18.06.2003

Smash FX: Brainkiller [RR006]

Smash FX, a DJ Duo based in Zürich are currently stirring up the town with their packed nights.

Smash FX, a DJ Duo based in Zürich are currently stirring up the town with their packed nights. Wherever they set feet you sure get a dose of perfectly trimmed beats and pumpin’ bass. No wonder the breakbeat scene in Zurich is booming! Smash FX have already created a bit of a hit with their remix of Vostok’s Electro Clash tune „Airplanes“ released earlier this year on the fantastic Swiss Tools EP, also on Ritmic. The Swiss independent label Ritmic has celebrated a couple of singles that had praise singing from the top jocks in the UK and lots of support throughout the continent and the States. From this release onwards Ritmic Records is distributed by Intergroove Germany.

Brainkiller is a Sci-Fi-Monster, complete with Old Skool Synths and driving riddems. On the flip you find the truly awesome EK remix perfect for peaktime use. EK appears courtesy of Sound Not Scene / Global Recordings Australia and his mix here has been road tested from Berlin to Brussels and back to Zurich and never failed. The mix has been snapped up by Glen „Future Funk Squad“ for his forthcoming New:Bpm compilation and is according to Johan „Sound of Habib“ his best work to date!

Quotes

Jody Wisternoff
"Amazing beats,energetic stabs,and effective atmospheric samples. This always gets a wicked response"

Hyper
"Love the EK mix!"

Aquasky
"Into the remix" 8/10

Annie Nighinghale
"Love it!" plays on BBC Radio 1 show

Superdense Child (Marble Bar)
“Another corking release for ritmic. really solid chuggy dark groove with electro tingles all round, right up my street. this is the best thing i've been sent in quite a while..” 10/10

Johan
"Sound Of Habib" Olofsson: "The second breakdown has sent my clubs scream for me..!"

Mole (Boombox)
Yet more brain bashing breaks from Switzerlands top label! Wicked stuff, full support given" 7/10

Databass (Freakaboom)
"Completely into the techier EK remix. best release yet. EK's best remix yet. This stays in the box!"

Nubreaks.com (July 2003)
If I had to give a release so far this year an award for 'best odd sample', it'd be this one. If you weren't sure who could 'kill a brain', this track will make sure you are well aware before it's over :) While the Original cut is competent breakbeat, with smooth atmospherics, cleanly constructed percussion and some interesting ideas, it just hasn't caught on with my tastes yet. I think the element that bothers me is the structure, it's a bit loose, and care hasn't really been taken to build up to much. While it isn't peak time material, it's also not bad, and I tend to think I just haven't 'got it' yet. EK's remix, on the other hand, restructures things a great deal, adds some drive & a more rolling breakbeat; which means I like it more. The samples are given a really nice treatment, and the overall flow of the cut is smoother & more DJ friendly. Both of these cuts are sure to peak your interest, so don't sleep on 'em! 4/5

Knowledge (UK, May 2003)
Just as meaty as Ritmics previous outing is the following Smash FX single, with a futuristic breaks banger also coming with an EK remix. 4/4 (Lurch)

XLR8R USA (July 2003)
This Zurich duo churns out a sci-fi breakbeat killer that blasts huge synth stabs and vacuum bass, and riddles the driving percussion with drum & bass-style fills. On the flip, EK ups the ante with his remix, keeping the d&b touches while dubbing up the bassline and touching it with some electro. On point, like those watches they make. Ron Nachmann

Breakser (Germany, May 2003)
Eine durchwegs positive Überraschung der besten Art. NuSkool as NuSkool can. Und dazu so deep, wie man es bisher nur aus England kannte. Exzellente Arbeit in Sachen Atmosphäre, Beats und Bassdesign. So soll es sein. Schwere, darke Sounds fließen wie flüssiger Teer durch die Boxen und graben sich unvermeidlich ins Hirn des Hörers bis der sich in klaustrophobischen Science Fiction-Landschaften wiederfindet. Verstärkt wird dieser Effekt noch mit den ausgesuchten Vocals, bei denen sich mal ganz offen bei den guten alten Botchit-Releases bedient wurde, was aber bei der Soundverwandschaft zu den frühesten Werken des NuSkools durchaus als Respektbekenntnis gewertet werden kann. Ein paar ravige Synths sind das Licht im Dunklen der Nacht und geben diesem Klasse-Track die nötige Portion Wiedererekennungswert und machen "Brainkiller" zum bisher beste Track auf Ritmic für mich. Für die Flip wurde EK mit der Aufgabe des Remixens betraut und zimmert einen Roller, der, schon vielbeachtet von der internationalen Breaks-Szene, sicherlich den größeren Erfolg auf den Tanzflächen feiern wird. (Dr. Schmidt)

Partysan (Switzerland, July 2003)
Debütsingle des Zürcher Breaks & Beats-Duo Smash FX (UG “Miami Vice”), das schon “Airplanes” (Vostok) für die Swiss Tools EP auf dem Ritmic-Label remixte. “Brainkiller” (bei dem die Spoken-Samples im Original etwas stören) war schon auf der ersten Smash FX-Mix-CD bei MV zu finden. Stark jedoch die vorwiegend instrumentale Remix-Reise des Australiers EK (Sound Not Scene/Global Recordings). (Arnold Meyer)

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>	18.06.2003  Smash FX: Brainkiller [RR006]
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