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ARTIST
TITLE
Wonderland
FORMAT
CD
LABEL
CATALOG #
SVT 084CD
SVT 084CD
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
10/9/2012
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For their second full-length, the infamous Berliners Channel X invite you to take a mad trip through their very own Wonderland. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's classic psychedelic tale of Alice's mind-altering experience in a colorful parallel universe. Thus, party-approved tech-house sounds meet tight deep house, dreamy disco numbers and funky downbeat passages, all crafted with a trained ear for detail, but, more importantly, a deep love for the dancefloor. The album's atmospheric intro, aptly titled "Arriving," immediately draws us in thanks to swelling strings, cellos and, of course, a ticking clock. "Arriving" quickly makes way for "Feelings," where a straight gut-hitting kick and disorienting, wonky pads symbolize a free-fall down the rabbit hole, until a short tick of the clock opens the door to a bouncy tech house groove and far-out guitar licks. As sirens usher in stretched-out female vocal samples and deep chords, we've become fully immersed in Wonderland. Things stay upbeat on "Headless" due to shuffling percussion, a downright funky bass-line and jazz-infested piano volleys. In Channel X's Wonderland, the intriguing "Cheshire Cat" is given the space of an interlude characterized by heavy downbeat percussion and hip-hop sampling. "Maniac" features agitated percussive elements that rub against Alice's unsettled mumbles inside the shadows, while a classic deep house motif unfolds. Next, "Evil" builds heavy sub-frequencies into a forceful groove, underpinned by sharp hi-hats and a driving snare. On "Scope" our heroine is chased through her dream world's most bizarre corners, where strange creatures lurk in the dark, prying with florescent eyes as Channel X create a tripped-out soundscape of hypnotic synths, jack-saw bass and delayed vocal stutters. Things take a turn as an enchanting birdsong introduces "Slowly Falling Leaf:" a sunny house groover which sparkles with siren vocals. "Elysium," which features good friend Niko Schwind, continues the bright vibes as rainbow-colored lasers aim straight for the mirror ball and Alice finds herself in Discoland. We then enter the chill-out zone on the next interlude, "Teatime," where jazzy samples shuffle over a mellow, underwater beat. With "Cantrip," Channel X ring in the narrative's final chapters with a mysterious dancefloor highlight. The enormously deep and immersive bass-line takes us for a progressive techno ride, where scattered bleeps and otherworldly melodies work their magic underneath a slowly unfolding, harmonious vocal courtesy of Björn Störig. The upbeat "Delight" is melodious, yet driving -- an extroverted treat that is deeply infectious due to its vocal hooks and disco edge. The same can be said of the mellower "Leaving," the grand finale that releases us and our heroine back into the real world.
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