SEE Magazine
Issue #393: June 14, 2001
Copyright © 2001. All Rights Reserved

Music REMIX by DJ Spilt Milk Preview Topaz Booty Shake CD Release Friday, June 15, 7 p.m. at Café La Gare For nearly decade, Richard Delamar, aka Topaz, has been somewhat obsessed with the underground. He got into underground dance at a ripe old age of 12, listening to Chris Sheppard at first, then stumbling upon the electronic offerings on CJSR. Delamar entered clubland at 15, partying at the Dance Factory and some of the early Edmonton raves. By ’97, he started spinning ambient music and began building his studio. It was a long and slow process as Delamar scrounged, living on his own, working at KFC, trying to pay for equipment. Now only 22, with his second full-length CD, Booty Shake, out in stores, Topaz is now wondering what to do with his finished product. He has sent copies of his work to a couple of labels, including Fiction and Subliminal, who were impressed yet uninterested. He admits being a little shy and nervous about sending his work off to big labels, but realizes it’s gotta get done. Topaz prefers the album format over a 12-inch single, but admits releasing vinyl is still a goal. Most of the tracks on Booty Shake are really happy filtered house, I dig the super disco cut-up style in tunes like I Can Do Without It and Ohh La La! Topaz let’s the slap bass rip on Find a Way, a remix of a Russ Brown classic. Another stand out tune on the album is the early acid house style of Behave Myself – it takes me back to the hip house days of the late ’80s. Topaz has got it when it comes to disco house. Is the next step a 12-inch release? Let’s hope so. Booty Shake is available from DV8, Groove Asylum, Divine, Foosh, Feroshus, and Colour Blind as well as at the CD release show.

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