Artist: Quivver Feat Nikki Mack
Title: Not Givin Up (Remixes)
Label: Boz Boz Recordings
By: Devon Shaw | 11 August 2006
Tracklist:

• A: Quivver 'Dirt Bag' Dub
• B: Quivver 'Breaks' Mix

Quivver Feat Nikki Mack "Not Givin Up (Remixes)"

In the relentless age of electronic music, few artists can be counted on to provide a high measure of standards-driven music time and time again. John Graham, the man behind Quivver has more than stood the test of time. From his well-known production skills with Tilt and recent foray into lead vocals with Planet Funk and Hybrid, to repeated quality releases on his Boz Boz label, Graham has established himself as a clear, competent player in an industry plagued by inconsistency. Not since the release of 'Space Manoeuvres' in 2004 has Graham put out such a versatile pair of tracks.

Kicking things off is the Dirt Bag Dub of 'Not Givin' Up.' Right off the bat the track you're treated to some filtered passes and teased hooks from Nikki Mack's vocals admist a subdued, progressive 4/4 beat. A minute in the track the pulsating, modulated bass kicks, and it's there to stay. For the next few minutes the track continues to build, adding layers, effects and pads. As the song drops into the breakdown, the melody emerges alongside Nikki's full vocal for the first time as the atmospherics crescendo into a well-timed and properly executed transition back into the main drive of the song. The momentum carries the song all the way through the end, breaking down one piece at a time into a nicely extended breakdown, suitable for mixing into nearly anything.

The Breaks Mix jumps right in without hesitation, bouncing electro synths back and forth across the soundscape while the acid bass seeps from underneath and drives a stripped down yet immersive beat pattern that falls somewhere between early Marine Parade and modern Zabiela. The track pauses for a moment to let Nikki's vocals find their way in, before picking her up and carrying her along through the main drive. Minutes later it spirals into second breakdown and builds back up, slamming the floor with a window-rattling monstrous bass line before winding down into an ingeniously arranged breakdown, again making the material extremely DJ-friendly.

This is the kind of release that will appeal to progressive DJs of any kind. The pair of mixes are diverse enough to cover a wide range of styles, sets and moods throughout a night at the tables. Quivver delivers in his long-standing tradition of production style cultivated for effective dancefloor use, that also stands up to enjoyment at home. A highly recommended release that belongs in every progressive DJ's record box, and a hat tip to John Graham for a job well done.