Holgi Star & Harry Axt - Roadtrip

Label
Kiddaz.fm

Format
2xCD

Release date
August 2008

Sounds like
techno, electronica

Rating

Reviewer
Piotr Paterski

Published
July 2008

When coming across one of Europe's leading techno labels, there is no use in expecting a nostalgic and melancholic compilation. Although Kiddaz. FM, like many other stables the world over, has more recently pitched down the BPM on their output, there has been no detrimental effect on the amount of energy to be heard on the tracks and mixes that hit the streets on the imprint. And the seventh comp in FM's catalogue is no exception, as Holgi Star (the guy who runs the label together with DJ Emerson) and Harry Axt (one of the brightest up and coming artist in the minimal techno scene) have proven with their joint effort.

What's the first thing that comes to mind after listening to 'Roadtrip'? Well, it's definitely an excursion that doesn't foresee any detours or pitstops along the way. Star's journey is full of very sharp turns, and each one uncovers new sonic landscapes. Listeners will really be taken on a ride towards the end when Emerson's somewhat played out 'Rubberband Man' (and the tracks that follow) kicks in. However, Holgi Star does very little to make the mix dramatic in any way by doing nothing more than simply speeding along as fast as he can, which, at times, grows tiring and makes you wish he would actually take a much needed break for the next kilometers/minutes of the CD.

Fortunately, the same can't be said about the second disc. Harry Axt filled his contribution to the release with fresh electronic dance music. This time, the amount of sharp turns is even higher, but they are made much more gracefully, and Axt is very successful in combing minimal, tech house, techno and electro on one CD. The disc is lacking in no way, and the mixing is of the highest caliber, which shouldn't come as a surprise when talking about the owner of Kiddaz. What's interesting, the hardest tracks on the second part are actually by Axt himself, and in conjunction with the pieces of music from Robag Wruhme, Jens Zimmermann and Pele & Shokh, they become weapons of mass destruction.

The release is a must for all the people out there who don't mind listening to party-oriented mixes on their CD players at home.

Track List

CD One; by Holgi Star

Flinsch´n´nielson - Korea Tabs (Dj Emerson Rmx)
Marc Depulse – 87 Remember
Harada – Conscious Movements (Marcus Meinhardt Winter Games Remix)
Harry Axt – Der Papageientaucher
Holgi Star – Acces
Silent Breed – Sync In 2008 (Popof Remix)
Holgi Star - Star & Sternchen
Luca & Paul – I Hope Me
Transistor – Alpha (Popof Remix)
Harry Axt – Snippet
Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner – Ear Worm
Heckmann – Silverscreen
Dj Emerson – Rubber Band Man
Chris Liebing – Bang Bop
Harry Axt – Keta Was ??

CD 2; by Harry Axt

Peter Lauer - Free Entry For Girls (Robag Wruhmes Drikkibass Remix)
Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner – Rerecall
Shlomi Aber – Freakside
Jesse Rose & Oliver $ - Wake Up
Ds - Orangefood (Jens Zimmermann´s Vitamin C Remix)
Holgistar - Großes Kino
Emerson & Dubnitzky - Bbc (Billy Dalessandro Remix)
Harry Axt – Kaiserschmarrn
Alexi Delano - Brooklyn Social
Ds - One Force (Harry Axt Remix)
Dj Hmc - Track 2
Jonas Kopp – Imaginacion Nula
Jan Driver – L
Esp Woody Mcbride – Dr. J
Pele & Shokh - Thumbs/ Simon Baker Remix
Magik Johnson - Scanning For Viruses (Claude Vonstroke'S Coffee On Your Motherboard Mix)
Harry Axt - Riffler
Daniel Steinberg - I Like To Be
Winks - Thick As Thieves
Heroin – Heroin