Animal Trainer - Wide [SVT124] 2014 WEB 320 [Tech House / Deep House / Nu Disco / Other Electronica] TMGK

It has always been the great artist duos that really turned the wheels of cultural history: Ying and Yang, Laurel and Hardy, Siegfried and Roy. The latters connection to Animal Trainer definitely cant be denied.

While Siegfried and Roy might be taming white tigers though, Animal Trainer are specialising in vinyl and the dancing crowd. Both children of the illustrious nightlife of trend capital Zurich, Adrian Flavor and Samy Jackson have made a name for themselves with their Rakete parties, held mostly at their home base, the chic Hive club, as well as many other locations in and around Switzerland.

As dedicated music lovers and passionate entertainers, it was a natural progression for the duo to channel their constant appetite for music and endless parties into their own sounds. Thus, their first baby steps were released on Stil vor Talent in the form of Talkshow in 2008. Today, in February 2014, after numerous releases on renowned labels such as Katermukke, Dantze, Off Recordings or their own Hive Audio, the joyous duo is presenting the debut album Wide on Stil vor Talent.

Over the course of the thirteen tracks featured, Animal Trainer reveal their playful side as Wide isnt just dominated by dance floor tracks. Thus, one encounters a healthy pop affinity, big melodies, refreshing deep house ballads, musical downtempo and a pinch of polka.

The opener Come Along offers itself as a wonderfully mellow starting point thanks to its dreamy textures of warming acoustic guitars, soft trumpet notes and Jimi Jules unique voice. Next, the energy starts building gradually: while How Does it Feel pairs the rnb vox of Natasha Waters with areal melodies and an accessible bass-line, Killed You feels more upbeat due to its diva vocals and synth arpeggios. Gone 4 Ever then turns out to be classic deep house through and through the merry strings that sweeten the break are particularly convincing here.

Animal Trainer show a completely new side to their productions on the excellent electronica track The Walk, on which dub chords pulsate through a broken beat structure and creaking synths. The fragile piano does, however, steal the show. After Shane goes around dressed in a classicistic house outfit, Pollen is directing us towards the peak time. Here, elements of neo-trance dance on top of a lush beat and driving percussion a climax in any DJ set, no doubt.

Jan Blomqvist subsequently lends his distinctive voice to the ballad Keep Control, supported by a beautifully fluid piano melody. On Krambambuli and Crashed Tuesday Animal Trainer then put the foot on the pedal once more, as fun is the priority. Hence, both tracks feel like they are made with the Hive club in mind, which cant be a coincidence.

The title-track Wide simultaneously manifests itself as a gloriously quirky trumpet-epos as well as the albums undisputable highlight. Big emotions for the head and heart! Lastly, the trance-disco-groover Everybody and the humorous electro-polka My Town feat. Otoridia bid us farewell. As the last accordion notes ring out, one thing is certain: wild animals arent easy to tame, and in Animal Trainers case thats great news.