Release : Sammy Dee - Purplehummer / Ultrastretch
Artist : Sammy Dee
Album : Purplehummer / Ultrastretch
Genre : Techno
Source : Vinyl
Label : Perlon
URL : http://www.perlon.net
Date : 04-21-2008
Encoder : LAME 3.97 / -V2 --vbr-new
Quality : 197kbps 44100 kHz Joint Stereo
Tracks : 2
Time : 15:19 min
Size : 21.69 MB
A1 Purplehummer 8:10
B1 Ultrastretch 7:09
Considering Sammy Dee's almost 20-year foothold in the Berlin house and techno
scene, it's curious to see him only get around to putting out his solo debut
now. He's certainly not studio-shy, given his solid run of collaborations
(Pantytec, Schneider & Redecki, Half Hawaii), and the man's DJ resume is about
as impressive as could be, being a former Tresor jock and current figurehead of
Get Perlonized, one of Berghain/Panoramabar's hottest parties. Unfortunately,
This EP leaves something to be desired. The B-side is a run-of-the-mill clunker,
and though the A-side certainly deserves a bit of attention, overall the EP is
sadly unremarkable. "Purplehummer" is essential Perlon: stripped down,
otherworldly house that's all about groove and timbre. Right off the beat, the
drum line is crisp and funky. Incoherent vocals gurgle away while an elliptical
keyboard line slips in and out. In the absence of any individual hook, the track
presents the listener with a shifting landscape of expertly produced
half-melodies and percussive flourishes. It's smart and quirky, but it also
barely surpasses the average quality of Perlon's output. "Purplehummer" begs to
be compared with organic microhouse gems like Bruno Pronsato's "At Home I'm a
Tourist", or Villalobos' "Vasco EP Part 1", but trades the sprawling
unpredictability of those records for the simplicity of a house DJ tool-albeit a
very classy one. "Ultrastretch" has a bit more techno punch to it, but in
general is hopelessly lackluster. A rising synth melody slopes through the
entire track, boosted along by a pronounced kick drum. The organic textures that
give the A-side so much character are replaced here by an uninspired palette of
minimal sounds. Granted, Sammy Dee's touch for driving rhythm is present
throughout, but it doesn't do enough to save this track from mediocrity. And
though "Purplehummer" certainly has enough horsepower to surmount this heap, the
EP still falls short of what one might expect from a producer with such creative
prowess. While it certainly has its moments, "Purplehummer" And "Ultrastretch"
hardly sounds like it was twenty years in the making. Enjoy!
http://www.sammydee.com
http://www.myspace.com/deesammy