Beat Generator

1 (Adrenalin)
by Joshua Brown

The word “generator” coupled with “hardware” adds up to powered machinery, and that’s exactly what DJ Hardware’s mix is all about. The machinery squeaks and skroinks; the engine at times letting out a mechanical yell, warning you that it’s about to overheat, but the heartbeat of the machinery never slows down. So now Beat Generator has been defined, but the question remains; Is it consistently entertaining and engaging from start to finish? (Please keep in mind the difference between dancing to one of DJ Hardware’s sets and listening to the CD at home, and that the latter experience is being discussed.) The first three tracks, made respectively by Baktun 13, Mark Shultz, and Brooks, had me grooving along to a point. But I felt dissatisfied with the monotony setting in, which made me implore DJ Hardware to please “take me higher!”

My prayer was answered by DJ Lace, whose track “Take Me Higher” did just that. Any club DJ would be wise to own it. After this, the CD experiences a couple of peaks and a couple valleys during Love Science and Scotti Deep, before we reach the next outstanding track, “Together” by Two Obsessed. (And just who are those two obsessed with? 2 Unlimited, maybe?) D&T‘s “Up and Down” does have its ups and downs and then we move in on Top Kat‘s territory, where there are no downs and only increasing degrees of up. The name of the track is “Feel Cool,” but what it really feels like is an orgasm in slow motion and fast forward at the same time. Finally, it seems that no trance-oriented compilation is completely compiled without a remix by Rabbit In the Moon present. DJ Hardware must have realized this at the last minute and snuck in RItM’s remix of Night Tripper’s “Tone Exploitation.” So, while Beat Generator may get lost in the current swarm of CDs showcasing DJs, it still deserves a positive review.