Various – The Remix Project Vol I

This record was made to celebrate the 50th release on Terror Traxx. The label managers, Neophyte and DJ Panic, selected some of the hottest producers in the Hardcore scene to remix tracks from the vast discography of the label.

I always thought a happy track like Turn Around by Damage Inc on a label called TERROR Traxx was amusing, but I feel The Viper has given the tune some authenticity to belong on this label with his enjoyable remix. It starts with a stuttering Slick Rick and his famous song, I Run This and ominous synth stabs before a very 2000's screeching riff takes over, but it's actually quite good. The main part of the original that The Viper retains is the well known vocals. In this case the sample is a large chunk of Bonnie Tyler's Total Eclipse Of The Heart, it is quite a lengthy breakdown with the vocals, the more serious Gabbers out there may find it just too saccharine. I like the original Bonnie Tyler version and have been known to sing the lyrics at parties, behind and in front of the turntables. :) The second half has a great and slightly unusual synth melody that was unique to The Viper, also there's a harder kickdrum and essentially a nice long outro of beats. The remix was hammered by all the usual suspects, and was popular with punters. I think this is the first example of taking a Happy Hardcore song and transforming it into a New Style Gabber track, wonderful remix by The Viper.

Police Officer: "Turn Around"
Me: "Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never come 'round"
Police Officer: "TURN AROUND!"
Me: "Every---"
*gets tasered*

By 2001, both Supreme Intelligence and Gangsta Audiovisuals had been shut down and rising from their ashes was Enzyme Records. The label was still in its infancy when Nosferatu delivered this remix. He was making some awesome Hardcore at the time and it doesn't surprise me he is on remix duty. What does surprise me is the choice of song, it was a forgettable track by Neophyte. Whilst it's slow it's a powerful energetic dark-ish remix. Heavy hitting kickdrums and nicely remixed synth ed through the Enzyme filter, although the synth melody in the second half is the best part of the remix, the way it dances over the beat. Crazy underrated Nossie remix, way better than the original and in my opinion superior to the overplayed and overrated Catscan Remix which would appear on the next Terror Traxx record.

Finally we have another terrific remix by Evil Activities that sadly got little turntable action. Taking the original sounds and putting them through the Korg Trinity giving We Are From Rotterdam a darker texture, which sounds really good. The Evil sounding main melody is an original production and feels like something from a Horror movie. While I think its appropriate to remix something from the first Terror Traxx, I was never a fan of this particular song, Evil Activities have actually turned an average track into a wicked remix. I think that's something they should be proud of.

The picture disc itself looks great and the DJ bios (on the record!) are helpful. A clever way to restart the label after meandering away in the late 90's. Possibly the first attempt of taking classic Gabber tracks from the 90's and reshaping them to fit into the 2000's Millennium Hardcore style. This didn't work out well in most cases and yet there are three excellent remixes on this record that shows it could be done effectively.