Spirit Catcher ‘High Control/Core Memory/Total Confusion'
Released: 25/06/08
Flaunting the distinctive Spirit Catcher sound that glides like water through a stream the disco-infused melodies of this new Systematic EP open the gates to more followers of their sound.
Opening the EP is High Control with a infectious bassline that shoots energy through the veins. Core Memory is all dreamy synths and hands in the air breakdowns. Groovy and seducing this is the perfect Summertime anthem made for sunny days and late nights. To close Total Confusion blends a simmering mix of tantalising sounds drawing us into bewilderment and awe of the sounds of Spirit Catcher.
History has spawned hundreds of genius double acts where two minds and talents collide to form something innovative and artistically challenging. Spirit Catcher are one of the few duos hailing from Belgium and quite simply a pair of European weirdos. Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet are amongst the best producers in dance music right now, their excellent debut artist album Night Vision released last year is a testament to this. This is their debut release for Systematic, Marc Romboy's seminal imprint, a magical slab of peak-time house and techno flavour.
Both have a diversity of experience and a wide variety of influences citing Kings of Jazz, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones through to classic 80s boogie sounds of Prince and Chic/Nile Rogers and Detroit techno pioneers such as Juan Atkins and Derrick May as major forces in their own productions. Jean's father is a sound engineer so he grew up in and around studios, constantly meeting musicians and singers. At the age of 12 he had his first drum lesson and began experimenting with analog synths releasing his first record at the tender age of 17. Thomas on the other hand worked his way through the musical ranks playing in various Belgium funk bands, gigging all over the country.
In their seven years together they've sprinkled their deep future disco sounds onto an impressive list of labels such as Freerange, Moodmusic, 2020Vision and NRK and remixed a list of artists as long as your arm. As well as a prolific output, Jean and Thomas also have a fierce live show that has taken them across the Globe soaking up new influences along the way. Now Spirit Catcher have become one of the most in-demand house acts, to those who know them, Tom and Jean are simply a pair of misfits looking for life and love between the keyboard keys and the automated faders.
Reaction Sheet:
Round 1 - Press
UK
Press
Confirmed:
Clash - Review July issue
Traffic Mag - Review June issue
IDJ - Review Summer issue
Radio:
Happened:
Ministry Radio - Play Core Memory - 03/06/08
Push FM - Play Total Confusion 07/06/08
Confirmed:
Push FM - Interview and mix mid June
Reactions/reviews:
BBC Asian Network: Loving SHLOMI ABER !
BBC Radio 1: love core memory! sexy house
BRMC Birmingham: Total Confusion is the track for me on this ep, a real groover, my floors WIll warm to this ( they will have no choice!) 8/10
Colours FM: Total Confusion - This is my favourite track, I've got it playing now. It has a deep sound for me.
IDJ
"Belgium's finest's latest three track EP is more nice techy, musical gear for your ears. First up is ‘High Control' that is trademark Spirit Catcher and loaded with punchy rhythms, an infectious bassline and future disco loops. ‘Core Memory' is a dreamy slice of acid-tinged electronica while ‘Total Confusion' is a brilliant builder, filled with more frenetic acid sounds this time, yet still retaining that fuzzy Spirit Catcher sounds.****"
Ministry: excellent ep. i like this new style they've been doing - i played their recent nrk and 2020 vision releases loads and i have a feeling i will be this one too. all three tracks are good, but 'core memory' is the highlight for me. great stuff.
Push FM: Liking Total Confusion. 10/10
XFM Scotland: Really like the Systematic stuff, especially Core Memory and High Control. Cracking couple of tracks.
France
Press:
Confirmed:
Trax - Review
Radio:
Happened:
Be Radio - High Control no 47 in playlists 30/05/08
Reactions:
Radio Toulouse: fave track: High Control
Radio Star Marseilles: Nice tracks from Spirit catcher ^^ i'll diffuse the core memory track on my radio Electromix, the thursday 12 june 2008 between 22h-23h on our station Triangle fm ^^
Germany
Confirmed:
Raveline - review July issue
Electronic Beats - Review
http://electronicbeats.net/music/cd_reviews/spirit_catcher_high_control_ep_systamatic
Spain
Radio
Reactions:
Ibiza Sonica: We are very fans of Spirit Catcher here. We will give full support in Ibiza Sonica. Love "high control".
