The Vitals:

Label: Stripped Recordings
Genre: Progressive House
Number of Tracks: 2
How to Obtain: (Unknown at time of review)

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 6.9
Programming and Arrangement: 6.9
Entertainment Quality: 5.9
Total: 6.5 - Above average

Chris's Take:

I tend to be very easy when it comes to liking new tracks. Even if the track is not that great, I still can find something good about it that I can say. I have been listening to Ali Perc's new single for about a month now. I've given it a listen at different times of the day on different listening options: laptop, headphones, DJ set-up with booming speakers, and car stereo. The odd thing here is that the track is not bad at all, yet for some reason, this release does nothing for me. It seems to be a product of a cookie-cutter formula, much like when epic trance was popular. Don't get me wrong. This is a good track; it's just not doing anything for me. It's one of those that you hear it a few times and it starts to grow on ya.

The release has two tracks: the original and a remix. The original version is better than the remix. It's produced very nicely, and it moves along at a nice pace. It's a typical progressive track with basic elements being introduced at predictable points in the track. The breakdown features the main melody, which is nothing more than the same three descending notes being repeated with a slight pause between phrases. My favorite part of the track is the bassline. It's kind of grindy and keeps the pace chugging along. The "Ninja Turtle" remix is also done by Perc and seems to attempt to deviate from the "formula" a bit. It offers a shifting and stuttering effect on some of the familiar sounds heard in the original, as well as a lot of play and brightness on the high hat. I think maybe a bit too much brightness on the high hat, but that's just my opinion. I can say that it is nothing predictable. The elements jump in when you least expect them, almost as if to surprise the listener and then go away quickly. At the breakdown, we are met with the melody that I mentioned in the original and a bassline that brings a bit of an acid house feel to it. It's the same notes and pattern as the original's bassline, but this has more of a Roland TB-303 sound. On a somewhat related note that has nothing to do with actually reviewing this release, James Zabiela has been playing this remix (Ninja Turtle) out quite a bit.

Finally, I just want to say that I don't know or understand why the track is called "Moose and Squirrel". My guess is that Ali Perc was going for something random. I do want you to seek out this track and give it a fair listen. I'm only one man, and just because I'm not screaming the praises of this release, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't check it out. Who knows? You just might like it.