The Mighty Steve Porter has released two well received EP's on FDS recordings, well he thought it was time for a full album and here it is!

Steve Porter – Homegrown (FDS Records)

Everyone’s fave Bostonian has finally come out with his new album. After two very well received EP’s on FDS records (a sister label to the mighty Fade Records run by Chris Fortier), Steve Porter decided it was time to release a full album. Steve Porter has grown in stature in the last few years with his wide variety of remixes, some were never released, like his remix of Rambiant – Karma on Nick Warren’s Iceland GU and not to leave out, his increasingly amount of DJ gigs around this world. This led some in the US media to coin the term “Porterhouse”, which some use to describe his sets, some in the EDM media term it upbeat house but whatever you decide to call it, the stuff is different. So here comes the long awaited full album from Mr.Steve Porter..

Steve Porter – Homegrown (FDS Records)

1.Fluffer Nutter
2.Between 9 and 10
3.Swanky
4.Bobble Daze
5.Beat N Potatoes
6.Vodka Cranberries
7.Rage In The Cage
8.Sandbox
9.Definite Form
10.Electric Jelly
11.Lady Elaine
12.Square Dancing
13.Purina
14.Homegrown

1.Fluffer Nutter

I’ll be honest here, I absolutely loved EP1 and EP2, so from the moment that I hit play, I can’t wait to see what the full album + a few tracks looks like. The track starts out faintly and some nature sounds add to it and some gentle drums glide in about thirty seconds in. Some glorious riffs come in, that’s what I’ve always noticed about Steve Porter, he is not making music to please the people who stay at home listening to GDJB or ASOT. He is making smart club oriented music but it also sounds really good on the home stereo. I love how this track starts to build, it nearly gets me dancing on the first track, which has never ever happened with any CD. The secondary riff that comes in, is an altered keyboard made to sound more metallic. The track is very slow at times but it really slaps you into Porter’s world and you instantly know that this is not some recycled trance track, re-released 4 times in 8 years. I love how everything seems to come together nicely and you can tell that this is aimed at the club. I venture a guess that Steve Porter makes his music for his fans and then roadtests it in the clubs, then reworks it to a point, where it is what he wants. This is excellent as an opening, nothing bland, as well as nothing trying too hard or too lightly.

2.Between 9 and 10

On the copy that I was given, it is mixed and it sounds like a Steve Porter set, which is nice because it continues the flow and there is no dead space. On this track, Porter heads for more harmony with bells and other things that he has altered to sound like more harmonic instruments. The original track that he is building on, has a real funky undertone to it. The easiest thing to notice about Porter is that his work usually has layers upon layers of instruments, and then he uses numerous sound effects that build with the track but the work does not sound complex nor simple, which is tough to achieve I would imagine. About 3 minutes, the pace clearly changes, with more hard bass involved and we glide into track 3

3.Swanky

The one thing that I’m truly digging about this CD is the fact that it is an artist album but it is also mixed, I’m not sure if the final version will be like this but I love this method of attack. Porter is also getting people used to his mixing style, which should gain him more fans. With “Swanky”, you are gently increasing the tempo from the start and it still makes use of a real addictive hook that seems to build with the song’s energy and it is done in such a way that you don’t notice a thing. I’m also fascinated by how easy Porter is making this look and sound on the ears. Most artist CDs tend to try too hard and fail miserably at trying to capture their DJ gig sounds or trying to sound different from what you expect from the artist. Steve Porter seems to dance to his own beat and says I’ll stay true to myself eitherway

4.Bobble Daze

Well Porter has certainly done it here, I’m actually dancing and I did have to stop the review for a while, but I ain’t complaining. The track has this funky underlying groove to it, which is not subtle as I have termed some reviews in the past. This is almost in your face and the artist is not ashamed of it. The keyboard that has been altered to sound and it is has that almost 80’s organish quality that comes alive about an minute into. The sound effects that are used, which sound like horns, really give it some life and to top it all off, the kick comes in and then the song just takes you along for the ride. What a nice tune that kicks the tempo, up a notch or two. The only thing that I dislike about this song, is that the song is too short on here but the drive is just glorious at times.

5.Beat N Potatoes

I don’t know why, but this song makes me hungry and maybe it could be because of the title’s play on words but maybe it is just because this review was not done on a full stomach. Here, you get some groovy progressive house that has a funky yet likable edge to it. Track five has such a deeper groove to it, bordering on funky at times, it works so well at times. I love how different Porter’s tracks sound is at times on this CD and they don’t sound alike, which is another bonus. As the bassline changes as we move into the next song, it sounds familiar and then it hits you, yup Vodka Cranberries.

