TIP World Singles 2002

TIP World Singles 2002 is a collection of songs previously released on vinyl singles over the course of 2001 and 2002. The idea here is simply to deliver the same music in digital quality to the CD-buying market. This is a tradition that goes back to the days of Flying Rhino, Matsuri, and the original TIP, all of which had a similar series of compilations for the exact same purchase. TIP World only managed to churn out two of these—the previous edition being TIP World Singles 2000. I doubt they ever sell that well, but as a recovering vinyl fanatic, I really appreciate being able to work with music I previously enjoyed on wax.

The first single is the Eat Static remix of Infected Mushroom & Yahel’s popular anthem Electro Panic, a song I absolutely despise. Merv is a talented guy, but even he cannot save this steaming turd. Perhaps I am being unfair here—if it weren’t for the lame vocal sample I would probably like this. Unfortunately there are few moments free of an incessant usage of the lame “electro-o-o-oh panic” sample. If you ask me, this is overhyped garbage.

Beat Bizarre releasing on TIP World was one of the more surreal occurrences of 2002. Known for innovating minimal psytrance with the released of their album Lewd on Iboga Records, this Danish duo is drastically out of place in amongst all these crowd-pleasing full-on anthems. Pop the Question is a subtle piece of trance—sly, tempered, pulsating, and slightly tribal. Too bad the production quality is not everything it could be, as it inhibits the ultimate impact of this productions.

Orion (Jean Bourelli) has two tracks taken from TIPW024 on this compilation. I have always been extremely impressed with the sheer quality of Twisted Orbit and Deep Weed—these are two of the finest psytrance productions on the year 2002. The amount of effort and attention to detail that has done into their creation is immensely evident. They both feature intricate rhythmic programming layered in tribal drums, groovy synthetic bass lines that flow like liquid, and an advanced use of stereo panning. Evocative psychedelic noises shimmer into audibility at every turn, but there are no strong leads. Orion’s approach is deep, subtle, and highly intelligent, yet these tunes are energetic enough to shake up a peak time dance floor. In short, these two tracks are brilliant!

Implant is an old Eat Static tune released on the eponymous album way back in 1994. The version that appears here is Merv Pepler’s 2002 update—a successful attempt to put a modern touch on this old classic. The wobbling acid notes, metallic riffs, and quirky cinematic flourishes all sound clean and streamlined. Eat Static are known for their use of cheeky B-movie samples, and this song is no different: “it’s a cross between an alien and a human!” This is a good remix; the essential characteristics of the original have not been diluted.

Modulator was released as the B-side to the epic GMS remix of Alien Project’s Midnight Sun. Far from being an energetic crowd pleasing anthem, this is a deep and mysterious song with a subtle arrangement of elements—quite unlike Alien Project, I might add. The “four year lifespan” speech from Blade Runner makes an appearance in the break, after which the squelchy leads take over for a while. The high moments of this track feel like any other TIP World corker whereas the brooding times speak of potential that is never met. Mediocre.

People Can Fly is a legendary Goa trance anthem originally released on Astral Projection’s amazing breakthrough album Trust In Trance. Alien Project, Riktam, and Shanti decided to give it the full-on remix treatment, much like what was done on Ten, an album widely panned by critics and fans alike. Messing with the classics is almost always a bad idea, and this is no exception. The remixers play around with a loop of the main melody, drizzling it over a variety of standard full-on psytrance beats. The recognizable sample is thrown into a breakdown that features a terribly disappointing return after an overeager build-up. Nowhere is the spirit of the original evident.

Bio-Tonic redeems TIP World with Play It, a simple crowd-pleasing anthem that remains remarkably effective. In fact, I think this is the best song the French group has ever released. It has the right combination of chugging beats, funky synths, and catchy sing-song vocals to make it a serious blast on the dance floor. Think of BLT on steroids and you should have some strange idea of what this sounds like. Yes, TIP World anthems are usually cheesy as hell, but this one has enough character to make it work!

So there you have it. TIP World Singles 2002 is an average CD release with a number of great tunes sourced from vinyl, as well as a few outright atrocities. The pair of tunes from Orion are insanely good, Eat Static and Bio-Tonic provide some tasty treats, but the rest don’t quite measure up. Considering that these tracks are all up for digital purchase on most of the big shops, this patchy release has been devalued. It should never be more than a bargain bin purchase for the dedicated collector, and casual listeners should feel free to skip it entirely.