Solar Stone / Skyscraper / V8 / Z2
Solar Stone are Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury, who also record under the guises of Skyscraper, V8 and Z2.
CD Single / 12": Solar Stone - Seven Cities
[HOOJ085F / HOOJ85CD / HOOJ85CDX]
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Released 10/99 on Hooj Choons (1x12" and 2xCD). Written and produced by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Licenced from Deepblue Recordings. The Solar Stone's Atlantis Mix is a superb uplifting trancer featuring samples from Adiemus. The Solaris Heights Mix is a laid back down tempo affair which losses the Adiemus chant in the process. Solar Stone's Coastal Mix is a gentle breakbeat trance affair, where as the V-One's 'Living Cities' Remix steps back on the throttle and beefs up the beats in the process, being the better of the upbeat mixes in my opinion. A little something for everybody and another winner for Hooj.
12" Promo: Solar Stone - Seven Cities
[LOST002 / LOST002R]
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Released 2000 on Lost Language as 2 x 12". Written and produced by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. I've only got the first part of this release featuring the Michael Woods and Trans Atlantis mixes (many thanks to Rolo Mawlabaux), although i've heard that the Katcha remix on the second vinyl is well worth finding. The Michael Woods mix sticks to the formula of the original Solar Stone's Atlantis Mix released in '99 on Hooj and doesn't really don't offer anything new. The Trans Atlantis Mix is also guilty of this too, although here a far more interesting percussive based beat is used which adds a bit of character to this remix. If anybody has a spare vinyl of the other vinyl to this release [LOST002R] featuring the Katcha remix then please get in contact with me.
12": Skyscraper - Jabberwock
[12DEEP0299]
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Released 8/99 on Deepblue Recordings. Written by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Produced by Mowatt and Bury with Pete Westwood. This is an awesome release and is fast becoming a favourite of mine. The Fairytale Mix is an impressive slice of uplifting pumping progressive house, featuring the cutest of guitar melodies in the intro and midtrack breakdown (although not in the same genre as the cheessier ATB steel guitars!). And the midtrack break is unusual in that features a longish sample of a female spoken vocal (Dame Judy Dench???) from what I assume is a television adaptation of Lewis Carol's 'Alice Through The Looking Glass' (is this Jackanory???), which may raise a few eyebrows on the dancefloor! This may sound just a little weird but it works a treat and adds to the atmosphere of the whole track. And then for later in the night the Comedown Version is glorious, soothing, euphoric and sublime slow mix emphasising on the guitar melody, that interestingly enough plays well at both 33 and 45rpm - perfect come-down music. The harder edged Nude Mix is probably the more accessible mix that will get the airplay, since it drops the spoken vocal in the midtrack breakdown and concentrates on driving home the anthemic melody.
12": Skyscraper - The Hymn
[12D004]
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Released 6/99 on Four D Recordings. Written by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Two strong cuts of a beautiful trancer. Not quite in the same league as 'Jabberwock', but even so, this won't fail to mesmerise.
12": V8 - Temptation
[12DEEP0399]
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Released 10/99 on Deepblue Recordings. Written by Neil O'Connell, Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Remix and additional production on track 2 by Dan Jarman. Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury are actually Skyscraper, and hence V8 is the name they record under with Neil O'Connell. This is a rather average trancer, which doesn't quite compare to Skyscraper's other releases. However, it's worthy of a spin and makes for a nice filler.
Z2 - I Want You
[PLAT67]
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Released 2/2000. Written and composed by Rich Mowatt & Andy Bury (Solar Stone). The Original Mix of 'I Want You' is minimalistic, whilst Lange cranks up the pace and adds a bit of drive to the track, although all in all both mixes lack depth or direction. On a more positive note, Z2 provided an awesome remix of 'Run' by Ecano on Avantgarde Records.
Other Info:
For further information on Solar Stone see the Hooj web site or the Deepblue Recordings web site.
