Buzzin Electronic Music

DJ Hal

It is two years since lunar warrior DJ Hal released his last single, a long wait for sure but well worth the wait as he returns with a brand new EP of minimal electronic beats and progressive tech sounds.

Desire is the title of the DJs latest offering and features the original version of the track alongside two remixes, one from Alan Barratt and the other from Dudley Strangeways, the EP closes with Hal’s progressive-tech tune Pavlov’s Dog.

The title track, ‘Desire’, features a hypnotic one word vocal from Katy Heath (of Bent fame), that sits snugly over HAL’s intricate programming and deep percussive tech groove. HAL describes the track as an “empathy indulgence that teaches you in just one word what desire is all about”… and you can’t help but be moved by the emotion in the music, whether at home or on the dance floor.

Of the two remixes, it is newcomer Dudley Strangeways version that stands out for me, introducing his beefy percussion and bass-driven magic to great effect, creating an eerily beautiful interpretation, bristling with energy and dance floor attitude.

The closing track on the EP is another brand new composition from DJ Hal, Pavlov’s Dog. A driving progressive-tech track that has Hal saying; ….”the pulsating nature of Pavlov’s Dog sets off an automatic response in the human mind, that opens up your aural awareness paths and makes you dance.”

While the closing track  stutters to start, Pavlov’s Dog does eventually kick off into something of a foot tapper, but it also drifts in and out of aural focus and for me never really reaches Hal’s expectation.

None the less another sterling effort from DJ Hal with the title track and Dudley Strangeways remix version worthy of a listen or adding to your collection.

DJ HAL – DESIRE EP – Okyo
1. Desire (Original Remix)
2. Desire (Alan Barratt Minimal Remix)
3. Desire (Dudley Strangeways Remix)
4. Pavlov’s Dog
(Okyo, Denmark) OKYO 010
Release: 21st June 2010