Artist: Debo & Porter
Title: Deported
Label: Bedrock Records
By: Simon Jones | 13 December 2002
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: Heavy Mix

Debo & Porter "Deported"

One of the East Coast US's finest house DJs, John Debo teams up with the fast rising producer and DJ Steve Porter for their debut collaborative release as 'Debo and Porter'. Already the results of this duo's work with remixes of BLHIII and Everything But The Girl both becoming highly sought after and widely acclaimed. 'Deported' is their first original production, but already it has been one of the most eagerly anticipated Bedrock releases on the back of it's inclusion on Chris Fortier's Bedrock album. Now some months later it's finally being released so let's see if the wait was worth it.

The 'Original Mix' of Deported is a mesh of analogue pads over a rippling warm bassline, all swirling within some emotive fx which is present throught the first section of the mix. As the track reaches halfway a rising melodic hook line appears and builds into a subtle yet spine tingling climax, warm energy engulfing the sounds and adding smooth textures to hold it all together nicely. One of the most energetic builds i've heard in a while, but equally as suited to a warm up environment.

The 'Heavy Mix' takes things a bit more slowly, a more laid back percussive approach allowing the bass to expand and deflate with eerie results. As the pads drop over the top they impact upon on the soundscape, sending a rippling effect that pushes things forward slightly. This continues as dark sounds rise from within the beats, dropping into a deep brooding build where some gorgeous melodic progression drifts along climaxing in a delayed break that dazzles your senses. Aural black magic.

With both Debo and Porter commited to pushing the progressive music scene forward both via their superb DJ sets and with their production work, one can only wonder what 2003 holds for the duo, and one can only hope it's sooner rather than later that they get together to work again once more.