When he released his debut album Voyage Direct in 2009, Tom Trago was little known outside of Amsterdam’s vibrant underground electronic music scene. The album’s colourful and far-sighted fusion of house, disco, Detroit techno and 1980s electrofunk sounds landed with home listeners and club dancers alike, propelling Trago towards greater international success.
Now getting a new digital download release in freshly remastered form, ‘Voyage Direct’ remains one of the most potent collections of tracks in Trago’s discography: an album full to bursting with kaleidoscopic cuts that bristle with vivid synthesizer melodies, chunky basslines, snappy drum machine rhythms and looped, life-affirming samples.
All eight tracks present on the original release are present and correct, with the album sounding better than ever thanks to a new mixdown from Trago that adds significant clarity and weight. Highlights include dancefloor favourites ‘Use Me’, which was later reworked into disco-house anthem ‘Use Me Again’, the glassy eyed and loved-up loop-house gem ‘Live with the BBQ’ (previously released in 2006 as Trago’s debut single on Rush Hour), the brilliantly chopped-up deep house workout ‘Lost In The Streets of NYC’ and the throbbing Italo-disco inspired late night sleaziness of ‘On The Side’.
This remastered edition also includes the popular but hard to find ‘200 B.C.’, a track recorded during the sessions for ‘Voyage Direct’ that packs serious dancefloor punch. Built around a handful of inspired samples, delay-laden drum hits and a restless, all-action, disco-inspired house groove, it offers a slightly tougher peak-time take on Trago’s then trademark sound that remains as alluring and breathless now as it did a decade ago.
Now getting a new digital download release in freshly remastered form, ‘Voyage Direct’ remains one of the most potent collections of tracks in Trago’s discography: an album full to bursting with kaleidoscopic cuts that bristle with vivid synthesizer melodies, chunky basslines, snappy drum machine rhythms and looped, life-affirming samples.
All eight tracks present on the original release are present and correct, with the album sounding better than ever thanks to a new mixdown from Trago that adds significant clarity and weight. Highlights include dancefloor favourites ‘Use Me’, which was later reworked into disco-house anthem ‘Use Me Again’, the glassy eyed and loved-up loop-house gem ‘Live with the BBQ’ (previously released in 2006 as Trago’s debut single on Rush Hour), the brilliantly chopped-up deep house workout ‘Lost In The Streets of NYC’ and the throbbing Italo-disco inspired late night sleaziness of ‘On The Side’.
This remastered edition also includes the popular but hard to find ‘200 B.C.’, a track recorded during the sessions for ‘Voyage Direct’ that packs serious dancefloor punch. Built around a handful of inspired samples, delay-laden drum hits and a restless, all-action, disco-inspired house groove, it offers a slightly tougher peak-time take on Trago’s then trademark sound that remains as alluring and breathless now as it did a decade ago.
More from TT
Recommended For You