Felipe Venegas At Juno Download

Review: Amir and Butch?s Mainz based label, Bouq has built a reputation for delivering quality groove based house and techno since its formation in 2009. Fun is the staple ingredient in their releases and Bouq Family & Friends Part 2 is no different, arriving just in time to soundtrack endless summer parties out in the sunshine.

Bouq has been rather quiet of late, somewhat surprising considering the strength of their first year in business. They have been busy though, just it has been slightly more under the radar. In addition to gigs throughout Germany, label top dogs Amir, Butch and Sebastian Lutz have also released a number of solo efforts. But now, the label returns to follow up on Part 1 which dropped to much acclaim at the end of last summer.

Opening the release is Cadenza star, Felipe Venegas drops the warm and friendly sounding "Ozinaga." A simple beat is joined by a deep infectious groove and some warm synth stabs that create an altogether pleasant and easy vibe. The track is actually dedicated to Felipe?s friend Walter Ozinaga who passed away earlier this year. Domy is next up with his debut, "Dance." Again crafted with a warm and contented sentiment, this track is deliriously groovy, fusing a monster bass, driving highs and a soulful and emotive female vocal. It?s shuffling percussion gives it even more of a sun-tinted glow, perfect for outdoors. Berlin based Santé delivers a tech house remix to close proceedings. Having produced for Rekids and Souvenir already, Santé brings his accomplished sound to Bouq for this special remix. Stripping the original down, he turns "Dance" into a club orientated track whilst still keeping all the groove, and more importantly all the fun.

What has set Bouq apart from the rest so far has been its ability to bring quality and respected music combined with emotion, fun and feeling. Family & Friends Part 2 does exactly that, telling the next chapter of Bouq?s story in its own endearing style.

Review: Over the course of this four-tracker, Venegas and his friends work through a range of approaches, but the underlying style is a focus on top-notch, groovy DJ tracks. "Carnival", his collaboration with Hanfry Martinez, features dreamy synths combined with chugging tribal beats, while "Delacroix", the track he recorded with Matt Brown, follows a similar path, its dreamy hooks combined with a subtle, filtered house groove. "Jhabalife", recorded with Andre Butano, sees Venegas opt for a more party techno approach - right down to the vocal snippet intoning the phrase 'electronic music' - while "Octavio" with Felipe Valenzuela, is a deep, techno groove powered by metallic stabs.