Dark Drums, Vol. 2

Steve Lawler

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 24, 2001)
• Original Release Date: July 24, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bliss Productions
• ASIN: B00005LVXJ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #140,509 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As if from the heart of Africa!!!, September 4, 2001

By	"philippio" (Middletown, Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews

"When we last left our intrepid explorers, they were in search of their lost associate, in the wildest depths of the Congo." Although this is the catchy story on track 2 cd 2 of Tenaglia's Athens GU, it may just be the perfect way to describe the theme of Dark Drums Vol. 2. Lawler doesn't waste any time with poshy mellow intros or cheesy happy melodies. A solid Aaron Carl opens this set with his pulsating Dance Naked (almost a tradition now as this track was also the firestarter of Lawler's first Dark Drums excursion, albeit in different guise). Moving closer to the tribal village, The Chief Warning is a bass gobbling, evil track which reverberates the sound of a male voice and sinister laughs. Then Lawler rolls into Borgo Manero's Darwin's Theory with it's electro-funk catchy vocal echoing over a light drum tap. An effortless swing into more "progressive" territory results in Jair's Shake, an ethereal journey through a repetitive synth coupled with a strange sound mimicking an owl. Thunderclaps dominate the bouncy Shaka and in the background can be heard a xylophone over which plumps a deep, sexy female voice that seems to whisper over a rhythmic percussive suite sprinkled with the occasional trumpet. Java & Jan give the mix a diva-ish motif which sounds more like a circus announcer or parade leader speaking through a megaphone. Together with Menace's Sound of the Floor, Lawler mixes in the acapella of Praying which is intertwined with a rhythmic clap. Marcel's Praying is one of my favourite tracks only because of the one line "I'm praying for the freaks, in the big dark rooms!" Two producers that have been making their way onto notable underground mixes are Jaimy and Kenny D which on this mix, have provided the background percussion to the Praying acapella. Going a bit more retro with his next selection, Lawler spins up a catchy diva-decked When I Fall in Love featuring Miss Felicia Washington. Robert Owens' I'll be Your Friend is a mindbending, low frequency voice which runs almost the entire length of the track (this is the Moonraker acapella) which is a dark and minimalistic drum painting the mix with another coat of throbbing, raw energy. Lawler ends the mix with a groove laden, funky trumpet number which is the continuation of I'll be Your Friend with a very encouraging vocal crescendo.
If you like deep, sexy, raw tribal house, then this is definitely a jewel to add to your collection. You will not hear any of these tracks on any cheesy top 40 bollocks station. Lawler's eclectic mix of deep vocals and throbbing percussive beats will definitely help you tackle your way through any jungle!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars dark, tribal house mixed by the king, July 29, 2001

By	Plenko "jaredc1200" (Hockessin, Delaware United States) - See all my reviews

Along w/ Sander Kleinenberg, Lawler holds the first spot as my favorite DJ. This mix does NOT disappoint. It's every bit as good as the first Dark Drums release, if not better. Dark, heavily-percussive tribal house with evil-sounding vocal samples and nice accapellas weaved through some of the tracks. THe only thing is that the tracklisting is incorrect. I suspect one of the accapellas was listed as a separate track, when it shouldn't have been. For instance, track #6 Shaka is in reality track #5 on the CD, and track #9 is played at track #8.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars dark, sexy, and tribal!!!, February 8, 2004

By	"juddjs" (Vt) - See all my reviews

Dark and tribal trance/techno like only Steve Lawler can deliver!! A solid cd with great bass and driving beats that keep you interested. Often you see artists have a few good songs but can't be consistent, not Lawler. He consistently brings only the best. Deep dark flow without flaw. Also other great Lawler cds "Nubreed" and lights out vol.1. If you like tribal sound and "DARK" beats grab this cd!!!