Mason - The Ridge

Great Stuff has always been home to, well, great stuff. Kind of speaks for itself I think. But anyways, I'd like to review one of my favorite EPs on the label, an oldie but a goodie: Mason's "The Ridge".

The Ridge (Original Mix): Supported by a killer synth riff, the original floats above the spastic hi-hats and toms, fluttering with a light buzz-saw sound that comforts instead of abrading. Another synth riff follows out of the clouds, a percolating, arpeggiated progressive-esque synth that glides off into the sky. A second riff circles this rising mass of sound, drenched with humidity and ever-expanding like a balloon. Handing off the melody to a kitschy vocal organ (that somehow works, don't ask me how,) the track continues its ethereal, highly melodic journey until around four minutes, when the hi-hats drop out and arpeggiated synth alights once again amongst this cloud of sound. It almost sounds like a massive, churning machine at work, before the drums return and the cut floats off into the ether. I honestly can't easily categorize this, and neither is it the most danceable number out there. A slice of ambient tech house, what have you, for the head, more than the feet. A glowing success either way.

(4/5)



++++++

The Ridge (Peter Juergens & Oliver Klein Remix): Juergens and Klein turn on the remix to turn this track on its head and send it spinning directly towards the dancefloor. In the first minute, the original's ambient cloud cover is rattled by a kick and snare, establishing immediately that this mix was built to be danced to. A rollicking bassline joins the fray, and the main synth stab is spread out deftly, deepening the drama and drawing out the better qualities of the original. The focus here is the atmosphere and the main riff; building a solid structure around which the original can sit suspended in mid-air as it loves to do while people dance and groove below. The first time the main riff comes in, the rhythm works its magic, showcasing why the original needed such a kick in the first place. This is bound to get hands clapping and feet stomping if played at the right time. A great remix that plays the fence expertly while adding just enough of what the original needed.

(4.5/5)



+++++++

The Ridge (Tomcraft Remix): Tomcraft takes what Juergens and Klein did and expands on it ten-fold. He beefs up the low-end with a rumbling, growling bassline and acidic, squelching synth stabs while jacking up the tempo a few degrees. Congas drop in a few seconds later to give the illusion of a chase through the jungle underbrush; urgent, rhythmic, and very tribal. As far as the main riff is concerned, Tomcraft does the best job of giving it OOMPH, keeping the bassline and kick going even when only the synth line remains. However, his staccato, stabbing treatment of the melody posthaste is sadly sub-par, and the man uses one-too-many glitchy, robotic swells. Things get metallic and mechanical a little over halfway in, and what started as a jungle chase ends as a confusing jumble of odd synth stabs and congas. Needless to say, the two do not mix, and this remix loses the steam is gathered during the first half. I will give Tomcraft credit for a killer intro and excellent use of congas...until he brought in those dreadful stabs. Needless to say, I still love this remix. I do not even know why exactly, but Juergens and Klein's remix edges it out for best on the EP.

(4/5)



++++++


MASON - THE RIDGE EP = (4.25/5)

Yeah, yeah, I went with a .25 percent. So what? It's a slightly better EP than the last one I did, because of the diversity and quality of the remixes. Can't go wrong with any of these cuts, and I highly recommend it for car or home listening. Killer album art too.

-NL