Artist: Patrice Strike
Title: Wonder
Label: Skyline Records
By: Simon Jones | 10 January 2004
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Pankaj & Matt Edwards Aciieed Mix

Patrice Strike "Wonder"

Since entering the realm of production in 1998, Paris based producer Patrice Strike has been constantly evolving his sound and skills, with a number of releases on US label M-Trax. His most recent was the 'Wonder EP' which received early support from John Digweed amongst others, but was hard to track down being a domestic release overseas. Fear not as Skyline have commissioned it for a full release, and have employed the Trendroid boys Pankaj and Matt Edwards to add their touch on the b-side.

Rolling along, Patrice's 'Original' version takes a deep and dubby descent into the darkness, with a big bassline led groove emitting a sublime hypnotic vibe. Techy melodic licks wash over the driving beats, with an occasional vocal cutting through above the sounds. A u-turn during the break sees the everything leave in an increasing vacuum before returning for one last stand during the finale.

However the original, whilst focusing on those deep and dark grooves that many house coniseurs will love, just lacks that extra something to make it a monster, and 'Pankaj and Matt Edwards' bring that something to the table, namely a large dose of aciieed. Injecting big stabs into the groove, the other sounds are polished off and brought up to the same level, with the mechanics of the track getting retuned with the a big room in mind. Big rolling acid lines and cut up drums rise up and take over during the main section of the track, and when that happens, just watch this creation of devastation unfold.

Solid house grooves and killer bass are the order of the day here, and for those who like their sounds dark and twisted, this is one for you..