Minireview: Zero-G/XFonic Anthem House

Mar 11, 2008 5:36 PM Jason_Scott Alexander (Writer)

The liner notes claim heart-racing rhythms and euphoric melodies that will land your tracks into the biggest clubs from Chicago to Ibiza. Maybe, but you'd need a bloody time machine to get there. The 37 construction kits speak nothing of modern production or writing styles, rather sounding more at home next to audio sampling CDs I collected back in the early '90s. If Anthem House were being marketed as a throwback collection to club anthems circa CeCe Peniston's "Finally" or Snap's "Rhythm Is a Dancer," then I could relate.

 

These 750 construction loops tilt the scales at about 1.4 GB, offering full mix, breakdowns and instrument/effects loops for each kit in REX2, Acidized WAV and Apple Loops AIFF formats. An additional 135 synth loops and pads, as well as a folder of 160 breakbeats, complement the kits. All files are keymapped for EXS24, HALion and Kontakt.

 

Ranging from 110 to 133 bpm, the kits are in fact built on some pretty credible rhythm programming circa the era. You'll clearly detect Roland R8 and TR-series, Kawai XD-5 and Alesis HR-16 sounds that were all the rage back then. The rubbery basses, heavily detuned comp sounds, chorused stabs and synth strikes are also typical of the PCM-hybrid synthesizers of the time. Naturally, piano and organ loops are mostly of the Korg M1 variety, though they fall short of the finer riffs heard in the classic house anthems that I knew well. What's really lacking, however, is the promised sense of uplift throughout this disc; some inspiring chord progressions, soaring gospel house vocals or dirty Detroit techno rhythms and bass lines could help. I'm generally all about anything Zero-G/XFonic puts out, but this one misses the mark for me.

 

What do you think? Decide for yourself: Zero-G/XFonic Anthem House, $99.95 at www.soundsonline.com.

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