[i:Vibes] Andy Duguid - Believe [Black Hole Recordings]

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Andy Duguid - Believe [Black Hole Recordings]

23:44 - November 4, 2008

by davehart

The debut album from Andy Duguid is unleashed into the open and its an album that will warm you up throughout the winter. Gorgeous melodies and soothing vocals are just the beginning...

While you think of one good thing to come out of Scotland dance music wise its a goods time to point out that Andy Duguid is one that would feature at the top of my list. He is relatively new on the dance scene for many people but has been involved with it more many years. He's from a chilly northern Scottish city known as Aberdeen and is held i high regards by many big name talents as one of the most talented producers around today. This then is his debut artist album on the legendary Black Hole Recordings featuring eleven of his finest productions to date. This is the best artist album I've heard since Jonas Steur's debut album earlier in the year and here's why.

Release Date: OUT NOW! (Available @ the i:Vibes store!)

1. Inspiration Of A Belief
2. Don't Belong
3. Falling
4. Wasted
5. Hold My Breath
6. The Crossings
7. To The Floor
8. My Number
9. Touching Ground
10. Run
11. White Sands

I remember when I first heard one of Andy Duguid's tracks a year or so ago on Paul van Dyk's Soundgarden show. That record he played was 'Don't Belong' which has one of the finest piano breaks I've ever heard in a trance record. It really got me into the guy’s productions and when I first heard about his artist album it was a very much one to get my hands on as soon as possible. The only tracks off here I have heard before now are the brilliant 'Don’t Belong' and his most recent single release 'Washed' which both feature the soothing vocals of Leah.

The opening track like so many of artist albums is a chilled out introduction to prepare you for the melody orgy to litter the rest of the album. 'Don’t Belong' gets things kicking into life and should be a record your familiar with. It was one of the highlights on Tiesto's 'In Search of Sunrise 6' compilations and the record that kick started Andy's reputation for me. The chilled back nature of the record to start with invites you in only to be chained to the wall when a killer piano break hits you right in the meat of the track. It's one of my favourite tracks ever as everything fits perfectly in place. The melody, vocal and piano all combine to create an uplifting soothing epic to really kick back to.

There is always a danger when you find one record by a producer to be exceptional and that is your always looking for the next one to be ever more so than the previous. There is no danger with Andy as the rest of his offerings in here all offer something more of the same and a little on the variation. 'Falling' is another track that caught my ear in here. It's got a cool mood about it and relaxing feel with more subtle use of piano keys and sweeping rhythms keeping things flowing. The soft and gorgeous vocals by Julia Thompson tell the story throughout the track. The beat's got a wet sounding effect hidden in it and the changes with symbol sweeps. It is another chilled out one but uplifting in its own way.

'Wasted' is another record to feature on 'In Search of Sunrise' with Tiesto putting it on his latest release in the series. This one is really the sequel to his debut record and continues along the same path. The piano is replaced by guitar when all things break and Leah displays her vocal talents once more. The mood is still laid back and chilled with the track putting you very much at ease. 'Hold My Breath' is in collaboration with Mr Sam and also featuring Solarstone. That must have been fun to work with in the studio. The feel of this one is different though with the male vocals and more chirpy nature of the build ups sending out a different vibe. The break and melody is still chilled euphoria with a deep driven piano note floating in the background. 'Crossings' is a bright sounding track here with an deeply effected electronic riff floating over the beats. It's basslines all the way with this one and no vocals in sight anywhere. Not one of the strongest tracks on the album this but a nice filler.

'To The Floor' has a slight electro element to it. From the start its eveident there is a different style to what you expect. Lots of stutters and starts in here which create a track that doesn’t have that smooth flow but more a go-kart effect. The only quibble I have in here are the male vocals, they just sound a little queer to be frank. Not really to my taste but the production is fine. 'My Number' may remind a few of you who have been on the end of admirations from a drunken lady only to find the next day she remembers nothing but her name, not yours. The rolling bass on the start here create make this one a very fun track to here. There is a use of both male and female vocals in here and the track is a little funky in places.

'Touching Ground' goes back to soothing chilled out moods and turns things down a touch with his sweeping sounds on the breaks. It's a little on the progressive side with the style and the female vocals create the laid back mood. 'Run' follows on the same path but its use of flowing piano keys and a gorgeous violin based melody that makes it a joy to listen to. Julia Thompson's vocals really work well in here again and really propel Andy's production work to that next level. It's gorgeous this track and one of the best ones on it. 'White Sand' is nothing more than a down tempo vocal chill out affair to round off what is an exceptional debut album from Andy.

Conclusion:
This one goes down as one the albums of the year for me. Andy's relaxing nature in his records really work well in bringing varying elements together and making them work. It's relaxing trance but by no means chill out. I recommend you pick this one up as it’s a pleasure to listen two.