This remix was a PROMO only release! Despite the label listing 1990 as the year, it actually dropped in the summer of 1991, as this did get alot of airplay at that time, specifically on DJ Red Alert's show on Kiss FM. The remix uses many more samples and breaks, as compared to the original, like T-Ski Valley's "Catch The Beat", Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle", Bob James' "Take Me To The Mardi Gras", Joe Tex's "Papa Was Too (Live)", James Brown's "Funky President", "Papa Don't Take No Mess" and "Funky Drummer". Back then it was rumored that Marley Marl did this remix, most likely because the samples used were all previously used on Marley Marl productions. I reccommend this record for all rap music fans of that 1988 - 1992 sound!

"Morphina Toxica"

The title of this track alone is reason to investigate it. Being a fan of oldschool rave I recently discovered this rarity, and it has simply blown me away.

Research has led me to understand Techno Beat were an Italian duo who owned a label called VRS, and that they released a number of 12" techno tracks from 1990 - 1992.

This particular track that I am reviewing, the Mental Version of Morphina Toxica, is a good example. It contains the sounds typical of early 90's Italian rave music; screaming synth lines, liberal use of well-known vocal samples and a straight 4 to the floor rhythm underpinned by intelligent use of breakbeats to ease the pressure.

What sets this track apart from the likes of R.A.F., Anticappella, Fargetta etc is the inclusion of a seriously "ardkore" Belgian style main riff. Showing similarities with Quadrophonia, Anasthasia (and yes, even the theme from Mortal Kombat) it really kicks over the base of Italian rhythms.

Just when you think all is complete and in correct order though, something else enters. To reiterate, this track is 1992; what enters next is a wicked PSY TRANCE synth line, twisting like a cobra through the track! It's honestly a surprise to hear this from such an early track, and it really sets Morphina Toxica apart from the deluge of european techno that was prevalent around ''91-'92.

It's not a track for fans of minimal.

Johannes Heil has always made effectively fun techno, and on _Freaks R Us_, he continues his streak. The title track might have more electro-blippery than his fans are used to, but he quickly delivers what we've been expecting. The tracks stay appealingly dark: "Artology" has a liquid synth line that seems to bubble up to the surface. The vocals on "Tree of Life" are slightly dodgy but they add texture to a track that might seem empty otherwise (on "Rescue Me," however, the vocals seem more superfluous). "The Magician" is all about the thump, but it's more of a build-up for "The Fool," which burns right into your ears. "Last" smooths things out a bit to lead into the neo-classical "The 1st" -- a drastic shift in tone and mood, but if anyone has earned the right to be a freak, it's Heil.

Good slow jam from the mid 2000s - A real breath of fresh air compared to the cookie cutter, pop-culture, wanna-be R&B; that was on the radio at the time. Chapter 4 dared to do something different and take it back to the old school with this production.