Smight Fade Release Press

[PointBender]

Our boy is taking over the world. His newest release on Fade has been long awaited and greatly received by djs all over the US and Europe. as well as many other places. Smight seems to be a endless source of awe inspiring inspiration. I have never seen in my carreer seen an individual with such an unending drive and commitment to music. The ideas come like nightfall to this man and with each step he is reinventing both himself and those around him. Witness the next step in his journey with his Fade release comming soon to a record store near you.

Smight - Your Happy Place/Rebuilding Twelve
Fade Recordings FD031

Press

Smight is a father of two, a husband to a wonderful wife in Houston, and a DJ for the past seven years. Smight is an entertainer that truly cares about what he is doing and how he does it. Smight is Herbert Berkley, and if he continues to put tracks out with the emotion and spatial ambience that this release(Your Happy Place/Rebuilding Twelve) on Fade Records captures well, then Smight will be a force to be reckoned with.

As a DJ, Smight's sets are described as those that "create ambience as well as a vibe that dictated serious, wicked and evil dancing". With "Rebuilding Twelve", Smight uses strong techy beats and layers them over a lush ambient backdrop. Somber chords and a trickling melody float throughout the track and are intermingled with spoken vocal snippets leaving this track with a spooky, mellow nature. "Rebuilding Twelve" is my choice cut from this wonderful Fade release.

"Your Happy Place" is not the happy place you might be expecting from the title. It's like calling a tall man "Tiny". The bass line comes in tough with a hint of bounce to it's step. Dissonant chords sprinkle the air while the overlying tone of depth and murk radiate upon the surface. This track is scary, chilling and unnerving.

Smight has material coming out on Paolo Mojo's label Music is Freedom in the UK, and an exciting new label in the US called Hamachi. His focus in the future is his collaboration with Eric Reeves as Magic Shoe. "I will continue my singular releases, but Magic Shoe will be the primary thrust of furthering artistic efforts.

9/10

Chad Hamish. Progressive Sounds. 19/12/02


Dave's tune of the month

Currently responsible for some of the best techy-edged progressive currently coming out of the USA, Smight is one name you'll be hearing a lot more of in 2003. This is his first commercial release and what better a label to release it on than the excellent Fade Records.

"Your Happy Place is built around a driving bassline which builds and builds, using some highly original twisted percussion and crazy samples. "Rebuilding Twelve" takes a similar if slightly more laid back approach, bridging the gap between tech-house and quality progressive and again featuring a strong bassline and dark melodies. Top quality stuff again from one of my favourite US labels, and a brilliant start to the year for the excellent Smight.

Dave Begg. M8. 7/1/02


DJ's

Andrew Byrne (Hellpass) - Herb is a great guy - I've signed a couple of his tracks to Hellpass actually. These two ooze his high quality. He's a sort of cross between Swag and James Holden. The Fade Machine marches on! 9/10 No. 3

Jez Porat - No. 13

Chris Stereo (Gravitation Records) - A little dry sounding - needs something to give the tracks identity... 6/10

Brian Cody - Fade Records has always had the nack of putting out some complete stormers while at the same time releasing adventurous material that push the boundaries of the progressive genre and brings something fresh to the scene. Smight's two offerings don't disappoint with "Your Happy Place" just ripe for 3am in a smoke filled club and "Rebuilding Twelve" mysteriously sliding along to hypnotise us. Quality and Quantity in just the right measures and an insight into whats to come from this obviously talented new face. 7/10 No.7

Nico De Cegua (Discoid) - Thanks for this. I particularly like the atmosphere of the B-side. 6.5/10

Anton Fielding (Echomen) - Rebuilding twelve working best for me. Cool, dark moody builder. 7/10 No. 14

Steve Parry (Blue Yonder) - Both tracks are pretty decent.

Pete Bromley (Golden) - OK but not for me. 6/10

Paul Hillyer (Cream) - Rebuilding has been doing well for me at my gigs. Nice tune. 7/10 Top ten

Cass (Sabotage) - Well produced progressive house. This guy is definitely one to watch for 2003. Both sides are solid, just not for me.

Paul Hughes - Well atmospheric in It's your Happy Place track. My favourite though the other side Rebuilding Twelve. 8/10 Top 20

Lewis Dene (Update) - Sparce stripped out house - mixing tool only. B-side the best. 6/10

Moshic (Groovetech) - The guy need to do some scary movie soundtracks ..! hehe..I put my eye on this guy for long time already. he has his own unique style and sickness!! hehe. I wish all my deep box was full of his stuff!!! Well done..pure(!) underground. 9/10 for both sides!

Colin Tevendale (Beat 106) - Rebuilding Twelve OK, fairly deep all round, Prefer a bit more pumping sound. 7/10

Andy Price (Key 103) - Nice stuff. In the box! 7/10

Scott Mackay (Beat 106) - Growing on me. 5/10

Kevin McFarlane - Both tracks nice, but A shades it. Good House Music. 7/10

Ivor Picardo (Intra Records) - Your Happy Place is a good 5am groove. Heads down stuff. Minimal and effective.

Biz (Distraekt Records) - Not feeling this one. Sorry guys.

Paul Mendez (Beat 106) - Excellent track which I have played in both Las Vegas and Tokyo over the past couple of weeks to very good reactions. 8/10

Pete Snodden (Cool FM) - Your Happy Place is the tune on here for me - nice stabs, top production and a sound bassline. A great breakdown nice vocal, love the fx on the scratching sample used throughout. Definitely one for the darker floors. 8/10

Gordon Kaye - Someone's got a sense of humour here. Your Happy Face sounds positively dark and eerie - haunting in fact! But me likes it anyway. It drops well early to mid set. 8/10 No. 14

Dave Begg - No. 1

Coolcuts Shops

Owen (Plastic Surgery) - Your Happy Place was the one for me- big fan of Fade label and this just confirms it for me. Should sell quite well. 8.5/10

Jay (Massive) - Yeah. Quite cool. Both tracks sounding similar to Martin Acorsi productions. Not bad. 7/10

Radio


Matt & Jon - Ministry Of Sound Radio - Monday 16th December



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