Customer Reviews

Lights Out

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is one of those records that comes along and, love it or hate it, you can't ignore it. "Lights out" is sort of the Lotus `Gullwing' sportscar of DJ mixes this year; it cant be ignored but produces strong opinions both ways.

Lawler is a well known and highly regarded producer, and certainly Lawler's mix and sound is unique, his track selections compelling, yet quirky, and based on other reviews, many of us don't get it. But this is certainly the most unusual selection to come out this year and it belongs in your collection if you have a little time to focus and appreciate the deeper things; here is why.

First of all, what it is? As the elaborate packaging and word copy makes clear, this are the cuts that Lawler plays when he `turns out the lights', meaning presumably, when things get very intense, dark and sexy. So its a very personal mix, not a pick of the hot club favs, and Lawler reaches deep into his collection, this tracks are often obscure. Its progressive house, perhaps, but very tribal too, meaning its deep, somewhat dark, stripped down, intense and sexy--with dashes of trash/glam techno pop.

In case you haven't hear, Lawler is all about drums and percussion (see his "Dark Drums" series), and Lawler has a unique sound that is focused on plenty of mid high range sound in the mix, that emphasis the whoosh, grind, and tick of the percussive elements, and a deep boom that creates a sharp in your face sound that hooks you in. There is not alot of keyboard or fill in or sound effects, although there is a judicious use of vocals to leaven the mix a bit.

At first blush it may seem bland or thin, particularly if you are "waiting" for a keyboard break or some melodic element--or worse, some peak anthemic moment--it won't come. But if you give into the tick, whump and pulse of Lawler's drum groove you won't regret it. Another mistake is to play this too low, its requires volume to appreciate the unique sound of Lawler, it demands your attention and won't work in the background (its the Lotus sportscar, after all.....).

But this is no dilettante art mix, this is about sex and fun, and he throws in the infamous "Orgasm" record which has so many moans and groans it will embarrass you at a stop light if you are not careful. There is also on CD 2 the cross over 80 synth pop sound of "Phostograph" complete with new way sounding German female vocals, this is followed by two more techno pop type tracks that Lawler has mixed it to fit somewhat. This section of CD that surprises you with essentially a bit of trashy, attudinal gay club music, is likely to lose about 40% of listeners who will immediately say "what the [heck] is this?" and hit the skip button. Luckily three pulsing tribal tracks follow that redeems the middle section.

Its a bold move, reflecting Lawler's personal taste and integrity and not what a broad band of listeners expect. I'm not sure it works, I struggle with "Phostograph" and what follows even now, but still, this is perhaps the flaw that you find even in the largest and most valuable diamonds. Buy it and get into it, people.

Steve Lawler is the only DJ to consistently put amaizing tracks and incredible mixes out. This is no exception. The first disk prepares you slowly for disk 2 (my favorite of the two). Disk 1 picks it up at the paranoid jack track and continues to hold your attention to the end. Disk 2, nothing else to say but incredible, innovative, funky, tribal house, all capped off by a wonderful finish to this set (canteen). This is by far one of the best mixes this year put out by the most interesting house DJ in the buisness. This is a must buy for any Steve Lawler fan or anyone else who is tired of disco-esque house and is looking for something new, seemingly drug induced, but absolutely and perfectly different.

Yeah, they're beginning to run out of ideas, aren't they? With the overdose of dance music mix compilations being force-fed to listeners today, the Boxed Boys have been forced to come up with some new stuff just to break the monotony of their GU production line. And so, we have LO01 - an album that by its name promises to be the first of many in a Lights Out series.

The good news is that they picked the right DJ to pilot the course of a new series. Steve Lawler has been called the Brit Danny T because of his penchant for low-bpm dark and tribal house, but comparisons are unfair. With his Dark Drums outings and the Nubreed one-off, Lawler has proved quite amply that he is a DJ in his own right, thank you very much. This is the sound that Lawler plays in Lights Out 01; the sound that Boxed looks set to promote for a little while at least with this series.

