Smokin' Aces - 2020 - week 4
- illywhacker
- Jan 25, 2020
- 2 min read
I've been working hard in the studio over the last few weeks to finish a couple of new tracks that I'm hoping to release in the near future. In that time, I've been listening to a custom playlist of music, featuring productions that are similar in style to the current musical ideas that I'm working on. I do this mostly for inspiration and ideas on how to approach certain aspects of my own productions in the works; it can really help if I'm sometimes struggling to figure out which steps to take in the production process. This week's selection has been getting a lot of airplay from that playlist recently, so I decided to feature it in my Smokin' Aces series for 2020!
Week 4, this tune of the week is a blast from the past, the track is called 'Rocket' and comes from British producer/DJ, Tom Staar. It was initially released on the almighty Toolroom Records back in 2014. It was one of the perfect peak-set tunes around at the time to drop onto crowds at dance music events. The long and excitement inducing builds using a variety of snare rolls and pitch rising sound effects ensure that the crowd is whipped into a frenzy each time these moments of tension release into the powerful drop(s)!
It's argued that this track can be fairly repetitive, but, it's definitely exciting. I've heard more repetitive dance music tracks in the past that have had absolutely no excitement to them, so at least Rocket packs a punch to make up for its repetitive nature! It's probably best to put this one on LOUD to fully enjoy the experience... and the bass!
A fond memory I have of Tom Staar's track was when I was at an Above & Beyond event in Birmingham, at the Rainbow Venues (in the Digbeth area of the city). Above & Beyond played a mash-up of this track and the place erupted; there were thousands of us in the venue, I don't think anyone was stood still when this was being played! If I remember correctly, it was mashed up with Delerium's anthem 'Silence'. For your info, a 'mash-up' is when two or more tracks, all of a similar tempo/BPM (beats per minute) and that are harmonically related, are edited together to create a 'new' track. It was a real rush hearing the euphoric breakdowns of Silence, combined with the powerful basslines of Rocket on such a huge sound system.
Anyway, there's not much to be said about this production, it's big, and it's powerful! Play it loud!
Listen on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9aQECkG-rg
Record Label: Toolroom Records
Track Title: Rocket (Original Mix)
Follow Tom Staar:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomstaar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tomstaar
Follow Toolroom Records:
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