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Toolroom Records is releasing some of the best dance music out today, and their latest collection, Leaders of the New School Volume 4 is no exception. A collection of seven fresh tracks, by new artists on the Toolroom roster. Concentrating on the techier side of house, the release features bits of tech, electro with a slice of minimal house, and definitely with some progressive elements, without forgetting the underlying groove that is the foundation of house music.
The first track Tool by Patric La Funk could be described as ghetto tech house. The electronic elements make it very techy, and there are some electro sounds, but the drums are incredibly chunky and large, giving it a ghetto and Chicago sound. This is my favourite track on the release.
Dancing Girls by Oliver Lang reminds me very much of D Ramirez, with a very similar vibe to most of the man’s work. This here is definitely tech elements, but it gets slightly boring. Not Another Bassline by Stu Hirst is a piece of melodic tech house, which makes it very interesting to listen to, but for some reason it sounded very flat and one-dimensional to my ears.
We’re All Freaks by Mecanique is just noise. It can be construed as ‘cool’, but gets rather monotonous after 7 minutes. The next tune Crush by Mr. Soft is anything but soft. I guess it could be described as progressive house, with rocky drums, and an acid 303 bassline, and an electric guitar riff. This one goes hard, till late at night.
And now, a winner. Gimme the Bass by Filthy Rich, although having a very cliched name, is an absolute gem. The squelching basslines make a very electro house record, but it’s one that is sure to delight dancers and listeners and alike. Although the sound may be getting tired now, its not going away so you might as well embrace it.
And the final record on the release is Electrik Park by The Bronx. Another electro house, but not quite as banging as the previous track, and a bit more minimal. Still, a class record.
Without exception, every track on Leaders of the New School Volume 4 is a winner, and a class tune, even though I didn’t like them all equally. If you like some non-cliched electro, and are into the techier side of things, head to Beatport now and buy this release.
