Traxman Tekvision

A leading figure and respected elder in the Teklife family, Traxman has waited
patientlywhile releases from young upstarts like Taso and Dj Earl have been enjoyed by
footwork lovers all over the world. Now the time has come for Traxman to take centre
stage, presenting a collection of new material that demonstrates his mastery of the
footwork sound. Tekvision arrives hot on the heels of Teklife 005: Greenlight by DJ
Manny, bringing an interesting contrast of production methods and styles. A prodigious
crate digger, Traxman has provided the sample sources for many of Footwork's classic
tracks over the years. So while DJ Manny recorded the majority of the vocals on
Greenlight himself, Traxman uses his expert sample flipping techniques to add the human
element to his productions. Traxman is a mainstay of the Chicago underground, with a
discography stretching back to the golden era of Dance Mania Records in the 1990s.
Ghetto House was an important precursor to Footwork, and Traxman was a key figure
during this transition. Echoes of the Ghetto House sound resonate through Tekvision,
with tracks like Drop It Down and Twist The Party Out paying homage to the origins of
Juke and Footwork music. Be Gagen feat DJ Earl is a beautiful opening track, with a
soulful, melancholic synth unfolding patiently over a half-speed beat. When the bass kicks
in after 1 minute 10 seconds it has a profoundly uplifting effect, and the late arriving vocal
rounds off the composition perfectly. Many of the tracks demonstrate brilliant and playful
manipulation of vocal snippets, with Let Me Get Up and Control Ya Bitchezzz among the
finest examples of this art. Finally, Tone Deaf and Whop Line show yet another side to
Traxman's sound with an intoxicating and angular mix of bass and bleeps. File under:
Electronic, Footwork RIYL: DJ Rashad, DJ Spinn, DJ Deeon, Jammin Gerald