Album DescriptionHere we have the new album of Alex Cortiz; Phoenix. Released one year after the 2CD collection Magnifico, with handpicked tracks of all his wonderfully sophisticated albums, new versions and remixes and unreleased material, compressing thousands of hours of studio time. With Phoenix Cortiz has expanded his palette into something slightly different. Without a doubt we'll come across many of these tracks on compilations all over the world again, like much of his former work. Cortiz though, clearly turned into new roads with this CD. Naturally he wrote and produced the 14 tracks himself, with titles such as Tomorrow Ever Comes, Funckaloid, Ketamine Dreams and Surfing the Waves. Alex Cortiz is the moniker of Holland's foremost down tempo producer Aad de Mooy, one of this country's pioneers, who since the late 1980's has created numerous tracks and albums under a variety of names. D-Shake's Yaaaaah (1990) aka Techno Trance was the very first house production from The Netherlands to find acclaim abroad, hitting the UK Top 20. After directing video clips for Todd Terry, Kraze and MC Extince, he took D-Shake around the globe for a string of high-profile DJ-gigs. After D-Shake released the Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Groove album in 1992, he switched styles and aliases. As Paradise 3001, he produced a handful of dubby mid tempo releases for home listening. As Flygang, he turned out an album of out-and-out dance floor ammo in the filter disco vein. And then came Alex Cortiz, gelling half a lifetime of club cruising and genre hopping into one coalescent, fluid and utterly satisfying take on all things groovy. Lately, he has resumed deejaying as Alex Cortiz and produced a track for Monte La Rue's recent Interludia album. After the Downtempo and Midtempo tropical and relaxed atmosphere from his former albums (the collection Magnifico! is a very good example), Phoenix marks the beginning of a new phase, without loosing the warm and sophisticated production-style of course and Cortiz' natural sense of nuance. Although this record is different from his last 4 albums, it is at the same time a logical step forward, within the working territory of Cortiz. The current developments in the Dance scene, where frequently is reverted to the styles of Detroit Techno to Progressive (to name a few) and of which elements are being combined, connect with the style-evolution of Cortiz. He wants to expand and develop, that keeps him focused. In a certain way it's a return to the days of D-Shake and Cat Scanner, when he made our country internationally known in the House scene. As already mentioned, Cortiz ventures on a more Deep and Technoid idiom, but notwithstanding the more Uptempo delights, the whole album is a well-rounded feast in his inimitably casual but sophisticated production style, where the listening experience absolutely is significant. ANGEL or DEMON? Some people have a nightingale inside their soul. Some a peacock. There are people with owls, others have a white dove. But inside all of us is a raptor who wants to come out. Now and then. Like everyone, Alex Cortiz has some white and some black. We all know his white side. His mellow side. But I can assure you, you definitely want to know his deeper, darker side. It's where he is at his best. Never blunt however, always sophisticated. So rise up and open your window. Here is a new Cortiz. As a bright but black raven on your shoulder.
