Published: April 19th, 2007
Since 1994 Chris Fortier’s Fade Records has been discovering new artists and releasing glorious electronic dance music. Continually pushing the boundaries, it is now time for a timely first major retrospective compilation of the finest moments so far. Complied and mixed by Royal Sapien & 40oz this is a superb reminder of exactly how much great music can come from one man’s boundless enthusiasm.
Ahead of his forthcoming debut artist album due on Australia’s much respected EQ Recordings this summer, Audio Tour Volume 2 is crammed full of some of the finest musical moments of the last 13 years.
Chris Fortier started Fade from pure necessity. Necessity for his own releases really. No grand illusions to have some big record label to make money or use the label as a promo tool that is so common today. I just wanted my music out on vinyl and I really didn’t know any other way then to do it myself, he says.
As his own music gained visibility and was picked up by a larger label, Fade was put on the back burner until a UK DJ tour led Chris to stumble on a record that he seemed to hammer the grooves out of, which put the idea in his head to get involved with it and the artists. The fascination of being a part of another artist’s career growth, beyond playing their records in clubs, grew and grew and I began to really keep my ear out there for fresh sounds that I felt were unique and inspiring to me, he continues.
Enter Steve Porter. Chris happened upon him from a gig he was playing near Steve’s hometown. Some of Steve’s tracks were sent to Fade in a DJ mix and Chris was immediately drawn to them. When Chris found out more about him, he was further blown away. Barely 18 years old and weaving intricate energies with ease. Steve was probably the biggest catalyst for Fade to jump back full stop and focus solely on other artists. Each week on the road being handed CDRs from young artists, Chris was a kid in the candy shop. He was picking up new tracks left, right and center. Soon a full release schedule beyond 12 months was in place. A pattern began to develop with the artists and tracks being selected. Every track, every release was turning out to be the very first production or creation from these artists. That to me seemed to say a lot. I really enjoyed being on the cusp of their start and being a positive force to help them achieve something more in their music or career, Chris says.
Chris continues, The label has never been about money or any kind of financial angle. I have never signed a track because I thought it would be popular or sell a lot. I take tracks that I believed in and would be happy regardless of any sales at all. Simply and sincerely, the label has been a creative outlet for me. One to allow me to be involved on more levels in the music I am passionate about, in all its forms.
Now in 2007, we see the 2nd CD compilation release of the Audio Tour series. The first volume coming in 2003 with Chris mixing mostly future releases, this new volume comes with the mix provided by another future star that Chris envisions big things for in Royal Sapien. Another young, multi-talented artist, Artist in every sense of the word. From RS contributing a handful of the Fade’s previous year’s releases, to him also creating new special tracks to add to his mix. RS also conceived the artwork and design you see.
This album is a true, encompassing look at the scope and history of Fade and its sister label FDS. It is a definitive stamp of the last 10 years woven together with detail and extreme care. Royal Sapien delivers the goods with a powerful and focused mix at one of America’s fine breeding grounds for forward thinking dance music. As a bonus, 40oz has provided a 3rd disc mix to compliment the RS discs. It is covers a lot more of the tech-ier sides of Fade.
The album comes out in May on Fade Records
Royal Sapien talks about his mix selections for Disc 1 & Disc 2
CD 1
Funk Harmony Park - My Truth (Royal Sapien's Cave Mix)
The Royal Sapien remix of My Truth was life-changing in its creation and in the way it was received globally. I will forever be indebted to Chris Fortier and Funk Harmony Park for their support and belief.
Scott McFadyen - Which, Why
The groove in this track... I could listen to it for days. Great percussion and killer bass floor-thumping grind.
Tonepushers - Daydreamer (Royal Sapien Remix)
I remixed Tonepushers around the same time I was working on Funk Harmony Park's ‘My Truth’. I was going for a vibe that was different, summery, but true to a deep Fade sound. It turned out funkier than I had planned, but it seems to lend itself to all sorts of sets. Chris helped me refine it into one of my favourite remixes.
