>> TRACKLIST

Straight Outta Finland EP
A. Carbon Based 'Ultimate Protection' [MP3]
B. Carbon Based 'Cyclone' [MP3]
C. Carbon Based 'Reactivated' [MP3]
D. Carbon Based 'Fatal Flashback' [MP3]

>> AVAILABILITY

► Vinyl: Out Of Print. This vinyl is no longer available.
► CD / Digital Download: Available on: EECD008 - Electronic - The Complete Works Volume 2.

>> REVIEWS

11.2004 >> Best Tune Of 2004 By DJ Proteus In DJ Magazine
Carbon Based 'Cyclone'!

02.2004 >> Review By Ponder In Upfront Magazine
"An interesting double-pack featuring the much talked about, rising stars of the Finnish hard dance scene. 4 tracks, all original in their own way, and all twisting and turning with swirling acid lines, epic breakdowns and interesting percussion. Think freeform with a side-helping of psy-trance, and you start to get the picture."

01.2004 >> Review By Pearsall
"After waiting for this for months and months with a feverish anticipation that slightly worries me, this four-track EP from the dark lords of Finnish hard dance has arrived. Lahti maestros Carbon Based have finally dropped this magnum opus of madness on Richard Andrews' (aka Shanty/The Mexican) Electronic label. Four slices of the most finely crafted, twisted synths and hammering kicks. It makes me swoon just thinking about it.

A. 'Ultimate Protection' [170bpm]. Ominous pads open, with the entirely appropriate vocal sample from Aliens "check it out, I am the ultimate badass, state of the badass army, me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you...you do not want to fuck with me" laying out the Carbon Based manifesto. Then the nasty offbeat bass starts pulsing, the crashing kick comes in, and away we go. Quickly their trademark twisted synths come twirling through the mix, spiralling out of control and dropping you into the breakdown, where the sample reappears and a new, even deadlier synth riff winds its way into your consciousness. Then the beat fires in again and, well... the effect is a bit like if you could channel lightning through a speaker cone. The coolest thing about their tracks is the way they are composed of so many different layers, like psy-trance but with all the acid-head noodling replaced by a no-nonsense punk attitude, where every sound exists only to push the experience further. Top stuff.

B. 'Cyclone' [180bpm]. The kick-drummed intro is quickly joined by a bouncy little riff before the wildly pulsing bass drops in. Soon, those trademark twisted synths push through, flitting like shadows all over the rock-solid rhythmic framework. Diving into the breakdown, from the depths of quiet comes a simple, fragile melody that builds and builds to an almost ludicrously majestic point. In common with all the best trance melodies there's a melancholic edge to it that stops it from being too saccharine, too gushy. A squirming acid line rises to meet it, then the melody disappears, the beat kicks in, and the tune fires away again with the classic, never-disappointing combination of manic acid and offbeat-basslined madness. Slowly, tentatively, the main melody swoops back in, fragile at first but then building and building to the point where it feels like your spine will rip out of your back from the sheer rush. The standout track for me and my favourite tune of the last year. Fucking brilliant. Of course, having described it in such terms there will undoubtedly be plenty of people going "I think it's crap!" Well, I don't care...you're wrong.

C. 'Reactivated' [170bpm]. The weakest track of the four. I still think it's pretty good, but it's not a patch on the others. Sharp percussion and a little plinky-plonky melody introduce this track, before a radioactive bassline drops. Some driving synth work leads into the break, where a sample from some old sci-fi movie introduces the main riff, a flashing power synth. The drop comes and, to be honest, I was a little disappointed. I have an old version of this tune that they had up for download on mp3.com two years ago and I thought it worked a bit better. The new bassline and the main riff don't seem to gel as well as in the old version. An ok track.

D. 'Fatal Flashback' [170bpm]. A deconstructed breakbeat and a rock-hard kick intro this one, kickly joined by a heavy, heavy on-beat bassline. Those synths start up again, flashing over the rhythm like an alien spaceship scouring the earth for survivors. The dark mood is emphasized by a shimmering little riff that floats over the top, like a cyborg plucking at a metallic harp. In the break the little riff disappears to be replaced by this cold rush of a riff, the sonic equivalent of splashing your face with ice water. A dark majesty of a track. The sort of thing that you hear at club volume and immediately find yourself compelled to indulge in all sorts of bizarre mutant aerobics.

