Ellum Audio At Juno Download

Review: With remixes from Crosstown Rebels man Maceo Flex and Hot Creations type Danny Daze, Ellum Audio are clearly aiming high with their second release. Bazar's original version of "Hard To Find" is pretty tasty, though, sounding like a delightful high-octane fusion of touchy-feely E-house, off-kilter electronic disco and 80s synth frippery (check the "Blue Monday" syn-voice chords). Plex delivers an even more wide-eyed version, dipping the tempo slightly and contrasting rubbery funk basslines with typically blissful builds. Danny Daze, meanwhile, works a spooky, low-slung groove before throwing in some twinkling pianos and washes of sleazy synths.

Review: Danny Daze debuts on the Ellum Audio juggernaut overseen by Maceo Plex and Alta's Ellum Audio with The Calm EP. The title track bounces in bass as slight flanging effects traverse up and down its arrangement along with other subtle and sinister synths. "I See You There" sports a poppier feel with warmer synths and vocoded vocals, but Daze brings it back to the dancefloor with some spazzed out resonators. Dexter's remix to "The Calm" raves up the original with cut vocals, a sultry spoken word sample and naughty acidics.

Review: In something of a surprise move, Maceo Plex has managed to snap up Dutch veteran Jaydee of "Plastic Dreams" fame for a fresh track after many years of silence, finding the producer embracing the modern age with the slick drive of "Pulsate". Moody tech house is the order of the day, riding on crisp beats and clean chords, before Plex himself tackles a space-baiting remix of the track Jaydee released under the Graylock moniker, "The Payback". Fellow Dutchman Steve Rachmad is on hand for a remix of "Pulsate" that revels in dubwise delay and soaring synth work perfect for big room maneuvers.

Review: Jupiter Jazz is the new alias for our main man, Danny Daze, who's been keeping busy as of late releasing plenty of EPs and recording one hell of a podcast for RA. His first experimentation under the Jupiter Jazz moniker comes courtesy of Maceo Plex and Alta's Ellum Audio, a label reserved strictly for the freshest tech beats around. "Shake It Mama" takes some gorgeously crunchy percussion shots and goes for the all-out chug-a-lug, whereas "Technology" is a slightly more Detroit-slanted pouncer, merging 90's style vocals to one of the warmest basslines you'll hear in a while - it really is a pleasure to be caressed by their mesmeric power. Last but not least, "Good Girl" goes for a broken-beat approach, where the previous shots of 4/4 are replaced by sharp, rustling snares and haphazard mutant bass bleeps - big vibes on this one and we can't wait to hear more from Jupiter Jazz...

Review: Few house producers have enjoyed quite as rapid a rise in 2011 than Maceo Plex. Here he jumps ship from Crosstown Rebels to launch his own label, offering two typically emotional chunks of Visionquest-ish synth-house. While the epic "Aint No Love" opts for a sci-fi tinged approach, it's A-side builder "Stay High Baby" that really impresses. Working with many of his usual elements - those touchy-feely vocals, a snatch of disco guitar, emotion-rich chords, snappy beats, big breakdowns, echo-laden pianos and a dash of acid tweakery - he carefully builds a naggingly hooky concoction that bueatifully ebbs and flows throughout.

Review: Having made his name with a decidedly fluorescent blend of retro-futurist house revivalism, the logical next step for Maceo Plex was always going to be working with his heroes. Here, he joins forces with former Hacienda resident and '90s remixer of choice Jon DaSilva for a cut based on the latter's unreleased remix of a Jones Girls cover. It's pretty much what you'd expect from both parties rolled into one; the booming synth-bass and cyber-synths of Plex, versus the '90s vocal stylings and bumpin' disco-house beats of DaSilva. Plex himself delivers a thunderous, techno-flavoured Dub, while solo bonus cut "Futre Musik", a tribute to German tech-housers Closer Musik, rises and falls for 10 gorgeous minutes.

Review: Maceo's label Ellum Audio is really beginning to find its place in the tech scene; lavishing listeners with a salubrious, rolling funk, it's been just as much of a breath of fresh air as Maceo's productions themselves. Put the two together and you're onto a purebred winner... "Filthy Mama" twists and turns with the sonic toxicity of 2020 Soundsystem record performed live while "Stimulation" is more prog-inclined with heaps of beautiful emotion laced throughout.

Review: House music has always been about reinventing existing sources, and Maetrik upholds this proud tradition on Beast. Known for his gnarly rhythms and gritty basslines, "The Poem" is not short of such elements, as doubled up drums and a surging bass provide the backing. But Maetrik also mines the past and deep house lovers will quickly notice the use of Rastafarian Mutabaruka's vocals, which originally graced 1999's Dis Poem on Guidance. Maceo Plex takes control of "Walk Alone" and turns it into a slinky, pulsing techno groove with a menacing undercurrent, while "To The Top" is typical Maetrik fare, its buzzing bassline and industrial strength drums creating a claustrophobic feeling.

Review: Scoring big hits across the modern house underground, Maxxi Soundsystem makes his way to Maceo Plex's Ellum Audio imprint for the warm and soothing tones of "Stella's Way", which centres around a looping synth riff that sounds as though it was lifted straight out of 80s radio. Huxley's remix pares down any such frivolities, homing in on the scattered vocal flourishes and dropping a mean shuffle and off-key chords for some ultimately funky functionality. Shall Ocin rounds things off with a version that capitalises on the lush melodies of the original and bolsters them with additional synths for an equally fuzzy jaunt.

Review: The latest missive on Maceo Plex and Alta's popular Ellum Audio label sees a debut from previously unknown producers Gotz Bokler and Nilk Bohn. "Pirates Poetry" ticks all the boxes, delivering a warm, woozy cut featuring an icy female vocal and the sort of shuffling, cocaine-addled grooves usually heard on Crosstown Rebels' biggest hits. 2020 Vision veteran Carl Finlow (Random Factor, Silicon Scally etc) delivers a pleasingly bright, bleep-heavy tweak, while Jupiter Jazz - Hot Creations man Danny Daze and pal Eric Estornel - weigh in with a suitably large, main-room friendly version. A decent package is rounded off by Bokler and Bohn's bouncy remix of dreamAwaken's "8 Bit in a Bit".