Miradio: Marc have a fine taste for to choose his label´s releases..the three
are big.. my predilection core memory and total confusion...9/10 sure player
Belgium
Reactions:
Outsoon: I like. Efficient (dance floor) and positive, with somthg funky and trancey. "High Control" !!! So good. It's generous, funny, trancey, that makes me smile
Stubru: Good release! Spirit Catcher is producing more club sounds then they used too... Maybe that's why they went to Systematic... Good move from the guys. These are 3 solid tracks which will work on the dancefloor, but are not bombs. High Control is the best track for me, because it has a real threatening sound, like a big explosion is coming... but the track keeps on teasing... Like it!
Rotationz: This duo is from Belgium, so I should know them very well, but I don't... Shame on me, maybe, but on the other hand in Belgium itself they are not that big. Off course I see them appear sometimes on line-ups here, but I never heard them play live myself.
‘Core Memory' is indeed dreamy but definitely not hands in the air, on the contrary... But well suited for on the beach or in the sun! ‘High Control' begins very well, you expect something great to happen, but it never happens, nice electro house, best track of the package but missed opportunity... ‘Total Confusion' has a nice build up, should have been kept more mnml like it is in the beginning and the end of the track...
Radio Vibrations: Freaking good job from Jean and Thomas! Total Confusion is just transforming the dancefloor into a puppet field... these neverending loop and groove are taking us so high that sky is no longer a limit!! I should see Jean this friday and let him how good it is. 3 tracks perfectly designed between deepness and groove.
Radio FG: Fantastic new release. Love it!
Italy
Radio:
Happened:
Radio Centro Sueno - Play Total Confusion 05/06/08 - 12/06/08
Radio Citta Aperta - TUNE OF THE WEEK 13/06/08
http://www.the-zone.it/newsletter/newsletter_13-06-08.html
Reactions:
Radio Centro SUeno: i like spirit catcher , is going to be in the nezt playlist with high control (the one i prefer, a lot more than core memory and total confusion)
Netherlands
Radio:
Happened:
Unity FM - Play Total Confusion 31/05/08 - 07/06/08
Reactions:
Unity FM: It's basic, but very good! diffecult to make these kind of tracks and simple to make difficult ones. I aired Spirit Catcher
Turkey
Radio:
Reactions:
Dinamo FM: Spirit Catcher's spaced-out atmospheric sounds on 'Core Memory' ooze quality and getting radio plays at the moment. Total Confusion's provoking sound and High Control's deep electroey vibes are equally good. Will support in my club and radio sets..
Greece
Radio:
Reactions:
Dance Radio: i liked "total confusion" from the spirit catcher ep!
Australia
Radio:
Happened:
Triple J - Play Total Confusion and Core Memory 07/06/08
http://abc.net.au/triplej/club/playlists/
Reactions:
George FM: holy crap High Control is fully rockin my wee world this morning.
Total Confusion very tasty too!
Triple J: Am loving the Spiritcatcher EP - beautiful stuff. Will be using all tracks on the radio show over next coming weeks.
USA
Press:
Confirmed:
Time Out New York - Review mid June
Reactions:
Time Out New York: I've been digging everything these guys do since I heard the Voo Doo Knight 12 on Moodmusic back in '04, and this release definitely continues that love affair. Three tracks of punchy, chunky electronic house, not much in the way of trendiness or frills but deadly effective nonetheless. High Control is probably my favorite, but really I'll be playing all three tracks on this release.
WEB
Happened:
Culturanoctura - Review
http://www.culturanocturna.com/discos/
Confirmed:
365 mag - Review
Reactions:
Last FM: Fantastic.... the last two releases from systematic show a return to
form from the label.
Play.fm: this ep is a high quality production, all three track sounds fantastic, especially "high control" is a dancefloor anthem for this summer- great! spirit catcher at its best.