Total mark: 9/10 (as I don't think Reactivated is that great)."

01.2004 >> Review By GRiT
"What a massive release this is going to be! Carbon Based, the Scandinavian sound of Hard Dance, has been brewing slowly. They've been working for many years on their sound and taken influences from Lab-4, Captain Tinrib, Epilim and Proteus to create their own brand of high energy mayhem! Recently the Finns have had a couple well received releases and with this EP they are sure to set the pace!

A. 'Ultimate Protection' has been a favourite of mine for a very long time - such a brilliant track! An extremely moody, dark, eerie synth leads you into a pounding of huge, pacey kicks drums and excellent percussion. A screaming, well filtered synth lead and phat acid line storms into a break of pure darkness. Expect to meet Satan!! During the break you mission through a well programmed, dark sweeping synth, a distorted 303 and a fitting vocal that builds up to a huge drop - it's here that the tearing synths & ear bleeding acid mould together in menacing riffs that hit harder than depleted uranium! An extremely intelligent and well produced tune!!

B. 'Cyclone' is a fitting tune for a space odyssey! Another amazing production in my book. Unlike 'Ultimate Protection' this is very uplifting and emotional. Big kicks, a massive bass line and a gritty synth races into a very floaty break met with beautiful pads and a huge trance riff creeping up at you. An acid line takes over and drives the tune on into a pounding of kicks and bass followed by that beautiful trance lead again. It dances along over a gritty synth before falling away to let the grittiness take the lead and tear along. Another awesome display of intelligent production!!

C. 'Reactivated' starts off with a solid kick, a fat bass line and good percussion rhythms with subtle stabs and a prancing little filtered synth. It all paces along nicely into the break and it's here where "You've been sentenced"! But fear not, an uplifting break builds up to inform you that "You've been reactivated". Pounding on, a powerful trance riff takes over and rides the tune hard. An underlying synth takes over for a while before the tunes crashes into another uplifting break different from the first.. and slams back into a carnage of hard trance! Finn style!

D. 'Fatal Flashback' is a bit of a trancier affair. It's again a fast tune that starts of with a solid kick and good groove. In comes an extremely well filtered synth riff that rips along beautifully and then brews on for a bit while a trancy riff takes over and flows into the break. The trancy bits takes you through some uplifting moments before it moves onto a screaming synth lead again. While it tears along, the track elements just fall back into the track in phrases and the tune keeps on building before exploding in a sonic boom! Again a well crafted production which results in a massive tune!

This is certainly one of the most anticipated releases at present and is definitely going to be "Release of the Year" for many people!"

>> SPECIFICATIONS

Packaged In Electronic 12" Disco Bag & 2 White Inner Paper Bags
315mm x 314mm x 5mm
360g

>> CREDITS

℗ 2004 Electronica Exposed. © 2004 Electronica Exposed. All rights of the producer and of the owner of the works reproduced reserved. Unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting of this record is prohibited. The copyright in this sound recording is owned by Electronica Exposed. Released and produced by Electronica Exposed.

Executive production by Richard Andrews. Mastered by Tim Dennen at Unity Mastering. Artwork by Toni Eronen. Sleeve artwork by Toni Eronen.

A. Written by Ari Virtanen and Toni Eronen. Produced by Ari Virtanen and Toni Eronen. Engineered by Ari Virtanen and Toni Eronen. Recorded at CB Studio, Finland. Published by Copyright Control.
B. Written by Toni Eronen and Teemu Lahtinen. Produced by Toni Eronen and Teemu Lahtinen. Engineered by Toni Eronen and Teemu Lahtinen. Recorded at CB Studio, Finland. Published by Copyright Control.
C. Written by Toni Eronen. Produced by Toni Eronen. Engineered by Toni Eronen. Recorded at CB Studio, Finland. Published by Copyright Control.
D. Written by Toni Eronen. Produced by Toni Eronen. Engineered by Toni Eronen. Recorded at CB Studio, Finland. Published by Copyright Control.