Shapeshifters – Lola's Theme

The main mix is among my personal all-time favorite house tracks but I can't stand the vocal mix. The weirdly religious-sounding verses are so cheesy, since, even though Cookie is apparently a gospel singer, I don't think it was supposed to be viewed as anything more than a love song, but I just imagine those lines being used in a contemporary Christian song, which isn't something I'd want to say about anything. I love a lot of actual gospel house, even though I'm not religious at all anymore, but this definitely isn't that. ittedly I'm probably overthinking it lol. In other news though, the Eric Prydz mix is among my personal favorites from him. Love his earlier stuff, and this is a prime example of that.

Absolutely brilliant production and to find a sample that nobody had used before was even more extraordinary. Great track..

Intro was sampled from Johnnie Taylor - What About My Love and vocals from Anthony White - Love Me Tonight

On this record can be found: MK's ReEdit+Acapella... Very nice mix b.t.w.

I'd probably buy this if B1 was omitted from the pressing.

So I was standing in a record shop somewhere in Soho, London in 2004 and the guy behind the counter put the test press of this tune on (nocturnal groove). Id been buying tunes since the hardcore days in 92 and there are certain records you hearing for the first time, this was one of those hairs on the back of your neck moments. I love the main mix, the alt mix I even love the cheesy vocal mixes released on Positiva a year or so later. I still play this out now in 2018, Ive got thousands of records from rare 92 hardcore to 00's house and this is in my top 20 easily. TUNE

Great Cut...The extended version on You Records is a "banger" and gets people to dance EVERYTIME! Builds slowly to a frenzied crescendo, and drives from then on. I heard Frankie Knuckles rock this record and I had to have two copies! The Extended vocal is a great peaktime track, either phazing, juggling or in straight "trax" mode.

Lola's Theme (Main Mix)
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The Main Mix is simply a dubbed version of the Extended Vocal Mix. The track simply starts with a progressing introduction, with an all round solid kick and bassline. Soon enough, we are greeted with a more uplifting synth, and the track starts to take a more funky turn with some quality strings, and a superb catchy house melody. As we approach the breakdown, the vocals are heard. The vocals are quite fitting to the vibe that the track gives out, and the cut vocals make this a mix much better than the full vocal mix in my opinion. The breakdown just builds and builds before exploding into a crescending array of synths, instruments and basslines. The melody so funky, and catchy, will no doubt make this one of 'the' summer tunes of the year for 2004!

Lola's Theme (Eric Prydz Mix)
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Being a huge fan of Eric Prydz, for such works as Oliver Lieb Pres. Smoked - Metropolis (Eric Prydz Remix), Futureshock - Pride's Paranoia (Eric Prydz Mix), etc, I was most looking forward to hearing what he could achieve with this house summer anthem. The bassline is very powerful, typical of Eric Prydz. The track builds quite powerfully, and we are introduced with stabs of synths shortly followed with a superb acid line. This remix is a much more 'techy' interpretation, with very powerful synths making it a quality acid house tune. There are some very unusual effects used, particularly towards the end of the track where Eric Prydz makes excellent use of some very strange sounding synths. This is certainly a very interesting take on the original.

What more can be said about this record? It appeared last season as a white label, took Miami by storm, catapulted new label Nocturnal into the limelight, and has now been snapped up by Positiva in time for a chart-topping summer release.

The bassline, familiar riff, and hint of vocals combine to produce a classic piece of euphoric, peak-time house. The Alternative Mix is a bit more broken up and unpredictable, but still useful for when floors tire of the main version.

This is without doubt the tune of miami 2004, the track that was on everyone's lips, the one that had the dance floors throbbing from morning right the way through to the deepest black of night. With an awesome uplifting vocal, a gradual building string and horn section that explodes away from the decks on the breakdown. Absolutely awesome house music. Not bad for your label's first release is it?...