Artist: Sphere
Title: I Love Sound
Label: Progress Inn
By: Simon Jones | 21 August 2002
Tracklist:

• A: Original Mix
• B: James Niche Mix

Sphere "I Love Sound"

Barry Robb has made a name for himself over the years, be it with Tim Skinner as Robb and Skinner, or on his own with his many projects. Amongst these proejcts, Sphere is probably one of his most successful with tracks like Barrier and Gravity having received acclaim. No coincedence then that this track has already been supported by Sander Kleinenberg, Parks and Wilson and Chris Fortier, as they love sound just as much as 'I Love Sound'.

The Original Mix contains a tight percussive groove which is evident from the start, bubbling effects rising from the background. fusing and building upward as deep swirling synth arrangments wash over the percussion and a quirky vocal sample is introduced, deep synth stabs highlighting these vocals further before the vocal takes centre stage, and the track heads into deeper waters towards the break where a breathy female vocal says 'I Love You'. Spine chilling. The track then continues with the vocal continuing to run as it fades back to the background. A superb track that owes much to its sublime groove and arrangement.

The remix comes from James Niche, label boss of Niche Records. He deconstructs the track and pieces it back together one part at a time, a soft kick drum complementing the bassline as James directs us into a more tech influenced direction. No suprise considering the kind of material this man has worked on previously and the sounds we have become accustomed to on his own Niche imprint.

This track is probably one of Barry Robb's finest tracks to date. It is a shame that he is hanging up the mixer to concentrate on family but hopefully one day he will return to deliver more essential cuts like this track.