez Mix
• B: Mateo Murphy Mix

James Harcourt "Hysteria"

James Harcourt returns to the Release fold following on his previous singles 'Diaspora' and 'Scalar'. 'Hysteria' is his latest single, and appears in the form of a remix package on new label Release Grooves, with mixes coming from two of the scene's most well known producers of he moment, D Ramirez and Mateo Murphy.

'Dino Ramirez' adds his own trademark tribal sound to the track, big percussive rhythms and tough drums providing the platform for some twisted synth action and killer spacey chords, with a huge siren effect rising in and out of the groove, with male and female vocal hooks rising up and over the top as the groove twists wildly back and forth, and although it's not entirely cohesive, the rough arrangement and big sounds make it a competent mix at least.

'Mateo Murphy' sticks to a similar drum-led groove, but the real ingredient in his mix is a moody speaker testing bassline that drives along taking out all in it's path with smooth melodic chords rising from beneath and bubbling along as the vocal hook comes in. Some incredible moods help bring the sounds out with reverb filters lifting the bassline right up and dropping it back down to cause some damage on the dancefloor. A slice of melodic techno that Kevin Saunderson would be proud of.

I have to admit that I was not expecting what I got from this release, and whilst the D Ramirez Mix is nice to listen to, it's not something I would play, but the superb Mateo Murphy remix is something that has huge potential, and pushes a sound I hope to see Release Grooves focus on a bit more in the future.