Stavros | www.bejbi.se – A webzine about electronic music

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JppO4utPAyE&w=680&h=510]

This is the 30th article in the series, so how do you celebrate that? I did by taking some time off writing.
This week’s featured track is Filo & Peri featuring Fisher – Ordinary Moment (Main Mix). (Buy on Itunes)

Lyrics:

All I want
Is an ordinary moment here with you
No distractions

Tell the world
That you’re busy doing nothing
Cancel everything
Let it go

Meet me in the kitchen at the table
I just want to be alone with you
Stare into the eyes I’ve been missing
Don’t say anything
You don’t need to

All I want
Is an ordinary moment here with you
No distractions

Tell the world
That you’re busy doing nothing
Cancel everything
Let it go

Meet me in the kitchen at the table
I just want to be alone with you

Stare into the eyes I’ve been missing
Don’t say anything
You don’t need to

Do you know?

We’ve been working so much
We’re forgetting to touch
What have we become?

Do you know that it’s a crime
To never find the time to love

We’ve been working so much
We’re forgetting to touch
What have we become?

Do you know that it’s a crime
To never find the time to… to… lo-lo-love

Goosebump points:
01:27 when the driving bass kicks in.
01:56 when the main vocals kicks in
05:02 when the piano starts in the breakdown
05:18 when the chorus starts
05:44 when the guitar kicks in
06:00 when the main melody kick in again

American born Domenick Filopei and Bo Pericic started making music back in 2003. Back then, there wasn’t many americans who you thought about when you talked about EDM/Dancemusic as the whole dancemusic-scene, especially trancemusic were mostly europeans. The only big names back then from America was BT, Gabriel & Dresden and Markus Schulz but since their success, many new names has risen to superstar-level.

But let’s get back to Filo & Peri.

The combination of Filo’s rock-influences with Peri’s dance-oriented influecens was early a proclaimed as a match made in heaven. Their first release, Elevation/Juicy got signed to Armin Van Buuren’s label, A State Of Trance which in itself is a sign of quality.

Their second release, I:95/Spectrum was even better, especially the driving bassline and the soothing piano in I:95 after the breakdown. I:95 was one of Paul Van Dyk’s hidden gems that he used to play back in the days.

Their first vocal track, the stompin’ trancer Dance With A Devil (with singer Tiff Lacey) was another commercial hit and came with a huge remix-package from DJ Shog, Serge Devant and Flipside.

The 2005 collaboration with Mike Foyle ended up in Luana, an energetic trance with a beautiful breakdown. Just love the use of the piano in all kinds of music, especially when it’s played by Mike Foyle.

Their second vocal track, Closer Now (with singer Fisher) got alot of attention, especially by Paul Van Dyk who signed it for his Politics Of Dancing 2-compilation.

Their next track, Ordinary Moment (with singer Fisher) was even signed to Vandit Records and IMHO one of their best offers so far. I’ve always been a sucker for Fisher’s voice, especially in this track. Also listen after 05.00 when the breakdown starts with that piano and her voice. When the guitar comes in shortly after that, it’s pure magic!

The followup to the wonderful trancer Ordinary Moment was actually a bootleg of Doobie Brothers’s old hit, Long Train Runnin’. The housy bootleg never got an official release but was later released with re-sung vocals by Todd Plant.

One of their biggest hits to date was the 2007 hit The Anthem (with singer Eric Lumiere). The original version is a tight production, just like Ordinary Moment but I prefer the John O’Callaghan-remix as it skips the normal lyrics and only go for the verse which makes the track dub-like. I just love the guitar in the breakdown, so epic!

The followup, Shine On (with singer Eric Lumiere) is a really great track with awesome vocal and U2-like guitar-riffs. I prefer the Aly & Fila-remix though as it’s more uplifting.

Soul And The Sun (with Eric Lumiere) has some really epic vocals, especially in the breakdown. I prefer the Guiseppe Ottaviani-remix and also really dig the more progressive Jerome Isma-Ae Remix.

The 2009 hit Ashley (with singer Aruna) is another one of Filo & Peris biggest hits. The sweet vocals by Aruna is to die for and certainly a goosebump-song, especially the Alex M.O.R.P.H.-remix.

2009 was also the year that Filo & Peri’s first artist album came out. Nightplay was a pretty decent 15-track album containing all the hits to date and also a few new ones.

There were also a couple of EP’s released like Drops Of Jupiter and Drops Of Jupiter Remixed.

The next vocal track, Off The Hook (with singer Eric Lumiere) came out in 2010 and didn’t really make any big impression on me. It’s not bad at all but just went by me music-wise. The same goes for the rest of Filo & Peri’s releases except for This Night (with singer Audrey Gallagher) which I really liked. This Night came with sweet remixes from Dash Berlin, Max Graham & Alex M.O.R.P.H. just to name a few.

The last track I liked from Filo & Peri was the collaboration with Sara Crockett & Goodbye Pluto on The Hardest Thing. It differs in sound from the previous tracks as its more Pop-ish. Love the Norin & Rad Remix though.

