Last year's debut from Misstress Barbara was a fun romp through
the realms of hard house and funky techno that wasn't very memorable.
That was because her quick mix style and the non stop pounding
hard house groove were very one dimensional 6 years and almost
anachronistic in 2001. In the 21st Century listeners demand
old dogs to do new tricks no matter how simple they may seem.
But time and time again big names DJs have failed this test.
Banging is okay as long as you have some quieter moments in
the mix to help create some tension. Has Misstress Barbara learned
this simple trick on Relentless Beats Vol. 2 or has she suffered
the sophomore slump? Still overloaded with tracks (23) and reliant
on her quick mix style she still manages to show that she has
learned a few tricks since last year. The disk opens with ambient
noise entitled "Prior To The Music" and from there she jumps
out of the gate with more banging beats. However this time around
she features four of her own tracks tailor-made for her set
that highlight her versatility and her new found love of sound
textures. With more change-ups than Greg Maddux she closes Relentless
Beats Vol. 2 seamlessly with a haunting ambient piece that owes
more to Joy Division than the e-tard massive. Perhaps an indication
that Misstress Barbara is one old dog who still has a few tricks
still left up her sleeve.
