Chris Fortier asked for the ivibes.nu treatment of his Summer 2004 released mix album, since ivibes.nu thought he was a really nice guy and because the CD was one of the favorite among our editors, we thought why not. So here it is

Chris Fortier presents Audiotour (Fade Records)

Chris Fortier is a name that is familiar to many, either as a deejay who has toured the world, a deejay who has released Bedrock mix albums, a producer behind the excellent Fade artist name and one of the two behind the excellent US based Fade Records. You probably know him in some fashion because his imprints are all over the music scene and you probably know his agency, Balance Promote, which he started with Jimmy Van M. Fortier is a very busy man, who prides himself on family but he also likes to give back to the scene that has made him, a very successful man. So Fortier put together a mix album, which was extremely well received with no fillers, unlike most of the compilations from 2004.

Chris Fortier presents Audiotour (Fade Records)

1.Motive – ABE (Original Mix)
2.Descent – Tempura
3.Luigi – Creation (Blackwatch’s Eastend Remix)
4.Woven – Soldier Me (Seed Mix #1)
5.The Alley Qats – Talk To Me Goose
6.Chris Micali – L’Evasion
7.Scott Mcfadyen – G In Your Glow
8.Steve Porter and Chris Reavey – Oyster Crackers
9.D-Shake – Yaaaah! (Fortier introduces Porter to 1990 Remix)
10.Chris Fortier – Whateveritis
11.Fade – So Good (Lifter Mix)
12.Fade – Separation (remix)

1.Motive – ABE (Original Mix)

We begin with a record that ivibes.nu did reviewed about a month and half ago. We start with the underated Motive, which is a great little track to start on. The song comes in at 127 bpm, which is a perfect housy number to start. The balance that it strikes between the vocal and the backing instruments are just great. It also immediately catches your interest, which is what a compilation should do, as well as hold it but I’ll talk about that later. It uses some quirky effects behind it with an effective housy vocal and an effective drumline.

2.Descent – Tempura

We move into the subtle yet driving “Tempura”, a vocal then appears out of nowhere, which is not clear, it is backed by a piano line and some nice effects. It is more deep than it is driving but it starts to progress the original vision of Chris Fortier. The song moves into more of a banging progressive mold because the drums tighten up, a chant like vocal gets louder and it reminds me of Banco De Gaia’s classic “Obsidian” in some ways.

3. Luigi – Creation (Blackwatch’s Eastend Remix)

Now we get into the genius remix of Michael Thomas, who has been vastly underated and has not been given his proper due by many in the music community. I think this is where Fortier proves the point that his tracks and remixes work exceptionally well. This is a nice drum driven track, where Blackwatch gives it a darker path and adds some nasty sound effects with this remix. The track serves well for building up the mix, like it should but this is really a branch off point, where Fortier slams it from low gear to high gear.

4.Woven – Soldier Me (Seed Mix #1)

This is a real catchy song that makes use of some riffs that you don’t seem to think are really great and then you start to hear them over and over and the harmonic nature of them, completely takes over. The bassline is the typical chugathon but the riffs are so progressive and so forward thinking. A vocal comes in, it is near the back and a guitar is coupled with it, giving it that deep dark prog feel. The track starts to become really devasting in places and it starts the subtle rise in momentum in the mix. The vocal becomes a bit clearer at times and it really guides the song. What impresses me so far about this mix, is that Fortier has not used any “dead end Parks and Wilson style progressive” to achieve what he has. This has been a true musical journey so far and that’s the way that CDs should be.

5.The Alley Qats – Talk To Me Goose

The mix just keeps gaining massive momentum here and this song really gives it that arse kicking that it so badly needs. The Alley Qats are the much hyped producers Peter Martin and Derek Howell, who are probably the next two producers that will hit it big. This is a rare record because it does so much, it just picks you up from the first ten seconds and takes you for a long ride and it holds your attention. The track is uptempo bangin house and it makes incredible use of drums and they are really layered but the banging nature of the record adds fuel to the fire. You just groove along to the nasty nature of this track and Fade did release this on 12”, if you know what I’m talking about. Talk to me goose makes use of a fierce groove as well and shortly after, the song hits full throttle. The record then surprises you because it goes into a two minute drum breakdown with a wailing guitar and you feel that we may be on to song six but this is just planned out. The song eventually rises out of the breakdown and goes back to the fierce groove but this works so well and Fortier is an excellent judge of talent and which records work and this is definitely one for the dancefloor.

