Artist: Nugen
Title: Darksides
Label: Release Records
By: Simon Jones | 25 January 2004
Tracklist:

• A: Thomas Penton Mix
• B: Original Mix

Nugen "Darksides"

The only female producer on the Release roster, Emily Dela Fouchecour returns with the follow up to her 2002 single 'Braaj'. Having had releases on other labels such as Imago and Cyber, her latest creation 'Darksides' has been a favourite of the guys at Release for a while, soon gaining support from several other DJs, most notable being Paul Oakenfold who included it on his recent 'Great Wall' compilation. Finally seeing a release, Thomas Penton is on hand to provide the backup.

Thomas Penton's mix is another of his uptempo progressive interpretations, full of lush pads and soaring synth lines, with an hypnotic percussive line guiding things higher and higher as the epic vibe develops, building to a monster break and dropping into an assaulting finale that will leave you drooling over your dancing shoes.

Emily's 'Original Mix' is a deliciously deep and dark production, a big rolling bassline slinking along as big sweeps filter back and forth, effecting the vocal that rises out of the groove and giving it an eerie and chilling edge. Moody noises add to the grim nature of the track, and for those who love those dark and rumbling tracks that pierce your soul, this will be right up your alley.

Another well produced single out of Paris, and with Thomas Penton's usual production quality shining through on the remix, this is one single the more straight up progressive DJ cannot be without, although it falls into that 'progressive by numbers' rut, so your own judgment is advised.