The Vitals:

Label: System 3 Records
Genre: Breaks/Progressive Breaks
Number of Tracks: 3
How you can obtain a copy: www.system3records.com (CD) and www.Nufonik.com (MP3)

Factor Scores:

• Production Quality: 7.8
• Programming and Arrangement: 8.2
• Entertainment Quality: 7.7
• Total: 7.9 – Good

Summary:

Several years ago, a small label called 3 Cell was started. After a few CD-R releases and one successful vinyl, that label folded. That is when System 3 was started. Refocused and renewed, Mike Sunglider and his wife Cara are starting to put out music again. This time, they are taking it a bit slower, but delivering a quality single that falls just short of greatness, but not by much. For more information on System 3, check out our interview with Mike in the November 2004 issue.

Energy brings us a slamming single with three drastically different mixes. The Chance’s End Saturn Remix pulls out all of the stops and gives us a smooth progressive mix that would fit well in most progressive sets that are in need of some spice. In fact, this is in my opinion the best remix. The original mix is a dirty breaks mix. It’s raw through and through and there’s nothing wrong with that. The final mix on the single is the Mike and Mia’s NRG Remix. This mix for whatever reason reminds me of something Uberzone would do in the way discordant synth patches are used and how the breaks are infused with early techno influences. Yeah, call it Nu Skool breaks if you want, it just works.

Factor Scores:

Production Quality: 7.8

This single does not seem to be the type of single in which a pure clean sound was desired. There are not any glaring production mistakes that I can find in the recording, but distortion is used to dirty up the track a bit and it might be a bit over compressed. The Chance’s End remix seems to have a cleaner quality to it and better production in general. Above all, the point of this track seems to be to get people on the dance floor and I think it will do that.

Programming & Arrangement: 8.2

Since the objective is to get people dancing, the programming and arrangement rather than production quality becomes the key. All of the remixes have plenty of space for long mixes into and out of the track. The track relies on one good constant drum loop which is then filtered regularly to give it the feeling that it is changing when really there is no change. This is good. It keeps the beat constant, but disguises that fact so your brain thinks the song is more complex than it really is. The breakdowns come and go in just the right places and each one has a nice climax to it that is usually accented by the various modulations of the one vocal clip. Lastly, some of the synth patches used are cheesy. For this track, it worked out for the better as it furthers the nu skool feel and simply feeds into the entertainment value rather than detract from it.

Entertainment Quality: 8.7

I cannot lie; Energy will get people on the dance floor or keep them there if they are really into breaks. It was written to sound as a fun and dirty track and that is exactly what it sounds like. It will work as a nice transition from a smooth pretty and progressive set into a dirty house/breaks set nicely.

Total: 7.9 - Good

I wish I could give this release an 8.0 or higher. It is a GOOD release. There really is not anything wrong. The Chance’s End Remix is definitely the one to play out. Had I just reviewed that track alone, it would have received an 8.5. The other two mixes, while great, felt more like filler. They did not feel like they could stand by themselves alone outside of a DJ’s mix. However because of that, this single is good for any DJ who is looking for a track to transition the set to a new level. It’s a builder and that makes it a keeper. This truly is a great (re)start for Mike’s label.

Dave’s Take:

I have said it multiple times now, the Chance’s End Saturn Remix rocks. If you can only check out one mix from this release, check out that one.