Bedrock Records: Catalog # BED 60 / BED 60R
Released: Dec 2005

NOTE: This is a review of the CDr promo, which is commercially unavailable. The catalogue numbers of the two vinyl releases from which these tracks come from are supplied instead.

Tracklist:
1. Santiago (Bedrock's La Coruna Mix) (8:30)
2. Santiago (Parallel Sound Edit) (9:07)
3. Santiago (Bedrock's St. James Mix) (8:31)
4. Santiago (Guy Gerber's Hod Rod Mix) (8:31)


IN BRIEF: An impossible reputation continues.

By the summer of 2005, it had been over three years since a single from Nick Muir and John Digweed's famous Bedrock alias -the epic breakbeat of Forge, first heard in 2002, was our last taste- nor had any remixes emerged.

Though the Bedrock outfit languished, 2003 was an active year for the duo, who remained busy producing a soundtrack to the Spider-Man cartoon, and several cuts on the Stark Raving Mad compilation. In 2004, Muir and Digweed stepped back from collaboration for separate paths, the former resurrecting his solo career with Cabala - Vision of U, the latter focusing on his DJ career. A hush ran through the progressive masses by 2005: "When will we hear Bedrock again?"

In July, an answer came: a new single was on the way. The announcement was quickly followed by a cameo of the track in Digweed's excellent Essential Mix from the end of that month. But could it live up to the high Bedrock standard? From the epic hedonism of For What You Dream Of, to the futuristic trance of Heaven Scent, through the subterranean progressive of Beautiful Strange, and the dazzling resumé of remixes and singles between, could anything possibly add to the Bedrock sound? Some even whispered that Emerald was a portent of creative exhaustion. And with the dynamic state of progressive since 2002, would the Bedrock sound even find a place?

With the release of Santiago, both questions meet a resounding yes. Gone is the moody seriousness that defined progressive in years past: Santiago is upbeat, groovy, yet remains molded in the unmistakable sleek armor of Bedrock. Digweed and Muir have offered two "original" versions of the track for release: the chunky, Latin-flavored 'La Coruna' Mix, and funkier, big-room 'St. James' Mix. Santiago also marks the most vocal Bedrock production since For What You Dream Of, laced with tantalizing Spanish lyrics from Sara Rantzau-Meyer. But rather than the diva operatics of KYO, the vocal is seductive and understated, weaving through production elements at just the right moments; this is especially so for Bedrock's La Coruna Mix, later identified as the cut from Digweed's Essential Mix.

Bedrock's La Coruna Mix contains an emphasis on percussion, constructed so as to evoke South American rhythms. The track takes off from the first refrain of Rantzau-Meyer: Sé tu sueños, launching into deep contrabass strings that drive a mean groove. Sé tu secretos. Filtered chords drift into the mix, culturing a sophisticated Patagonian flair. Sé los más oscuros. Not a piece runs out of place. An interlude allows Rantzau-Meyer a few more poetic phrases, before the tango-tinged climax of Santiago falls brilliantly together. In truth, the track runs only about five minutes, since the final three minutes are little more than a refrain of the first three, but this is so minor a complaint compared to the deliciousness of the cut.

Bedrock's St. James Mix retains some of the Latin flavor, but opts instead for a straightforward house interpretation. The double bass which imparts Bedrock's La Coruna Mix with its distinctively Sur de America style are replaced by a rich electric bass guitar; instead of La Coruna's Latin percussion, we find a healthy kick. The supporting chords are distorted in a manner now popularly (and incorrectly) ascribed to "electro house", creating a funky and accessible main-room crowd-pleaser. The St. James Mix is solid Bedrock reborn, but to me lacks the magic and harmony of the incredible La Coruna Mix.

The first of two remixes to Santiago come from rising stars Musa Hove & Tim Lloyd of Parallel Sound. Rather than the full-on attitude of Bedrock's two mixes, the Parallel Sound Edit simmers in subtle terrace house. The vocals take a backseat, chopped and cycled alongside echoing electronic chords, and the main Santiago melody has been blissed out to a loungy piano line. A satisfying bassline and kick ties the thing together into a soft, tropical fusion. The only exception to theme is a buzzing, distorted run of the Santiago lead that occasionally makes an appearance, but it does not detract much from the elegance of Parallel Sound's effort.

Last of the four versions is a filthy "electro house" rearrangement from Guy Gerber, of Stoppage Time fame. Though it gained the adoration of progressive elites everywhere, Stoppage Time never resonated greatly with me, and nor does this remix. Gerber's distorted, punchy production style strikes me as a poor combination with the Latin underpinnings of Santiago, which deserve a more emotional treatment. Nonetheless, the Hispanic flavor has been diluted away so as to be hardly recognizeable -- save for Rantzau-Meyer's occasional cameo in stuttered, echoed form -- and as a track not compared with the other three cuts of Santiago is solid enough to satisfy "electro house" snobs and the progressive peasantry alike. A vague memory of the lead croaks out through deep synthesizer humming, backed by abrupt and heavy basswork, while various electronic wizzings and chirps twirl away in the background. Not a bad production by any measure, but one cannot help noticing how it lacks place in the theme of this release. I'm lost on any meaning in "Hot Rod" as well.

However, the original mixes of Santiago show us that Muir and Digweed are more than capable of smart reinvention, leading the progressive front once again. The impossible standard of quality carried by Bedrock production remains, now through Santiago, once again untarnished.

One doubt may remain after a listen of Santiago: why did Muir and Digweed release such a seemingly upbeat Ibiza bomb in December? The reason is most likely some mundane combination of scheduling and sales. But perhaps the timing is something more deliberate: in Santiago, capitol of Chile, summer has only just begun.

Santiago (Bedrock's La Coruna Mix) 5/5
Santiago (Parallel Sound Edit) 4/5
Santiago (Bedrock's St. James Mix) 4/5
Santiago (Guy Gerber's Hod Rod Mix) 3/5


Written by Cobalt for TranceCritic.com. May not be reproduced or republished without the consent of TranceCritic.com. All rights reserved.


Mega bonus points for anyone out there who can correctly translate all the lyrics to Santiago and posts them in our forums.

Title: Bedrock - Santiago
Category: Single, EP
Sub Category: Progressive
Reviewer: Cobalt
Related Link: Bedrock
Added: January 3rd 2006
Viewed: 3006 Times
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