microCastle Music is a digital label established with the intention of showcasing the best in modern techno & progressive music. With a fresh and current music policy the labels releases are aimed at a cross-section of listeners, DJs and dancefloors worldwide. The prime focus of the labels output is quality, cutting edge progressive music while always staying true to our underground roots.
Label Artists: Peter Martin, Cid Inc., Luke Porter, Maxi Valvona, Derek Howell, Komytea, Elegant Universe, Lank, Soliquid, Astronivo, Dibby Dougherty, Ad Brown, Makotrax, Cassino & Laben, Thomas Langner, Inkfish, Faskil & Alkama, Jacob Henry, Audible, Jacknife, Kassey Voorn, Niko Fantin, Stallos, Glide.
1. Dark Horse (Original Mix)
2. Dark Horse (Dibby Dougherty Mix)
3. Dark Horse (Elegant Universe Mix)
4. Dark Horse (Faskil & Alkama Mix)
5. Dark Horse (Niko Fantin Minimal Dub Mix)
Views: 2906
The fifth release on microCastle Music comes from Houston’s Derek Howell. Derek burst onto the dance music scene in 2004 with his initial productions being signed to Bedrock and gaining much critical acclaim. Since that time his tracks and remixes have been featured on mix compilations from: John Digweed, Nick Warren, Paul Oakenfold and Hernan Cattaneo to name a few. Derek has been a permanent fixture at the top of dance music’s underground and he shows no signs of slowing down with regular DJ gigs around the globe and a string of amazing releases of late on Proton, Outside The Box, Balkan Connection & AlterImage. Derek’s Dark Horse has been floating around the progressive underground for quite some time and has been road tested and tweaked after many of Derek’s gigs around the globe. His Original mix is a very big progressive track with a great club friendly bassline, intricate, fresh sounds and very memorable vocal samples.
Ireland’s Dibby Dougherty has risen to prominence at an alarming rate through the first half of 2009; with a residency at Belfast’s superclub Yello and production credits on some of the industries most respected labels it’s not hard to understand why. Dibby has stripped the Dark Horse Original right down and given it the perfect club overhaul. An infectious bassline with energy to spare and loads of groove are what make this mix so great, it does just enough with it’s pristine and spacious production. Dibby’s mix found it’s way into the hands of Nick Warren and Hernan Cattaneo upon completion and started causing a stir in the underground club scene immediately. Since that time microCastle has received countless emails inquiring about the tracks release date and availability….quite sought after indeed.
Elegant Universe’s body of work over the past year is an impressive and quite varied one. From the sublime atmospherics of his Hypnotized EP on Mashtronic to the dark tech inspired overtones of Karusela on Baroque and finally the melancholic vocal anthem Modern Time on frisky it’s clear Elegant Universe is a producer with a broad range of extreme talent. You might say his Dark Horse interpretation is a sinister one (an understatement), a minimal and grinding tough groove with some of the darkest electronics in recent memory…definitely one for a serious dancefloor.
Next up on remix duties are France’s Faskil & Alkama, Faskil first brought attention to Derek’s Dark Horse Original after a few airings on his ‘Silly Waffles’ show on frisky Radio.This duo has added some funk to the bottom end given the track a classic progressive feel with some nice breakbeat sections. A real sense of fun and a positive feel on this mix make it perfect for a wide array of dancefloors.
Argentina’s Niko Fantin has been very busy on the production front in 2009 with some great material on: Proton, Balkan Connection, Low Battery and Restart. His Dark Horse Minimal Dub is a very nice compliment to this package with its atmospheric & effervescent qualities. Intensity builds during the final breakdown before it drops back into its minimal groove and plinky keys…a very nice & refined mix from Niko!
Early Support from: Nick Warren, Hernan Cattaneo, James Harcourt, George Delkos, Funkagenda, Trafik, Cid Inc, Luke Porter, Lank, Soliquid, Logiztik Sounds, Randall Jones, Kenneth Thomas, Ben Brown, Timo Garcia, Cassino & Laben, Kassey Voorn, Jacob Henry, AlterImage, Oliver Dahl, Dom Kane, Sonny Wharton, Adam Shaw, Joel Xavier and many others.
DJ Reactions:
"good release" - 4.0 / 5
Eryo (Belarus) (Mistique Music, DeepSessions)
"good release def on the progressive side but i will fit it in my sets ." - 4.5 / 5
Merk-E (USA) (House Assassins)
"faskil & alkama did a fabulous work with their floating funk version and elegant universe did go to the oposite with a darker than dark mix. great quality release... i love it!" - 4.5 / 5
Jim_Star (Canada) (www.alicemanagement.com ; no sound ; monique musique)
"Great release, Will be playing this alot" - 4.5 / 5
Andy Newland (UK) (bedrock, ministry of sound, twisted audio, renaissance, baroque, bellarine)
"Great releasee here again guy's, wicked artist on the remix, especially diggin the Dibby Dougherty remix! Elegant Universe is also DIRTY,DIRTY...TWISTED, Yeah baby!" - 5.0 / 5
Sasha Le Monnier [ C.O.U. Muzik ] (UK) (BeatAgency,Source Of Gravity,Proton Radio,Danceradioglobal,DI.FM,ensonic.fm,Contagious Rhythm)