JV - Into the Blue (Jas Remix)
Really like the vocals on ‘Into the Blue’. Very pretty and spot-on but relaxed.
Fade - The Love (Robb & Skinner Mix)
Robb & Skinner made one of the thickest, chuggingest beats I've ever heard. There was no way this tune could be left out.
Dream Traveller - Structure
I remember hearing this song when it first came out and it sounds just as fresh in 2007. The soaring vocals are unforgettable and the bouncy synths add so much atmosphere.
Royal Sapien - Carrying On (Dub)
A tune at least a year in the making, some effects and beats were dropped into the mix, but the song is still far from complete.
Chris Micali - Out There
Eerie samples, punchy beats, and beautiful melodic drifts. Absolutely outstanding.
Royal Sapien - Marina Paradiso (Dub)
Another song that is far from complete, but I wanted to use some pieces I made for it in the mix. No harm done, I think.
Antahkarana - Pakal (Dub)
The filtered shaker pattern in Pakal could be layered with almost anything. It sounds amazing and is universal in style. The bleepy beats and thick bass are icing.
Ben Camp - Timecrash (Mara Remix)
Beautiful atmospheric chords accompanied by back-alley reverberated percussion. It's Rhythm Nation vs. Underworld, marinated in dancefloor.
Royal Sapien - Triple Nine (Dub)
Only added the breakbeat from this tune to accompany Timecrash and Headpusher. Neither song needed any help, but again, probably no harm done. Just felt like adding a breakbeat. I think we all get that feeling sometimes. My therapist says it's healthy.
Dream Traveler - Headpusher
This track has stayed with me for years. In fact, I could never find it outside of mix compilations and DJ sets by DJs who would not give me their copy. Only now do I own it because I used it on this mix.
Expressed Soul - I'm Waiting (Chris Fortier Remix)
Chris has an innate talent for making beats you can listen to for hours. This remix could not be any more solid proof. Alternate soundtrack-for-life and 2am smasher.
Bradley - Rush (Voyager Remix)
I love this tune but it blended so well it became another element in the mix outside of being a song. There was nothing I could do. It just fits.
Sphere - Gravi-tech
Another tune that became a backing element in a menagerie of multi-tones. Lots of great work in this tune that I wanted in other songs as well.
Chris Fortier - Despegue (Main Mix)
“Anthemic and club-friendly, the percussion is funky and smooth, and the groove just works. Rises and falls like the ocean.”
Chris Fortier - Despegue (Fractal Ambient Mix)
Brand new remix of Despegue that I couldn't not use. Beautiful isolation of elements into a pretty and serene ambient track.
SLP - Supernova (Memnon Remix)
Memnon, who was truly one of my favourites in the late 1990s, remixed Supernova into what I consider to be a classic Fade sound. Melodic, tight but deep, big without insisting upon itself.
CD2
Chris Fortier - Losing Wait (Reprise)
Before going through the entire Fade catalogue (a fantastic journey), I had never encountered the Reprise of ‘Losting Wait’. As soon as the chords began, I knew it needed to begin this mix. But it needed to be chopped like chives, pureed like peaches, and stuttered like a hard disk edit. Wait.
Descent - Fusion
Descent made some excellent super-stereo beats for ‘Fusion’. They fill any space. Then the bass drops and the tune launches. Influences from early Drum & Bass are apparent and welcome.
Dan Morris & Shylock - Badhatu (Chris Fortier & Kolo Re-Edit)
Thumping beats and a bassline in the breakdown that you can't forget.
Motive feat. Abagale - ABE (Lovesky Mix)
Lovesky's mix of ‘ABE’ really stuck out to me, using the congas and shakers to their advantage in an otherwise very groovy and electronic remix. The repeated sparse vocals, seemingly a Fade records trademark, add just the right amount of soul.
