Artist: Mr Groove & Vergas
Title: Black And White
Label: Yo Recordings
By: Michael Schreiber | 10 August 2003
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Wet Dream Mix

Mr Groove & Vergas "Black And White"

On June 30th, Yoshitoshi released this 12” on their Yo Recordings imprint. It gained notable attention earlier this year at the Winter Music Conference, when Deep Dish threw it down during their Space 34 marathon set. It’s the creation of two talented Portuguese producers who have previously released works on the Drizzly and Cyber Production labels.

Original Mix

A bit trancey and a bit hard house anthem sounding is the best way to sum up this mix. There’s a strong focus upon utilizing elements to make it sound very digitalized, electro-like, futuristic & spacey. Digital beeps stab against a scratchy metallic 4/4 beat (similar in nature to Danny Tenaglia's/Celeda’s “Be Yourself” ’99 track), as shooting electric “Star Wars-esque” laser sweeps echo from right to left, ultimately giving them a surround sound effect. Upon introduction of the vocal, faint tin tapping is heard in the background as a shaky organ-like “wa-wa” keeps chugging along.

The chanting of “dream in black & white…I dream in black & white” is somewhat soft-spoken and innocent sounding which keeps the track from overall becoming too sinister or dark sounding. It’s very addictively sing-song in repetition and could easily be one of those little elements you’ll end up humming/repeating for days after.

Once you’re on your way to finding a groove to all of this, at 3:40 a vast-sounding computerized horn synth brings in a big room peak anthem feel. It’s quite easy to understand just why the Deep Dish boys presented it down in Miami initially, because it has a very similar groove to that of the native Murk Boys’ (Oscar G & Ralph Falcon) dj sets and productions, which define their Club Space residencies.

Wet Dream Mix

If the A-side isn't your taste, then flip it over and give this mix a chance. It's a bit more suitable for djs needing more of an upbeat housey fix.

Clapping accentuated drumming with a lush one-note echoed stutter drives its more progressive sound, while a four note deep droning loop trails underneath. This melody has the same sound (minus the filtering) and note sequence to the one in Tedd Patterson’s 2001 track “Magnifique.” It’s also accompanied by a soft synth that continuously washes in.

One final synth aspect is the sustained two notes which first come fading inward as everything else fades out to establish the first :30 breakdown, drop-out at the second :30 breakdown at 4:10 and then fade in again at the final, longer one minute breakdown at 5:09, when they continue until 7:09.

The difference with the vocal is that its utilized much less and has different incorporations with echoed chops of “dream in…” “black.., white… black & white…”

Altogether the combination of these also put forth a soft sensual tone perfect for winding down into a late night/out of a peak hour segment.

If “Black & White” gets you craving more from this duo, be sure to lookout for two future releases which they’ve done writing and production for – Soul Shakers “I’m The Master” on Addictive and Disco Freaks “I’m A Freak” on Voice From The Underground.