Stephen J Kroos - Sadistick download free

‘Sadistick’ was my first experience of the Stephen J. Kroos sound, a sound that I have come to fall in love with since. An Anjunabeats release it may be, but before you begin to approximate what it might sound like, think again. The Original Mix is rich in glistening, techy atmospheres and has a distinctive string section and insistent synths, with Tony McGuinness’ yearning vocals (“I, will always love you” to quote an extract from the lyrics) soaring above the deep, swirling futuristic sound that Kroos sculpts. This is the definitive mix of this production, but there are two more mixes that offer something extra that you don’t get here. The Techno Mix incorporates a new, fuzzy synth section into the sound without changing the fundamental aspects of the Original Mix. But my favourite ‘alternative’ mix (and perhaps even my favourite of them all) is the To Be Able Mix. Kroos recalibrates the track’s composition, making the pounding percussion the protagonist and inserting some subtle techy effects after each line of lyrics early on in the track. He also stutters and skips the vocals later on in the track, before adding a lingering, atmospheric breakdown. Indeed, it is this much more atmospheric take on the Original Mix that makes it my favourite. Kroos’ talent is that he is able to infuse a diverse blend of genres and influences into his own distinctly ‘techy’ sound, which means that ‘Sadistick’ offers only a snapshot of his sound as a whole. Nevertheless, it is a particularly good and highly recommended one.