Label: Proton Music

  Released: December 6th, 2007

  Reviewed: 9.5/10

  User Rating: 5.0/5 [Login to Rate »]

  Proton music brings us this release by four or should I say two very talented artists and their alter egos.

Proper Villains is a Production Duo consisting of Reagan Denius and Chris Mohn. The Proper Villains produced their first track together in September of 2006, and since then have written over 50 original Pieces that include the full spectrum of dance music, including; progressive house, downbeats, break-beats, and drum and bass.

Proper Villains

Hot Box is the first track we will talk about today. It starts with a four by four beat and a heavy bass line which is something that makes it 30 percent less DJ friendly. As a musical piece the beginning is very nice on the other hand. The combination is joined by a reversed sliding hat with some panning effects as well as a tapping noise in the place of the hi-hat; this gives the track a very dancy feeling. The first breakdown is short and very tense not much more can be said other than listen to it. The second breakdown is made up of some very intense and innovative ambient effects. Personally I haven't heard effects such as these used in dance music. They are very nice I might add. The thing I most love about this track and most Proper Villain's material are the heavily delayed, reverberated, and panned arpeggios as well as the pan effects over the bass in addition to the creative use of the arpeggios themselves. These arpeggios are persistent in various forms through out the track. In my opinion a must have.

Haunting Illusions is indeed haunting.... and wonderfully dancy. Starting out with a straight beat followed by a very low oscillating bass line and decorated by beautiful alien acid melodies. Some very nice looped synchs decorate the main breakdown, which is another trademark of the villains. These continue building tension for a quite a while. It transforms into something completely unlike to its primal manifestation and only dies down when replaced with some wonderful all encompassing ambiance towards the end of the track. Like hot box this track runs at 126 BPM and is going straight into my crate, good for any time of the day or night. I prefer it for breakfast myself.


Android Cartel

Turning into a Robot starts in a similar fashion to Hot Box: Heavy bass line with four by four kick. In this case the Bass line is much heavier; the kick is deep and stompy. Some acid effects and a reverse hi hat pattern join this dark rhythm. An Arpeggiated Groove joins the combo about a third of the way through the track. This is all interrupted by a brief tension building breakdown. The mayhem continues building in tension for a while with the noises morphing into other presentations from more acidy to more abrasive. Again as in the Proper villains tracks we have the presence of more arpeggios. In this case layer upon layer of arpeggio adding to the grove from about halfway through the track to almost the end where it becomes one single fm synth. Very nice indeed! At around 125 BPM it is good early night or morning material though I'd probably play it at any time to be honest.

The Proper villains remix starts with a straight four by four beat accompanied by loads of FM ambiance. Another layer of ambiance joins in along with the bass line a short way into the track. As well as a xylophone like melody shortly after that. At about 2 and half minutes a second acidy bass line joins in after a brief break down. The melody continues more persistent and other noises join in the fray. It's good track for a morning set or a beach party not to mention an after-hours. Like the original it runs at 125 BPM.

Dave Lock [04-Dec-2007]