Buzzin' Fly At Juno Download

Review: Montreal-based downtempo duo Flowers & Sea Creatures are an odd but inviting proposition. Fusing the Thom Yorke-ish vocals of singer/songwriter Graham Baxter with the subtle alt-electronica explorations of producer Kosta Megalos, they have a sound that rarely neatly fits into one pigeonhole. This debut album features a mix of traditional semi-acoustic fare, bubbling techno-influenced songscapes and slo-mo deep house (including productions by The Revenge and Ewan Pearson). That it hangs together impressively is testament to the duo's skill. Comparisons with Radiohead are a little off the mark but certainly relevant; if Thom Yorke and co were inspired by European deep house rather than crunchy British electronica, they may sound a little like this.

Review: With previous releases on Internasjonal, Dirt Crew, Mirau and Permanent Vacation to his name, Neil 'Mano Le Tough' Mannion is clearly a producer on the rise. Here he brings his melody-driven, musically layered take on deep house to Buzzin' Fly, a label that has forged its reputation on promoting similarly melodic fodder. "Stories" is delightful, a kind of gently undulating deep house fairytale that quietly rises and falls over seven spellbinding minutes. "Take It Back" and "From The Start" offer more straight-up dancefloor potential whilst retaining a similar level of inventiveness (the later, for example, features a great guitar breakdown).

Review: German producer Dana Ruh makes her debut for Buzzin' Fly following a decent outing on Ostgut Ton. With four distinct cuts to choose from, Kickboxing is quietly impressive. It's the title track that most impresses, building an intoxicating, late night brew of typically Germanic deep house grooves and freestyle vocal loops. The acid-tinged "This" is a pleasingly dark excursion, whilst "That" is an urgent old-skool bumper that profits from great use of analogue riffs and bass. "What I'm Telling You", meanwhile, reverts to the eyes-wide-shut blissfulness hinted at in the EP opener. Good stuff all told.

Review: Ben Watt looks to Lisbon for Buzzin' Fly's latest deep house missive, and the home studio of little-known producer Vahagn. "Relapse" is in many ways typical of both contemporary deep house from the region and Watt's long-running label. On one hand it's slinky, evocative and emotion-rich, on the other hypnotic and more than a touch melancholic. It's gorgeous, no doubt, but pleasingly understated, too. Nu-disco/deep house stalwart Nick Chacona provides the standout remix, combining the original's most melodic and bittersweet elements on a shuffling, near Balearic rub that should get more a few punters squinting into the sunshine on the White Isle this summer. Essential.

Review: Guiseppe Moribato dons his Abyss hat for some more deep house adventures, this time on Ben Watt's now veteran Buzzin' Fly imprint. In its original form, "Birdsong" is a delightfully simple concoction - little more than blissful jazz pianos and a few vocal samples attached to a snappy, floor-friendly groove. Yet it sounds fantastic - a real tear-jerking chunk of deep house for the head and the feet. There's a brilliant downtempo version, too (think early Aqua Bassino on F Communications, if you can remember that far back), called the Flowers & Sea Creatures Remix. That's worth the admission price alone.

Review: Buzzin' Fly uncover a promising new talent in Frenchman Alain Ho, with this interesting debut EP. 'I Remember The Future' is both laidback in its grooves yet dramatic in melodies, with deep bubbling undertones and sparse percussive flickers. On the flip 'Would You Be There' is equally as complex with some trippier elements. Although not the most floor friendly, both of these will appeal to fans of lighter progressive, and make for perfect afterhours sizzlers.

Review: Buzzin' Fly compilations always take on a retrospective feel, looking back at what the label has achieved with a proud (and wholly justified) sense of achievement. They are much like family Christmas cards that fondly round up the year's activities for friends and relatives. As part of their 50th single celebrations this spring, they deliver a compilation of Buzzin' Fly classics as the next instalment of the Focus On series. Penned by Chris Woodward, an integral part of the imprint?s close knit family, this release serves as the audio family newsletter created to celebrate reaching this impressive milestone. All the big moments are there and each family member features, from Ben Watt to Spencer Parker, Justin Martin, Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia.

Like Buzzin Fly: 5 Years in the Wilderness, (and all four Volumes in the Buzzin' Fly series) this compilation digs into the imprint?s revered back catalogue to commemorate its particular achievement. The former was applauding reaching five years whilst the latter celebrates reaching their 50th release. Over seventy-five minutes, Chris Woodward picks out some of Buzzin' Fly's flagship tracks such as label boss Ben Watt?s "Guinea Pig," Spencer Parker's "The Beginning" and Justin Martin?s "The Fugative." As Woodward hones into some deep, intricate, house action, he delves into Buzzin' Fly's trademark mix of deep house, melodic techno and electronic disco. We see cuts like Jay Shepheard?s remix of Glimpse and Martin Eyrir's "Southern Soul" standing shoulder to shoulder with Darkmountaingroup's "Lose Control." Woodward also adheres to the Buzzin' Fly tradition of house that is both sonically ornate and driving in all the right places by including moments like Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia?s beautiful "Dead Souls" and Ame's club fuelled remix of "Insomnia".
Buzzin' Fly specialises in deep and beautiful house music. Their long standing resident has done the admirable job of paying homage to that sound and all the producers that help shape it, in one retrospective compilation that proves just what a force Buzzin? Fly has become over those 50 releases.