The Harder View

For the first time since the very well-recieved Crystal release, Zany and Walt Janssen team up again for a Southstylers collaboration. With one track from The Fusion of Sound, a new albeit very short song, and a remix of an old Southstylers classic, they deliver a varied 3-tracker. Although maybe they should have listened to the generic ‘don’t remix the classixx’-whiners this time.

Since Nok Joe Douwn was already on Zany’s album, you might think this release does not have a lot of news to offer. Well, you’d be wrong. The track is generally still the same, but has seen so many edits you can almost consider it a remix. For instance, the short breaks throughout the song have had some strings added to them. Great as they already are, in the main break, they are detuned, further emphasizing the song’s disturbing feel. A disturbing feel which is created in the first place by the eerie, original vocals. It is quite a disappointment that though good, the intro and break ‘melodies’ are not as dark and creepy as you might expect – except for the screeching part in the climax, which, combined with the kicks, really does knock you down. On the other hand, the kicks are also the main weakness of this song – in some parts they sound deep and powerful, but in others they sound weak and hollow.

On to In De Strieel, a track that created a little bit of a buzz, but was never very highly anticipated. When listening to a vinyl version, however, there are two things you instantly notice: its length, or rather, lack thereof, and how promising the first few sounds are already. Kicking off with some unique, rolling sounds, it immediately commands your attention. When they are followed by monotonous, yet extremely energetic kicks and a Walt-like, but extremely filthy synth you know this track can not go wrong anymore. Two thirds into the track a climax, filled with more jumpy and filthy sounds, comes in that will make any dancefloor go wild. It should be noted that this track is probably closer to jumpstyle than it is to hardstyle, if you have to classify it. However, I’d like to hereby announce the birth of a new genre: industrial (indestrieel?) hardstyle. Oldschool, jump and industrial influences blend together into a wonderful, energetic, dancefloor-oriented mix – very refreshing.

As much of a masterpiece as In De Strieel is, the Jazeker! remix is really quite a bore. Sure, it has that classic melody, which is still good. Yet it also recycles a lot of sounds from Walt – Let the Music Play, which really takes the shine off of it. On the other hand, it seems like one of those songs that have to grow on you. It also deserves credits for the way it is built up, using part of the main melody in the intro, instead of some random screeches and bleeps.

As said, Nok Joe Douwn is a varied release, with something to like for everyone but the die-hard nustyle fans. Because indeed, this vinyl is a very welcome break-away from the nu-style sound that the Southstylers too adopted with, for instance, the Blending Beats E.P.. And just for In De Strieel, it deserves a very high rating – yet that is not to say the other tracks are bad, they just have some minor downsides.

Tracklist:

• A. Southstylers – Nok Joe Douwn
• B1. Southstylers – In De Strieel
• B2. Southstylers – Jazeker! (Johnny Quail Mix)

Verdict: 83/100