Solar Stone / Skyscraper / V8 / Z2
Solar Stone are Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury, who also record under the guises of Skyscraper, V8 and Z2.
12": Solar Stone - The Calling
[HOOJ50]
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Released 1996 on Hooj Choons. Written and produced by Rich Mowatt, Andy Bury and Sam Tierney. Two truly excellent remixes of 'The Calling' feature on this vinyl, both of which are produced by Solar Stone themselves. The Inner Peace Mix is a great breakbeat-trance laden warm-up track, whilst the Still Waters Mix is not quite as laid back as the title suggests, as this is the more upbeat and trance orientated of the two versions. In both versions the female vocals are subtle, dreamy and complement the uplifting melody, whilst the mid-track breakdown features the mysterious deep male spoken vocals. Tune!
CDS: Solar Stone - The Calling
[HOOJ50CD]|
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Released 1996 on Hooj Choons. Written and produced by Rich Mowatt, Andy Bury and Sam Tierney. See above for review.
12": Solar Stone - Seven Cities
[HOOJ085F]
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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 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.
CDS: Solar Stone - Seven Cities CD1
[HOOJ85CD]
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Released 10/99 on Hooj Choons. 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.
CDS: Solar Stone - Seven Cities CD2
[HOOJ85CDX]
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Released 10/99 on Hooj Choons. Written and produced by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Licenced from Deepblue Recordings. 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.
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 12" to this release [LOST002R] featuring the Katcha remix then please get in contact with me.
12"/CDS: Solar Stone - Seven Cities
[LOST018 / LOST018R / LOST018CD]
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Released 9/02 on Lost Language as 2 x 12" and CDS. Written and produced by Rich Mowatt and Andy Bury. Additional remix and production on track 1 [LOST018] by Armin Van Buuren, on track 2 [LOST018] by Michael Woods and on track 2 [LOST018R] by L-Vee. Yet another summer anthem gets a face-lift for 2002, this time courtesy of Armin Van Buuren and Solar Stone themselves (all of the other mixes on this release featured previously on the original Lost Language and Hooj releases). Note that the Armin Van Buuren Remix on the CD single release has been edited for some bulls**t reason imposed by the CIN (Chart Independent Network), but the full version can be found on the vinyl. So, is it any cop? Well, Armin van Buuren has produced a very smooth rendition that's faithful to the original 1999 version, but its the quality of the production that saves this from being labeled as just "another remix" - this is probably the best version I've heard yet whilst not being a million miles away from the original. As for the Solar Stone's Liquid Summer Mix - well, this is just "another mix" that pales against the other remixes. Definitely worth picking up for the Armin van Buuren remix or if you missed this classic the first and second time around.
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:
See also Scott Bond vs Solar Stone.
For further information on Solar Stone productions see their official web site or the Hooj web site or the Deepblue Recordings web site.
