nice price deal !!! yore proudly adds detroits drivetrain to the stable. drivetrains the nom de plume for derrick thompson, a dj and producer who heads up soiree records international, a label with a strong soulful house focus, who has been around since detroits early days. with over 50 releases on his back, from beatdown sessions to numerous remixes & collaborations, you can tell that >drivetrain< has a soft spot in his heart for the rich production values of 70s philly soul associated with producers such as gamble & huff and thom bell. that kinship comes through loud and clear in the eps second cut, >the rain<, when thompson sweetens the tunes brisk rhythms with triangle, electric piano, alto sax, flute, acoustic bass and a gravelly >make love (in the rain)< command that sounds like its oozing from the lips of a tasty dj. >the rain< is trumped by the a-sides >angel (serenity mix)<, which opens with a sinuous house thrust and then heats up with a tight, jacking groove that thompson soulfully embellishes with synthesizer flourishes and a smooth vocal refrain of the songs title. the vibe is lush and soulful in the extreme, with the vocals alternating between a soft murmur and robust declamation while the percolating, dub-inflected house pulse pushes determinedly forward underneath. the ep ends with the title track, >tragedy park<, which is closer in spirit to a stomping techno raver thats had a smidgen of acid thrown in for extra flavour. definitely a floor shaking bomb
