Artist: Jaytech
Title: Starbright
Label: Red Seven Records
By: Antonella Sirec | 18 August 2006
Tracklist:

• A1: Original Mix
• B1: Jaytech 'Touch Your DJ' Mix
• B2: Matt Rowan Mix

Jaytech "Starbright"

To say that Canberra born Jaytech has had a good year in terms of productions would be an understatement. Already responsible for one of this year's biggest tunes with fellow Australian Matt Rowan with the release of the highly praised and much loved 'Tomorrow', he went onto cause more mayhem with the release of another progressive gem, that being 'Genesis'. Not one to sit on his laurels, this young producer has once again managed to create a tune that's going to keep fans extremely happy and no doubt garner some new ones in the process. Released through his newly created label, Red Seven Records, 'Starbright' is going to further establish him as an exciting producer who consistently creates beautiful music.

The original mix of 'Starbright' begins on an almost solitary beat, slowly drawing in touches of snares and then breaking into a lush, uplifting melody. Along the way, the melody is interspersed with warped sound effects that add to the tautness of the track. Continuing to climb slowly in tempo, the tune then drops into a breakdown that's not overly dramatic and then picks up again with the melody starting off in a lower key then taking off into a resounding, almost ethereal group of chords and synths. The padded bass is subtle and helps to magnify the overlying melody which ultimately adds to the hypnotic quality 'Starbright' holds. Already familiar with Jaytech's production work, I found myself again pleasantly surprised at how much of a beautiful tune he’s created yet again. It's gloriously and unashamedly uplifting in sound and feel. This new release has his sound stamped all over it from start to finish but it's definitely not a rehash of his previous releases. This is only going to solidify his standing as one of 2006's most consistent and outstanding producers.

Jaytech's own remix of 'Starbright' in the guise of the 'Touch Your DJ' Mix is nothing short of a proper dancefloor scorcher. Once again opening on a subdued tip, this soon gives way when the resonating bass kicks in and turns the track into something with a completely different feel when compared to the original version. The melody, while still very much present, takes a backseat to that bassline and as such the tune has a more powerful quality about it which is only intensified by the fact that the bpms have been slightly increased. From a listening perspective, this particular remix is going to instantly attract fans both on and off the dancefloor. Quite simply, it's infectious and once it hooks you in, there’s no letting go. I dare anyone not to find themselves dancing to this! And whether intentionally or not, I can't help but feel there's been a slight nod to Neil Himmon's 'Play' which featured on Nick Warren's GU018 Amsterdam release from years ago. The association is very indirect but the bass and the womping synths that are prominent in this version of 'Starbright' instantly reminded me of the aforementioned tune and in the nicest possible way as it's one of my personal favourites. It never ceases to amaze me how a producer can remix his own track and make it sound even more appealing then the original, and that's exactly what Jaytech has done here. This version of 'Starbright' is up there with his own 'Genesis' in both quality and brilliance. I have no doubt this is going to be featured quite heavily in a lot of DJ sets around the world.

Last but certainly not least is the Matt Rowan remix. While the 'Touch Your DJ' mix was a more then intelligent yet club friendly rework, Matt Rowan's version gives 'Starbright' a richer, more drawn out feel that's astutely languid in tone when compared to its predecessors. It's the type of sound that you can completely lose yourself in when you start listening to it. There are touches of atmospheric synths juxtaposed with pinpoint like vocal samples but all the while still retaining an even balance between the melody and the bass. As a result, Rowan has given the track more depth because of those moody elements. A more complicated remix then I actually expected, it's only on subsequent listens that you hear the varying layers of sound which only add to the track's endearing quality. If anything, it's a carefully crafted take on the original that will leave a lot of people wanting more. In an odd way, the track's complexity is perfectly balanced with its simplicity because just when you think you know what this is about, you hear something else and the track then changes in feel. A very well thought out and clever remix and as such successful in its execution.

This is yet another fantastic release from Jaytech and I really can't add much more. All three versions of 'Starbright' bring in a different type of feel but still retain a progressive house feel throughout. From my own perspective, while I thoroughly enjoy listening to the original mix, it's Jaytech's 'Touch Your DJ' mix and the Matt Rowan remix that shine on this release. Irrespective of the fact that Jaytech is still only in his early 20's I still feel that he hasn't hit his stride just yet and that we're in store for a hell of lot more quality music. More than anything, he is a role model for all aspiring producers who want to pursue a career in dance music. His collaborations with Matt Rowan see another side of him that only exemplifies his ability to be diverse but still be on point with his sound. This is highly recommended release and one that makes me look forward to Jaytech's future releases with much anticipation.