Artist: Scope
Title: Strung Out / Last Call
Label: Urbantorque Recordings
By: Antonella Sirec | 25 January 2007
Tracklist:

• A: Strung Out
• B: Last Call

Scope "Strung Out / Last Call"

There's a saying that goes something along the lines that the simplest things are often the best. This reasoning can often be applied to dance music in that more often then not an overly complicated tune can actually come across as being contrived and far too busy thereby diminishing its general impact. With that in mind, I've often found that when the basic elements of a tune are simple in nature, my enjoyment of it becomes more gratifying and I find myself revisiting it with continued enthusiasm. One release that perfectly embodies the "less is more" mentality is Scope's AA single featuring the tracks 'Strung Out' and 'Last Call'. While the fundamental elements of both tracks are kept simple, the end result in both cases is a pleasure to hear to and to experience.

'Strung Out' begins on a deeper bass sound with synths drawn in for an atmospheric effect. As the tempo picks up a notch, the tune bounces along at a very infectious pace and I soon found myself happily bouncing along with it. Snippets of a violin sample are dropped in at varying points in the first half of the tune but these soon take on a more melodic aspect and become the focal point of the composition. As such, the term "strung out" quite literally takes on a completely different meaning then what I had initially thought. Interwoven throughout the duration of the track is a sampled male vocal, which is spliced into the tune and used as a sound effect rather then a clear vocal. The gradual break down towards the later part of the tune grows in volume and helps to create a sense of heighten tension before the beat kicks back in and the tune takes off again. This is such a groove-laden number and one of the more creative I’ve heard in recent times. While there's a clear nod to the progressive side of dance music, 'Strung Out' is unashamedly infused with an intelligent house flavour.

Much like its predecessor, 'Last Call' also starts with a deep bass, which sets the tone for this particular track quickly as it remains, for the better part, on the deeper side of the sound spectrum. For me this is a very organic tune as the occasional use of washed out synths throughout remind me of the sound of a tide coming in and then going out again. While still very up-tempo in feel, 'Last Call' has a much more soothing feel, as the sound is more restrained then its high-end counterpart. Still firmly transfixed with an addictive groove, the track has overtones of an intriguing deep house number that easily allows the listener to be wrapped up in its varying tones. As such, of the two choices on this release, it's definitely the warmer of the two. From the first listen, I could easily see myself enjoying this as part of a morning set after having the perfect night out. Glorious stuff!

Overall this is another great release from Urbantorque, which is a label that is fast becoming a favourite of mine. Scope's 'Strung Out' and 'Last Call' are two excellent examples of how house music can be both intelligent but still very much geared towards the dance floor without ever venturing into the overtly pretentious sounds that can sometimes be associated with the genre. 'Strung Out' is a high-spirited tune that will hook any listener in, not only with its infectious grooves but also with the clever use of those string samples. This is definitely one tune that will standout in any mix whether it's a club environment or on a compilation. On the flipside, 'Last Call' is the perfect sly partner with its deep-seated grooves that will make you yearn for more of the same. This is a highly recommended release for any fan of quality music and Scope is an artist to keep an eye on in the future.