Steve Lawler Albums (8)
'Viva London-Renaissance'
Release Date 10/30/2008
Tracks 23
Label Renaissance Dance Uk
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Lights Out, Vol. 3'
Release Date 10/4/2005
Tracks 28
Label Lights Out
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Lights Out, Vol. 2'
Release Date 11/4/2003
Tracks 27
Label Global Underground
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Got drums? UK jock Steve Lawler sure does. The man called �King of Space" is widely known for not making a sound, that is unless it goes boom, bop, click or thump. On his third double CD mix for the superpower Global Underground) {$Lawler's, outerspace drum line is in full effect. But like the entire dance scene in general, Lawler has become reacquainted with the power of the human voice, especially in its vocodered electro form. So it's not surprising to find plenty of sleazy basslines and robot voices swerving through the endless asteroid field of percussion. Unfortunately, in trying to be all things to all dancers, Lawler also attempts to play the house card, throwing in diva male and female vocals that shatter the otherwise purely robotic drive. Rather than uplifting, these moments sound merely out of place. And while it might only be the case of a few bad apples, what is a mix but one continuous musical experience to be taken as a whole. So like all of Lawler's previous attempts, this one suffers under the weight of trying to hard and it is made clear by the tagged-on inclusion of Jaydee's epic "Plastic Dreams" in abysmal 2003 remix form. Some people can't leave well enough alone. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Steve Lawler's second entry in the Global Underground series is much more straightforward than its predecessor, his Global Underground: NuBreed mix from 2000. Unlike that album, Lawler's Global Underground: Lights Out mix resembles his typical DJ sets. Each of the sets in this double-disc set build, and build further, until reaching a climactic grand finale. On the first disc, that grand finale is Thick Dick's "Orgasm," a "French Kiss"-like track released by Subliminal that features a simulated orgasm by a sultry woman over a steamy house rhythm. Besides this Subliminal-released track, Lawler draws from other big-name labels: Yoshitoshi (Shmuel & Baranes' "Spanish Tales"), Bedrock (his own "Andante"), *69 (Angelo Kortez's "Houze Muzik"), DJ Gigolo (Crossover's "Photographt"), and more. Throughout Global Underground: Lights Out, Lawler sticks with the approach that took him to the top of the international progressive house scene. And why shouldn't he? Millions of clubbers around the world celebrate him for a reason, after all. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Steve Lawler begins the second volume in his Dark Drums series with the same track he began his first with, Aaron Carl's "Dance Naked." Quickly, though, you realize that this isn't going to be an entirely different ride than the first volume. Lawler veers off into the unknown soon after, avoiding the widely known songs of his double-disc Global Underground mixes for a more obscure selection of tracks. Yet just because these ones aren't as well known doesn't mean they're atypical of what you'd expect from Lawler. No, this dark, tribal, thundering-drum DJ sticks with the same style of hot and sticky progressive house he always has. The only thing that's changed are the tracks. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Insistent and full of ire, Steve Lawler's Dark Drums lived up to its name with the sort of sullen tribal clank pushed by Justin Robertson. Jan Driver's chuggy rewash of Gintare's "Earthless" was a particular favorite, but the nu breaks house template was often undermined by an all too unified mixing style, which worked against the nagging rhythmic step work. Although aspiring to the rough-knuckle drama of mixes like Jon Carter's 7 Live, Dark Drums worked best in smaller doses when the tribal workouts felt fresh and less dawdling. ~ Dean Carlson, All Music Guide
'Global Underground: NuBreed'
Release Date 10/17/2000
Tracks 27
Label Global Underground
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Rather than feature progressive house or the various trance styles that have become synonomous with Global Underground, this installment in the Nu Breed series of Global Underground albums finds Steve Lawler moving through a double-disc set of fairly deep tribal house. Lawler occasionally breaks away from the tribal house motif, as during the concluding moments of the first set when Danny Tenaglia twists Giorgio Moroder's "From Here to Eternity" into a variation of Green Velvet's "Flash." For the most part, Lawler's set maintains a seamless quality: his mixing is smooth, the tracks move at similarly quick tempos, and the tribal sense of percussion remains mesmerizing throughout. Of course, the fact that Lawler never meanders too far from the same sound does make this a rather uneventful mix -- there are few surprises at all. But Lawler's mix guarantees a satisfying experience for anyone who appreciates up-tempo tribal house, even if it's not as adventurous as most Global Underground mixes, which will wander from one style to another with every few records (Danny Tenaglia's Global Underground: Athens, for example). Furthermore, the sultry blatancy of Tantric's "Sex on the Beach" stands as a wonderful way to engage the listener as the opening track in the second set, best exemplifying this album's sensual edge, something few DJs can duplicate. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