To stay as faithful as possible to the theme of the album, Lawler has pulled off quite a few tricks that you don't see very often. Both discs start with his custom-crafted intros which drip with slowly rising menace, and move into territory which Lawler aptly calls "the sleazier side of clubbing". Disc 01 is a little milder - a little bit like the set-up punch of a one-two combination. Controlled, but carries its own sizeable bite. Heavy, booming drums characteristic of tribal house resound throughout, while crackling synths and other-worldly vocals flirt around the edges of the bassline. The tempo is slow and deliberate, calculated to produce the brooding, ominous sound that tribal house fans crave. Disc 02 kicks into a more intense groove, with the sound going a little more hardcore. Fantastic mixing is highlighted here in tracks 6, 7, 8 & 9, where Lawler drags back the charging house beat into a fractured, electro-poppy vocal track, and then swings the pulse all the way back up to 100%. Brilliant stuff - you can see how a club filled with hot, sweaty bodies gyrating in the dark would react to something like that.

So - what's the verdict? This is good, solid tribal tech-house in 2 CDs. Not a classic, but very, very good in the here and now. The only issue that I can think of is that tribal house is a pretty limiting genre of music - unless you're a fan of this kind of sound, you'll have a hard time listening through to this album, coz there isn't too much diversity. It does what it is meant to do, and nothing more. The fact that it does so exceptionally well makes it a keeper.

Disc 01 - 3.5 stars (Good tribal house, sticks to the formula)
Disc 02 - 4.5 stars (Dark & twisted, lives up to the hype)
Niche target audience - Reduces rating
Superlative representation of the tribal sound - Boosts rating

Overall - 4 stars. Nice one, Mr. Lawler.

This is not a CD for beginners... Steve Lawler is not a DJ for novices of the underground party scene. He does however cater to the sophisticated clubber, to the listener that has lived through several successful early morning party experiences, to those of us out there that "get it".

Lawler takes rythms that originated in the jungles of africa thousands of years ago and that have survived history due to their transcendent nature. These tribal rythms surfaced first in the New York underground, then spread subterraneally accross the continents. Lawler uses these dark drums as a foundation and spices them up with vocals, with samples and with drama that effectively guide many of his fans into a state of mild, controllable, hypnosis.

This is arguably Lawler's best work to date. For those who have not yet been fortunate enough to witness him work live, Lawler's able to generate electricity and energy that works its way through a club and connects the people on the floor. For a moment, everyone's on the same page, everyone's living the same experience, everyone's one... and Lawler's the puppet-master.

Having experienced him two years ago in Manila, Philippines, and a few weeks ago at Space, Ibiza, I have witnessed the ability of Lawler to bring thousands to a new state of conciousness in unison... and believe me, everyone under his momentary spell is grateful for it.

This CD set, listened to in the right context, can do just that whether it is played in a house party or on one's headphones in a crowded plane.

I wouldn't recommend this CD set to everyone... many may just not get it. But for those that know what they like, for those who understand the tribal / progressive house movement that has swept through this ever-getting-smaller world, this CD is a must in your precious collection.

Steve Lawler is the king of tribal house (at least in my opinion) this C.D. will give you what you need to throw a slamin foam party or any kind for that matter. Deep bass lines and wicked drums, this is a safe bet if you like slammin tribal house music, try "home" steve lawler or even better global underground "nubreed" .

Steve Lawler delivers the definitive 2 cd set for hard tribal house....its dark, moody and makes you dance, wiggle and oh yes, smile ! This is an amazing compilation that starts hot, stays hot and never lets up ! The song selection is mesmirizing, hypnotic and very, very danceable ! Lawler's mixing in "Light's Out" is airtight and amazingly doesn't lose intensity from disk 1 to disk 2....they are both stellar ! For the groovy luscious folks who have seen the powerful sets of Lawler at Clubspace in Miami....you know how wonderful he is live. This set captures that intensity and packages it in a travel size so you can take it with you everywhere ! For tribal house fans this is a must; for those wanting to take their first steps in tribal...give this one a spin...you won't be disappointed.....definitely a 2-cd set that never get's old or dated like so much of the other albums out there ! A solid five lollie rating ! Groove on Steve !