Expressed Soul - I'm Waiting (Luke Fair Mix)
I've been a Luke Fair fan for a long time, and his remix of "I'm Waiting" reminds me why.
Steve Porter - Hulkinator
Steve Porter, the creator of ‘Porter House’, incidentally one of the most boundless and delicious genres in dance music, bashes our heads with funk. It's loud, it's big, and it knows it.
Steve Porter - Rage In The Cage
Another gem from Porter's massive library, shaking tambourines glide over gut-punching kicks in this altogether encouraging track. ‘Rage In The Cage’, perhaps, but it feels more like party in a box.
Micah - Come From (Nick and John Dalagelis Dub 2)
The Dalagelis duo are really great guys, and their production skills continue to evolve past excellent. I am in love with this remix.
SLP - Supernova (Ocean Wave vs Regret Mix)
Another altogether different remix of Supernova from a couple of my personal favourites, Ocean Wave and Regret. True to the sound of the time without fault. It reminds me of happy times without feeling tired.
Chris Fortier - Losing Wait (Main Mix)
The Main Mix of Losing Wait with another of Chris's chugging, shifting, never tiring beats. The vocals are outstanding, the melodies are timeless, and then there's the beat again.
Funk Harmony Park - Planet P (Edit)
A funky, live-instrument-inspired, uplifting track from the Funk Harmony Park guys. I don't know how they're able to make beats this warm in Iceland. Perhaps it's their escape. Whatever the case, we all benefit from the export.
Funk Harmony Park - My Truth (Royal Sapien Audio Tour Dub)
I'm not sure if this remix was shipped with a note that read, "Please play at the end of your set," but it seems that lots of DJs used the Royal Sapien Main Mix of My Truth to close their sets. I almost felt obligated to do the same, but I wanted to do a special stripped dub for the Audio Tour CD. You can hear the original anywhere.
40oz (Chris Fortier) talks through his mix selections for Disc 3
CD3
Pat Foosheen – Origin / Pat Foosheen – Gift To You / Pat Fosheen - Cydonia
Pat gave me 4 tracks for me to hopefully sign. I like them all and couldn’t decide, so I took all 4. 3 of them featured in this mix. These are Pat’s very first productions to come out of his studio. Which is a theme of the mix and the label in general.
Sphere – Gravi-tech
Sphere comprises of two of my long-time friends Barry Robb & Matt Lippiate. This sound was a suggestion to Barry as an alternate to their first track together, 24 hours later he knocked on my door with it.
Andre Lataste – Silver Shadows
This is a track I used to play a lot at Twilo. Quite rough around the edges. It worked for me there, so I signed it, but we never managed to get it out quick enough and eventually it got lost in the shuffle. When the digital thing took off, we pushed it out in that format. It is still quite a hidden gem.
Seed – Seed Sound (Bass Mix)
This is a really cool discovery from West Coast DJ Brian. I thought this was really different to a lot things out at the time. Its dirty clanging groove was great. A few big DJs with labels tried to get it from me to release, but I held tight to it.
Smight – Your Happy Place
This track comes from Texas based Herb Berkley. Herb was one of the most happy-go-lucky, music lovers I have met. He always had this dark and tripped out edge to his stuff.
Fade – The Love (Robb & Skinner Beats)
Twisted beats and bassline from the boys. Previously never available and only used as a mixing tool for me.
Fade – The Love (EBE Remix)
When we were writing the original mixes of this, we had the vocals recorded first. I sent Lucas the accapella overnight, he called me the next day I thought to tell me he received the package, but he actually was telling me he was finished already.
Chris Fortier – Losing Wait (Deep Dub)
This is my first solo single. Born out of a bassline alternate in the original version. Managed to bang this version out in some downtime during the recording of the Bedrock album.
Vissuhda – Visualizer (Tonedepth’s Deep Mix)
Another track from DJ Brian under one of his Desert Rave alias. I had this updated from a brand new artist at the time in Tonedepth (Tony’s first remix). Deeper and pulsing.
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