Yore proudly adds Detroit's "Drivetrain" to the stable. Drivetrain's the nom de plume for Derrick Thompson, a DJ and producer who heads up Soiree Records International, a label with a strong soulful house focus, who has been around since Detroit's early days. With over 50 releases on his back, from Beatdown Sessions to numerous Remixes & Collaborations, you can tell that "Drivetrain" has a soft spot in his heart for the rich production values of '70s Philly soul associated with producers such as Gamble & Huff and Thom Bell. That kinship comes through loud and clear in the EP's second cut, "The Rain," when Thompson sweetens the tune's brisk rhythms with triangle, electric piano, alto sax, flute, acoustic bass and a gravelly "Make love (in the rain)" command that sounds like it's oozing from the lips of a tasty DJ.
"The Rain" is trumped by the A-side's "Angel (Serenity Mix)," which opens with a sinuous house thrust and then heats up with a tight, jacking groove that Thompson soulfully embellishes with synthesizer flourishes and a smooth vocal refrain of the song's title. The vibe is lush and soulful in the extreme, with the vocals alternating between a soft murmur and robust declamation while the percolating, dub-inflected house pulse pushes determinedly forward underneath. The EP ends with the title track, "Tragedy Park," which is closer in spirit to a stomping techno Raver that's had a smidgen of acid thrown in for extra flavour. Definitely a floor shaking Bomb!


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