Artist: James Talk
Title: Eggs Are Cute
Label: Nu Republic
By: Simon Jones | 20 August 2003
Tracklist:

• A: Talk's Re-Percussion Mix
• B: Dave Robertson's Going Deep Mix

James Talk "Eggs Are Cute"

Southampton, UK has been the stomping ground for many of the industry's rising talent. It is the home of Bedrock's Phil Thompson, known better to many as Moonface. It is also the home of James Zabiela, and has since seen the rise of a host of producers which James has supported on his radio show, mix cds and out in the clubs. Names like Dan Goodall and Dave Robertson form part of the nu breed emerging from the area, and the latest name to join that collective is James Talk. 'Eggs Are Cute' is his debut single, having received support from not only James, but Sasha at WMC '03, and was also featured on Gabriel and Dresden's recent Essential Mix. Needless to say it has caught the attention of several trainspotters, and Nu Republic, being the enterprising people that they are have snapped it up for release..

Talk's own 'Re-Percussion Mix' is built on a subtle techno style bassline. Detroit style beats and pads draw the percussion out of the background, pushing the track forward. A big looped melody is teased into the mix, but doesn't seem to evolve much in all honesty until it reaches a break which leads into the main section. From here, the warm bass seperates, as numerous layers of melody split off, synth pads sitting between the multiple layers, simmering down into a small break as the percussion leads out to the end. The best part of the track is the switch into the main section, and you are left anticipating another of those moments which never happens. Nevertheless, not a bad track, but just lacking in the dynamics that make it a potential floor filler.

The remix comes from 'Dave Robertson' who strips things down and injects a big dose of acid into the groove. Using a free flowing percussion line and deep beats, Dave creates a moody bassline, looping the melody to bring it in slowly and letting it out during the break, before the acid stabs return for the final moments of the mix.

A fair debut from this UK based producer, but in retrospect it doesn't offer any new ideas that haven't been heard before and does not have the staying power that will ensure it a long stay in your record box. With the resurgence of melody in the scene in recent months, melodic tracks are a dime a dozen, and there are many better than this.