IMHO, Filo & Peri’s glory days were from 2006-2009 and at this period they released some major tracks which in my books all are classics. I love the vocal collaborations with Eric Lumiere, Fisher & Aruna and how their vocals together with Filo & Peri’s tracks is a match made in heaven.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cXMnZ2vrx8&w=680&h=510]

When people think of classic tracks, especially tranceclassics, I guess this next tracks comes to mind in a few cases. When released back in 1997 I guess noone knew how big this track would eventually become. With several re-releases over the years and licensing to more than a dozen labels, this is truly a classic! I´m ofcourse talking about Three Drives On A Vinyl – Greece 2000. (buy on Itunes)

Dutch born Erik De Koning (a.k.a. Enrico) and Ton van Empel (a.k.a. Ton T.B.) both have tonnes of various aliases on their own and some 14 aliases together. This article will only focus on their Three Drives-alias though.

The name Three Drives On A Vinyl came from the fact that both of them could play on 3 decks at the same time. However, there was a mixup with the record production staff early on in their career so many releases were licensed as ”Greece 2000 – Three Drives On A Vinyl” as they couldn’t imagine a group calling themselves with that name. Many record labels also shortened the Three with a 3. Eventually, they shortened their name to only Three Drives.

Greece 2000 was originally released on the Massive Drive Recordings label (Owned at the time by their good friend Mark Van Dale and later to be run by Ton Van Empel). It was released in most countries as a single with a few different remixes but in Germany and The Netherlands it was first released as an EP with Greece 2000 as the A-side track while Not Overdrive and Piano Freq on the B-side and later released as an own single. The track eventually peaked at no 44 in the UK Charts.

The year after, Greece 2000 (The Remixes) peaked at no 12 in the UK Charts.

Greece 2000 is one of those tracks that you recognize instantly and gives you goosebumps. I remember first hearing it sometime in 1998 and didn’t think much of it then. But it eventually grew on me and is today IMHO one of the best pre-2000 anthems ever. It just gives me a special warm feeling and almost teary eyes.

The followup 1999 single, Turkey 2000 did fairly well and came with a pretty good remix-pack by Southside Spinners, Atlantic Ocean and Jaydee just to name a few. There was also a white label with a remix called Taskforce ”Greece” Mix which uses the original sound of Greece 2000 with the new track.

The same year also saw Three Drives debut album, 2000 which contains Greece 2000, Turkey 2000, Italy 2000, France 2000, UK 2000, Germany 2000 and USA 2000 just to name a few.

1999 also saw the release of Superfunk, an EP with Superfunk, Europa 2000 and A Very Good Day.
Both Superfunk and A Very Good Day shows some new influences. While Superfunk samples some funky track, A Very Good Day sounds more balearic/spanish.

The next big success, the 2000-track Sunset On Ibiza was another chartclimber and peaked at no 44 in the UK Charts. The remix-pack included versions by Yves De Ruyter, Above & Beyond, Sonorous and Sirius There was even a vocal-version released. The track was hyped by Judge Jules who played the white label 5 weeks in a row on his Radio 1 show.

A fun fact is that many releases has the Sonorous version on it but mislabeled as the Above & Beyond Remix due to the fact that they have the same length.

The 2002 single, Carrera 2 was another chart-climber which peaked at no 57 in the UK Charts. It came with a remix-package with version from Gabriel & Dresden, Roger Shah & Pedro Del Mar, Nu-Nrg & DJ Montana.

Three Drives’s second album, Melodies From The Universe came out in 2003 and contained 2 Cds. The first one was original mixes of their tracks wereas CD2 were remixes of their tracks.

2003 also saw the first of many re-releases of Greece 2000, this time with a massive G&M Remix.

The 2004 release, Air Traffic was another chart-hit and peaked at no 75 in the UK Chart. Air Traffic came with a pretty huge remix-pack by Cor Fijneman, Montana and Bobina just to name a few, and eventually a vocal version with singer Julie Morrison.

Signs From The Universe was released the same year and has a massive TB-303 bassline in it. It’s a pretty decent track.

Greece 2000 was re-released in 2005 with remixes by Marcel Woods, Mark Norman and DJ Chus just to name a few. It was also re-released in 2007 with remixes by Plastic Angel, Leama & James Davis and Koishii & Hush just to name a few. The 2008-version contained remixes by Daniel Portman & Chris Reece. The last re-released was in 2010 with remies by Sander Van Dien, Mycel & Lush 7 just to name a few.

Together, released in 2008 was an EP with the tracks Together and Feel The Rhythm.

Their last new release, Automatic City from 2009 contained remixes by Orjan Nilsen and Fast Distance.

The last we saw from Three Drives was another re-release of Greece 2000, this time with vocals and called Letting You Go. Originally remixed by Dabruck & Klein for an Armada compilation album called Hands On Armada vol 2 and later remixed by Armada residents Roger Shah and Markus Schulz. The 2012 release got the 1997 vibe but still sounds fresh, even after 15 magnificent years.

Three Drives has accomplished some big tracks over the years, especially Greece 2000, Carrera 2. Sunset On Ibiza and Air Traffic. They have played their tracks all over the world and most major DJ’s still play their tracks every now and then. Their latest releases sounds fresh but still keeps that classic Greece-sound.

Ton T.B. Is still active, both as a producer and DJ so I hope to hear him perform a classics-set soon.

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Etikettarkiv: Stavros

Classic FTW: Filo & Peri feat. Fisher – Ordinary Moment

Classic FTW: Three Drives On A Vinyl – Greece 2000