Artist: Memnon
Title: Locutus
Label: Music Now Records
By: Chad Harnish | 3 July 2002
Tracklist:

• A: Original
• B: Mo Shic Remix

Memnon "Locutus"

The title of ‘Locutus’ was inspired by a Star Trek episode where Locutus is the name Captain Pacard was given after being assimilated by the Borg. For those of you who are not Star Trek fans, the Borg is a race or robot beings who conquer other races by fusing them into robots themselves. Not only does the title draw inspiration from this science fiction episode, but the entire song sounds of what might happen when man meets machine.

Holmes Ives introduces the rougher tougher side of Memnon with ‘Locutus’. Tough driving beats and a tight arrangement of electronic fused samples lift this tune to great heights. Holmes builds the track very subtly at first, but soon the track is surrounded by blinding trance-inducing beats. Hearing this track played on the Delta Heavy sound system truly showcased the design of the track. When the breakdown dropped, the crowd was filled with sudden wonder and amazement as the spacey ambience swirled in. After an emotional pause, the track re-delivers its rhythmic engine and a sea of dancers suddenly got their groove back on. It was truly an amazing moment.

Moshic (Pitch Black, Plastic Fantastic) gives ‘Locutus’ a slightly more minimal feeling off the start by letting the kick drum take the dominant lead over the higher tinny percussion. A hard metallic edged bass line along side the percussion form the backbone of the rhythm while swooshing samples revolve around your head in a Doppler effect. You can almost see the thick sound waves coming and going. This mix doesn’t quite convey the same sense of force that the original mix does, yet its subtleness goes a long way.

The Moshic mix has been gaining huge success with all the top players. For me though, I choose Memnon’s own mix with its fantastic breakdown. Either way you decide to go however, you will have an assimilated dance floor at your disposal to direct as you desire.