Artist: Northern Groove
Title: Absolut / Acid Pipe
Label: Progress Inn
By: Simon Jones | 19 February 2003
Tracklist:

• A: Absolut
• B: Acid Pipe

Northern Groove "Absolut / Acid Pipe"

Austin Moore and Alex McCulloch started life on Premier Sounds, before joining the Choo Choo family as Shafunkers. Since then they have gone on to produce material as D-Track for Fluid Recordings, and here on Progress they unveil another project entitled Northern Groove. The first offerings of this new direction are 'Absolut' and 'Acid Pipe'. The question is, do they live up the quality of the duo's work as Shafunkers. Let's find out..

'Absolut' is slightly unconventional in the way it is arranged, with the bassline being the main focus of the track, dark rattling drums looming over the top. As the track heads into it's central arrangement, the percussion changes in key from one extreme to another, descending into a heads down groove. Quirky stuff, but nothing particularly outstanding.

Acid and 303 action brings us to 'Acid Pipe', with it's deep pulsating sub bass pulling you in from the start. Moving along, the mood slowly starts to diversify before spacial atmospherics ooze into the groove during the latter half of the track, warm synths fusing with the vocal sample that is present throught. This track makes up for the shortfallings of the a-side.

Further material on Progress Inn will come from the E-Magicians with Evolution on mix duties. Watch out for that one very soon, but in the meantime, proceed with caution and use your own judgement on this 12".