Artist: Mara
Title: Stripped Beats EP
Label: Choo Choo Records
By: Simon Jones | 3 September 2002
Tracklist:

• A: Computer Beats
• B: Coming Down (Stripped To Phunk Dub)

Mara "Stripped Beats EP"

Mara quickly follow on from a slew of remixes and their 'Coming Down' single with yet another release for the Choo Choo imprint, and this time have the Stripped Beats EP to ship out to a few dj boxes. Their workload may have increased as of late, but the quality certainly hasnt dwindled, so lets see if this release continues that legacy.

Computer Beats is a collaboration between Mara and one of Florida's favourite sons Austin Leeds. A large rocking bassline powers this beast, as sinister loop arrangements, and deep percussion melt into one and the dark brooding elements from within come to the top pushing an twisted vocal sample into the stratosphere. The build up gathers intensity so quickly you think your ears are going to pop. As the electro break gives a brief chance to catch some air, things get decidely deeper in the outro, an element which no doubt has a lot to do with Mr Leeds.

It's a bit of a revisitation over on the flip, as Mara return to the earlier single 'Coming Down', deciding to rework the track with more dubbed out sensibilites, but at the same time creating a far more damaging slice of dancefloor candy.Growling vox samples and melodic percussion line really assit in getting the message across as the track just builds into a massive sounding mesh of sounds which will do the business each and anytime you drop it on the dancefloor.

So, something slightly different, a collaboration of sorts and a revisit to a recent gem, the Stripped Beats EP certainly lives upto it's name, making sure you have plenty to 'beat' the dancefloor with.