Steve Lawler has earned a reputation for being a DJ, who knows how to entertain crowds. The “Lights Out 3” mix, third one in the successful “Lights Out” series, which has been available since the beginning of October, is a remarkable proof it has been rightly earned.
The series mirrors Steve’s current musical fascinations and at the same time serves the purpose of showing that he will not allow to be locked in any closet or associated with only one musical genre. Well, I used to be foolish enough to have labeled Steve as “the dark tribal guy” once but gave that up right after release of “Lights Out 2”. The limited release of “Lights Out 3” features three CDs, which are full of Steve’s favorite dark sounds but also glorious club anthems worthy of the king of Space, songs and fresh stunning productions by producers that just got discovered. The latter include “Flamenco” by Polish WAWA.
CD1, somehow lighter, opens with a disturbing intro track, something for which Steve is legendary for, leading straight to his first discovery in the shape of Ben Wijay and his housey “Wait”, then I want to stop for awhile to have a taste of acid-fried “Mars Attack” by Nick K and then plunge into electro sounds of “Friday” amazingly remixed by Trentemoller. As I go on, I duck to avoid “Drop Big Bombs” by Danielle Tignino and Rice&Peas, a piece which Sasha was very anxious to get but failed miserably and, in my opinion, unfortunately to Steve because, as much as I can understand that he was proud of his find, to me the tune sounds too much like a response to popular demand. CD1 ends with dark and progressive “Moogment” by Alex McCulloch and ominous “The Conjure” remixed by Steve for the “Skeleton Key” movie, where percussion is replaced by the sound of scared heavy breathing and fingernails scratching a board.
On the darker, more tech CD2 the turn-ons are catchy and acidy basslines in “Creaky Thoughts” by Anja Schreider, uplifting “Let’s Go” by Mono and hypnotizing “Obsessive Sounds” by Alex Dolby, which beautifully merges with “ABC” by Drax & Gooding. The turn-offs include a piece which I always think I have heard one time too many and which is too much like a yet another remix of the “Stoppage Time”, that is, “Hugs’N Kisses” by Criss Source and the overplayed Ibiza anthem by Axwel – “Feel the Vibe” this time remixed by Seamus Haji. And then, when I just think that I am not really convinced by sampled Bee Gees in two edits by Ricky Ryan, here comes the excellent end tune of CD2 – “Rhythmique” by Stu Hirst, leaving me with a nice, tingling, progressive sensation.
The bonus CD3 is a little too unsurprising and at times too heavy a mix of dark electro and deep progressive with just a taste of drums so except the cranky tune by Audiofly loves Miss Jols – “Not What We Was” and the funky piano track in Livio&Roby – “Headz On”, the cd is not anything I will remember long.
It may not contribute to any major earthquake, sometimes it may be a little too much on the “love me, like me” side but “Lights Out 3” is a well thought over, important compilation, which surely will find its place among this year’s best ones, many of which are already considered vintage.
CD1
CD2
Special Harlem Records Mix
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