Almost Famous

Audio Noir has been around for a while now at Bonzai and he has consistently delivered the goods in all his productions and remixes. We are used to seeing his progressive house side or his revisits to oldskool grooves side, but this time around he throws out the script and shows us more of his superb skills in all aspects of music creation. Almost Famous takes us on a surreal ride through many aspects of musical form, from downtempo to big beats and from dark progressive to vocalised progressive house. A classic album in the making with something for everyone which will not disappoint.

The album kicks off with Kontakt with its fading intro revealing words from one of the great minds of our time. A fantastic double bass creates a smooth and groovy workout which is further enhanced with superb breaks and sharp flute riffs. The spoken word adds great character to the track resulting in the perfect introduction to this wonderful album.

Evolver intros with a punchy breaks pattern backed up with organic FX that flow beautifully with the vibe. A deep throbbing bass eases alongside some very cool dark synths. Strikingly surreal vocals cascade through the sound which keeps your mind locked in.

Next up we have The Hawthorne Effect with its intense intro and giving an injection of energy into the album. Again we see Audio Noir go down the breaks route with a tight drum arrangement which is so expertly crafted. Rhythmic percussions keep the groove flowing alongside cool melodies and that intense synth that sits in the background. Pulsating basses are the perfect companion to round off this stunning cut.

We head into Love – Vox On and the first four to the floor beat on the album. Nice and smooth intro with punchy kicks that sit over a cool percussion section as a deep and powerful bassline takes control of the grooves. Sultry vocal phrases add a cool dynamic to this dark vibe which is contrasted beautifully by lush pads on the break.

One More Night sets off on its journey with a very cool intro consisting of echoed beats, bright melodic flavours. Sharp percussions soon follow and the track breaks into a smooth organ melody with an airy vocal over the top. Hypnotic basses let the grooves flow beautifully as a gritty synth riff plays out on the sidelines.

Ramping up the tempo and getting the party in full swing we have La Polaris. Nice chunky kicks and layered percussions get the rhythm flowing as a deep pulsating bass hits the offset to the backdrop of wispy vocal samples. A darker tribal element filters through as the drum sections notches up a gear with a hypnotic synth becoming a big focus. Swirling pads reveal a stunning melody and offers a very cool contrast as whispered vocal shots come through, top notch cut yet again.

Deep into the midway point on the album is Morphine which intros with a fantastic punchy kick and percussive layers building all around. Cool rising FX brings each layer to its peak and reveals even more superb percussion patterns. The track descends into a darker vibe as a wonderful bass resonates right through the sound before coming back into the main groove. Brilliant vocal samples and a blippy arp sequence provide solid textures which would be a welcome addition in any set.

Wunderschong goes deeper with its dark pulsing bassline and chunky kicks. The percussions are top notch as is the tight drum arrangement with its solid rhythmic workout. Sweeping, raw FX rise and fall throughout and take us to the break where super sweet and lush pads weave a beautiful melodic sequence. The melodies subside and the dynamic shifts back to the dark progressive nature of the track, superb stuff.

Under The Sun boasts a fantastic intro as bassy percussions are joined by wonderful vocal FX. Rhythmic hats and claps get the groove flowing as a myriad of sounds cascade down resulting in a complex web of perfectly pitched sounds. The bassline brings order and drives the track forward with a little help from cool punchy kicks. Beautifully crafted synth pads elevate above the darker tones and are joined by a stunning melancholic vocal, brilliant stuff.

Leaving the midway section of the album we run into HairSplitter with its big beat tendencies. Cool raw sounding beats sit well with gritty, organically flavoured synths and basses. Wistful vocals sweep through as gentle arps form up in the sound. The break reveals a stunning display of filtered synths that are the perfect addition to the sound. Big, brash and ballsy stuff.

Chemical Phunk keeps the big beat trait running as we are treated to a fascinating display of drum arrangement with punchy kicks and sharp, snappy percussions. Industrial sized FX dominate to the backdrop of a hypnotizing deep pulsing bassline. The break comes amidst a round of gritty distorted synths as the breaks build up and climax back into this super charged cut, great stuff.

Midnight Till Morning intros with warm melodic synths and a hair raising vox sequence as smooth and groovy beats come through. The track builds nicely and the raspy vocals add beautiful textures as the dynamics of the sound shift continuously. Cool and laidback sounds, perfect for those late night to early morning sessions.

Rounding off this stunning album is Love – Vox Off which removes the sultry vocals from Vox On and leaves us with a beautifully crafted slice of smooth and deep progressive vibes. The perfect ending to a perfect journey which will no doubt be a great listening experience among many.