2009 is certainly shaping up as an exciting year for Highgrade. A lot of great releases have made their way
into the stores, and the circle of artists has expanded to include some promising new faces. As always, the
priority has remained to be a platform for innovative club music. Well then, high time for the next musical
offering from the Highgrade family. The "Inner Circle" release presents an opportunity to bring the core group
of Highgrade artists like Tom Clark, Jens Bond, Todd Bodine, Markus Homm, Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner,
Phage & Daniel Dreier and Mihai Popoviciu, together with some of highgrade's recent newcomers:
Asem Shama, Demir & Seymen, Marcus Schatz and Simon Beeston. The result is "Our Thing Vol. 2 -
The Inner Circle", to be released as double Maxi 12", flanked by three digital only bonus tracks. All in all,
a musical statement that shows where Highgrade stands musically, and suggests where we're planning to
travel in the future.
And now to the music:
Part I
Marcus Homm provides the starting point with "Transposer": Funky, impulsive and peppered with unusual
sounds. Next up, Tom Clark takes the helm with "Ultimo" and steers a course towards the dancefloor
peaktime! On the flip, Asem Shama and Demir & Seymen splash out. Asem's "Erato" rocks in exhilarating
fashion, and the fresh new Highgrade lads Demir & Seymen provide rolling percussion and powerful
orchestral stabs on "Ethnos", which really give the dancefloor some legs.
Part II
Simon Beeston gets things going on Part II with "What Crisis", a title which could also provide a great
theme for the entire release, with subsequent artists Mihai Popoviciu, Todd Bodine and the veterans
Phage & Daniel Dreier keeping up the dynamic energy. This is not simply a Part II, but a statement all on
it's own.
Those who are still not convinced can check out the three digital only tracks from Marcus Schatz, Jens Bond
and Heinrichs & Hirtenfellner, to be further inspired!