6.Chris Micali – L’Evasion

We now move into Boston based producer Chris Micali’s production called L’Evasion. If you don’t known Micali, he was one of the producers responsible for the remix of Christian Cambas’ It Scares Me on Bedrock last year. The tempo starts to increase even more, we started slow and now you are in the backseat of a car that is quickly gaining power and speed and Fortier is driving it. This is a smart record that just fits in well again here, the use of the instrumentation is mind blowing and the record is deep but groovy.

7.Scott Mcfadyen – G In Your Glow

Fortier brings in another new producer in Scott McFadyen for this mix and it serves him well. Why use big name tracks, if they don’t add anything to the mix? I’m sure that is what Chris Fortier was thinking. This is another drum driven track that makes great use of sound effects that just add to it. “G in your glow” reminds me more of Sander Kleinenberg circa say 2002 in terms of his productions. A strong addictive riff comes in about halfway through but it certainly adds that cherry to the top of the cake.

8.Steve Porter and Chris Reavey – Oyster Crackers

Another Boston artist is brought in and his name is Steve Porter, accompanied by his partner Chris Reavey. This seems more house oriented than the last few progressive records. The bassline is well sculpted, which is a Steve Porter trademark and some sound effects swirl around the track, giving it that crazy feeling at times. A dirty keyboard based riff joins in the fray and the track just takes off. By now Porter is nearly in top gear and nearly at top speed, after the slow start, this mix has quickly picked up and you are on for the ride but Fortier has made this mix so well that you can’t wait to see what happens next.

9.D-Shake – Yaaaah! (Fortier introduces Porter to 1990 Remix)

Surprise turns to jaw dropping shock with this track because you are nearing the home stretch but the tempo just keeps picking up and it keeps you interested (a rare feat for CDs these days). This uses a quick vocal that goes “Yaaah!” with some harsh drums making up an impressive bassline. The remix will remind you of 1990 at times because the music was harder and the basslines were thicker. Yaaah! Is another joy in a mix that has included some real gems. Who said progressive was boring? The breakdown is even better than the song, the riffs are just harsh and the bassline is even thicker, which totally rocks.

10.Chris Fortier – Whateveritis

Fortier uses his own banger called “Whateveritis”, the track is another gem and another one that fits in perfectly well here. Here the track is driven by one of the more filthy riffs that I’ve heard and it kicks the song in the arse to move it. I love the incredibly complex nature of the song, nothing is simple, nothing is amateurish and it gets you grooving, even at home!

11.Fade – So Good (Lifter Mix)

Fortier and partner Neil Loko, who make up Fade and who also run Fade Records are used in this mix. Usually Fortier never makes a mix without a Fade track, it is a hallmark and that’s how you know it is Fortier that has put a mix CD out. They use some powerful riff work to drive this baby and the mix just keeps getting better. This shows why Fade is loved by many across the world and the vocal chant is used to perfection about halfway into the mix.

12.Fade – Separation (remix)

Sadly, the CD ends with this tune but what a ride Fortier has taken us on, for the last hour and a quarter. This is just another progressive banger with some grinding riffs and excellently placed sound effects, it just ends this mix on a high note

Conclusion:
Easily better than anything that any A list deejay has put out in 2004, with the exception being Sasha’s Involver and James Zabiela’s Renaissance Alive. This is a gem and it is a must have for any music lover’s CD collection. This will sound as great as it does now, in two to four years because Fortier used no big tracks that easily date a compilation. The mix smoothly moves from the start to the finish and once it picks up, you are hooked. This is amazing, get this, if you don’t, I can’t wait for Audiotour part 2, and I’ll be hoping that Fortier does another volume. Fortier’s next CD compilation will be Balance 007, which he is slated to mix, it should be well worth checking out.