Artist: Jaytech
Title: Manipulator
Label: Rapid Response Recordings
By: Antonella Sirec | 23 August 2006
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Parallel Sound Mix

Jaytech "Manipulator"

It’s quickly becoming an unstoppable year for Canberra born DJ and producer Jaytech. Whether releasing solo productions or with his partner in crime, Matt Rowan, it seems this particular producer has an endless amount of energy and a bottomless creative well. Having already released the remixes for his superb 'Genesis' on Rapid Response Recordings in recent months, his follow up for the label, 'Manipulator' is set to be another staple inclusion in many DJ sets the world over.

The original mix of 'Manipulator' begins with Jaytech's trademark padded drums and then shortly introduces splashes of twangy, distorted synths which soon give way to the sound of a dubby bass that sets up the introduction of the main melody. This new release is much like Jaytech's recent forays in that 'Manipulator' continues to build on a very uplifting, blissful tone and maintaining that throughout the duration of the tune. This time round however, there’s an excursion into the deeper side of the sound spectrum, which is made abundant by the fuller bass throughout. This only helps to heighten the ethereal quality of the breakdown that occurs in the last third part of the track. The latter part of 'Manipulator' sees the beat picking up slightly but still maintaining its unique melody until the end. As an original mix, this particular version is one that grows with each listen and will be sure to please a lot of listeners.

The Parallel Sound remix takes 'Manipulator' onto a completely different platform. This time round the melody while still integral to the sound of the track, is now more subdued and in some instances, sampled as fragments from its original sound. The bass and drums take more of a prominent role but in a cohesive manner to the melody, which gives the track a more groove like feel when compared to the original. While the breakdown in the original was very ethereal in feel, Parallel Sound have reinterpreted this into a deeper, more breakbeat infused structure which allows that subdued melody to kick back in with effortless ease. Much like the original, the beats pick up slightly in the second half but the track continues to maintain that deeper quality. This is a darker interpretation from the original but it never gets bogged down in the murkiness of sound that can often happen.

Overall, this is yet another pleasing release from Jaytech. Initially, when I first heard 'Manipulator', I thought it sounded very much like 'Starbright' but on subsequent listens that notion was abandoned. If I have one criticism, it is that structurally the two tracks are almost identical and I think it's because of that, that I thought they were similar. However, melodically, they are quite different as 'Manipulator' touches onto a deeper side of Jaytech's production skills and it is a side that I hope he continues to explore. Of the two versions on this release, I have to favour the remix created by Parallel Sound as they have managed to pick up on the track's depth and add to its varying shades by subduing the melody and really emphasis the bass and drums without going overboard. But the remix would be nothing if it weren't for the more then enjoyable original of 'Manipulator' that Jaytech created. Both the original mix and the Parallel Sound remix are easily going to find a home in numerous DJ sets around the world. That's guaranteed.