OUT Scott Cameron - 112 [Pure Trance]

[skyriderz]

112 is a fabulously positive-sounding helping of feel-good trance and is also London-based DJ, producer and drummer Scott Cameron's debut on Pure Trance. Scott packs a whole packet of hooks into this 128bpm excursion, with breakbeat chunks, fuzzy pike hits, guitar licks, phat bass stabs, plenty of melody and a blistering drop.

There's an interesting back-story to the title 112 from a few years ago when Scott moved from the UK to Portugal. One night, his studio set on fire (due to a faulty air-con unit). While the flames were licking under the door, he realized he didn't know the number for the emergency services… which is indeed 112… Perhaps this track is dedicated to the memory of his Virus Ti, Nord Stage & Moog synthesizers?

 

[Daysleeper]

A decent attempt at something more credible, but I just dont like the drums he used in this. First the kick, its just....generic? Very basic sort of kick. The hats and snare are too snappy and noisy clinical, like they are cut too early. I do like the little breaks and and "dnb" drum loops he used though. It sounds pretty good at 4.20 when everything runs together, but overall its just something with the production/masteting of this I dont like. Could it be too much sidechaining? @jetflag? The melody is decent but kinda bland/simple and too bright for my taste, and very STOCK sounding synth? but its the layering/arrangement that does make it sound "better" overall.

The tune really reminds me of other modern 130 bpm:ers we've heard throughout the mid 2010s onwards to today in what elements are used to make up the music. Very similar. I can appreciate it overall, but theres just something that turns me off that I cant put my finger on. @Hensmon you feel the same? It could be the overly clean mastering or the instruments used that probably comes from those infamous/famous presets that most modern commercial producers use, sylenth? spire? Theres something decent about it but at the same time it comes out generic. Its this obsession of maximaxing the production that still lives on from the brostep days im feeling i think. Im just seeing a guy with his hat backward mastering this. Also the snare build with the loaded and stabby build to the takeoff is there and that LASER thingy just before the melody kicks in. Small things like that make this become a bro production.

 

[Archon]

I like it! Sounds pleasant, takes you back to 2010 or so.

 

[MDD]

Appreciate snippets but I don't get on with the melody. Doesn't elevate any feels for me. Flows ok but like DS, the modern snare build
seems a default choice.

 

[Hensmon]

@Hensmon you feel the same? It could be the overly clean mastering

Completely get where you are coming from. Just yesterday I was having a little sesh with the nu-trance stuff and then made a switch over to some new PURE releases and it sounded way worse in comparison. Really thin, sterile, empty and yes generic with some of the elements. Massive difference in how the sound felt to me. Feel like this has been the story with the more known Trance labels forever now, I was convinced it was modern software that did it but now these newcomers in the underground are showing you can have the same musical 'realness'.

This is still a ok track though, but yeah the sound design just does not compare to nu-trance stuff. I really don't like the edm snare rollers here but the melody is enjoyable for me.

 

[Jetflag]

A decent attempt at something more credible, but I just dont like the drums he used in this. First the kick, its just....generic? Very basic sort of kick. The hats and snare are too snappy and noisy clinical, like they are cut too early. I do like the little breaks and and "dnb" drum loops he used though. It sounds pretty good at 4.20 when everything runs together, but overall its just something with the production/masteting of this I dont like. Could it be too much sidechaining? @jetflag? The melody is decent but kinda bland/simple and too bright for my taste, and very STOCK sounding synth? but its the layering/arrangement that does make it sound "better" overall.

The tune really reminds me of other modern 130 bpm:ers we've heard throughout the mid 2010s onwards to today in what elements are used to make up the music. Very similar. I can appreciate it overall, but theres just something that turns me off that I cant put my finger on. @Hensmon you feel the same? It could be the overly clean mastering or the instruments used that probably comes from those infamous/famous presets that most modern commercial producers use, sylenth? spire? Theres something decent about it but at the same time it comes out generic. Its this obsession of maximaxing the production that still lives on from the brostep days im feeling i think. Im just seeing a guy with his hat backward mastering this. Also the snare build with the loaded and stabby build to the takeoff is there and that LASER thingy just before the melody kicks in. Small things like that make this become a bro production.

It’s a bit bricky yes but the overall master doesn’t bother me all that much t.b.h. I’d have to listen to it on proper headphones though as this is a car-speaker check

 

[Manofearth]

Had potential, and gets a lot right, but agree with others here on some points.