You can't go wrong with this one. One of the best progressive mixes I've ever heard period. This two disc set is almost orgasmic.

With so many superstar DJs inking their own deals for commercial releases, the Global Underground gurus were wise to nab a man still ascending the popularity ranks to his own series. Lawler's past mixes were dance floor atmosphere pressed onto plastic. Here, despite the PR nonsense of this, the "seedy, sleazier side of clubbing at it's dark and dirty best," he drops sexy tribal music the first hour, from the slow click-conga beat of Shmuel & Baranes "Spanish Tale" (a highlight from the get-go with Latin women and fluttering horns) to Ultrafine's clap along percussion "Kassso," almost exclusively drums and bass, that commands more volume. We're talking party pleasers, folks, each with a hook and tough edge, none of that dour plodding stuff allowed. And when the piano pops in on The Scumfrog's "Watersong" you know he knows how to push your buttons.

But ah, on disc two the real surprise awaits as the glimmer of electroclash appears to have caught his eye. The metallic beats and techno edge (Crossover "Phostopgrapht," Soul of Man "Get it Girl") offer a fresh hybrid with progressive elements; it's a daring chance that pays off. Obvious winners include Rhythm Gangsta's "The Crowd Song;" "All I can remember is a song that goes like this," the girl intones, and she's right - no way you're forgetting the grinding bassline of such a massively massive tune. Ending on a rock remix "Everyone Else" by Maurice & Noble also comes up trumps.

Lights Out also exemplifies what a DJ looking beyond two turntables and a mixer can accomplish, as re-edits and track splices blur together, acapellas drop in, and spotless transitions weave it all together. Too bad listeners can't edit out the beyond-naff Thick D**k "Orga*m" track, but ah well. Still, an impressive effort from a man taking some risks to broaden his sound.

I've been to many clubs where a "other" room exists and always have enjoyed the style and comfort of these truly underground scenes. I have experienced truly unique and gifted DJs in these rooms and have always wished to capture the "essence" of these DJs in this style of enviroment. Finally I can with this CD.
Steve Lawler completely takes you on a journey (and it truly is a journey) through some of the elements of what makes the underground truly underground. The sexy, sinister and sweet synths combined with bass and vocals that make people do the voodoo they do oh so well. I highly recommend this album to those who wish to throw a wild house party or those few wishing to get together and enjoy the mysteries of lust and languish in the night.
Steve Lawler has finally brought home what many of us for many years could only enjoy on the backside of a night out in Miami, NYC or LA at a club where the wait was worth it. Take the journey, you won't regret it.

I've never truly understood what influences Global Underground to produce a subseries featuring a single DJ. Prototype featuring Seb Fontaine has always baffled me in this regard. Four terrible albums.

It probably has to do with peaking popularity, as 2002 was definitely Steve Lawler's breakout year. Lawler (like Danny Howells) is a clubbers's dream DJ. His sets always ooze sex and sensuality, fueled by the hot sweating bodies that sway back and forth in direct vision of his DJ booth. Lights Out is another fine example that Lawler's primary focus is making people on the dancefloor move and groove.

Disc 1 is a fraction lighter and leans more towards progressive house versus tribal house. A great set overall that includes my personal favorite track on the entire album, "Dirty Fingernails". Unfortunately, Lawler has to include (yet again) Thick Dick's "Orgasm". As I commented on his Nubreed album, good tribal and progressive house music (or any other electronica genre for that matter) is ample sexy without the inclusion of garbage tracks like "Orgasm".

Disc 2 is vocal heavy and dabbles more in the [dark] tribal house subgenres. If you are like a lot of tribal and progressive house fans (including myself) and don't like sets full of vocal tracks, don't be put off this album without listening to it first. Lights Out features vocal tracks that don't impinge on the set's groove like those on Lawler's Dark Drums 2 or Lights Out 3.

Disc 1 gets 4/5 stars, and disc 2, 4.5/5 stars.