6.Vodka Cranberries

We now move into one of my favorite songs from 2004 (well the list is 43 long) but Vodka Cranberries was a joy and it is good that Porter decided to add it. The song contains so much fierce minimal energy, just the kind that Nick Warren said he loved in GU024’s linear notes. This track just swirls and swirls with emotion, energy and attention to detail. The groove is fierce at times and it certainly shows how Porter’s productions have evolved into something that everyone likes over the last few years. The sound effects are just used to make the other parts of the track, more attractive to you. So five minutes in, the pace changes with an even fiercer groove appearing. Time to head for track seven and this CD has been a joy to listen to and we are only six tracks in.

7.Rage In The Cage

“Rage In The Cage” should have been give the nickname of great ball of energy. The track probably pushes whatever some term Porterhouse, the upbeat house with a driving groove but let’s throw out the terms for now. I love the secondary riff that just pushes this track, coupled with the first riff, what a knockout. “Rage In The Cage” is really upbeat and will easily get you dancing anywhere, so to those people who need workout music, get this. The track’s groove is made by some instrument combination that confuses me but I wish I knew what made it but I don’t, some things are better left untold. You can look at it either way, let it bother you or move on and continue bobbing your head to the music. I’m going with the later for the forseable future. Now the pitch changes and we head into track number eight.

8.Sandbox

As we start with this track, it contains a mean piano line with the “In your face” groove that Porter has used on this album. I’ve a huge fan of anything with an amazing groove that just kicks and boy does this track. The track nearly goes quiet and now it starts on its journey. The piano line is used well here, with the layered drumline that just kicks the groove down a notch but anytime a CD kicks it down a notch, it usually slams it up a few more notches by the end. The drums interact well with the piano line but the piano takes up your focus. We then have the glory part because a heavier bassline comes in and it is mean and filthy but it works well with the album, have I died and gone to heaven yet?. You then realize that the bass is really for track nine and we go into

9.Definite Form

As I’m an honest person, I tend to tell you if I have any bias towards something and here is another track that I have some bias with. I absolutely loved it, when JooF and others were hammering this record in the clubs and it just works so well. I figured I’d get that out before I described the rest of the album, as well as this track. The track really gets going then has a massive breakdown and the strings come in and then that underlying groove gets going and that’s why everyone loved it and that’s why it is such a club track but it works well on your home stereo.

10.Electric Jelly

I love the driving bassline in this track, with the bells in the background and the mean driving riff. The breakdown is actually quite beautiful, with a simplistic drum approach and just letting the riffs take over. The riffs are made up of some layers, which adds that bonus to this track. I love how simple at times Porter’s work seems but after a few listens, you realize that it is quite complex and well thought out.

11.Lady Elaine

This song should have been named Driving Bells because it makes use of a lot of bells with a fierce bassline and it goes into a middle eastern style sound about 1:40 in, which is really different from what you have been listening to; you also realize that Porter’s work is very different from anyone’s. The bassline about three minutes starts to change slightly, you realize that you are probably moving into the home stretch.

12.Square Dancing

If two words could put fear into any young person’s mind, it is the words “Square Dancing”, tho I have never tried it, it puts fear into my mind. The track is actually quite dark compared with the other tracks in the album. The bassline is thumping and it just gives you chills at times. The riff is very melodic and it was created probably by altering sounds off a keyboard. The track is very uptempo and a lot faster than any of the previous tracks, remember now the whole album is mixed, which gives it the feeling of a DJ set. Obviously a deejay set starts slowing, builds then hits you with the faster tracks at the end. The riff work really grows on you, in a almost hypnotic way and coupled with that bassline, it makes you very happy, as every track on this album has done so far. This has been an exceptional ride through music and it shows that you don’t need the best software to create music, you just need ideas.

13.Purina

Now two tracks to go and it is a shame because the best albums like this one, leave you wanting more, unlike all the other albums, which you can’t wait till the end, so you can find the latest classic CD that you have been hammering to smooth over your bad taste buds. This is a groovy track with a more progressive house edge to it, the sound is more polished than anything on the CD. The track makes me think of some 1999 track, which is similar to it in certain respects. The riff work here is just done so well, which coupled with the chugging bassline, it shows that Porter has been vastly underrated by some in the media but after playing this CD, it should put all the naysayers in their places.

14.Homegrown

Homegrown is the last track to what has been a truly mindblowing album and Homegrown is also the title track which finishes off this 71 minute, 14 track assault on the eardrums. The final track has this cool sound effect that comes in and out, I’m not quite sure how to adequately describe it. The track is more progressive house at times, not quite destined for the club but this CD has included stuff for the living room and stuff for the club, which shows the versatility of Mr.Steve Porter.

Conclusion:
Steve Porter can officially join the elite of EDM producers and artists now after this gem of an album. 14 solid tracks, not one weak one and it was well thought out, so well infact that you should check this out, you won’t be disappointed.