Label: MistiqueMusic

Release Date: 5 July 2011
Format: Digital

Michael & Levan and Siven Rivic's Misitquemusic has been rolling through the summer with a barrage of excellent releases. Suffused's 'Sunset Beach' and Kay-D's 'Aura' were both outstanding and the debut Michael & Levan and Stiven Rivic album 'Sounds Are Deeply On Surface' was and is unforgettable. This week sees the Russian producer Gosh vs. Kanov making his debut on Mistique's parent label with his 'Dark Effect' EP that comes with wicked remixes from Loquai and Bon Voyage.

'Dark Effect' leads the EP off and this one is quite a bit different from Gosh's usual approach. He's so well known for his melodic, summery progressive house sound but here he's gone quite a bit darker. The vibe of the track is really murky and overall very cool. The trippy sound design and grungy groove lead to a breakdown where some emotional chords are introduced just long enough to change the atmosphere before the monstrous dark groove thunders back down for a mean finale. Certainly one of Gosh's most interesting and adventurous productions date, really cool stuff.

The lone 'Dark Effect' remix is supplied by Loquai and he's taking Gosh's interesting vibe from the original and reworked it in a supremely groovy fashion. The bassline is big and spacious sounding which is perfect to compliment the trippy electronic s and heavy atmosphere that sits on top of it. After an amazing breakdown full of emotional soundscapes the rock solid groove drops back in and the atmospheric elements are stripped away. You get a full sense of how powerful the groove is when it's allowed to breath just a bit after the break. Before long the piece builds back up as some spacey elements and wonderful processed bells are brought back into the mix and lead to a great finish.

The second original on the package 'I Am Happy' is next and what a storming track it is. A tough kick and some clattering drums set a menacing tone right away. Then when the thick, driving bassline drums it's full steam ahead. The energy is infectious on this one with its ferocious drive and peak time sensibility. Rocking stuff from Gosh!

Bon Voyage provides the remix for 'I Am Happy' and they have overhauled the track in a very dramatic fashion. The tempo has been considerably reduced and the overall vibe of the track is much deeper. A lazy groove is immersed in a hazy atmospheric backdrop that leads to the main breakdown. The angelic sounding vocal pads that are introduced earlier are allowed to breathe during the drop while some wonderful basstones and chord changes provide the emotional magic to cap off a great remix from Bon Voyage. This is a very well rounded release from Mistique and shows Gosh's versatility as an all round progressive house producer.