(Sexosonic)

Release by one of Australia’s latest record labels, Sexosonic, A Love Bizarre try to win over listeners with this fairly average 4 track single. The first track on the single is the radio edit, and although it does sum up the song well it is still average. The track starts with a simple bass progression, limited beat and some vocals. After a small period of time it becomes quite repetitive, and eventually reaches a point when you’re looking forward to the breakdown… only to realise it still hasn’t changed.

Track 2 on the single is the Extended Club remix. Starting with a very similar beat to the radio edit save a few more hi-hats and cymbals, it looks a little more promising. Although the bass line is modestly funkier and the Rhodes piano adds one more minor layer to the track, it is still merely an extended radio edit, and thus remains a little dreary and repetative.

The T-Rek Freakshow Disco mix, shows a lot more potential from the beginning with a more treble focused percussion giving it a house feel. This beat is followed by a resonating bassline, which rather than oscillating over the simple 3 chord progression, holds each chord while simultaneously being tweaked. This track still has most of the qualities of the first 2 and although it’s not amazing I guess it’s okay.

The final track on the single is probably the “paramount” track. Slightly houseier again, it begins with a dual kick/snare beat. The introduction is much more subtle, with a delicate bleep sound allowing for a much more funky bassline to fade in. By the end of the first minute I found the track was already SO much better than the previous 3. By two minutes you’re literally feeling the deep electronic sound created by an ideal blend of bass and percussion. It continues in similar style until the track develops into a rock song, with distorted vocals and heavy guitar.

All in all, A Love Bizarre’s “So Phat” is a fairly weak attempt to step into the fast growing electro/rock house scene, albeit with a descernable commerical edge.